Diane, Author at Bathroom Review

Fall in Love with Lily… Bathrooms to Love’s latest ceramic range

February 21, 2023

The Bathrooms to Love brand, from PJH, has announced the launch of the new LILY ceramic range, a contemporary design perfect for teaming up with fitted bathroom furniture.

Characterised by its soft curves and smooth clean lines, the LILY range is a versatile ceramicware family that enhances further the choice of styles and designs within the Bathrooms to Love collection of suites. The appeal of its simplistic styling and streamlined form make it a welcome addition to PJH’s high quality range of bathroom sanitaryware.

Featuring a semi-recessed basin, measuring in at 555mm (W) x 435mm (D), which is suitable for use with fitted bathroom furniture – such as the Benita Furniture design as pictured – the LILY range also includes a comprehensive collection of WCs. WC options include close-coupled fully shrouded, close-coupled open back, back-to-wall and wall-hung models. All feature luxurious soft-close seats and rimless designs as standard.

Bathrooms to Love also offers coordinated brushed brass and matt black overflow basin rings, dual flush buttons and seat hinge caps, perfect for LILY and which can be merchandised easily across the full Bathrooms to Love suite range.

Complete with a Lifetime Guarantee, the LILY Suite is manufactured to exacting standards, boasting a high-quality fit and finish that will stand the test of time.

Supported with PJH’s usual package of Bathrooms to Love showroom point-of-sale, display deals, consumer brochures, website and of course the PJH Partners Portal for online ordering, account management and next-day delivery, the new LILY Suite looks set to become a popular choice amongst retailers and the consumer.

Further information:

Bathrooms to Love by PJH: T: 0800 8 77 88 99 / www.partners.pjh.uk / www.bathroomstolove.uk

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Halo Slate, an aura of well-being

February 21, 2023

Unveiled by Acquabella as part of a brand-new product lineup, the minimalist Halo Slate is a framed shower tray with an elegant slate stone texture.

The Acquabella shower tray collection is enriched with the new Halo Slate. Like an ‘aura’ — from which it takes its name — a micro-textured cornice runs across the frame, creating a slight contrast with the Slate texture of the structure. Its use allows high-water evacuation via a slim grid.

Halo Slate is customisable in size thanks to its Akron® composition. On the one hand, it can be easily cut to adapt to specific space requirements. Moreover, like the entire Acquabella shower tray collection, Akron® products are customisable in colour thanks to the wide range of finishes available in the Standard, Naturally Made or RAL/NCS colours.

Akron® is Acquabella’s innovative patented material composed of polyurethane and mineral fillers, which is characterised by excellent hygienic and antibacterial properties. Its special structure allows for extremely defined textures for an extremely realistic tactile sensation.

Akron® is also easy to clean and is resistant to scratches or bumps that may occur during daily use of the shower tray.

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Duravit selects high-quality materials & raw ingredients for sustainability

February 20, 2023

According to Duravit the company is constantly researching innovative and ecological materials to help reduce CO2 emissions to enable durable and sustainable products to be manufactured. The complete bathroom supplier from the Black Forest says it is mindful of its responsibility to the environment, employees, and future generations.

Here, Duravit explains how it sources materials and the manufacturing processes it employs.

Ceramic sanitaryware: robustness & raw materials

Ceramic sanitary products are among the most durable and robust of all: easy to care for, resistant, scratchproof, and heatproof. This is one of the key reasons why Duravit says it offers a lifetime guarantee on most of its sanitary ceramic products. The complete bathroom provider uses natural raw materials in its manufacturing processes including: clay, kaolin, quartz, and feldspar, these are available globally, so Duravit’s international manufacturing sites can source and process the basic materials from their own regions. The shorter transport routes reduce CO2 missions, whilst guaranteeing secure, stable, and local sourcing of raw materials.

DuraCeram®: less material = fewer emissions

Duravit explains the DuraCeram® material used is a testament to how high design standards and sustainability can be combined: conventional bathroom ceramic, has a wall thickness of 12 to 14 mm, but DuraCeram® offers a thinner wall without sacrificing strength. The delicate design of the washbasins means they are 28 percent lighter, further reducing the consumption of raw materials: DuraCeram® has enabled Duravit AG to save an average of around 60 tonnes of raw materials each year since 2016.

DuroCast Nature: the first recyclable mineral material

According to Duravit, DuroCast Nature sees Duravit take a pioneering role in recyclable materials: the mineral material DuroCast Nature is made from polyurethane mixed with marble powder and sealed with a gelcoat surface.

This composition gives the material excellent properties making it: robust, UV-resistant, easy to clean, with maximum anti-slip properties on the matt surfaces. Perfect to use in the bathroom, which is why Duravit says it has developed Sustano, its first recyclable shower tray.

Thanks to a low weight, Sustano shower trays are lighter to transport, which helps reduce CO2 emissions, and at the end of their useful life, the DuroCast Nature shower trays can be returned to Duravit or a local recycling centre. In keeping with the life-cycle principle they can then be made into new shower trays, or processed for other industrial purposes.

Wooden furniture: a challenge in the bathroom

The bathroom is a challenging place for wood as a raw material as temperature fluctuations and the prevalence of moisture place a great strain on the material. Therefore the bathroom furniture made by the Duravit attaches great importance to surface treatment, as ultimately, a sealed surface is crucial for bathroom furniture to prevent moisture from getting into the wood.

A high-quality finish ensures the durability of the product, but the quality is a key factor; from the moment the raw materials are selected through to their delivery to the Schenkenzell site. Duravit’s bathroom furniture is manufactured here it is PEFC*- certified and this quality seal ensures sustainable forestry.

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IBC Products Limited secures sales of certain Imperial Bathrooms assets

February 20, 2023

Administrator Leonard Curtis has secured the sale of certain assets of one of Walsall’s oldest domestic bathroom manufacturers to IBC Products Limited after the company ceased trading.

Neil Bennett and Dane O’Hara of Leonard Curtis were appointed administrators of Imperial Bathrooms Limited on 31 January 2023 and immediately completed the asset sale to IBC Products Limited.

Imperial Bathrooms, founded in 1987, was a manufacturer and distributor of hand-crafted bathroom fixtures and fittings based in Aldridge, West Midlands – employing 37 members of staff.

Whilst the Company had ceased trading prior to the Administration, the sale of certain assets to IBC Products Limited has secured the future of this long-standing brand.

Dane O’Hara (pictured), one of the appointed administrators, commented: “Despite an accelerated but thorough M&A process, attracting in excess of 60 expressions of interest, we were sadly not able to identify a purchaser for the business and assets of the Company on a going concern basis.

“Traditional manufacturing businesses in the UK are faced with a host of difficulties in the current climate, competing on price with overseas manufacturers whilst trying to manage the ever-increasing overhead and energy costs.

“The Company was one of very few domestic manufacturers remaining in this sector, and despite the cessation of its manufacturing activities we are pleased that the sale of certain assets to IBC Products Limited will ensure that this prestigious brand continues into the future”.

Dane added: “We are continuing to liaise with all key stakeholders concerning the Administration process and anticipate substantial returns to the Company’s secured, preferential and secondary preferential creditors, as well as a potential return to unsecured creditors.”

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KBBG expands bathroom offering with Utopia

February 20, 2023

The Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group (KBBG), part of DER KREIS, Europe’s leading kitchen and bathroom buying group, has extended its portfolio of bathroom suppliers with the addition of Utopia.

Based in the Midlands, Utopia has been at the forefront of the UK bathroom industry for over 30 years, manufacturing an extensive collection of bathroom furniture, worktops and mirrors. Utopia also offers a varied range of sanitaryware, brassware, baths, shower screens, accessories, and lighting, to complete the bathroom solution and add that extra special wow factor.

Every Utopia bathroom is hand-built in its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, in the UK, using the finest materials. Striving to engineer products with the longest possible lifespan, Utopia’s products are sustainably sourced and built to last. What’s more, for complete peace of mind for KBBG members and their customers, Utopia offers a five-year guarantee on all furniture, a 10-year guarantee on brassware, a 30-year guarantee with all baths and a lifetime guarantee on sanitaryware.

Bill Miller, managing director, KBBG, says: “We are pleased to welcome Utopia to the KBBG, enhancing the range of bathroom products available to our members. Utopia is a multi-award winning UK bathroom manufacturer, and its products are produced to exacting quality standards, so we are confident that our members will find Utopia a welcome addition.”

Ian Hall, Joint MD, Utopia, adds: “It’s exciting to be on-board with the KBBG and we are looking forward to introducing our collection of bathroom furniture products and solutions to members of the buying group. Our ethos is to offer creative and inspiring bathroom solutions, designed and manufactured here in the UK to the very best specifications. We are sure this principle will resonate closely with the independent bathroom retailers that are members of the KBBG.”

For more information on the KBBG, call Bill Miller on 07887 247811 or email b.miller@derkreis.co.uk. You can also visit the website at www.kbbg.co.uk.

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Saniflo Sanispeed facilitates workshop change of use

February 20, 2023

DL Mechanical is a Nottingham-based business specialising in plumbing and pipe fitting engineering services. The company works with a broad portfolio of clients in the commercial and educational sectors designing, engineering and installing new pipework for water, steam & condense, oil and gas, soil and vent, rainwater among a range of other services.

An FE college in Nottinghamshire called on DL Mechanical’s expertise to advise on a change of use project that would improve the facilities for mechanics apprentices. Changing a classroom to a workshop required the installation of a wash down area. A site survey confirmed that no drains were in the immediate vicinity of the required area, so an alternative solution was found.

With advice from local plumbers’ merchant, Willbond, a Saniflo Sanispeed+ grey water lifting station was specified to discharge the water from the new washdown area. With its robust 400-watt motor and low activation level of 95mm, the unit was connected to a Zip water heater and the washdown areas to discharge hot and cold waste water through small bore pipework up 3m to an adjoining pipe. This ran by gravity to a soil and vent pipe some 60m away.

Terry Fisher, mechanical contracts manager at DL Mechanical, oversaw the project;

“The Sanispeed+ pretty much enabled the project to go ahead. Bar drilling a bore hole – which would have been prohibitively expensive – a pumped solution was the only way forward. The Saniflo unit is a simple plug and play solution, so proved easy to install and it has been working efficiently and effectively from day one.”

The Sanispeed+ is ideal for pumping waste water from appliances and sinks in light commercial applications and with four inlets it connects to a range of appliances. It has a working temperature of 35°C but can handle temperatures up to 75°C for short periods. It has a quiet motor and can be installed below counters or in cupboards out of sight if required.

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Villeroy & Boch launches bathroom competition

February 20, 2023

Villeroy & Boch invites architects, designers and retailers to submit a photo to the Subway 3.0 competition, to be in with a chance of winning an experience voucher worth £1,000.

Villeroy & Boch’s Subway 3.0 is the ideal collection for designing a timeless family bathroom. Having won your customers’ hearts, you now have the chance to win a prize from the Villeroy & Boch judges.

To take part in the competition, simply submit a photo of your 3D design or a completed bathroom project to the Villeroy & Boch website. Your entry must include which least one Villeroy & Boch Subway 3.0 product.

The top two runner’s up will each be rewarded with an iconic La Boule.

To take part in the competition, submit your entry here. Entries close on Saturday 15^th April 2023.

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Houzz announces Best of Houzz 2023 winners

February 20, 2023

The annual people’s choice award recognises professionals among the Houzz community who stand out in both talent and customer service

Houzz Inc., the leading platform for home renovation and design, including the all-in-one software solution for industry professionals, today announced the Houzz community’s choices for Best of Houzz 2023, a homeowner-to-homeowner guide to the most outstanding professionals across the globe, including top architects, interior designers, kitchen and bathroom designers, garden designers and other residential design and renovation professionals on Houzz. This exclusive award recognises just 3% of the more than 3 million home professionals and interior and architectural photographers on the Houzz platform.

“We are thrilled to highlight incredibly talented and customer-driven pros from the Houzz community through the Best of Houzz awards,” said Andrew Small, managing director for Industry Solutions for Houzz. “At Houzz, we strive to support professionals from building their brands and attracting clients, to managing their business efficiently and profitably, and collaborating with clients. The Best of Houzz awards provide a distinctive mark of credibility for homeowners looking for pros on Houzz. We congratulate all the winners for everything they’ve accomplished in 2022 and look forward to seeing their work and positive reviews in the year ahead.”

Best of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honour professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. Customer Service honours are based on several factors, including a professional’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews for projects completed in 2022. Photography badges are awarded to architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular.

A “Best of Houzz 2023” badge, specifying the category won, appears on winners’ profiles to help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals on Houzz locally and around the world. Houzz Pro members can also add the ‘Best of Houzz’ standout tag to their profile, which will appear in their directory listing and improve credibility. Winners have been announced globally.

For residential professionals interested in learning more about the Best of Houzz programme, visit houzz.co.uk/best-of-houzz.

To see the most popular home designs visit: houzz.co.uk/best-of-houzz-2023.

Phote by Photo-KT1-Photography

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Duravit is ready for ISH trade fair in Frankfurt this March

February 15, 2023

The complete bathroom manufacturer has a few things in store for the international audience at its booth, which can be found covering an area of over 1,000 sqm at the usual location in Hall 3.1/B99: under the slogan of “Extra colours. Extra materials. Extraordinary design.”

In addition to the innovations and new products, the Duravit team are looking forward to face-to-face
discussions with customers, dealers, and tradesmen, as Duravit CEO Stephan Tahy confirmed: “We look forward to being able to present our innovations in this inspiring environment and to be able to talk to our customers. ISH knows how to gather our key target groups of fitters and architects together at an international event for the sanitaryware and heating industry.

“This is unique in Europe. Our teams are preparing for the fair at full steam to guarantee some very special Duravit fireworks!”

Duravit will create a unique trade-fair presence that perfectly showcases this year’s product innovations for an extraordinary visitor experience – to upgrade every day in the bathroom.

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CTD Tiles Ltd. acquires 13 branches from Tile Giant

February 15, 2023

CTD Tiles Limited (CTD), part of the AURELIUS Group, has announced the acquisition of 13 UK branches, from Tile Giant. The existing team members will become part of CTD.

The transaction will expand CTD’s nationwide network of branches and bolster its commitment to being one of the UK’s leading omni-channel specialist tile distributors.

Katie Clapham, CTD’s HR & marketing director welcomes the new colleagues to CTD: “We want all of our CTD colleagues, to feel part of our growth story and provide them the possibility to actively engage in delivering success. We are looking forward to welcoming our new team members”.

Shaun Mason – CTD’s head of commercial & supply chain commented: “We want to drive forward our vision of CTD and we will continue to look for further opportunities to grow both organically and through acquisitions”.

CTD’s core philosophy of placing exceptional customer service at the centre of its business will be extended to these new branches and will serve to provide a vital service to the local tiling, bathroom and construction industry in the respective areas. We plan to manage the transition in ownership and rebranding with minimal disruption to customers.

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