Weekly home agenda: home tech gears up for CES and trends will be set in Cologne and Paris

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For the first time in the history of the event, International CES 2011 includes the category of Connected Home, which encompasses integrated smart grid products and intelligent appliances; around 100 exhibitors will be displaying the latest products in the Connected Home category. After this event all eyes turn towards IMM Cologne, where young, emerging designers will be showcasing their creative talents, and Maison & Objet where the latest in high-end lifestyle products will be on display.

44th International CES
January 6-9
Las Vegas Convention Center/Las Vegas Hilton
Las Vegas, Nevada, US

One of the biggest consumer electronics events of the year, CES, which has been running since 1967, is often used as a launching pad for the latest consumer gadgets. With the smart grid and connected home appliances becoming increasingly common phrases, eyes will be turning towards International CES 2011, where the big names in the smart appliance industry are planning to showcase their latest intelligent, energy saving appliances. The event attracts over 126,600 visitors each year and is one of the most important dates on technology enthusiasts' calendars.
http://www.cesweb.org

Top Drawer
January 16-18
Earls Court
London, UK

Held in Earls Court, the Top Drawer trade show presents the latest products in five categories: gifts, home, fashion, stationery/greetings, children, and wellbeing. Top Drawer also works in collaboration with interior design specialists Trend Bible to create a specialist section of the show featuring products which represent upcoming design and color trends. The show has a bias towards manufacturers from the United Kingdom, although European producers are also represented.
http://www.topdrawer.co.uk/


28th IMM Cologne
January 18-23
International Expocentre Fairground
Cologne, Germany

A showcase of household designs for the following year, IMM Cologne 2011 features a specialized section dedicated to young, emerging designers, attracts exhibitors from around the world and is billed as the "central meeting place for exhibitors and designers." Last year's event attracted 100,000 visitors from 120 countries. A number of designers at this year's event are exploring how we can re-design our futures and give householders more flexibility in interior design. The Living Kitchen exhibition, which showcases the latest in kitchen product design and hosts a number of kitchen-related and cooking shows, will run concurrently to the event.
http://www.imm-cologne.com

32nd Maison & Objet
January 21-25
Villepinte Exhibition Centre
Paris, France

The bi-annual luxury trade show returns to Paris in January. Unlike trade shows such as Ambiente which is centered on consumer related household designs, Maison & Objet focuses on high-end home furnishings and edgy design. Maison & Objet attracted over 85,000 visitors in September 2010, overshadowing Spain's interior design exhibition Hogar Primavera (January 21-24) and the Formex exhibition of Nordic inspired interior design (Sweden, January 20-23).
http://www.maison-objet.com