Get out your diary and plan your visit to House 2016. Taking place next weekend from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 May 2016 at the RDS, this exceptional show should not be missed by anyone seeking inspiration and design ideas for their home.
I myself will be among the wide range of architects, designers, craftsmen, home improvement specialists, artists, furniture and fit-out suppliers gathering in the Main Hall of the RDS. There will also be a series of talks on the Inspiration Stage as well as an Interior Design Clinic, operated on a drop-in basis, where you can sit down with a designer on a one-to-one basis to get advice on your home design issues.
It will be a busy, vibrant event, so here are my Top Ten Tips for getting the most out of your visit…
1. CHOOSE THE DAY & TIME OF YOUR VISIT CAREFULLY.
- Each day of an exhibition like this tends to have a different tone and tenor.
- Friday is, for many, a leisurely day out, so perhaps a good day to engage with exhibitors. Opening hours 12-8pm.
- Saturday is the day of the serious visitor, who will come prepared with a list of exhibitors they wish to visit and talks they wish to attend. For exhibitors, it’s the day of most serious engagement. Opening hours 10am – 5ppm.
- Sunday is the traditional family day out with attendant crowds of all ages and stages. Opening hours 10am – 5ppm.
- Early is always better, but don’t despair of you only manage to visit during the last hour, as crowds tend to wane then in any event.
2. REVIEW THE LIST OF EXHIBITORS.
- Based on the work you are planning to your home, scrutinise, in advance of your visit, the Exhibitor List to identify who may have solutions for the issues you wish to tackle.
- From designers to suppliers, the expertise you will find gathered in this one place is exhaustive.
3. DOWNLOAD THE FLOOR PLAN
- An exhibition of this scale can be overwhelming, so study the floor plan in advance so that you can map out a route and ensure you don’t miss any exhibitor that is important to you.
- I’ll be at stand A23A, located on the left hand side of the main hall, close to the doors to the second exhibition space behind.
4. CHECK THE TIMETABLE FOR THE INSPIRATION STAGE
- An all-day schedule of talks is planned for the Inspiration Stage, on topics ranging from energy to heirlooms.
- At 2.30pm on Friday 20th May, I’ll be giving a talk entitled “Thinking Big in Small Spaces: How to Maximise your Home.”
- At 2.30pm on Saturday 21st May, the title of my talk is “Designing by Numbers: How to make every Centimetre Count”.
- At 2.30pm on Sunday 22nd May, I’ll be discussing “Ages and Stages: Designing your Home for your Family’s Needs”.
5. PLAN YOUR TRANSPORT
- The venue is well served by city buses including Merrion Road Stops: 27X, 4, 45, 4A, 5, 7, 7A, 8, 18 and
Anglesea Road Stops: 63, 84. - Car parking is available on site on a first come, first served basis.
6. BRING AN ENGAGED COMPANION
- Partner, sister, brother, friend…bring someone who will be as committed to the voyage of discovery as yourself.
- One or other of you may spot possibilities the other may miss, and you can bouy one another when energies flag.
7. PACE YOURSELF
- There’ll be a lot to see, hear and feel, so set aside time for pit-stops and re-fuelling.
- Bring an emergency snack and drink in case the queues are long when hunger strikes.
- I’ll have a secret supply of snacks and chocolate for those in need of rescue, as well as a stool for resting weary limbs.
8. ENGAGE WITH THE EXHIBITORS
- You’ll have noted all the exhibitors you wish to meet, so use the floor plan to decide the sequence of your tour about the exhibition.
- We are there to share with you our own areas of expertise, so don’t be shy about approaching any exhibitor with even the tiniest query.
9. GET YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE
- There are sure to be long queues at peak times so be sure to get your tickets online in advance.
- I have a limited number of free tickets which I’ll be offering to my Facebook followers. Check houseology’s Facebook page for details.
10. ENJOY YOUR VISIT!
