Family-run, independent online tiles specialist Hyperion Tiles has expanded its comprehensive portfolio with every range from handmade and reclaimed artisan tiles supplier Bert & May. This new collaboration means Hyperion Tiles now has access to all their new and existing collections for homeowners, designers, architects and specifiers.
Richard Skeoch, director at Hyperion Tiles, explains: “Our new Bert & May tiles collections enable us to provide you with even more opportunities to add individual character to any home design. From encaustic cement and reclaimed to glazed and terracotta tiles, there are distinctive colour ways, materials, styles and patterns or plains to suit your project.
“Our new Bert & May tiles offer all sorts of applications, from kitchen flooring and splashbacks to bathroom floors and walls and this versatility is matched by their super-stylish designs.”
Led by the trend for minimalism, one such tiles application could be a wet room. So, if you want to create a spa-like showering experience, tiling will form an integral part of your design. Showcased here are four examples where Bert & May tiles have featured striking designs to create individual statement wet rooms.
A recent flurry of appointments to the Kinedo sales team has culminated in the appointment of William Willcox to cover the North of England and Scotland.
William joined the business in April and quickly hit the ground running adding a number of new display showrooms in his territory to showcase the Kinedo brand of shower cubicles, enclosures and trays. His former experience as general manager of Smedbo, the upmarket Scandinavia bathroom accessories manufacturer, helped him with these early successes and stand him in good stead to develop the market further.
William is looking forward to developing a greater showroom base in the region and creating greater awareness and sales of the range of products;
“I am really impressed by the Kinedo products and looking forward to expanding the network of showrooms even wider. Those I’ve worked with so far really understand the benefits of the Kinedo range for their customers and appreciate the quality of the products. “
Ideal Standard has strengthened its long-standing relationship with Island Bathrooms, with the launch of a new dedicated retail area within the stockist’s Salisbury store.
The collaboration further solidifies a 25-year relationship between Ideal Standard and Island Bathrooms, with the new 47m² dedicated retail area having opened on 26th July 2022.
Formed more than 40 years ago, family-run Island Bathrooms is one of the largest bathroom showrooms in the South West of England, and has locations across Bournemouth, Wiltshire and Salisbury. To celebrate the launch of its new Atelier retail area, Island Bathrooms also organised a grand opening event at its showroom in Churchfields Industrial Estate. The event provided customers with a first chance to view the products in person, while also enjoying refreshments and entertainment provided by a local jazz duo.
The new retail space has been curated by Ideal Standard’s chief design officer and PS+A co-founder, Roberto Palomba, working closely with Island Bathrooms to give customers a stunning space in which to view the products.
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: “For over 25 years, we’ve been working closely with Island Bathrooms to provide the highest quality in bathroom products. It’s a pleasure to continue strengthening our partnership, through the launch of a new dedicated retail space for our premier Atelier Collections.
“The showroom is a fantastic space, showcasing some incredible Ideal Standard products and providing an immersive experience for customers.”
David Lees-Bell, Director at Island Bathrooms, added: “We have a great relationship with Ideal Standard and this latest development is a testament to the strength of that partnership. By becoming a flagship Atelier Collection showroom, we can continue to work closely with Ideal Standard and provide the best possible experience for our customers.”
REVA meaning – “the one which connects” is an elegant and functional range of accessories from KEUCO. Accessories are not always the first components that spring to mind when creating a bathroom, but if missing from the room it is immediately noticed. Bathroom accessories, especially free-standing, are more than just useful items, when thoughtfully and creatively designed they bring style, harmony, and individuality to every bathroom design.
The REVA accessories series has been crafted as a clear geometric shape that works with a wide range of furnishing styles and living environments, regardless of fashion trends. They are high-quality with a flawless finish, available with a chrome-plated, or matt black finish which creates a particularly striking finish.
The REVA range includes a harmonious selection of accessories, which are both elegant and extremely practical such as the lotion dispenser; with its practical single-handed operation and white satin-finish inverted glass for easy filling. It is operated from below, there is no risk of water drops dripping from wet hands onto the surface of the dispenser.
Towel holders are available in single and double-arm versions and the toilet paper holder is available with or without a shelf; the REVA toilet brush set with a white satin-finish inverted glass has a removable plastic insert, which is easy to clean, and the toilet brush is always dry due to the drip reservoir.
The shower shelf comes in white or matt black and has a hidden secret – a glass squeegee is invisibly integrated into the design; as details that is both creative and practical. There are two recesses on the side of the shelf, these can be used to hang bathing and showering toiletries. (The shelf is also available without a glass squeegee.)
The REVA grab rail acts as a sturdy support in the bath or shower; the towel holder is available in sizes of 600 mm or 800 mm providing towels of any size enough space to dry away from the wall.
The bath towel rail has a smart detail, a hook on the side of the reverse – not visible from the front can be used to hang items such as a bath sponge. Towels or bathrobes hang securely on the slightly inclined hook and thanks to their solid wall mounting, all KEUCO accessories guarantee comfortable use and durability.
Knightsbridge has taken the next step in its lighting evolution with the inclusion of SpektroLED® Tilt to the configurable, Knightsbridge SpektroLED® series. SpektroLED® offers so many combinations of wattage, colour temperature and bezel choice that the product provides a genuine 40-in-1 fire-rated downlighting solution, now in both fixed and tilt versions.
With the introduction of SpektroLED®, Knightsbridge – a leading UK manufacturer of wiring accessories and lighting – has removed the limitations of traditional downlights, offering versatility, performance and style in one unique package, and allowing for customisation and personalisation of lighting design without resorting to multiple lamp types.
The new SpektroLED® Tilt variant increases the options again. Like the fixed model, SpektroLED® Tilt offers a choice of two wattages – 5W and 8W – five colour temperatures (CCTs) and five bezel finishes, from white and matt black to chrome, polished chrome and brass; resulting in 40 different styles and performance permutations.
The wattages and CCTs are switch-selected on the rear of the downlight body. At 5W, SpektroLED® delivers up to 465 lumens and up to 795 lumens at 8W. The four CCTs available are 2700K, 3000K, 4000K and 6000K, representing warm white through to daylight. The choice of five bezels then allows further customisation to complement or contrast with any interior décor or colourway.
Installation, as with all Knightsbridge products, is straightforward. Both units feature simple first-fix power connectors with loop in/loop out terminals that can be terminated and hidden away while other works are finished. The downlight can then be plugged in to complete the installation after decoration and lends itself easily for maintenance and access to the innovative CCT and power properties.
The downlights are fire rated for solid timber, web joist and I-joist installation for up to 90 minutes depending on materials and, in addition, is IC rated for retention of efficiency of mineral wool insulation in the ceiling void. SpektroLED® Fixed has an IP65 rating from below, making it suitable for use in bathrooms and wet rooms, while SpektroLED® Tilt is rated at IP20.
Once installed, SpektroLED® will give 50,000 hours of rated LED life and can be used with most leading and trailing-edge dimmers though compatibility should be verified beforehand. A five-year warranty guarantees peace of mind.
For further details of the Knightsbridge innovative wiring accessories and lighting products, please visit www.mlaccessories.co.uk or call 01582 887760
The Hotel Seegarten in Sundern is the perfect place for an exclusive holiday in Sauerland, Germany, owned and run by TV chef Olaf Baumeister, who with his team have selected the best partners to create an ambience of hand-picked, contemporary furniture and luxurious interiors.
Baumeister chose to use Kaldewei throughout the hotel, giving the bathroom design a high-quality profile. In addition to 14 Centro Duo bathtubs, the Hotel Seegarten also installed the first Nueva washbowls designed by Werner Aisslinger in 49 guest bathrooms.
The designer Werner Aisslinger has succeeded in giving the bowls made of Kaldewei’s steel enamel a unique accent. The Nueva captivates with its clear, authentic design, the way the contour is offset adds a calm precision that means it is destined to become a classic. The design received the Red Dot Award, at the end of June 2022.
The Hotel Seegarten is the first hotel in the world to use these new washbowls:
“The special thing about the Hotel Seegarten is that traditionally we select the entire interior from the region: from clay plaster on the walls, to small items like switches and cables, to bathroom objects made of steel enamel. This is not only extremely well received by our suppliers, but of course also by our guests, who love the stories behind the products,” says hotelier Olaf Baumeister proudly.
The Nueva washbasins with their expressive and clearly defined design are made of recyclable steel enamel and are suitable for luxurious hotel bathrooms and wellness areas as well as for exclusive private spas and public areas. The model is available in all Kaldewei’s sanitary colours as well as the shades of the Coordinated Colours Collection. Nueva will soon be providing stylish bathing moments to other amazing places in addition to the Sauerland idyll at Sorpesee.
British shower manufacturer Aqualisa has been acquired by Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc (NYSE: FBHS) from mid-market private equity firm LDC. Aqualisa will be part of the Fortune Brands’ Water Innovations business unit, alongside the powerful Moen® brand and artisan brand offerings from the House of Rohl.
Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), is headquartered in Deerfield, IL., and is a Fortune 500 company, part of the S&P 500 Index and a leader in the home products industry. It’s market positions occupy three operating segments, Water Innovations, Outdoors & Security, and Cabinets, Fortune Brands’ 28,000 associates work with a purpose to fulfill the dreams of home.
Mat Norris, CEO at Aqualisa, stated, “Fortune Brands has a proven track record of investing in brands, innovation and people. As part of Fortune Brands, we are excited for how we can enhance our service to our customers, trade professionals, partners and consumers. Now, we will have even more opportunities to pursue our mission of sustainably innovating the ultimate shower experience for generations to come. I want to thank our team members, our customers, and our investors LDC for their dedication and support.”
“We are proactively positioning Fortune Brands for a future of increased brand and innovation strength and accelerated growth. With Aqualisa, we are gaining complementary brands and additional innovation capabilities, and we are advancing our key strategic focus on the super-charged categories in water. Aqualisa is a great fit within our business, and I look forward to what we will do together,” said Fortune Brands CEO, Nicholas Fink.
“Fortune Brands has long been a brand and innovation leader. As we continue to evolve, we are proactively positioning our Company for a future of increased brand and innovation strength and accelerated growth,” said Nicholas Fink, chief executive officer, Fortune Brands.
“This exciting acquisition helps advance our key strategic focus on the super-charged categories in water. As part of our Fortune Brands Water Innovations business, Aqualisa will enable us to continue to leverage powerful growth accelerants in water management, connected products and global sustainability. These categories present tremendous opportunities for our Company, and Aqualisa’s portfolio of digital, premium showering products will enhance our ability to capture that upside.”
About Aqualisa
Founded in 1977, Aqualisa is a leading designer, developer and producer of shower products. The company claim it invented the world’s first digital shower and is known for its commitment to innovation and new product development, particularly in the smart bathroom category.
M2M View 01 Fixed Panel in brushed nickel with grey glass by West One Bathrooms
M2M by The Shower Lab is a dedicated fully customised service available to all retailers and installers.
The unique service is offered with any product in the View Collection. Consumers can choose the shower space, style, colour and configuration of their dreams, leaving The Shower Lab to customise and create, whatever the demands, limitations of space, peculiarities of size or general constraints.
Common requirements include shower spaces for small bathrooms and constricted areas, oversized enclosures and solutions for larger areas, recesses, steam rooms, sloping ceilings, floor-to-ceiling configurations, steam rooms, uneven floors and ceilings, notches, and half-height walls.
All of the M2M By The Shower Lab shower spaces come with a 2-year Installation Warranty as standard.
The Shower Lab Bespoke 3-D printer
Pictured top: M2M View 05 in black with clear glass by Aqua Bathrooms
The British bathroom world was very different 30 years ago when Levent Giray and his team brought VitrA to the UK. According to VitrA it was one of the first European manufacturers to break into the market – which was dominated by British names – thanks to its quality manufacturing, strength in domestic market leadership and innovative production capabilities.
When VitrA entered the UK market in the early 1990s, the company already had 30 years of experience in ceramic manufacturing, ten years of experience in brassware manufacturing, and an enviable portfolio of products.
While VitrA brought new design styles into the UK, products were always produced according to UK plumbing systems. VitrA also designed products explicitly suited to the British market, such as the Chelsea and Chartwell ranges. The company was also one of the first non-British manufacturers to become a member of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, reflecting its sense of duty to the UK industry.
VitrA says appearances at shows such as ISH and Interbuild, showing innovative, quality products, won VitrA support early on among independent retailers. Ranges like VitrA’s Riva, Pluto, and Berwick are still remembered by retailers who built their business on these and other ranges. VitrA has played a key role in pivotal bathroom design developments, including wall-hung pans, which the brand has manufactured since the late 1980s.
VitrA also claims to be one of the first to introduce an affordable, good-looking shower toilet option into the UK market. Not only is the popular V-Care shower toilet priced incredibly competitively, but it’s also virtually indistinguishable from a regular wall-hung toilet.
VitrA has always had a strong focus on innovation. In the early days, according to the brand, it brand pioneered advanced manufacturing technology, including the integration of CAD software. In 2011, VitrA opened the Innovation Centre. This state-of-the-art research and development centre produces and trials new products and technologies for international markets, specifically for the UK market, considering the UK demands for plumbing, water variations and space requirements. Several unique solutions, such as VitrA Rim-ex rimless technology and VitrA Hygiene ceramic glaze, have originated from the Innovation
Continuous investment over the thirty years allowed VitrA to lead manufacturing processes and remain hugely flexible in logistics and supply. In the UK, this was enhanced by building relationships with the strongest British distributors – early on with Scorpion and later Barwick and Davroc.
Over the years, VitrA has worked hard to build retailer relationships and introduce the brand to the British public. VitrA started the Showrooms of Excellence programme in the late 1990s, which continues today as an integral part of the sales strategy. These longstanding and effective partnerships form a network of retail experts that keep VitrA close to the marketplace. Building on the success of the retail market, VitrA started to supply to the commercial market over 20 years ago. Within the first five years, the company won the contract for the new Heathrow T5 terminal and created the K basins specifically for this project. VitrA has also nurtured relationships within the hospitality sector, including IHG & Hilton, leveraging the company’s global presence.
VitrA has also built longstanding relationships with architects, developers and housebuilders in the residential contracts market. In the early 2000s, VitrA started working with Urban Splash on projects including Moho, designed by shedkm, and Chips, designed by Will Alsop. Recent residential projects for VitrA include The Cocoa Works apartments by Latimer and the Phoenix apartments by Capital and Centric.
VitrA has developed a reputation for outstanding design. In the early 2000s, VitrA launched a collaboration with Welsh designer Ross Lovegrove.
Levent Giray, retiring Managing Director (end of July 2022), says, “It is fair to say we have come a long way in three decades. Brands pre-eminent when we arrived have largely disappeared. Internet sales and the IoT are pervasive, with companies interacting directly with consumers in ways unimaginable back then. The future is exciting. Leaving VitrA after 30 years is bittersweet, but in the skilful hands of Steve Breen and the team, I know that VitrA will continue to build on its reputation for good design, high-quality products and top customer service.”
Managing Director Steve Breen says, “I’m delighted to be leading VitrA through this next chapter. VitrA is in fantastic shape with a great team of staff and management. The foundations built over 30 years mean we are well placed for the next 30.”
Ideal Standard has been recognised by the international Red Dot Awards for Product Design 2022 collecting four awards, for three ranges in Ideal Standard’s Atelier Collections and the new Ceraplan iX mixer.
The first of these products, Joy Neo, is Ideal Standard’s most recent addition to Atelier Collections – a classic yet contemporary range of taps. Available in two different finishes, a variety of models and two handle styles, Joy Neo encourages creative expression.
Next to be recognised by the judges was the Linda-X collection – a timeless and elegant range of basins, vessels and a bathtub, celebrating the iconic Linda collection first launched in 1977. The fine, curved lines of the Linda-X range are achieved with Diamatec®, an innovative material that pushes the boundaries of ceramics to offer thin, yet extremely strong and durable pieces.
The Atelier Collections striking Tipo-Z basin was the third product to be awarded. Carefully sculpted as a single, fluent piece of fine ceramic, this unique washbasin features a monolithic silhouette and smooth flowing surfaces, making it an elegant standout feature in any bathroom.
All three collections have been designed in partnership with Italian design studio Palomba Serafini Associati.
Ideal Standard’s innovative hybrid basin mixers, Ceraplan iX, also won an award – taking the total to four. The tap’s advanced technology combines the flexibility and control of a single lever basin mixer with the hygiene and water-saving benefits of a touchless tap. Specifically designed to bring no-touch technology to residential homes and the hospitality sector, the Ceraplan iX collection achieves a beautiful balance of innovative technology and stylish design, answering the needs of modern life. The new range was exclusively showcased at this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan and will launch later in 2022.
Jan-Peter Tewes, Joint-CEO at Ideal Standard, said: “We are delighted that Ideal Standard’s design excellence has once again been recognised by Red Dot. Our Atelier Collections, in particular, are aimed at fostering the process of creation by bringing together high-performance technology and innovative design to enable the realisation of timeless projects.
“It’s an honour that our products impressed such esteemed judges and to win four awards is an exceptional achievement.”
