Over 20,000 Grand Designs fans, budding builders and renovating enthusiasts were out in force last weekend for the second instalment of Grand Designs Live Sydney. The prestigious home show, which ran from 5-7 October at the Sydney Exhibition and Convention Centre, was headlined by Grand Designs Australia host, Peter Maddison, along with landscape legend Jamie Durie and a raft of other LifeStyle Channel talent including Shaynna Blaze, Andrew Winter, Veronica Morgan and Charlie Albone.
The Sydney leg of Grand Designs Live followed hot on the heels of Grand Designs Live Melbourne, which opened for the first time from 21-23 September, attracting more than 28,000 visitors. Host of Grand Designs UK, Kevin McCloud was the star attraction, completely packing out all of his sessions in the GRAND Theatre.
Another highlight was the creative culinary presentations at the Miele Kitchen Theatre by cook, author and restaurateur, Maggie Beer; Vue De Monde dynamo, Shannon Bennett and Head Chef, Cory Campbell; and Executive Chef at Perth's Greenhouse Restaurant, Matt Stone. In Sydney, Sixpenny Restaurant's Head Chef Daniel Puskas completed the impressive line-up.
The House of the Future proved popular amongst visitors, showcasing the latest in advanced technology, design and innovation for home entertainment systems and lighting. Experts were also on hand to offer advice about the latest technologies for sustainable and eco-building at the Sustainable Building Stage.
At the Rooms by Design stage, three lucky Whitehouse Institute of Design students competed to bring to life three interior design concepts. The judging panel consisted of industry experts Kevin McCloud, Peter Maddison, Jamie Durie and Shaynna Blaze. Two interior design students, Natasha Busbridge from Melbourne and Demi Barnes from Sydney, won an all-expenses paid trip to London in 2013 to attend Grand Designs Live UK. In Melbourne, five groups of RMIT landscape architecture students also had the opportunity to showcase their striking, avant-garde landscape designs. The student winners, whose designs will grace the pages of Grand Designs Magazine, include Sarah Lerm, Nicole Cavanagh, Kathryn Fitzgibbon and Nathan Down.
Thousands of visitors brought along plans, sketches, photos, blue-prints, drawings and budgets to take advantage of the free expert advice available at the Scyon Expert Advice Centre and at Exhibitor stands throughout the show.
James Laing, Group Exhibition Director at Diversified Exhibitions, said: “As organisers, we are thrilled with the attendance, the range and quality of exhibitors plus the incredible effort from our major partners to create unique experiences at the event. We’ve had fantastic feedback from exhibitors about how actively engaged visitors were in terms of seeking out ideas, products and advice, resulting in a significant number of leads and sales.”
Visitor feedback was also overwhelmingly positive. One referred to Grand Designs Live as “a mecca for prospective owner builders, renovators and anyone intending to improve security, technology, lighting or anything else in their home. An amazing place to gather knowledge and product information - probably the best of the home shows going around.”
Grand Designs Live will return to Sydney and Melbourne in 2013. Dates and full line-up to be advised soon at www.granddesignslive.com.au
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