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Square or circle? Kaldewei looks at the shape of things to come…

Is it personal or is it something else?

What makes an individual prefer one shape over another?  Round, square, oval or rectangle, is it a personal choice or does it come from somewhere deep in your psyche?

The Human Library

The human mind instinctively categorises images from the world around us, assigning each a ‘shape’ and creating our own mental library of visual forms.  We then link each shape o a range of emotions, thoughts, and perceptions.

Research

Shape clearly plays an important role n how consumers respond, but why? In 2010, neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins conducted an experiment to find out if any shapes were more pleasing than others.

A curvy surface is characteristic of living organisms so the brain may have evolved to process information about rounded shapes to guide behaviour like eating and attracting partners, evoking a friendly feeling.

Whilst more angular objects, relating to rough, jagged forms, tend to be inorganic and offering shelter and structure, hence the feeling of safety.

Circles

Rounded shapes have a friendly, gentle warmer, softer association than more ridged images.  There are a multitude of shapes, such as the sun and the moon, that symbolise a circle, representing inclusiveness, unity, and protection; their presence in the overall design makes a room feel youthful, happy, and carefree.

Square

With their even proportions and strong ridged edges squares suggest stability and order, these more formal shapes are calming, evoking a sense of conformity, honesty, and rationality.  You can’t imagine a square shape being easily toppled, designs with squares as the dominant shape, feel exceptionally reassuring.

www.kaldewei.co.uk

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Ceramique Internationale’s new Metropolis tiles prove big is beautiful

Ceramique International

Understated contemporary style on a scale that delivers a dramatic backdrop encapsulates Metropolis, the latest tile range from Ceramique Internationale.

These impressive 900mm x 900mm slab tiles are available in three gentle tones – graphite, sand and silver – with a subtle tactile variation drawn from the urban characteristics of cement and concrete.

Designed in Italy by Casalgrande Padana, Metropolis tiles provide a seamless backdrop which will harmonise with any setting, from living room, kitchen or conservatory, to bathroom, patio or pool. They also deliver durability and ease of maintenance, providing the perfect relaxed feel for both floors and walls.

Director of Ceramique Internationale, Peter Vann, said: “Italy is the design epicentre of the tile world, and nobody does contemporary style better.

“The Metropolis collection is a perfect example of the Italian flair for combining subtle style with urban edge, ideal for creating a seamless modern look that will never date.” More information on the Metropolis collection can be found at https://tilesandmosaics.co.uk/?s=metropolis&post_type=product

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Ideal Standard to showcase Atelier Collections at HIX 

Ideal Standard HIX Multi suite

Ideal Standard will display the pinnacle of its design offering, the Atelier Collections, at HIX on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th November.  

This year’s event marks the first time Ideal Standard has exhibited at Europe’s biggest hotel design show, with the bathroom manufacturer holding a prominent position at Stand 2 in London’s Business Design Centre. 

The Atelier Collections are Ideal Standard’s leading design-led offering, combining the manufacturing expertise of Ideal Standard with the renowned vision of chief design officer and co-founder of Palomba Serafini Associati (PS+A), Roberto Palomba. 

Award-winning products from the collections such as Linda X, Conca, Ipalyss and Tipo Z will be showcased for designers, specifiers and hoteliers to see in the flesh, and the Blend Cube and Blend Curve WCs will also be displayed as part of a complete bathroom solution for projects.  

With innovation a core part of Ideal Standard’s business, the bathroom manufacturer will also be displaying its Ceratherm Navigo built-in shower valve at HIX. The new mixer features push-button technology that makes temperature and flow selection easy, safe and intuitive – a key consideration for hotels. Additionally, Ideal Standard will also be showcasing their PVD finishes on the T125 exposed shower system with Brushed Gold, Magnetic Grey and Silver Storm available alongside a traditional chrome. The colour range marks the first time Ideal Standard has used PVD finishes on exposed showers systems. 

Anil Madan, non-residential marketing manager at Ideal Standard International NV, said: “HIX is one of the most important design events of the year, and we’re excited to be exhibiting for the first time. We’ll be showcasing our latest innovative products and stunning Atelier Collections to hoteliers and specifiers from across the industry.”  

Both the Atelier Collections and Ceratherm Navigo shower valves are perfect for designers and specifiers looking to elevate design in hotel spaces, and can be easily paired with other Ideal Standard products through the unique Singular™ philosophy. Singular™ provides an end-to-end product and service offering for designers and specifiers alike, making it simple to combine products from the brand’s wider offering to create truly individual spaces.  

Anil Madan added: “We’re also looking forward to showcasing our Singular™ philosophy, which truly simplifies the specification process while providing a comprehensive range of award-winning solutions – perfect for creating quality, design-led hotel bathrooms and washrooms.” 

To register to attend HIX, visit: https://registration.gesevent.com/survey/3u6oayn2opmeg/register/?actioncode=NTWO000002DFR 

To find out more about the Atelier Collections, visit: https://www.idealstandard.co.uk/products/highlights/atelier  

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HiB expands cabinet range to include new finishes

Vanquish Cabinet Black Trim

Brushed brass and black trims are now available as part of the long anticipated expansion of the Vanquish range from HiB.

The popular recessed cabinet has long been a firm favourite for customers, thanks to its neat and stylish approach to storage within the bathroom wall.

The recent launch of two new trims now means that those designing their bathroom can choose from the standard brushed aluminium finish or the new brushed brass and black options.

Available in four sizes, 50cm, 60cm, 80cm and 120cm, Vanquish neatly fits within the recess of the wall and provides integrated 2-pin charging points for razors and toothbrushes. Because of the colour changing LED illumination and heated pads to reduce condensation, users can enjoy clean, and clear reflections while in the bathroom.

Ash Chilver, sales director at HiB said: “Our customers have always loved Vanquish because it offers all the storage of a cabinet but with the aesthetic of a mirror. It’s fantastic that we are now able to enhance the range and offer more finishes, which can be matched with brushed brass or black brassware and accessories, improving the overall design of the bathroom.”

For more information about the new Vanquish brushed brass and black trims, visit https://www.hib.co.uk/product/vanquish-trim/

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Kudos introduces new additions to Pinnacle8 Shower enclosure collection

Kudos pinnacle 8

Kudos Showers is introducing some superbly stylish frameless, low level access, additions to its Pinnacle8 Shower enclosure collection. These stunning frameless models maximise both space and light and are to be introduced with hinged and quadrant functionality in both matt black and chrome profiles.

As with the complete selection of popular Pinnacle8 enclosures, these new additions come 2000mm in height and with 8mm toughened safety glass throughout. They are available in the same sizes as the current range with quadrants ranging in size from 900x900mm up to 1200x900mm and the hinged models from 800-1200mm door sizes and 700-1200mm side panels. One of the key new functionalities of the quadrant models is that they will feature hinged doors instead of the sliding doors on the current Pinnacle8 quadrants, offering an alternative design feature.

These new frameless options feature the same subtle finger pull door opener with the option of changing to a retrofit handle and the complete collection come finished an easy clean, LifeShieldÔ protection.

Pinnacle8 frameless will start being phased into Kudos independent showroom customer displays from December.

Kudos Shower Products Ltd has been designing and manufacturing shower products at their Cumbrian facility since 1999. Their portfolio includes shower enclosures, shower trays, over bath screens and wet-room solutions sold via KBB showrooms and merchants across the UK.

Please call on 01539 564040, email to marketing@kudosshowers.co.uk or visit their website at kudosshowers.co.uk.

Kudos P8 Frameless Quad

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Clever storage and energy saving options for the bathroom

Niva bath Vasco

Whatever the size of your bathroom who can say no to additional storage space? The Niva Bath from Vasco, is a steel designer radiator that only uses 4 litres of water enabling it to provide a rapid and powerful heating source plus additional storage space, discretely hidden behind the radiator.

The radiator is set 325 mm further away from the wall, than a traditional radiator. This distance allows more than enough space for fitted shelves, perfect for towels and other accessories plus a rail where shirts and robes can be hung to be aired or warmed before use.

The radiator is available in 55 colours, whilst the shelves are available in standard in black (RAL 9005), or white (S600) so this practical radiator ticks every box in terms of interior design, sustainability, style and of course storage.

The Niva Bath is just one of the extensive ranges of steel designer radiators and accessories from
Vasco each providing the perfect ambient temperature for any room.

Niva Bath Vasco
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Virtual Worlds Training Academy maximises design knowledge

Virtual Worlds Training

Ensuring retailers and designers get the most out of the latest design software technology, Virtual Worlds has launched a new academy, offering in-person and online training to its network of customers.

The Virtual Worlds Academy offers training sessions tailored to the differing needs of the candidates – from small family businesses wanting to use Virtual Worlds to produce high-quality renders quickly, to showrooms that deal with high volumes and need fast design tricks and manufacturers looking for basic training to see how their products are displayed in the software.

Three levels of training are available, from beginner to experienced user, with each session designed to enable Virtual Worlds customers to build up their knowledge of using the software gradually, coming away with a host of tips and tricks to enable them to create designs faster and maximise the potential of investing in the market-leading 3D and 4D design technology. Retailers also learn how to use Virtual Worlds to upsell clients, so that each completed sale generates the best possible margin.

Training can be delivered to groups of up to 10 people, either at the Virtual Worlds head office in Milton Keynes or on site, with 1to1 online training sessions also available.

Kick-starting the Academy, Virtual Worlds has launched VW Academy shorts, a series of free online sessions focusing on a different topic each week. Each sessions lasts just 30 minutes, providing retailers with the perfect way to enhance their Virtual Worlds knowledge during a coffee break.

Nathan MacLean, managing director of Virtual Worlds, comments: “To really get the best out of the latest design software, even the most seasoned of designers should have some form of regular training at least once a year, hence the launch of the Virtual Worlds Academy.

“Not only will this mean they can experience new features of the software and ensure they are up to date with the best features of the system, it will make otherwise time-consuming procedures in CAD a thing of the past, so a designer’s time can be better spent on the most valuable aspects of the job.”

 For more information on Virtual Worlds call 01908 663 848 or visit www.virtualworlds.co.uk

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Saniflo provides a new CPD offering

Saniflo CPD

Saniflo UK – part of the SFA Group and a leading designer and manufacturer of pumps, macerators and lifting stations – has a new CIBSE-approved CPD offering for Public Health Engineers, Mechanical Consultants, Architects, Mechanical Installers and Specialist Resellers. The hour-long talk, which can be supplemented with a two-hour session of pump curve training if required, is designed to discuss and offer technical training on macerators and lifting stations for commercial and domestic buildings. This CPD is part of wastewater and drainage in the public health sector/mechanical engineering.

By the end of the presentation, attendees will understand the challenges of gravity-fed drainage systems, be able to identify where and when to use a macerator or lifting station, be able to navigate critical installation requirements and considerations, understand some of the key differences between the lifting station technologies, and be able to use pump curves to help specify the correct pump.

To book a CPD for your organisation, call 020 8842 0033 or email marketing@saniflo.co.uk

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UK Bathroom Warehouse partners with Ideal Standard

Ideal Standard

Ideal Standard has strengthened its relationship with UK Bathroom Warehouse, following the launch of two new dedicated retail areas within the stockist’s Wallingford and Oxford stores.

The partnership will see UK Bathroom Warehouse become a flagship showroom for Ideal Standard, one of only a handful of locations in the UK to host Ideal Standard’s premium Atelier Collections – a range of expertly designed bathroom products from renowned Italian design studio, Palombi Serafini + Associati (PS+A).

To celebrate the new spaces, UK Bathroom Warehouse will host a launch event on 23rd November 2022 at its Oxford showroom. The event will provide the opportunity for architects, designers and consumers to experience the new design-led products first hand.

Launched in 2021, the Atelier Collections are inspired by Ideal Standard’s rich design heritage, combining aesthetics and design philosophies of the past with modern aesthetics and technology. The result is an exciting collection of new statement pieces for the contemporary bathroom, including an exclusive range of ceramics, brassware and furniture – from the clean, pure lines of the Linda-X range, to the statuesque Tipo-Z basin and the geometrically inspired Conca collections.

The bold designs of the Atelier Collections work in harmony with pieces from across Ideal Standard’s ranges through the Singular™ philosophy – an innovative approach to specification, enabling customers, designers, and specifiers to easily combine products from across the manufacturer’s offering to create unique designs for their space.

Speaking on the new flagship showroom, Adam Evans, channel director (Retail) at Ideal Standard UK, said: “We’ve worked closely with UK Bathroom Warehouse to provide customers with the highest quality in bathroom products for the past four years, and the launch of these new flagship showrooms is an extension and strengthening of that partnership.

“We’re looking forward to joining UK Bathroom Warehouse in welcoming architects, designers and consumers to the launch event in Oxford and providing the chance for guests to immersive themselves in our design-led ranges.”

Steve Freeland, showroom director, at UK Bathroom Warehouse, added: “We’ve developed a great relationship with Ideal Standard since we began working with them and this launch event for the Atelier Collections showcases that partnership perfectly.

“It’s a great opportunity for guests to visit the Oxford showroom on the 23rd November and get their hands on the fantastic new pieces in the Atelier Collections as we continue to work with Ideal Standard to give our customers the best possible options.”

The launch event will take place on the 23rd November 2022, between 4.00pm and 8.00pm at the UK Bathroom Warehouse Showroom, 18 Pony Rd, Oxford OX4 2RD.

To register for the event please email: af@ukbathroomwarehouse.com

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Victoria Plum appoints Helen Skelton as first-ever brand ambassador

Victoria Plum Helen Skelton

Online bathroom retailer Victoria Plum has revealed TV and radio presenter Helen Skelton as its first ever brand ambassador.

Helen is known for hosting popular BBC TV shows Blue Peter and Countryfile and is currently starring in Strictly Come Dancing.

Her brand ambassador role will see Helen get involved in a range of activity including community and sustainability projects, content marketing, social media and events.

Speaking about the partnership, Helen said: “Making home improvements is something I’ve long had a personal interest in which means I understand the hopes and expectations of Victoria Plum’s customers.

“I also know it’s a progressive business that’s dedicated to providing a great customer experience and delivering a beautiful end result.

“It feels right for me to partner with Victoria Plum because I like the people, products and the way they successfully go about helping make customers achieve their dream bathrooms.”

Victoria Plum Helen Skelton

Established in 2001, Victoria Plum offers more than 13,000 bathroom products and uniquely for a UK online bathroom retailer the company offers a design and installation service to its customers.

Victoria Plum chief executive, Paul McClenaghan, said: “We have been considering appointing a brand ambassador for some time and Helen was always top of our list.

“Her down-to-earth nature, relatability and warm personality fits perfectly with Victoria Plum’s values and makes her the ideal person to partner with.

“We have lots of exciting plans with Helen and we can’t wait to get started on implementing them.”

To find out more about the company visit www.victoriaplum.com

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