10+ reasons to head to The ShowRoom

Posted on 26 February, 2019

The ShowRoom will bring together creative and innovative professionals in the building, design, styling and property industries this Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 March at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC).

When you’re in the thick of renovating, building, designing, furnishing, styling, buying or selling your home there’s something to be said about seeing the products and meeting the professionals you’re considering in person versus online. Enter The ShowRoom.

The brand spanking new design fair was created by locals Kate Dobell and Melissa O’Brien, who decided last year to organise an event to help Canberrans design their future. Their creation will debut at EPIC this weekend, gathering designers, artists, builders, furniture makers, architects, landscapers, interior designers and stylists, sculptors, and tiny-home builders.

The ShowRoom founders Kate Dobell and Mel O’Brien

Mel knows the thousand details involved in putting on a big show, because she’s the founder of the Three Sixty Fashion Market, now run by Canberra Markets. She says the ShowRoom will give Canberrans the chance to see, touch and imagine creative ideas, building products, designs, decorations and solutions for their home.

“To Australia, Canberra is the capital, but to us it’s home,” Mel says. “This is where we all live. More than just the suburbs and the lakes and the north and south of Canberra, we want to embrace all the diversity we now have, all the things we share that make Canberra so special.”

Kate’s graphic design career took her all the way to Europe, but she headed back to Canberra as the perfect place for her family, and to follow new design dreams. She says the ShowRoom will draw on what Canberra has become, to help design and build what Canberra will be.

“Canberra started as a designed city and that design is always evolving and growing,” Kate says.

“One of the many great things about living here is that ability to help the design live. We can all add our bit to the Burley-Griffin magic. To see the potential for change is the first creative step; to then find the people and institutions to help define, design and deliver that change is what we want to do with the ShowRoom.”

Here are 10+ reasons to get along

More than 100 exhibitors

The team from Cloth & Paper Studio will be among the exhibitors at The ShowRoom.

Looking for diverse and quality inspiration and advice? There are more than 100 exhibitors to help you guide you through the steps of building, renovating, decorating or buy or selling your home.

Meet industry professionals

Building Designers Associations of Australia (BDAA) and members will be on show, providing advice and inspiration ideas for your home design. There will also be architects on hand to talk you through your home design plans.

Inspiring speakers

Hear from expert speakers like Danny and Robert Rosin.

Learn and engage from the very best.  On Saturday 2 March you can catch Evan Dunstone, Tony Trobe, Danny and Robert Rosin, Meg Campbell, Lucy Blain and Alex Kennedy; and on Sunday 3 March, be inspired by Karen Porter, Janet Thompson, Rachel Jackson, Holly Komorowski and Anna Porter.

Let’s Play for the kids – hosted by Tait Network

It’s never too early to get the kids to engage with design. The ShowRoom has an area especially designed for the kids to play in and get them thinking about construction, creating and building.

Unique furniture and art

Stunning Contemporary Aboriginal art from Art Mark

Design allows you to express your personality through your choices. The ShowRoom allows you to explore a range of local accomplished artists and furniture designers—find a beautiful and unique piece for your home.

Living and lifestyle solutions

Need help organising your cupboard or throwing out stuff you’ve been holding on to? The ShowRoom’s experts have a solution for you.

Buy quality home products

See, touch and feel beautiful pieces like this one from Mitchell Bink Concrete Design.

Transform your home with quality home products—everything from homewares to lighting. You’ll be able to find that perfect piece to complete your home.

Sustainable living concepts and products

Get the latest intelligence on sustainable living, including insulation, windows, doors and pergolas—it’s all designed to improve your family’s health and well-being and care for the future of our planet.

Interior designers galore

YOLK is just one of the interior designers you can meet at The ShowRoom.

Not quite sure where to start? Interior designers can provide the expert guidance you need. Find one you connect with and gain the help you need to design your unique home—there are even pop up design studios, and flat lay competitions.

Garden inspirations

Need garden inspiration?  Talk with landscaping professionals, buy beautiful outdoor plants, sculptures and metalwork to spice up your home.

Win great prizes

There are loads of great prizes to win, including a Talostone Benchtop, an Art Mark Gallery painting from artist Raymond Walters Japaangka, a Wine Selectors Chairman’s Red six pack and a copy of Adam Hobill’s Nail It book! PLUS many exhibitors are hosting their own competitions and prize giveaways!

The chance to see perfect design in motoring

See the new BMW 3 Series before it launches at Rolfe Classic BMW on 9 March. This stunning motor vehicle is already leaving everything behind it, including conventions and expectations. Once again the icon reinvents itself with pioneering design language as it enters the dawn of a new era.

Also on show will be the new BMW X5, which achieves new levels of mastery. It has unparalleled control on and off the road and with sharpened driver assist and enhanced connectivity technology, it’s more dominant than ever.

Property experts

Keen to buy, sell or even invest, but don’t know how or where? The ShowRoom has property exhibitors on show as well as experts ready to educate you with an understanding of what road to take when it comes to buying or selling.

It’s free!

Explore the show with your friends and family on one, or both, days. It’s absolutely and completely free.

the essentials

What: The ShowRoom
Where: Epic Park, corner of Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue, Mitchell
When: 2 and 3 March 2019 10 am – 4 pm
How much: Free entry
Web: theshowroomcanberra.com.au

HerCanberra is a proud sponsor of The ShowRoom.