The 2006 Interior Design show kicked off last night at the National Trade Centre with the Rouge Party, billed by the understated promo material as "one of the year's hottest events".

I've been to the show for the past few years, and each year I come away wanting more. Or, perhaps, wanting Toronto's other annual interior design event, Come Up To My Room, which opens its doors at the Gladstone Hotel this weekend.

There was nothing necessarily wrong with the show. It is a trade show after all so all the booths displaying the latest in kitchen cabinetry and flooring systems should be expected.

There were some innovative and eye-catching displays. Chief among them was Karim Rashid's Kit 24, a house - as its name suggests - that can be built from a kit. It looked like a giant spaceship. Or rather the display housing it did. (Or was that the actual house?) The lineup was way too long to make it inside to get a closer look at the goods.

Among my other faves were a feast of pylons assembled by Dyson as well as the Greentea Design booth which featured big cans of Sapporo and meat on a bun cooked up by someone from Dangerous Dan's.

The party as whole fell somewhat flat. There were lineups galore at all the food and drink booths - and a shortage of glasses didn't help the situation. David Visan was apparently in the DJ booth, but the space just didn't work. More pics: