More Manufacturers than you can shake a stick at

So I spent my day creating a list of all the Furniture Manufacturers I have ever contacted. WOW - I really have never looked at the industry this way.

I only speak to modern and contemporary furniture manufacturers so there are a great many that I never look at, and that simply makes this all the more amazing.

Hundreds and hundreds of high end, specialized, fabulously skilled, marvelously prolific manufacturers in Europe alone. Further more I have to assume that my personal knowledge of this landscape merely describes the tip of the ice burg. There must be many more whom I have either managed to miss at the shows or who do not have a trade show presence; companies that go to their smaller local shows but not to the large expensive international ones.

What I'll be looking for at the shows

The Paris show is really about high style. It defines chic and fine taste in a way that really turns my head. Its not the most cutting edge, not necessarily brimming with innovation, but there are always some really remarkable newcomers, that make you rethink concepts as mundane as 'a chair' or 'a chandelier'.

That said my primary reason for going is for the solid quality and elegance I have come to expect, and the wondrous old world luxury.

Once Again T'is the season of Furniture Shows

These are the shows that I consider a must see for the spring season. Its a grueling schedule but somebody's got to do it:)

Paris: Jan. 25 - 29, 2008
Las Vegas: January 28 - February 1, 2008
Milan: April 16 - 21, 2008
Brazil: April 28th - April 30th 2008

Dining Table Debate

My personal preference is for the square dining table. It permits my guests to all see and hear one another and leaves plenty of space in the center for serving dishes and fancy table decorations. Space permitting, I feel that it can make a stunning impression - elegant and impressive, it sets the scene for the show. After all, in my home at least this is really about dining as an interactive exhibition experience.

I also have an inclination towards counter height dining tables, but I have found that its difficult to keep 10 or 12 comfortable counter height chairs stacked neatly out of the way, while not in use.

Glamour - Edra Style

A company that truly plays the edge of glamor and glitz is Edra.

Famous for its quirky creations, Edra is fun, curious and above all fantastic, in several senses of the word. They are bold beyond belief, in terms of color, scale, shape and materials. Generally, (although not always) these pieces are comfortable and surprisingly practical for something so fabulously silly.

At the Jan Furniture Show in Milan this year, (07) their booth was inundated by weary shoppers, drawn by the drama of flashing, multicolored stage lights and the abundance of deeply upholstered seating.

What's In a Word

Elegance or ostentation? Savoir fair or presumption? 'Posh' is a word on the slippery edge of semantic change. The Posh Pad Blog will flit between both worlds - the chic and the gaudy, the brilliant and the brazen, to bring you fabulous design finds for your pad. Furniture, rugs, accessories, lighting, fitting and fixtures, architectural details and art.

Stylistically we will keep an open mind, but given that this blogging team is personally inclined towards European aesthetics, you can expect to see a lot of Italian & Scandinavian contemporary furniture design; the classic timeless simplicity of Parisian style, colonial inspired, safari style interiors and not so rustic country house charm.

About Me: I'm a furniture buyer, traveling the world looking for beautiful furniture and accessories for stores. This fabulous life style affords me the opportunity to visit the Milan Furniture Fair, Paris' Maison et Objet, the Las Vegas and Highpoint shows to name but a few.

Doing so I harvest ideas, hot trends, designs, stories, names and interior design inspiration which I hope to share with you.