Michelle goes back to her German roots and visits ZOW!

Battling negative temperatures and snow storms, navigating the Autobahn and sampling some good German food; The Think Tank visited ZOW Bad Salzuflen last week.

ZOW Bad Salzuflen is the key supply show for furniture and interior design in Germany and ran from 6-9th February 2012.

It was not all Weiner Schnitzel and Weissbier, The Think Tank, along with PR support for Formica Group who featured on the Homanit stand alongside German distributor Homatrade, also took in the event to see what was new in the furniture materials world.

From tiles and doors laden with swarovski crystals to LED lit cooker hoods, ZOW showcased the most exciting and innovative products for the next season. We saw 3D surface finishes, thousands of furniture handles, from rose shaped to rhinoceros-tusk inspired. There were four halls filled with inspiration and free coffee (which we needed after walking everywhere).

Formica Group also featured new avant-garde texture Plex which illuminates the beauty and radiance of natural metals and provides a fresh alternative to the long-established brushed look. Inspired by satin textiles, damask and rough plaster, Plex is a crisp and versatile finish, ideal for use in luxury hotels and high-end retail environments.

All in all it was a great success and an excellent opportunity to see what's happening across European design.