Diane, Author at Bathroom Review

£3.4bn worth of new homes sold so far in the last year

January 3, 2022

The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed where the new-build sector made the biggest impact on the property market in 2021 based on transaction levels and the total value of new homes sold. The research shows that to date, 8,714 new homes were sold across England and Wales in 2021, accounting for 1.8% of total market activity.

The combined value of these new-build sales currently totals just shy of £3.4bn, 2% of the total value of homes sold across the entire market.

London remains the biggest new-build market in the nation where transactions are concerned. So far, 1,469 new homes have been sold across the capital in 2021 totalling 2.8% of all homes sold.

The East Midlands also ranks high where new-build transaction volumes are concerned, with new homes accounting for 2.3% of market activity, followed by the South East (1.9%), the South West (1.8%) and the North West (1.7%).

Wales has seen the lowest level of new-build market activity, with the sector accounting for just 1.2% of total homes sold in 2021. When it comes to market value, London also ranks top with a huge £935m worth of new-build property sold in 2021 – 2.6% of the total market value across the capital.

The East Midlands has also seen new homes account for 2.6% of total market value, followed by the North East (2.5%), the North West (2%0 and the South East (1.9%).

The East of England has seen one the lowest values of total transactions come via the new-build market. While £327.1m worth of new homes have been sold in 2021, this equates to just 1.5% of total market value. The £74.25m worth of new homes sold in Wales in 2021 also accounts for just 1.5% of total market value. New-build transaction levels and total sold values sourced fro

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Artist furniture collection from Crosswater

January 1, 2022

Artist by Crosswater delivers a range of bathroom storage in four sizes and three different finishes; Onyx Black, Cashmere Matt, Storm Grey and Matt White. The collection can be installed as a wall-hung unit or assembled with coordinating legs and finished with a signature oak worktop.

Combining innovative design with the latest bathroom aesthetics, this new range ensures high-quality storage solutions for bathrooms of all styles and sizes.

Finished with a solid Oak worktop and beech veneer legs, Artist is produced from sustainable sources and is specially formulated with an anti-UV varnish to protect the wood from fading. The unique nature of the real wood means that homeowners can achieve a completely natural appearance that will last for years to come.

Crosswater also offers a breadth of countertop or semi-inset basin options to pair with the furniture units alongside matching Artist towel warmers, back-lit mirrors and WC furniture units to create a unified and cohesive scheme. The units can be further complemented with two or four section dividers, ensuring a completely organised space for everyday bathroom essentials.

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REHAU’s Noble Matt Collection Wins ICONIC Award

December 31, 2021

REHAU’s Furniture Solutions division has been awarded the Innovative Interior award at the ICONIC Awards 2021, by the German Design Council, for its Noble Matt collection. This follows the achievement of winning three prizes at this year’s German Design Awards.

The ICONIC awards celebrate high-quality, innovative architecture and products. They are designed to link architects, product designers and property developers to the furniture industry, and highlight exceptional projects.

Awarded the ‘Best of the Best’ prize in the ‘Product Design/Furniture’ category, the Noble Matt collection was recognised for its impressive versatility and high-quality finish. Created in response to the increasing demand for matt surfaces, the range offers outstanding design in a variety of product solutions including surfaces, edgeband and storage. These options allow the finish to be continued throughout the room, creating a seamless aesthetic.

Each product continues the collection’s signature velvet feel, offering a colour-fast, UV and fingerprint-resistant finish, maintaining a premium look. With 12 complementary colours available, ranging from the light and airy Crisp White, through to the rich Deep Black, there is a finish to suit any style.

Scott Williams, National Sales Manager for REHAU Furniture Solutions division says: “We’re delighted that our Noble Matt range has won the Best of the Best, Product Design/Furniture award. It’s a wonderful achievement and reflects the truly remarkable features of the range.

“Not only does this award highlight the impressive, high-quality finish, it also recognises the flexibility of the range and its ability to suit any application – from kitchen to bathroom, through to utility room and home office.”

For further information about REHAU’s Noble Matt collection, please visit: www.rehau.com/sites-gb/noble-matt-collection

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AirPower by Hansgrohe: an indulgent shower with reduced water consumption

December 20, 2021

According to Hansgrohe, AirPower is a unique shower experience that ncreases the enjoyment of the shower whilst reducing water consumption. The innovative technology AirPower enriches each water droplet with air to produce plump droplets creating a velvety touch on the skin.

Hansgrohe recognises water is a valuable resource, extensive time and research has gone into establishing AirPower technology to help reduce water consumption. When using the shower, air is sucked in through the spray disc that stirs up the water. Enriched with fresh air, the droplets are noticeably lighter, creating more enjoyable showers whilst helping save both water and energy.

Showers

AirPower technology is featured in a vast range of Hansgrohe products including collections Raindance, Vernis, Vivenis and Croma through basin taps, overhead and hand showers and shower systems.

Wash basins

With AirPower, the basin taps from Hansgrohe encourage them to work reliably by adding volume to every droplet of water whilst noticeably reducing splashing. The soft water droplets make for a pleasurable washing experience, whether that’s washing hands, washing hair or caring for children’s sensitive skin.

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Roca specified at new INNSiDE Liverpool 4 -star hotel

December 20, 2021

INNSiDE Liverpool is the long-awaited, new 4-star hotel in the heart of Liverpool’s commercial district. The 207-room lifestyle hotel includes a contemporary destination restaurant and stunning double height rooftop bar on the 18^th floor with panoramic city views. All guest bathrooms and washrooms were delivered by contractor mac-group and feature products from Roca.

INNSiDE Liverpool by Spanish hotel chain Melia is based on Old Hall Street, inside the iconic former Liverpool Echo offices, offers a superb location just a short walk from the famous Liver Building and Albert Dock. The 18 floor hotel aims to be a major attraction for visitors to the city with 207 en-suite bedrooms, restaurant, panoramic 360 Sky Bar, expansive conference & event space and state-of-the-art fitness gym.

Open-plan hotel rooms with stylish bathrooms

The contemporary hotel bedrooms have been designed with a modern monochrome palette, using tones of black, white and grey. The large en-suite rooms include a mini-fridge, a large vanity area and 43-inch TV and high speed Wi-Fi. The guest rooms open on to the minimalist bathrooms specified with high-quality bathroom products by Roca.

Roca InnsideLiverpool The Townhouse Bathroom

The guest bathrooms feature Roca’s Prisma basin, in gloss white. The Prisma collection has a contemporary design that combines with easy functionality and is completed with Roca brassware – the L20 basin mixer in stylish chrome. Larger rooms include the Prisma double basin for added convenience.

The bathrooms also feature wall-hung WC’s from Roca’s Debba range with luxury soft close seats and complimentary chrome flush plates. The Debba collection has a wide range of solutions that, combined with its soft, square design, fit seamlessly into any bathroom space.

26 rooms feature Roca’s stunning Virginia freestanding bath in white, providing an impactful focal point in the bathroom. Its oval shape offers a sophisticated yet simple design and a luxurious bathing experience.

Also specified in some rooms, is the elegant, rectangular Contesa bath. Made from steel, it is hygienic and extremely efficient in retaining the water temperature, keeping the water warmer for longer.

Roca’s Victoria T shower columns are used in the shower areas, offering the added benefits of thermostatic functionality in order to maintains a constant water temperature.

Restaurant & Bar

A huge draw at the INNSiDE Liverpool hotel is stylish restaurant, Gino D’Acampo Old Hall Street, with an extensive menu of classic Italian dishes and premium drinks in a chic and contemporary setting. Further raising the bar for drinking and dining in Liverpool is Gino’s new 360 Sky Bar on the 18th floor of the hotel with unrivalled panoramic views of the city and beyond, set to be one of the city’s most desirable locations, with local resident DJ’s further elevating the atmosphere from day to night.

A bar this spectacular, calls for an equally impressive guest washroom specification. The chic guest washrooms feature a full range of Roca products, including the luxurious Inspira Round on Countertop Basin, delivering a minimal and modern design style.

Roca use the very latest and most innovative materials to produce the Inspira collection. The basins are manufactured in FINECERAMIC®, a high-quality ceramic material exclusive to Roca which facilitates precision and sophisticated design details, with the added benefits of being 40% lighter and 30% more resistant to abrasives than conventional basins. Deep, spacious bowls and smooth surfaces make Inspira basins both easy to use and clean.

The brassware specified is Roca’s touchless L20-E Electronic Basin Mixer in chrome for a contemporary and sleek finish. Roca’s range of electronic basin mixers feature an infrared sensor which activates the water flow when presence is detected and shuts off automatically when presence is no longer detected, avoiding direct hand contact. The lack of contact with the tap improves hygiene and prevents the build-up of droplets and fingerprints on its surface, resulting in a cleaner product for longer. Roca’s electronic basin mixers offer a highly hygienic and effective solution to fight the spread of viruses and bacteria and to reduce the use of water, making it a more eco-friendly choice.

The WC’s chosen to complete the guest washrooms are from Roca’s ever-popular The Gap range including The Gap clean rim wall hung WC, with luxury soft close toilet seat.

Sara Farina, Specification Manager for Roca comments:

“We collaborated closely with the Melia Hotel team and main contractor mac-group to ensure that our innovative and high-quality bathroom products were the perfect solution for the bathrooms in this exciting project. Roca has a long heritage of working on some of the world’s most prestigious hospitality projects and we were delighted to be able to utilise our expertise at the INNSiDE Liverpool hotel.”

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Accor: our future is about sustainable growth

December 20, 2021

Jean-Jacques Morin, deputy CEO & CFO, and Brune Poirson, chief sustainability officer, discuss the Group’s commitment to ESG, focusing on one of its key areas: net zero carbon.

Jean-Jacques explains “ESG challenges – i.e., Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria that enable extra-financial analysis – are now at the top of the agenda for companies worldwide, even more so since the beginning of the health crisis.

“To adapt accordingly, our Group is accelerating its transition to sustainable growth and affirming its environmental values. This is part of our commitment to deliver an ever-more sustainable hospitality model, making positive impacts, both locally and globally, ensuring we contribute more than we take. It’s our role to shape the future of travel and make it more sustainable, and this means integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria as fundamental to our strategy.”

Brune Poirson – chiel sustainability officer agrees “We need to be proactive, we need to be contributing.”

Among the key environmental ESG areas, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a priority for our Group. Accor is aiming for net zero emissions by 2050 with intermediate targets and recently placed its first bond issue indexed to its sustainable development goals (Sustainability-Linked Bond).

Click the link to view to the discussion in full.

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Roca UK appoints new managing director

December 20, 2021

Rashpal Sidhu, currently UK finance and service director of leading bathroom manufacturer Roca UK, will succeed Alan Dodds as managing director from April 2022.

Rashpal Sidhu has over 15 years of experience on the Roca senior management team, driving the strategic direction of the business, and overseeing the company’s finance, customer service and warehouse operations to increase Roca’s performance and growth.

Rashpal Sidhu comments: “I am hugely looking forward to taking on my new role and maximising the opportunities ahead for the Roca brand. 2021 will be a record year for the Roca Group in the UK and we have exciting plans for growth in 2022. With a strong team, innovative new products and major new initiatives to launch, we are set for an encouraging and positive year.’

Following 22 years of leading the Roca Group in the UK and Ireland, Alan Dodds will step down as Managing Director from April 4th 2022. Dodds will continue to be closely involved with the business and will be moving into the role of Chairman.

Alan Dodds says: “I have worked very closely with Rashpal for many years and have absolutely no doubt that he will lead the company to an even more successful future. I am delighted to be staying on with the Group in a part time capacity, supporting Rashpal and the rest of the senior management team. During Q1 2022 I will work with Rashpal to ensure a smooth handover and transition, and I look forward to continuing our very successful collaboration”

For more information visit www.uk.roca.com.

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Opal Quiz launched in Pantone’s striking new colour of the year, 2022

December 15, 2021

Acquabella has responded to Pantone’s colour of the year by creating their Award-winning Opal Quiz in the highly acclaimed Very Peri.

“The unveiling of Pantone’s colour of the year is always an eagerly anticipated event but the truly stunning 2022 selection has definitely got our mouths’ watering!” said Aquabella.

It’s the first time Pantone has manufactured a colour instead of using a pre-existing archive and the global colour authority says this was a decision that was inspired by recent events: “The Pantone Color of the Year reflects what is taking place in our global culture, expressing what people are looking for that colour can hope to answer,” commented Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.

For Home Decor & Interior Design, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri injects a sense of playful freshness into home interiors, enlivening a space through unusual colour combinations.

Combining truly avant-garde geometric design with the new texture and a beautiful sculptured shape. The bath is available in the full Acquabella colour range, (Standard, Natural and RAL) and measures 180 cm x 55 with a width at its widest point of 80 cm.

RRP for Very Peri is £5731

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Duravit interviews Cecilie Manz

December 14, 2021

Danish designer Cecilie Manz’s minimalist design language invokes the Scandinavian concept of living for a brand-new sense of wellbeing. Carefully conceived materials that appeal to the sense of touch emphasise the gentle forms and exacting geometry. Perfectly harmonized colour combinations complete the overall picture.

Recently Duravit interviewed Cecilie Manz and asked about Luv, life and bathrooms…

D: What emotion do you associate with the bathroom range Luv that you designed for Duravit?

CM For me, Luv is about sheer cosiness for the perfect feel-good factor – natural, uncomplicated, and
unobtrusive.

D: What’s most important to you in a bathroom?

CM: The bathroom is one of the most intimate rooms and what matters to me are qualities like “clean, “functional”, and “comfortable”. Everything should be hygienic and low-maintenance, it should work well and at the same time, I want the materials, colours, and the overall ambience to exude a sense of wellbeing. In the bathroom, I enjoy my “every day spa moment”.

D:The colours and surfaces that you’ve selected for the bathroom series Luv radiate natural warmth while simultaneously managing to appear contemporary. Where do you get your inspiration?

CM: In the bathroom, you often find cool and clear colours. Because Luv has a very pure design, it was important for me to create a cosy and welcoming component using subtle, natural tones. I often find inspiration for colours in nature – I always have a couple of pebbles in my bag.

D: What were the biggest challenges for you in designing furnishings for the bathroom?

CM: I’m not sure if it makes such a big difference whether you’re designing a piece of furniture for the bathroom, the living room, or the kitchen. The design process involves the same approach and we go through the same mechanisms. At the same time, you have a greater responsibility to a certain extent: for me, it feels as though each individual object that I design in the bathroom is tailor-made for the specific person buying it. That might be because each object in this room is so important. For instance, you might have various chairs in your home and can choose which one to use at any given time.

You arrange your home how you want and are constantly moving things around. That’s not so easy in the bathroom. That’s why I also think that people’s decisions are a lot more conscious when selecting bathroom furniture.

D: Do you believe that people’s wishes in terms of bathroom furniture are changing?

CM: It seems that bathrooms are constantly getting bigger. On the other side, there is also a need for tiny, highly efficient bathrooms. In any case, we expect the level of comfort enjoyed in the rest of the home to be part of the bathroom, too: more warm colours, natural materials, cosiness alongside inventive solutions for keeping it clean and using less water.

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Roca presents Ona, its new collection inspired by the Mediterranean

December 14, 2021

Roca’s newest complete collection offers solutions to fully equip any type of bathroom space and includes basins and furniture, brassware, baths, accessories, WCs and bidets.

Ona was developed by the Roca Design Centre team in collaboration with the international design studios Noa Design and Benedito Design.

Ona is ideal either for main or en-suite residential bathrooms, hotel bathrooms and other public spaces with intensive use. The collection features Roca’s latest innovations, such as Fineceramic® and Stonex® materials, the Everlux finish, touchless technology or Supraglaze® coating.

Ona means “Wave” in Catalan so this latest design is inspired by the Mediterranean Sea – its landscapes and lifestyle.

Fineceramic® in basins: natural hygiene and delicate shapes

Manufactured in Roca’s Fineceramic® material the basin collection reportedly facilitates a more sustainable production process and generates zero waste. All its composites are natural and the weight reduction positively impacts firing and transport, reducing CO2 emissions.

The basin range is versatile as the bowl can be placed asymmetrically or centred to provide extra useful shelving space. Over countertop basins are also available in rectangular and round shapes, in white and matt white finishes.

The glossy white has the option of Supraglaze® coating. This extra smooth surface, allows microscopic residue to slide off, and prevents dirt buildup.

Ona offers a furniture option for each basin, thanks to standard solutions with one drawer, two drawers or simple doors. They all feature a soft-close system and full extraction drawers and are available in a purely Mediterranean range of colours (matt white, matt grey, dark elm, light oak and matt green).

Brassware with character

One of Ona’s most singular elements is a tap with a distinguishing look, conceived by Benedito Design.

It stands out for its cylindrical and particularly slim body, available in different heights and spout lengths with a flat minimalistic handle.

Inside it, the Cold Start opening system, the flow limiter and a ceramic cartridge with reduced diameter guarantee greater efficiency, both in water and energy consumption.

Ona brassware is available in four finishes: the chrome option with Evershine electrolytic coating, the two new colours provided by the exclusive Everlux PVD finish (titanium black, and rose gold) and the classic matt black. The range also includes versions for shower and bath (wall-mounted and built-in), kitchen and public bathrooms, with touchless operation.

Baths and accessories, to feel closer to the Mediterranean

The bathtubs recall a peaceful and relaxing swim in the Mediterranean thanks to the large inner dimensions and the pleasant touch of Stonex®. Also inspired by natural resources, this exclusive Roca material features antislip properties. Ona bathtubs are available as built-in versions in two dimensions and models for corner-right or corner-left installation.

Accessories include a pack with countertop elements (tray, container, soap dispenser and tumbler), available in three matching furniture colours (matt white, matt grey and matt green). Manufactured with recyclable materials, they have been specifically designed to fit the basin shelf or the standard drawers of the furniture when not in use.

Rimless toilets, maximum hygiene standards

Unobtrusive toilets and bidets make the collection complete. All WCs are of the latest rimless generation and feature the Supraglaze® coating option, innovations that make cleaning easier and guarantee outstanding hygiene standards.

Ona offers toilets in different dimensions, with wall-hung, close-coupled and floor-standing models, as well as compact versions and wall-hung and back-to-wall bidets. This range also stands out for its extra height to provide greater comfort, as well as a larger flush button.

More news from Roca

www.roca.com

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