Responsible Living the theme for Grand Designs Live 2016

As conscious consumers it is now imperative that we make more eco-friendly choices and live in a way that promotes awareness and sensitivity to our planetary needs. Grand Designs Live will be showcasing numerous ways in which visitors can bring this thinking to life and, hopefully, make a real and meaningful impact on the world.

The core Grand Designs Live experience remains much the same, with the main areas being Grand Gardens, Grand Interiors, Grand Build and Grand Kitchens and Bathrooms. Here you’ll find all the best products as well as talks and demonstrations illustrating global best practice in the different fields.

Grand Designs Live has tapped into leading lights in our local industry to ensure this year's show is exactly what our consumer is looking for. This expert panel comprises five exceptional individuals: Sarah Bruitendach, is the digital editor and editor-in-chief of the Fashion and Home supplements at the Sunday Times, and has enormous experience as a writer and stylist; Graham Wood is a writer and editor specialising in décor, design and architecture, having spent the last decade chronicling Mzansi’s most beautiful homes; co-owner of interior décor and eventing company Sålt + Støne, Karin Orzol has helped many client create beautiful and practical living spaces; Robin Alexander is freelance writer and stylist, who formerly worked at the Sunday Times Fashion and Home supplements; and Vicki Sleet heads up the popular décor and lifestyle blog iwantthat.com as well as working at Good Housekeeping Magazine, focussing on food and décor.

New central feature

The entrance at this years show is going to feel completely different, as patrons will get to experience the incredible Central Boulevard Lampshades, a series of oversized lampshades hanging from the ceiling covered in fabrics from Black Fabrics. And once guests have walked through they will come across a new central feature: a massive interactive area featuring the best in design trends, expert opinions and celebrity savvy advice. This space is split into two, The Easylife Kitchens Celebrity Chefs Theatre and The Waterwise Garden Theatre.

The Waterwise Garden Theatre, designed by GLC Design Studio in association with Garden and Home Magazine, is an informative, inspirational place where guests can really engage with the realities of South Africa’s water dilemma. In reality, we are a water-stressed country, and predictions are that the demand for water will outstrip supply by 2025. A change in attitude and behaviour is needed, and this is where you can find ways to use water more wisely.

There will be experts on hand, each giving different insights into trends and techniques. In keeping with the theme and in the Garden section, there will be four luscious Garden sets brought to you by the Guild of Landscapers including Indigo Landscapes, Spargo Landscape Consultants, Complex Gardens and Green Dimensions.

Celebrity foodies

The Easylife Kitchens Celebrity Chefs Theatre in association with Food & Home Entertaining Magazine and The South African Chefs Association, hosts much loved celebrity foodies including the highly experienced Adrian Vaughn of Lacuna Bistro @ The Maslow Hotel, creative Amy Butler from the Food Design Agency, multi award winning Jonathan Roos at the Inter-continental OR Tambo and pastry chef Minette Smith who will be sampling, demonstrating and sharing advice on how to create the perfect meal.

This space backs into Grand Interior plays host to unique, immaculately styled room sets, featuring bespoke creations by Create Space Lab, Décor Identity, Megan Parker Interiors, Prime Home as well as House and Leisure Magazines Room Sets. These highly respected names will ensure that this is not just a beautiful space, but an ideas hub where you can quiz experts on their methods and philosophies. It’s all been designed to help you make the most of your own personal space.

Grand Build will feature an incredible, instructive DIY Theatre, courtesy of Black+Decker. The DIY Theatre will also play host to experts giving all the secrets and tips needed to make your home improvement experience all the more fruitful. The brand new Black+Decker DIY Workshops are where you’ll get to roll up your sleeves and get involved with fun and exciting activities aimed at bringing out your inner handyman. These range from learning how to make an artists easel or couch side table to a three-tiered vegetable stand or wine bottle stand, to fun and interactive spot races against the clock. You get to walk off with your creation and stand to win amazing prizes. The DIY Guru Search is on again, so if you want to keep up to date with who it’s going to be, then make sure you follow the hunt on the Grand Designs website or on social media.

Bright ideas and must-have gadgets

The Grand Kitchens and Bathrooms area will once again showcase the best of both of these worlds, with novel and stylish ideas being presented in the Kitchen Theatre, hosted by Easylife Kitchens. Here you can expect the full array of bright ideas and must-have gadgets.

For over 50 years Artists Under the Sun has been showing the largest variety of art and styles in South Africa...and now this style can be seen for the first time at Grand Designs Live. You name it, you'll find it. No art gallery can give you this truly unique experience. Meet the artists, talk to them, or just view their work while walking around.

Then there’s the Gourmet Area where you get to pamper your palate with the most delectable dishes imaginable or sip on cocktails at the Cocktail Bar brought to you by Belgotex, listening to Mark Pilgrim on Hot 91.9 FM who will be broadcasting live from Grand Designs Live on Saturday, 21 May. The Trend House, brought to you by DesignMind, will bring the latest trends in design and at the Grand Designs Live Emporium you’ll be greeted with an array of beautiful objects for garden and home, from art and fabrics to scatter cushions and exotic plants and flowers.

Price: R95 (pensioners and students: R65, children under 12 are free)
Contact: +27 (0)11 835 1565.
www.granddesignslive.co.za