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April showers – creative designs reign supreme

Bathroom_Review_Elisa

Features by Diane Larner founder and editor of Bathroom Review & Kitchens Review.
Diane Larner launched both titles over 12 years ago and has been writing about the bathroom and kitchen interior design industry ever since, publishing regular features across the two sectors.

Whilst we see the bathroom as a place for rest and relaxation, shower rooms are undoubtedly aimed at reinvigoration and renewal. Minimalist walk-in shower enclosures with generous dimensions deliver a plentiful sense of space that not only transforms the bathroom aesthetic but also bring a sense of luxury and wellbeing to the end-user. Diane Larner takes a look at the latest designs to reach the market.

Made for you

Sealskin Duka Hero
Sealskin Duka

As well as factoring in handsome good looks, shower design needs to offer versatility to allow for a range of projects, and not simply when planning for small or awkward spaces.

Chris Kingaby, product and marketing director, agrees; “The evolution of modern shower enclosures means that we, as manufacturers, can offer so much more for the retailer and consumer. Visually stunning contemporary enclosures which can be personalised to suit even the most unique design schemes are a must.”

Coram UK recently celebrated the British launch of its exclusive shower glass brand, Sealskin, and its premium range of Sealskin duka enclosures. The launch consists of three key styles: acqua 5000, libero 5000 and pura 500, all compatible with both wetroom floors and shower trays, offering maximum flexibility for the bathroom designer and end-user.

Save your energy

  • Intutiion brushed brass
  • Batgroom_Review_Elisa
    Intuition brushed brass controller
  • Bathroom Review Elisa showers
    Intuition brushed brass adjustable

Smart appliances with built-in personalisation are becoming more popular as consumers look for ways to manage busy lifestyles and balance the needs of household members. When it comes to the bathroom, built-in personalisation features make it simple to set the water temperature to user preferences and monitor water and energy use.

One example comes from the new bathroom brand Elisa. Launched to the market this month, Elisa has unveiled its new range of heritage-style mixer showers and smart digital showers. The Intuition smart digital shower (pictured top and above) features a ShowerMe Smart App that gives users the ability to select the duration of the shower, helping to save water and energy, while an easy-to-use dashboard gives the homeowner a clear picture of individual water consumption.

Reach for the top

Bathroom_Review_Kudos _Pinnacle_8 shower rooms
Kudos Pinnacle8

A study by RIBA* found that on average a new three-bedroom home is missing 4m² of floor space – the size of a family bathroom – while the smallest homes were missing the space equivalent to a double bedroom. British homes have an average floor space of 71.2 sq. m. This is compared to Germany’s average of 92.7 sq. m. and Italy’s average of 108.2 sq. The shortage of land for new homes and a trend for multiple bathrooms in existing housing stock means the space allocated for shower rooms is under pressure.

A quadrant shower takes up less overall space than a square enclosure of the same size and fits neatly into the corner. Kudos has expanded its collection of Pinnacle8 luxury shower enclosures to satisfy growing demand and is now one of the most popular selling enclosure ranges offered, the collection has been expanded again and new options are available to retailers from March. 

Water wise

Bathroom_Review_Neoperl_Chormalux
Neoperl shower hose

Despite increasing awareness when it comes to sustainable design and climate change, UK water consumption demand has never been so high and is set to rise in the next few years. Regulating water flow is a simple way to combat this trend and saves both energy and water.

Neoperl is an expert in the field, manufacturing flow regulators from its Malvern Worcestershire factory. Its Chromalux® Supreme Shower Hose, coupled with a retrofittable Pressure Compensating Washer (PCW), saves water and controls the flow. The range of smooth, soft and flexible hoses incorporates chrome-plated connectivity with the options of a swivel connection, an integrated check valve and a washer regulator. 

Take to the floor

Bathroom_Review_Impey shower rooms
Impey – spa-style wetroom

A contemporary wetroom design not only serves to deliver multi-generational benefits and an accessible bathroom layout, but it also delivers a spa-like feel, especially when combined with luxury shower systems.

Impey has 25 years of experience and over half-a-million UK installations under its belt. Combining key design elements and innovative showering scenarios, Impey’s contemporary showering solutions portfolio showcases countless possibilities for wetroom designs within residential, commercial and specialist settings.  

*RIBA study

For the latest kitchen design features – visit Kitchens Review

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Save water with a Neoperl shower hose complete with PCW

Bathroom_Review_Neoperl_Chormalux

There’s never been a more important time to reduce our use of both water and energy and the shower is a great place to start.  Couple Neoperl’s Chromalux® Supreme Shower Hose with a retrofittable Pressure Compensating Washer (PCW) to save water and control the flow.

The Chromalux Supreme Shower Hose collection offers a range of smooth, soft and flexible hoses incorporating chrome-plated connectivity with the options of a swivel connection, an integrated check valve and washer regulator. A revolving connection feature also prevents the hose from twisting during use. The overall look is where the ‘Supreme’ range truly differs to others in the Chromalux collection, offering a totally smooth finish in a choice of 4 colours: chrome, brushed nickel, polished brass and matt black.

Bathroom_Review_Neoperl_ Chromalux® Supreme

All Chromalux hoses fulfil EN113 standards in functional and durability testing and hold hygienic approvals too. These hoses come in 150, 175 or 200cm lengths, the cone length is 30mm with a G½” thread.

Couple a Chromalux shower hose with a PCW Flow Regulator, to save water. These flow regulators maintain a pleasant and consistent water stream at a chosen flow rate, regardless of external water pressure. They work using two dynamic control rings (O-rings) within the flow regulator, which at low pressure encourage a high flow rate due to a larger bypass section and at high pressure the o-rings are pressed into the gaps between the teeth of the core, thus reducing the size of the opening for the water, leading to pressure independent flow rates.

Bathroom_Review_Neoperl_Chormalux

About Neoperl

Neoperl is a UK manufacturer and part of the German-Swiss Neoperl Group. They design and manufacture innovative solutions for the plumbing industry and their products shape the water stream, regulate the flow rate and protect drinking water. In the UK they largely manufacture flow regulators and are one of the world’s leading suppliers, from their Malvern, Worcestershire factory. Their flow regulators and aerators can be found in most showers, taps and boilers across the UK. Many of their products can also be retrofitted providing great water saving solutions for the home.

Check out how to install their products at www.neoperl.net/en/.html or call their technical team on 01684 564869.

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Neoperl increases productivity

Neoperl increases productivity

Already one of the world’s leading producers of precision-made flow regulators, Neoperl UK has taken delivery of four new high speed moulding machines from Arburg in April, to further improve their capacity.

That’s a total of 19 Arburg injection moulding machines currently in production, supporting the existing fleet, which continue to improve the speed, quality and efficiency in the manufacture of Neoperl flow regulators.  The new moulding machines will not only give increased productivity but also an improvement in quality and reduction in scrap.

Neoperl UK focus specifically on the production of flow regulators in the UK. It is a very specialist area and they produce millions each year in various sizes.  Flow regulators are used in appliances to control the flow of water independent of external water pressure variances. They are often found in taps, showers and domestic boilers, making the appliance more efficient, longer lasting and helping to save water.

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Utopia significantly reduces carbon footprint

Utopia Biomass boiler

Five years after investing in a Talbott’s biomass boiler and heating system at their Midlands-based headquarters, Utopia Furniture Ltd has reported a significant reduction in the company’s carbon footprint as part of its ongoing commitment to the environment.

As Jon Phelps, Production Engineering Manager at Utopia, comments “The biomass boiler and heating system represented a considerable investment for Utopia but we really are reaping the benefits now.  Collecting off-cuts and dust waste in skips and then transporting it to landfill sites was not only costly but also unsustainable in environmental terms. This way we eliminate all of that process whilst generating our own energy.”

Since its installation in April 2017, over 3,000 tonnes of wood waste has been used to fuel the biomass boiler. That’s the equivalent of 300 large skips full of waste which would previously have been collected and transported to landfill sites. This waste has generated over 500,000kwh for Utopia which has heated the factory and offices during the winter months and also kept the two ovens used during the manufacturing process at the correct curing temperature all year round. To put this into perspective, 500,000kwh would heat 10 x 40ft indoor swimming pools for a year or heat 125 average size houses for a year. 

The biomass heating system is just part of Utopia’s strategy to lessen its impact on the environment by constantly reviewing manufacturing practices as well as designing more sustainable products. The company is proud to exceed environmental targets each year by recycling packaging and has also taken steps to minimise the use of cardboard by cutting packaging to exact size on site. In addition, every year tonnes of packaging waste is recovered and recycled.  Almost 100% of the timber used in Utopia’s furniture is FSC certified and the company continues to actively explore new eco friendly measures to reduce its carbon footprint still further.

Bathroom_Review_biomass_furnace

www.utopiagroup.com

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Pinnacle8 enclosure additions

Bathroom_Review_Kudos

Kudos has expanded its collection of Pinnacle8 luxury shower enclosures to satisfy a growing demand.  It’s now offering a 1000mm quadrant, four new offset quadrants (900x800mm, 1000x800mm, 1000x900mm & 1200x800mm) and two new door sizes to the hinged range, 1100mm and 1300mm, that are suitable for use in either corner or recess installations.

Pinnacle8 is an elegant range of semi-frameless shower enclosure models initially launched in 2018. The collection has been increased by a number of additions in both 2019 and 2020 in response to increased demand.  Now one of the most popular selling enclosure ranges offered by Kudos, the collection has been expanded again and these new options are available to retailers from March. 

At 2000m in height, the Pinnacle8 collection offers enclosure sizes ranging from 760mm to 1800mm. All models feature crystal clear seals and 8mm toughened safety glass throughout which is treated with Lifeshield™, a lifetime protective coating for easy cleaning. The collection can be paired with the Kudos KStone or Connect2 shower trays and is covered by a lifetime guarantee.

Pinnacle8 enclosures have been designed to be easy to install with a slimline wall profile with fully concealed fixings maintaining 20mm wall adjustment. SmartSeal technology is used on the crystal clear seals and glass-to-glass corner join seals, to ensure a clean uninterupted finish and a water tight bond. Kevlar impregnated pins are used in the rise and fall chromed hinges for consistently smooth opening and closing of the glass doors and aircraft grade stainless steel roller bearings are used in all sliding doors for smooth action and longevity. 

Bathroom_Review_Kudos_Pinnacle8 Pinnacle8

01539 564040

info@kudosshowers.co.uk

www.kudosshowers.co.uk

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Sealskin duka brings elegance & innovation to shower design

Sealskin Duka Hero

Leading showering solutions manufacturer, Coram UK, recently celebrated the British launch of its exclusive shower glass brand, Sealskin, and its premium range of Sealskin duka enclosures.

Bringing a brand new, unique glass offering to the UK marketplace, this selection of bespoke, high-end shower enclosures utilises cutting-edge technology and market-leading design to offer the ‘wow factor’ to modern wetrooms and shower spaces.

The Sealskin duka portfolio showcases performance and design; using clean lines, understated elegance and high-quality materials to create an unparalleled, contemporary selection of enclosures.

Advanced technology

Duka say the range is unlike anything currently available in the UK marketplace thanks to its hidden ‘open and close’ mechanisms, cutting-edge UV bonding technology and matchless hygiene and maintenance functionality offering a refreshing, unique spin on shower enclosure design.

Sealskin Duka

Sustainable design

All enclosure materials used in the production of the Sealskin duka portfolio are carefully sourced from Europe, with the units manufactured in a purpose-built factory which has been designed to conserve energy and champion sustainability.

Three new styles

The launch consists of three key styles, acqua 5000, libero 5000 and pura 5000; all compatible with both wetroom floors and shower trays, offering maximum flexibility for the bathroom designer and end user. And with personalisation very much part of the offering, profile colours, glass options and configurations to suit even the most challenging design schemes, pose no problem.

Every Sealskin duka enclosure is tailor-made to the exact measurements of the specifier, with a fast four-to-six-week lead time as standard. On delivery, each unit is provided with a unique QR and ID code, which gives full information about its manufacture, right down to the intricate details of assembly. The result; a truly distinctive offering which boasts attention to detail, offers a wide variety of design preferences and assures outstanding performance for years to come.

Sealskin duka Ibero
Sealskin libero 5000

For more information or to enquire about becoming a stockist visit: sealskin.uk

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Plumbworld acquired by H.I.G. Capital’s Highbourne Group

Plumbworld Limited

Arrowpoint Advisory’s Consumer team has advised the shareholders of Plumbworld Limited, one of the UK’s leading e-commerce specialists for bathroom, kitchen, plumbing and heating products on its sale to H.I.G. Capital’s Highbourne Group.

Following a MBO backed by Panoramic Growth Equity in December 2018, Plumbworld, led by CEO and founder James Hickman, has delivered exceptional growth. Underpinned by proprietary technology, its pureplay online business model and market leading customer proposition continues to drive both new and repeat customers, with 1.7m customers served since inception. 

The combination with Plumbworld will strengthen Highbourne’s leading omni-channel capabilities for both trade and retail customers. Plumbworld’s proposition is highly complementary to Highbourne and will enable the group to expand its footprint in the UK and Ireland, while maintaining its commitment to providing the highest quality services and convenience to its customers.

James Hickman, CEO and founder at Plumbworld, commented: “Throughout the project we were very impressed by the Arrowpoint team. From identifying potential acquirers, preparation of marketing materials right through to final terms negotiation, they consistently added value. Perhaps most importantly they were able to keep us on track during the inevitable roller coaster ride that this sort of process entails!””

Jamie Hutton, Director at Arrowpoint Advisory, added: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with the Plumbworld team and we are thrilled to have delivered an outstanding result for all the stakeholders. James and team have created an exceptional business with market leading digital capabilities. They have a clear and exciting vision both for the business and wider sector and, in Highbourne, have a partner who will help them accelerate growth, whilst also benefiting themselves from Plumbworld’s invaluable e-commerce experience. We wish them every success on the next phase of their journey.”

Patrick Groarke, Managing Director at Arrowpoint Advisory concluded: “We are delighted to have advised the shareholders of Plumbworld on this transformational transaction. With the support of Panoramic the business has significantly outperformed the market and we look forward to watching the business continue to go from strength to strength under new ownership.”

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PJH announces passing of sales manager

PJH Group_Eddie_Rockl

It is with profound sadness that KBB Distributor, PJH shares the news that its regional sales manager of 21-years, Eddie Rock (45), passed away suddenly over the Easter weekend.

Richard George, CEO, PJH said: “We [PJH] are deeply shocked and saddened by the untimely death of Eddie Rock. The thoughts of everyone at PJH are with his family and friends, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them.”

Rick Adams, PJH’s head of sales (retail), added: “Eddie was simply a beautiful soul, a genuine human being who showed so much love towards his colleagues and customers – everyone at PJH is heartbroken. He was a delight to work with, a model professional who always showed a positive attitude and gave everything to his role, he authentically cared about other people, no ego just simple love.

“We will miss him so much, he would have loved what’s coming along soon and I can imagine how he would have described it, ‘Absolutely Awesome!’

“God bless you Eddie, all of us at PJH will do you proud and never forget you.”

Eddie began his career at PJH working within the internal sales team, before quickly progressing to Internal Key account manager. His customer-centric style was the perfect fit for face-to-face sales, which saw him join the PJH external sales team where he worked successfully for over ten years.”

For further information on PJH, visit www.pjh.uk , www.partners.pjh.uk or call, T: 0800 8 77 88 99.

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Calla and Joy Neo join Ideal Standard’s Atelier Collections

Bathroom_Review_Ideal Standard_Calla

Ideal Standard has added to its award-winning Atelier Collections with two new beautifully crafted ranges: Calla and Joy Neo.

The collections combine classic features with modern technology and innovative design. Created by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba, the products in the Calla and Joy Neo ranges have been developed with flexibility in mind, allowing them to integrate with a variety of different interior styles.

Streamlining the design process for customers, architects and specifiers, these two collections bring together the company’s sector expertise and design vision, as well as the complete range of Ideal Standard’s products.

Calla

Inspired by the Victorian age and early ceramic production, Calla features simple geometric shapes with strong horizontal and vertical lines, for a timeless end result.

Bathroom Review_Ideal_standard_Calla
Atelier Collections – Calla

Calla comprises a wide range of ceramic pieces, including elegant basins and pedestals, sophisticated toilets and bidets, and a stunning statement piece – a free-standing bathtub. The basins can also be combined with the more contemporary leg set, giving the product a completely different and more contemporary identity.

Joy Neo

Joy Neo represents an evolution of classicism, combining features from the more contemporary and cylindrical Joy collection with classic, square design elements, and either cross or lever-handles. The result is a highly versatile and sophisticated range of fittings that can be perfectly combined with neo-classical ranges similar to  Calla, but also with more minimalist ceramic lines, such as Ideal Standard’s Extra.

Joy Neo offers a comprehensive variety of pieces, including single lever basin mixers, dual control basin mixers, wall-mounted basin mixers and 3-hole basin mixers as well as different bath and shower products. Available in two finishes, Magnetic Grey and Chrome, the collection is adaptable to suit any space.

Sustainable features

The EcoFlow regulator reduces water consumption down to 5 litres per minute for a more sustainable use of water without compromising on comfort. It is effortless to install, with EasyFix® decreasing installation time by 30%.

The Magnetic Grey products are produced using the latest technology – Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) – to preserve the vibrancy of the coloured brassware. PVD is a thin protective coating applied in a vacuum, which ensures products are ten times more resistant to chemicals, wear, impact, discoloration and corrosion. Additionally, SmartShine® finishing on the chrome models increases longevity, while also making cleaning easier.

Speaking on the new collections, Roberto Palomba said: “It was never our intention to create collections that can only be used in classic interior design, but instead our aim was to design products that can be adapted and fused with elements from other eras to give customers freedom to express themselves. Innovation, heritage and the needs of the modern day are key elements represented in the neoclassical Calla and Joy Neo ranges.” Both the Calla and Joy Neo ranges are available as of April 2022.

Both the Calla and Joy Neo ranges are available as of April 2022.

Bathroom_Review_Calla_Conca
Calla pedestal & bath – Joy Neo basin mixer

More information about the Calla is available here: https://www.idealstandard.co.uk/products/collections/calla

To find out more about Joy Neo, visit: https://www.idealstandard.co.uk/products/collections/joy-neo

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Impey – the UK’s market-leading wetroom brand

Bathroom-Review_Impey_Spa

With more than 25 years of manufacturing experience and over half-a-million installations across the UK, the market-leading Impey brand continues to raise the bar for modern wetrooms.

Combining key design elements and innovative showering scenarios, Impey’s contemporary showering solutions portfolio showcases countless possibilities for wetroom designs within residential, commercial and specialist settings.  

The Impey product selection has been designed specifically to offer a choice of wetroom solutions to the premium end of the retail market. It includes an array of unique products, which it says improve the versatility and adaptability of a wetroom installation, whilst maximising desirability.

At the heart of Impey’s recognisable range are flagship products like the multi award-winning AquaDec EasyFit™ wetroom floor formers and WaterGuard™ tanking system, which are synonymous with high quality and longevity. These designs sit alongside a unique collection of linear floor formers, designer drainage grates and high end, design-led bathroom accessories from Impey’s sister brand Geesa.

Bathroom_Review_Impey

known for the concept and creation of the UK’s leading wetroom elements, Impey considers it has been influential in the advent of modern wetrooms into the British market; helping consumers to understand how to incorporate a contemporary showering space into every kind of bathroom setting.  

At Impey’s UK factory every wetroom dec is precision engineered with attention to detail, ensuring enhanced quality and reliability, which retailers can recommend with confidence.

And, to aid with the realisation of the design process and help maximise sales opportunities, Impey’s latest brochure allows users to ‘step-into’ the wetroom spaces as seen on the page. Developed in association with Virtual Worlds, the virtual-reality click-throughs offer an immersive experience of wetroom scenarios, revealing a tempting snapshot of how a wetroom can look and feel.

Find out more, or enquire about becoming an Impey retailer at:

www.impeyshowers.com

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