Step Into a World of Luxury

Promising to be bigger and more glamorous than ever, the fourth annual Living Luxe Design Show is set to take over the Toronto Congress Centre from April 16 to 19. There, immersive scenes will span 150,000 square feet, waiting to be discovered. 

Written by Susan Semenak | Photography by George Pimentel & Tyler McKeag
Show Director: Amber Walker | Venue: Toronto Congress Centre

In April, the doors of the Toronto Congress Centre will open not onto aisles of booths and displays but into worlds: luxurious, edgy, dreamy, sophisticated design worlds meant to be both seen and experienced. At the Living Luxe Design Show, presented by JennAir, the traditional trade show expands into something far more experiential, immersive and luxurious. Celebrating its fourth year this spring, the show—held at the Toronto Congress Centre from April 16 through 19—is equal parts design exhibition, lifestyle salon and cultural rendezvous. 

In just a few short years, LLDS has cemented its reputation as the premier Canadian luxury design and lifestyle show for architects, designers and builders who don’t just follow trends, but shape them. Its rapidly growing prestige and popularity is reflected in the numbers. This year’s edition of the show will feature 150,000 square feet of exhibition space, including a VIP lounge, fashion show runway, a Rome-themed mystery area to highlight the works of emerging designers, a golf area and a speakers’ stage. That’s 30 per cent larger than last year, which was already double the exhibition space from the previous year. 

The show has also attracted a growing roster of prestigious Canadian manufacturers, esteemed designers and global brands as exhibitors, among them JennAir, Kohler, Cosentino, House of Rohl and TOTO. The array of exhibitors will be diverse, spanning stone companies, design firms, kitchen crafters, landscape designers, flooring specialists, appliance manufacturers, plumbing suppliers, swimming pool companies and fashion designers, each one spending countless hours on the planning and installation of their booth to create a standout experience.

JENNAIR

UNMATCHED ELEGANCE

Unsurprisingly, this dynamic blend of luxury and experience has attracted growing legions of visitors. Last year more than 21,000 people attended from all over the world to smashing feedback, and already, anticipation for this year’s show is growing. “There is a lot of excitement building. Everyone is working to create not just a booth, but an experience, a moment,” says Jennifer Lipkowitz, publisher and co-founder of Living Luxe and driving force behind the show, alongside Anthony Sirianni. “We are setting new standards for what a luxury design show can be. The magic is challenging ourselves to do something new and innovative every year, to find something for everyone. The energy is electric.”

Lipkowitz notes the show offers visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in the latest trends, to see and touch a breathtaking array of materials, and to find skilled tradespeople and partners for their projects. Its fashion component—more than 15 runway shows organized in collaboration with Toronto Fashion Academy—features creations by emerging and established designers and celebrates the shared influences that inspire both fashion and design. 

Last year, the show garnered hundred of millions of impressions digitally from press releases, news stories, digital mentions and Instagram posts. “It’s staggering how many people saw the show, talked about the show, heard about the show,” says Lipkowitz. “For participants, this kind of visibility is huge.”

IMMERSED IN DESIGN

From the moment visitors arrive, LLDS announces that it’s a cut above. They wander amid fully realized environments: sculptural kitchens humming with culinary demonstrations, spa-like bathrooms glowing with soft light and flowing water, and outdoor pavilions that blur the line between architecture and landscape. 

For architects and designers, the show offers a rare opportunity to experience products at scale and in context, and to connect with those in their industries. For homeowners, LLDS does something most shows cannot: it makes high design feel tangible, attainable and personal.

Amber Walker, the new show director, says uniting brilliant minds in parallel domains creates a palpable energy. “A magic thing happens at this show when designers and builders and visionaries come together, all of them excited to be working together, not in competition but in collaboration,” says Walker, founder of Amber Walker Events, which stages high-level corporate and social events. “We are doing things with LLDS that have never been seen before at typical trade shows. 

Walker says her mission is not to just stage a beautiful show but to create memorable moments that visitors will want to savour and share on Instagram. “We want there to be something for everyone—not just for experts or homeowners, but also for people who simply love beautiful things,” she says. 

The Living Luxe Design Show is constantly evolving, challenging exhibitors to elevate designs and experiences year-over-year.

Sculpture by 3DMan

KOHLER

Rosarium Luxury Roses

A LUXURY LINEUP

The opulent event is brought to life by a vast and varied roster of exhibitors, each vying for the title of best booth design. Last year’s booths included stunning kitchens, bubbling water installations, walls of fixtures meant to be touched, and a moody art gallery, inviting visitors to discover some new dazzling piece of inspiration around every corner.

The LLDS succeeds because it understands that design today is experiential, says Mahmoud Joghtaei, chief operating officer at Lawrence Park Development (LPD), a Toronto boutique builder of high-end residential homes and one of the show’s sponsors. He notes that people want to feel spaces, not just see them. They want stories, not sales pitches. They want environments that respond to how they live, work, rest, and gather. “Before, people wanted a nice house with a living room, a dining room, a kitchen. But now they are looking for experiences. They don’t want a regular gym—they want a spa and a wellness sanctuary. They aren’t looking only for a beautiful kitchen, they want a hub for culinary and social experiences,” Joghtaei explains. “They are increasingly knowledgeable about worldwide trends and new directions. They want a show that brings them together with the best and the brightest.”

Jacqueline Probert, head of brand marketing at Whirlpool Canada, says the LLDS is the perfect provocative stage for luxury brands, such as JennAir, to showcase the ways in which they are pushing the boundaries in innovation and design. The show, presented by JennAir, allows the brand to reach an audience that demands more than the status quo, she explains. “Canadians are hungry for innovative, bold designs as well as special, custom experiences. The Living Luxe Design Show is constantly evolving, challenging exhibitors to elevate designs and experiences year-over-year.”

For CAVA Surfaces CEO Joe Barranca, the show is a unique opportunity to connect and reflect with the community. “We’re looking forward to the creativity LLDS always brings—new ideas, fresh perspectives and the energy that pushes design forward. It’s where meaningful conversations begin and where the industry comes together to look ahead.”

Canadians are hungry for innovative, bold designs as well as special, custom experiences. The living luxe design show is constantly evolving, challenging exhibitors to elevate designs and experiences year-over-year.

Living Luxe

Floorence Tile & Slab

AN EVENING TO REMEMBER

Each day of the show features a different and exciting lineup of runway fashion shows mounted in collaboration with Toronto Fashion Academy, as well as panels, talks, and live discussions, featuring an impressive list of industry experts on the JennAir Stage. Among them are LLDS’s impressive keynote speakers: visionary industrial designer Karim Rashid, design powerhouse Lori Morris and celebrated designer Ali Budd, known for her acclaimed show House of Ali. 

But the fun doesn’t end after sundown. The LLDS weekend gets off to a smashing start with an opening night party and VIP fashion show on Thursday, April 16, where guests are invited to an exclusive first look at what awaits at the Toronto Congress Centre.

Cava Surfaces: 2025 People’s Choice Award Winner

The glamorous Friday evening City Couture Gala on April 17 ups the luxury factor even further. Themed Lumière Rose, the evening promises an exclusive live auction, standout runway fashion show and delectable bites and sips, all in support of the Hospital for Sick Children and Autism in Mind. Over the past three years the event has raised more than $275,000 for charity. 

On Saturday, April 18, the best of the best will vie for coveted accolades at the Living Luxe Award Show. An elegant black-tie affair, the glittering evening soiree—themed Blue Fire Royale this year—celebrates Canadians who are not only at the forefront of their industries but are shaping them in major ways. Honouring a diverse range of talents and selected by an esteemed panel of judges, the awards include the Inspirational Showroom Award, Mastermind Builder Award, the Brokerage Excellence Award, and the coveted Outstanding Booth Design Award, which entitles its winner to a prestigious Living Luxe Magazine cover story. 

Re-Envision Spaces

Another fan favourite: the People’s Choice Award, voted on by LLDS visitors throughout the weekend. As last year’s winner, the stakes are high for CAVA Surfaces. It’s a task that Barranca is ready for, and preparations for the brand’s 2026 booth are already underway. As for what to expect, he’s not giving up his secrets, saying that visitors will have to come see for themselves in April. “Something different is coming,” Barranca says. “Step into the CAVA booth and experience natural stone in a way you may not expect. Designed to spark curiosity and conversation, our space invites you to slow down, look closer, and discover what’s next.”

Each booth—whether dedicated to saunas, faucets, kitchens or something else entirely—promises to immerse visitors in opulent worlds that push the bounds of imagination. “It’s a luxury magazine story come to life,” Lipkowitz says.