The entrants in the third European Competition for the Interior Furnishing Trades went about their work at DOMOTEX in Hannover with an impressive display of skill, precision and a sure sense of style. For two days trade visitors at the leading international trade fair for floor coverings were able to watch the young interior furnishers at work. On 15 January Norbert Berndt, President of the ZVR, Germany's national association representing the interior furnishing trades, handed over the prizes to the three winners: first prize went to Simon Höller from Italy, second prize to Michael Kaufmann from Austria and third prize to Markus Gantioler from Italy.

The challenge facing the young interior furnishers and decorators was a formidable one: they had just 13 hours to design and furnish an empty room, and in the process to give an insight into the many different skills and accomplishments that their profession demands. The specific tasks they were set included modern and traditional upholstery work; the fitting of textile floor coverings; the installation of window blinds; and the application of wall coverings. At the same time the contestants were required to demonstrate their design skills and their awareness of today's furnishing fashions and trends. In line with the headline theme of DOMOTEX 2012 "Customized Living" the room setting had to be given its own specific character by the use of carefully chosen stylistic cues.

Despite the youth and comparative inexperience of the young contestants - all were under the age of 25, and are either still doing their training or else completed their apprenticeship only last year - it was very clear that they are already very accomplished practitioners of their trade. The European Competition for the Interior Furnishing Trades is staged every two years, and the participating line-up consists of the two top-placed performers from the corresponding national competitions held in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and South Tyrol. The jury is made up of representatives of the four national trade associations concerned.

It was these four national trade associations that agreed in 2006 to revive the previous European interior furnishing association under the name EuroInterior. The first European competition for interior furnishers and decorators was hosted by DOMOTEX HANNOVER in 2008. The member associations of EuroInterior are the Central Association for Interior Furnishing (Germany); interieursuisse - Swiss Association of Interior Decorators, Furniture Dealers and Saddlers (Switzerland); the Federal Guild of Wallpaper Hangers and Interior Decorators (Austria); and the South Tyrol Guild of Wallpaper Hangers and Interior Furnishers (Italy).