Buffalo Home Show

In case you missed it, the Buffalo Home Show was the past two weekends.  It was filled with vendors offering the latest and greatest in hardwood flooring, tiles, kitchen & bath, landscaping, and a whole lot more.  Being a renter and not a home owner, I can't take advantage of most of the services offered, but it doesn't stop me from looking and dreaming about my future house.  

The main reason I attended the show was to see the Interior Design Association of WNY's White Room Challenge.  Six designers were given, you guessed it, a white room to design.  The inspiration they had to work with was a poster with the theme of Old Hollywood which can be seen here.  They also had to incorporate several design elements such as a metal lighting fixture and a small cube table, each designer using them very differently.

Room by Iola Designs.

The first room was designed by Laurel Swartz of Iola Designs.  It was a more contemporary take on Hollywood, getting inspiration from the set of the tv show Friends.  She cut the given light fixture in half to use as sconces on the wall and deconstructed the cube to serve as a coffee table.  I loved the wall color and moldings as well as the use of clean lines.  I wasn't a huge fan of the turquoise curtains against the wall color though.  That being said, I did end up voting for this room as my favorite.

Room by the Buffalo Plumbing Showroom.

The second room was a bathroom designed by the Buffalo Plumbing Showroom.  It was extremely luxurious.  I could only dream of ever having a bathroom this spacious and nice.  I liked how the given light fixture was turned into a chandelier.  This was probably my second favorite, being more traditional than the first room, but still very clean and fresh.

 

 

 

Room by Laura Fulciniti.

The third room was a bedroom designed by Laura Fulciniti of Buffalo Paint & Wallpaper.  Hollywood luxury was again apparent in this room.  If I was single, my bedroom would certainly be pink and satin.  This was the winning room in the challenge!

Room by Erin Kent.

Erin Kent designed the fourth room.  It was another living room, this one being much more masculine than the first, and was done in a mid-century modern style.  Although not my personal taste, it is a classic design style.  I believe this is the room my husband voted for as his favorite.

Room by Rich Nashwinter.

The second bedroom, and the fifth of the rooms was designed by Rich Nashwinter.   A very nice, relaxing room, but other than the horizontal pieces of wood on the wall behind the bed, nothing really stuck out as being unique, original, or extremely eye-catching.

Room by White Orchard.

The sixth and final room was designed by Pamela Witte of White Orchard Home Furnishings.  I loved elements of this room, such as the butterfly wallpaper (I'm a sucker for anything with butterflies), the floral rug, and the Beatles poster turned into a window.  Overall the space was too traditional and way too busy for me.  I also wasn't crazy about how the cube table was turned into some sort of lighted faux fish tank seen on the left side of the photo. 

I love seeing how six different designers, given the same space, design elements, and inspirational image, can create six totally different rooms.  I stash my favorite ideas in the back of my mind until I can find some way to incorporate them into my own designs.