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Houzz release new app – Houzz Pro

Houzz pro app

Houzz Pro is an all-in-one software solution for industry professionals, pros can manage their entire project lifecycle — from attracting and converting new clients, to building estimates and proposals, invoicing and collecting payments online, to collaborating and communicating with clients — all in one place.

The newly released Houzz Pro app includes most of the desktop features and allows professionals to scan and store room dimensions, collaborate with quick messaging, create and send invoices on the go, and give clients a tour of their design against the backdrop of their current home using the AR walkthrough. All of this and more, is available on a phone or tablet, making work onsite a breeze.

The Houzz Pro app is available for free in the AppStore for iPhone and iPad and in the Google Play store for Android at the following links:

Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.houzz.pro&hl=en_GB 

iOS https://apps.apple.com/us/app/houzz-pro-business-management/id1488002482

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London Design Fair celebrates its 2023 return

London Design Fair

With exactly 12 months to go, the official countdown for London Design Fair 2023 was celebrated last night at a launch party at Truman Brewery, in the heart of Shoreditch. Key figures from the design community gathered in anticipation of the iconic fair’s return to the international design calendar and to discover exciting plans for the 2023 event.

The launch party was attended by over 90 guests, including leading designers, media and brands such as Dezeen, Damian Marcus Burrows Architects,  Farrow & Ball, Heals and Crafts Council and many more. 

For over 15 years, London Design Fair has built a strong reputation as the international destination to showcase and discover design excellence from across the globe, and this was evident last night with the attendance of representatives from several national embassies, including Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Chile, El Salvador, Japan, Slovenia and The Philippines.

Last held in 2019, London Design Fair has become one of the key cornerstones of London Design Festival and is known by many as the premier trade destination during the annual festival. Demonstrating the strong partnership between the Festival and Fair, Ben Evans OBE, Founder and Director of the London Design Festival, spoke at the launch party and comments; “London Design Fair is an important platform for a wide array of design businesses both domestic and international. A successful Festival needs strong events like the Fair and I welcome its return.”

Commenting at the launch party, Jane Langley, CEO and Founder of sustainable directory Blue Patch says: “London Design Fair is about everyone coming together. It’s not just about meeting prospective clients, specifiers, interior designers, and speaking to other designers, it’s also about our member brands speaking to and meeting each other. We’re absolutely thrilled to be back as this is our favourite event in the calendar. London Design Fair has a sensational atmosphere and we love the team that run it. Fantastic that it’s back!”

“London Design Fair is the must go destination during London Design Week. A considered curation of established and up and coming designers and brands, which reflects the talent and creativity of home grown and international talent. I look forward to visiting next year!” says Sabina Miller, Buying Director, Heals.

“Since Covid, it’s just great to see the return of the fair. I’m looking forward to seeing new innovation, some new design, and new creativity. I’m involved within the hospitality sector, so I’m interested to see what trends will come out of the fair, and get inspired rather than come in with any expectations! It’s important for the industry to attend London Design Fair because it’s a time to celebrate and bond again over design at these kind of events,” says Jay Morjaria, Chef Consultant & Restauranteur.

“London Design Fair is the place to bring the design industry together. Attending or having a stand is a good opportunity to meet new buyers, schools, and designers from all over the world, and meet new people to collaborate with,” says Karolina Suchanek, textile designer, Cave Textiles.  

London Design Fair to open its doors again in 2023

London Design Fair is the capital’s most important design event, and will return to Truman Brewery, in the creative heart of London. The event attracts over 20,000 visitors and allows the design community to come together and source the latest in cutting edge design from across the world.

Annie Lindsell, Event Director for London Design Fair, was delighted with the response from the launch party, commenting, “It’s fantastic being back after three years of enforced hibernation due to the pandemic.  We have had so much support and encouragement from so many people, to whom the London Design Fair has become their most important event of the year.”  

She continues “being part of London Design Fair is being part of something unique. It’s a movement.  It’s a passion. It’s a feeling.  It’s about inspiring the design community and stimulating debate.  But above all, it’s about providing a sales and marketing platform for companies involved in great design. Design which enhances domestic and commercial interiors, as well as personal lifestyles.  Over the coming months, we will be announcing several new initiatives, including the new Design Talks and the new THINK. Stage, new feature areas and the most inspirational speaker line-up to date.”   

London Design Fair will return to the Truman Brewery, London, on 21-24 September 2023.  For more information, including applying to exhibit, please visit www.londondesignfair.co.uk or call Annie Lindsell on 0204 5530904.

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GROHE recycling shower concept fights water scarcity

With nearly one-third of Europeans living in areas experiencing water strain, new and innovative solutions are required to transform how we use water in the home. GROHE’s water-recycling shower concept presents a vision of how the home can actively and positively shape our personal impact on the planet and its resources.

Droughts and water scarcity are becoming everyday challenges for people across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Almost 1 in 3 Europeans are affected by water strain in an average year. 11 out of the 17 most water-stressed countries in the world3 are in the Middle East and Africa.

In addition, water is the second biggest source of energy use in the home. Improved water efficiency cuts fossil fuel use, energy bills, and carbon emissions.

Consume less, enjoy more

GROHE’s circular solution cleanses, reheats, and reuses water in order to use only a quarter of the water and a third of the energy typically required by traditional showers, resulting into a cost-saving of up to 65% a year for a four-person household and up to 70% less CO2 emissions. This new technology has been designed to create the shower experience desired, but by using as little fresh water as possible.

Jonas Brennwald, Leader, LIXIL EMENA comments: “The water stress challenge is one of the biggest issues of our time. And there’s no alternative but to address it boldly – especially if water is core to your business. For our GROHE brand, combining ‘Pure Freude an Wasser’ with sustainability has always been integral to its DNA. We think the best way to help people save water, is by making products that they enjoy using and don’t compromise on comfort.”

“Looking at our professional partners, we believe the construction industry will need to meet ever more stringent standards as regulators look to build water security and consumers demand sustainable solutions. We will continue to invest in innovation to help our partners stay ahead of these trends and create the sustainable homes of the future,” Brennwald concludes.

How it works
The water-recycling shower concept divides the shower process into three parts allowing users to enjoy the experience, safe in the knowledge they are minimising waste.

Grohe Recycling shower concept

1) First, users start the shower with fresh water, as with any regular shower.
2) Once finished using the shampoo or soap, the user can switch mode: The water collected in the
drain after switching is pumped into a circuit, maintaining the desired temperature, and hygienically
treating the water.
3) After use, cleaning takes place to prepare the shower for the next user.

Making water efficiency attractive
“It is our mission to provide state-of-the-art technologies for using water resources sustainably while
also creating additional environmental value for water. We already supply a wide range of taps, showers,
and toilets that help people use far less water at home without noticing they are doing so. In taps for
example, GROHE’s EcoJoy technology uses a flow limiter and an aerator which enriches the water with
air to create a voluminous experience using up to 50% less water. The new circulating shower solution
goes one step further – showing the enhanced savings that can be made by products which help
consumers actively make a sustainable choice every day.

“We are very much looking forward to the responses by our customers to the water-recycling shower concept and are working hard to bring it to market maturity soon,” says David Mainka, Leader Electronics, and Innovation R&D Fittings, LIXIL International.

As part of LIXIL’s strong brand portfolio, GROHE’s sustainability activities as well as product developments are embedded in LIXIL’s Environmental Vision which calls for Zero Carbon and Circular Living. Water sustainability is one of the focus areas here. The goal is to help people enjoy water while ensuring sustainable water use on a global scale to have a positive impact on the planet

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Virtual Worlds promotes Kira Trowbridge

Kira Trowbridge

As Virtual Worlds builds on its strong network of brand partners, Kira Trowbridge, formerly Project Administrator, has been promoted to Virtual Worlds brand partnership manager.

Following a successful three years with the Milton Keynes headquartered business, Kira is now a dedicated contact for all Virtual Worlds brands. In her new role, Kira will be focused on client partnerships, with responsibility for keeping catalogues up-to-date on the platform and continuing to build supplier relationships, ensuring that brands receive the best possible return on their investment with Virtual Worlds.

Commenting on her promotion, Kira said: “I’m looking forward to working with our manufacturers to launch and update new products to their catalogues, so that retailers can create beautiful designs with them.”

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

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Metamorfosi shortlisted for FX Award 2022

Metamorfosi

Metamorfosi, the new porcelain surface from RAK Ceramics, has been shortlisted in the FX Awards 2022.

Named on the shortlist in the Surfaces category of the awards, Metamorfosi caught the eye of the expert panel of judges. The winners will be announced at London’s Grosvenor Hotel, in front of the creme de la creme of the architecture and design community on 30 November.

Inspired by the colours and shapes found in nature, Metamorfosi transfers these on to large-format brushed resin porcelain slabs to create striking wall decorations for any interior space.

Featuring decorative geometric and floral patterns, plus lush tropical leaves, Metamorfosi has a contemporary wallpaper effect, while being extremely hard wearing and easy to care for.

Available in 9 colours and 11 decors, including vibrant shades of blue, ivory, green and pink, Metamorfosi is part of the Signature Collection from RAK Ceramics, bringing liveliness and naturalness indoors as form of living art.

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Mereway Bathrooms unveils new user-friendly brochure

Mereway

Mereway Bathrooms have updated its core range of quality stylish furniture and sanitaryware and released a new brochure to showcase the range. A collection of mineral casts basins that offer dimensional accuracy, the Arco and Simplicity structure a totally hygienic and water-tight construction. With a simplified pricing structure, the brochure is now broken down into two pricing groups to make estimating and ordering much easier.

Mereway has focused on offering colour coordinated door and cabinets in most of the available finishes at no additional cost. This approach eliminates the need and additional expense for a customer to order and fit matching plant-on panels and makes dimensional planning simpler.

National Sales and Development Manager Ed Norris says ‘As Mereway Bathrooms celebrates 25th year we want to extend our range and scope of bathroom choice whilst making trading with us as simple as possible. We pride ourselves on delivering a one-stop-shop for our retailers. In doing so we’ve simplified the layout of our brochure, reduced our price groups from four to two, and now offer a free sample swatch service.”

 Showroom displays are available to retailers at a significant to full discount and with complimentary fitting.

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Roman introduces colour additions to Haven Range

Roman Haven Range

Shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, has released its new Haven Showers brochure with new additions to its Haven Range of shower enclosures, bath screens and wetroom panels, the new Haven6 Black Frame collection and Haven Wetroom Panels are now available in four colour finishes.

The Haven6 Framed range is now available in a Matt Black finish, featuring angular Matt Black industrial look profiles. The Matt Black finish is also then sandblasted for extra durability, scratch resistance and consistency of finish. The Haven6 range presents innovative designs of shower enclosures and bath screens with exceptional quality, style and performance, all at affordable prices. Haven Wetroom Panels are available in 8mm and 10mm thick glass, with four colours to choose from: Bright silver, Matt Black, Brushed Nickel and Brushed Brass. The Wetroom Collection offers various unique designs to suit every bathroom space.

Roman’s Haven range of showers offers you all the qualities you would expect from the Roman Brand. The innovative and affordable Haven range is backed by nearly 40 years of showering experience, offering high quality products complete with a comprehensive after sales service and a Lifetime Guarantee.

The Haven collection is available from 10mm to 6mm glass thickness and encompasses an array of Enclosures, a selection of Side Panels and In-line Panels, stylish Bath Screens, Wetroom Panels and Shower Trays.

David Osborne, chief executive officer at Roman, commented: “The popular Haven collection is a key range for us in the UK and International markets and the new colour additions and framed design keeps it in line with current market leading trends.”

Roman Haven Range


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Kaldewei launches free-standing OYO DUO bathtub

Kaldewei_Oyo_Duo

Kaldewei is launching the MEISTERSTÜCK OYO DUO – created by the Munich based designer Stefan Diez. With this free-standing bathtub, the German bathroom manufacturer demonstrates how luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand, even in smaller bathrooms.

The MEISTERSTÜCK OYO DUO is available in two sizes as well as in alpine white and in numerous elegant colours from Kaldewei’s Coordinated Colours Collection. Allowing it to fit perfectly into any bathroom.

Taking resource conservation into account, the MEISTERSTÜCK combines organic, durable materials made from recyclable Kaldewei steel enamel. The OYO DUO is the new highlight to emerge from Kaldewei’s LUXSTAINABILITY world.

Neither loft nor living room areas are needed to stage the OYO DUO as it sets its own scene perfectly and turns your bathroom into a modern private spa. At its preview at the Fuorisalone in Milan, the MEISTERSTÜCK caused an stir among the international audience. Here the new Kaldewei bathtub was part of the “Design Forever” exhibition by Elle Décor Italia.

Kaldewei_Oyo_Duo

KALDEWEI’s many years of experience, ensure that the interior shape of the KALDEWEI MEISTERSTÜCK OYO DUO is extremely comfortable and has the perfect size to immerse your body and relax, yet it has been designed to hold less water, which is another benefit to the environment.

The double-walled bathtub has been inspired by Japanese porcelain and is comprised of 100 percent recyclable and sustainable steel enamel. This precise design is possible due to the highest level of German engineering.

Kaldewei_Oyo_Duo
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Acquabella returns to Cersaie in Bologna, Italy

Acquabella Cersaie

Acquabella’s presence at the Cersaie show is already a long-standing tradition for the Spanish shower tray brand, which once again chooses this fabulous International event to showcase its latest bathroom collections in an impressive 200 m2 showcase (Hall 21 A87 – B82).

Acquabella has designed a stunning stand which promises not to disappoint, with a theme created to engage visitors in a totally immersive dreamlike experience with an impressive and original stand design which is fast becoming expected of the innovative brand.

Design, the cornerstone of Acquabella’s new products

Acquabella is renowned for the uninhibited class of its designs, and this year will not be different as the company presents new products which confirm its reputation as a leading brand in the design and manufacture of cutting-edge bathroom solutions. All the new products are Inspired by the power of nature. The exciting new collections launching at Cersaie include; four new shower trays, two textures, a totem, a washbasin, a bathtub and two new items of furniture.

Visit Acquabella in Hall 21, Stand A87-B82 from 26 to 30 September at Cersaie.

More news from Acquabella.

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Fluidmaster appoints new marketing director for EMEA Region

Jean Paul Malum Fluidmaster Markeitng Director

Toilet solutions and water management manufacturer, Fluidmaster, has announced the appointment of a new marketing director, Jean Paul Malum, to focus on the Group’s marketing strategies and lead the transition of all EMEA marketing operations into the Fluidmaster family portfolio.

With overall responsibility for marketing and brand development of Fluidmaster’s market-leading product portfolio, Jean Paul Malum has been appointed to the role of Marketing Director, EMEA; a vital role contributing to the Brand’s global marketing strategy.

Malum is a highly experienced marketing professional with an extensive career history in the construction and building sector, most recently as head of marketing with Donaldson Group.

In his new role at Fluidmaster, Malum will focus on marketing, brand, and growth strategy; providing leadership and direction to all EMEA marketing managers, product managers and channel account managers. He will also head-up the group’s EMEA marketing operations through a period of transition as they integrate completely into the Fluidmaster brand. Using his broad skillset and experience he will ensure implementation globally and regionally of a forward-thinking marketing approach, to maximise efficiencies and promote Fluidmaster’s ongoing growth.

Said Malum: “I’m incredibly happy to be joining the Fluidmaster family; a recognised brand celebrated for innovation and originality. I am looking forward to developing the role and building on the firm footing established by the company over its 65-year legacy.”

Said Mark Thomas, Managing Director EMEA: “We’re delighted to welcome Jean Paul to the Fluidmaster team. He brings with him a wealth of skills and ideas and we’re extremely pleased to have his support during this fast-paced period of growth and development. We wish him every success in his new role”

For more information about Fluidmaster, visit: www.fluidmaster.com

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