interzum, an international trade fair for furniture and interior design suppliers, held its first in-person event in more than four years. According to show organizers, the show exceeded all expectations, with roughly 1,600 exhibiting companies unveiling innovative solutions and new products, and approximately 62,000 visitors from nearly 150 countries attended.

Hidden design solutions were some of the top trends during the four-day event. In many cases, exhibitors showcased functional hardware providing more storage space and access inside cabinets. Hinges were directly fitted into cabinet walls, offering a sleeker, seamless look. 

The ability to close off areas of the home was prominent in many displays. For instance, Hettich showed a hidden workspace with a standing desk closed off with a sliding door using its Wingline L hinge. Blum also displayed a concealed office space using its REVEGO pocket door system.

Overall, the themes of multifunctional, flexible spaces were prevalent throughout the halls. Surface and material colors were trending towards natural, light woods, and earth tones. Ribbed wood panels were also trending with applications from wall panels to cabinet frames and surfaces.

Woodworking Network was onsite in Cologne, Germany, May 9-12, and following are just a few of the product innovations in hardware, surfaces, and components presented:

Thin, seamless hardware integration was displayed with Hafele’s Free slim flap fitting, a flexible modular solution with a minimalist design. Its thin size allows it to be integrated within the cabinet, increasing storage space and allowing for several design options. The fittings, which have a slim housing eight millimeters in size, can be used on the right or the left. They are either conventionally screwed onto the side panel or integrated almost invisibly. Hafele showcased a full range of new hardware options, from a new decorative collection to a modular shelving system that makes mounting and changing infill panels easier, fittings with locking and push-to-open features, a hide-away bed solution with a sofa to many options in lighting, including the new Hafele Connect app.

Hettich shared several of its forward-thinking products, including the debut of the award-winning FurnSpin — the unique turn-swivel fitting lets cabinet elements turn full circle on their own axis. The entire cabinet can be turned from a closed to an open position. Hettich says the fitting synchronizes two different forms of movement – swivel action and rotation through 180 degrees, moving along a defined path preventing bumping furniture edges and balancing torque to allow items within the cabinets to stay in place. Other featured products included the AvanTech You drawer system showing the complete versatility and flexibility incorporating wood and glass components and lighting.

The new Conecta hinge from Salice follows the recent trend of hidden, seamless integration. Salice says Conecta can remain completely hidden inside the door and side of the cabinet and provides clean lines and a modern design for any application, from glass doors with aluminum profiles or a door in the fully open position. Additional products include Exedra2, a double pocket door system with cam-assisted door extraction and cushioned door insertion that enables the simultaneous opening of two linked doors.

Titus Group displayed its flagship T-type hinge family plus the second generation of System 6 face-boring connectors for manufacturing environments with limited drilling capabilities, the Quickfit TL5 dowel; and the new Tekform Slimline+ drawer.

Blum segmented its offerings into several themes: Functional Living, Harmonious Living, and Individual Living. Each section featured creative uses of its Aventos lift system and Revego flexible pocket door system. On display were combination units with home office and fitness in one unit and a complete home office in one piece of furniture as well as a piece of furniture with an almost complete utility room set up.

Contemporary closet systems
It’s no surprise that modular, contemporary closet systems and organizers would be on display during one of Europe’s largest interior design and furniture shows.

Sige SpA showed its Kaos wardrobe line, which is composed of a series of components made of painted sheet metal in an Orion finish: pull-out frames, storage units, hook-and-loop elements, modular shoe, laundry, and trouser racks kits, and multi-functional shelves that can be transformed into smart workstations. Three finishes are available: faux leather, wood or glass. 

Sige also launched its new EDGE collection, which takes on the features of Kaos but allows for complete adjustability, starting from a minimum width of 55 centimeters to a maximum of 120 centimeters.

Raumplus, which got its start in sliding doors, displayed two closet systems. The 25-millimeter interior system featured a made-to-measure bespoke trouser rack and clothes lift with an integrated shelf on top. The company also showed additional products, including room dividers and sliding doors.

Surface solutions
New product developments from Schattdecor, such as Fineflex, an environmentally friendly, sustainable, recycled PET surface, and MFS-Touch, an anti-fingerprint effect in super matte finish, were among the products on display and popular with attendees. Schattdecor also highlighter its decor bestsellers Acapulco and Karlstad Oak along with Riva and Salvador Oak. 

These light wood options highlight the popularity of natural and warm decors.

EGGER showcased TM9 PerfectSense Smoothtouch Matte, a matte-lacquered surface variant on a chipboard core with 71% of the wood from sustainable sources; ST40 Feelwood Oakgrain, the latest generation of the Feelwood synchronized surfaces, and two new matte-lacquered, textured variants of the PerfectSense lacquered boards.

In a booth designed by Zanellato/Bortotto and Musa, Fenix/Arpa highlighted a new product Tuet, which is the winner of the High Product Quality interzum Award 2023. The deep ribbed surface showcases visual contrasts with a 3D effect, combining touch with a wavy sensation. The HPL product with a 1.5-millimeter depth can be applied vertically or horizontally.

Vibo Spa, an Italian kitchen and closet components accessories company, showcased Jino, a mobile unit that rolls entirely out of the cabinet, allowing users to move it around any space within a kitchen, closet or home office applications. 

View more products and booth tours at woodworkingnetwork.com/events.

The next iterations of interzum will take place March 28-21, 2024, in Guangzhou, China; May 14-17, 2024, in Bogota, Colombia; June 6-7 in Bergamo, Italy; and May 20-23, 2025, in Cologne, Germany.

For more information about the show, visit interzum.com.