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Under the easing restrictions, KBB retailers have now had their first week back in business and been open to invite customers into their showrooms. After a tumultuous twelve months, lots has changed and whilst many are raring to go, many others are still unnerved by the “new normal” and the remaining uncertainty.

Bushboard Five Practri

To support its retailers in being confident to reopen their businesses once again, Wilsonart’s Sales Leader, Nick Jones, shares 5 practical tips from leading laminate worksurface brand, Bushboard to instil confidence and provide guidance to its retail partners.

Review your collections
Many retailers have been open for just four months out of the last twelve. A year is a long time in the design world and new trends have started to emerge. Now is the time to observe what customers are asking for and also demonstrate that you are at the cutting edge of kitchen design. Speak to your suppliers about trends, ask for look books and make sure you have the latest decors. In worktops, for example, the result of people living, working and cooking at home non-stop for 12 months is an increasing trend for surfaces that replicate natural materials from the outside as a way of creating a sense of disconnection from our busy lifestyles. With the kitchen becoming a multi-purpose space, broken-plan designs are on the rise and both contrasting and complementing worktop designs will be used to help separate different zones of the kitchen. However, the kitchen needs to seamlessly blend into the rest of the living décor so 22mm square-edged worktops will become increasingly popular to help achieve this sense of continuity.

Ensure you have these offerings on display! If you need further support on which trend-led surfaces will catch consumers’ attention, Bushboard’s business support team have a trend guide to help you find the right choice.

Market yourself
Now that stores are open again the competition is back on. How are you staying fresh, unique and innovative? Is your website and social media up to date? Don’t forget that presence is key. With Bushboard’s Resource Centre, printed materials and lifestyle imagery for every range are available for download and use across your websites, social and email, making a digital spring clean easy.

Make it Covid safe
Whilst it might seem obvious, ensuring a really positive and safe visit for your customers will really enhance their shopping experience. Retailers that are seen to be going above and beyond can really make all the difference when it comes to selling. Make the most of hands-free digital brochures – download from the Bushboard Resource Centre and make available on a tablet or phone and add to your website so people can browse using their own device if preferred.
Embrace the virtual appointment system

Some customers just don’t feel ready to come back into stores just yet. If you’ve been running virtual appointments now is a great time to keep maintaining this service. It’s a great option for streamlining those initial customer visits as you may be able to fit two to three online in the same time as one prospective client would take in store. Offering both options ensures that everyone still feels valued and wanted as a customer and that no one is excluded.

Make sure your displays are up to date
Whilst the retail sector has been closed, many brands have been working hard on revitalising their displays, POS and marketing support so that it’s in top condition for retailers when they reopen. Did you know that with brands like Bushboard it’s really easy to order a range of POS including stands, signage and brochures? Ensure you are communicating with your supplier partners to see what support and resources they can offer you! If you stock both Bushboard’s Omega and Options collections you can take advantage of a full-sized display worktop for your showroom completely free of charge.


www.bushboard.co.uk

Bette has launched BetteAir, and claims it to be the world’s first shower tile made of glazed titanium steel. Heralded by Bette as a milestone in bathroom architecture, the tile shower tray integrates so perfectly the seams are hardly noticeable. What’s more, the floor-level installation of the shower tile is a real revolution, as it can also be glued directly to the screed like a conventional tile.

The shower surface – made of glazed titanium steel – is designed to become an integral part of the bathroom floor. The pure design of BetteAir combined with revolutionary installation technology means the German bathroom manufacture is able to term BetteAir a shower tile.

Made of durable and easy to clean, glazed titanium-steel, Bette has reduced the height of the BetteAir shower tile to an unbelievable ten millimetres, which roughly corresponds to the thickness of a large-format tile. The precise corners also fit perfectly into the tile grid, with their radius of only eight millimetres. 

Designer Dominik Tesseraux (Tesseraux & Partner, Potsdam) sums up the revolutionary development: “BetteAir has all the advantages of a tile without its disadvantages. With the shower tile, the floor of the shower is immaculately beautiful, free of joints and thus absolutely hygienic and easy to clean.”

Flat, flatter, BetteAir

In the 1970s, shower trays were still up to 30 centimetres high. Over the decades, they gradually became flatter, but it wasn’t until 2006 that Bette succeeded in creating the first shower area made of glazed titanium steel, BetteFloor. The BetteFloor ushered in a new era of jointless, floor-level showering.

Now BetteAir goes a step further and completes the evolution of shower trays to shower floors. It is hardly possible to create a shower area that is flatter, at least if the water is still to run off cleanly. The minimum installation height of BetteAir is just 99 millimetres.

To achieve this, Bette has also rethought the waste, and enlarged it to 200 millimetres. All that is visible is a circular, three-millimetre gap in the middle of the brilliant surface, through which the water drains. The drainage capacity of 0.6 l/s is more than sufficient, even for opulent rain showers. The glazed waste cover is absolutely flat, so that no difference between it and the surrounding surface can be felt or seen. The waste cover can also be easily removed for cleaning, although there is not much to clean, as the waste is designed to be self-cleaning and to prevent hair from getting caught in it or in the pipe-work.

Revolutionary installation

A real revolution is the floor-level installation of the BetteAir shower tile, which can simply be glued to the screed like a conventional tile. To achieve this, Bette has further developed its proven solution of the Minimum Support and Installation Box, so that it can be used for the floor-level installation of BetteAir. The BetteAir is supplied largely pre-assembled and ready for installation. For bathroom fitters and tilers, this ‘plug-and-play’ solution means significantly less effort in installing the shower and reduced coordination between the trades – and so time and cost savings. Those who require even more flexibility during installation can install BetteAir using the tried-and-tested BetteInstallation System Universal.

Many colours, formats and options

The BetteAir shower tile is available in eight sizes from 900 x 900 to 1400 x 1000 millimetres. This means that shower areas can be created in many dimensions, from the small standard format to the XL area for maximum showering pleasure.

To ensure that BetteAir blends seamlessly into all surroundings or stands out from them in contrast, the shower tile is available in a choice of 31 colours, including popular sanitaryware colours, exclusive matt colours and a special effect colour. On request, BetteAir can also be equipped with an anti-slip surface, either with BetteAnti-Slip Pro, or the new BetteAnti-Slip Sense for gloss colours, which offers even greater slip resistance.

BetteAir is also supplied as standard with basic sound insulation for quiet showering. If it is professionally installed using the minimum support and installation box, the sound level is only 19 dB(A), which more than meets the increased requirements of sound insulation level 3 of VDI 4100 and is certified by DEKRA. This reduces the sound to a whispering level, which makes it ideal for use in flats or other buildings were sound minimisation is required.

Installation

The installation steps for the floor-level installation of BetteAir are revolutionarily simple. The BetteAir installation box is glued onto the unfinished floor, the installer’s new pipe-work is connected to the pipe-work already provided within the box, and the cover is put on the box to protect the contents during the installation of the bathroom floor. The insulation is put in place, and the screed is applied. The box is then cut to the same level as the floor screed and the sealing frame is glued to the box. (The sealing frame with is integral fleece is compliant with DIN 18534-1 standards, certified by KIWA) The sealing compound/liquid latex is then applied over the surface and up to the edges of the box and over the fleece, to complete the waterproofing seal. The temporary box cover is removed, and the waste unit is connected to the pipe-work in the box, the BetteAir is glued down, the tiles are laid, and the edges are sealed with silicone – finished!

Dimensions

BetteAir is available in the following sizes: 900 × 900 mm, 1000 × 900 mm, 1000 × 1000 mm, 1200 × 800 mm, 1200 × 900 mm, 1200 × 1000 mm, 1400 × 900 mm and 1400 × 1000 mm. The rim height is 10 mm for all formats, the corner radius R8 and the diameter of the outlet 200 mm. Overall, installation heights from 99 mm are possible.

Colours

Sanitaryware colours: White, Pergamon, Manhattan, Bahama Beige, Edelweiss, Jasmine, Ebony, Carneol.

Exclusive matt colours: 22 colours from deep black to grey and beige tones, to matt white.

Effect colours: Blue Satin

Options:  BetteGlaze Plus, BetteAnti-Slip Pro (evaluation group B according to DIN 51097), BetteAnti-Slip Sense (evaluation group C according to DIN 51097).

www.my-bette.com/en

And for the BetteAir

The Unified Water Label Association is calling on the kbb industry to realise the importance of using water wisely on Earth Day, (22 April).

Earth Day is an international event that calls on world leaders to come together to prevent the coming disasters of climate change and environmental destruction. Using a theme of ‘Together, we can Restore Our Earth™’, the day runs parallel to the Biden Administration’s global climate summit, with EARTHDAY.ORG hosting a live digital event.

UWLA MD Yvonne Orgill says, “Climate literacy is one of the key themes for this Earth Day, as research has found that this is key to building a greener workforce and a consumer movement that will help solve climate change.

“This is a theme that is also part of UWLA’s communication strategy.  We believe that everyonehas a part to play in making responsible water-saving choices.  If those involved in designing, manufacturing, selling, installing and purchasing water using bathroom products, all work together to help each other, and consumers understand the issues around water scarcity, then we can drive home the message that for the sake of the planet we must use water wisely.

“We explored this at our recent Water Matters event, when Impact Entrepreneur Ben Keene raised some interesting questions on this topic.  He asked the bathroom industry to come together and be creative in meeting this challenge.  He suggested that it is necessary to be bold in order to help people understand the impact of their water consumption, and nudge them towards positive behaviour change.


“Our #dontforgettheplug marketing campaign is also addressing this message.  Currently being rolled out across the UK and Europe, it highlights key messages to promote the benefits of supporting the Unified Water Label.

“Those interested in finding out how they can become involved by supporting the UWLA or joining our campaign can find out more here.”

Unidrain has recently been involved in the design and construction of Stemplehusene; an exclusive housing development in Rødovre.

The new Stempelhusene development comprises of four yellow, brick-clad apartment blocks containing 88 apartments designed and built with a focus on quality from the outset.

The location was selected as the ideal venue when the supermarket chain Irma vacated their former headquarters in the western part of Rødovrebecame. Stempelhusene is the first of Irma’s cooperative housing projects. The cost of a brand new apartment can be prohibitive for many, in a cooperative building the ownership is divided between the residents, making it not only more cost-effective to acquire but also prevents a quick resale for profit.

Simple aesthetics and stylish materials characterise the Stempelhusene apartments, every item from the bricks to the bathrooms’ linear drains has been carefully selected; creating elegant homes ready for the residents to occupy.

The Stempelhusene apartments have been built to help ensure that elderly residents and families with children can move into the exclusive area for less money than if the apartments were owner-occupied homes.

Carefully selected bricks and drains
Although they are priced at less than the surrounding apartments, no compromises have been made on the materials or the architecture. “The yellow bricks were laid according to a strict plan, and Unidrain’s linear drains adorn the bathroom floors” explains architect, Line Ryming from Arkitema Architects, the agency who designed Stempelhusene. “From the outset, we focused on the aesthetics; the stylish little details, which often make all the difference,” she says.

Stempelhusene

For instance, the bricks are in different shades of yellow and in two of the buildings they are laid with the reverse side out which gives the masonry a coarser look. This provides each of the four buildings a distinct look although initially they appear to look the same.

“Long before we knew that Stempelhusene apartments were going to be used for cooperative housing, we wanted to get the details right. For example, the balconies have been given smoke-stained glass screens that match the buildings’ golden tiles, plus the buildings are angled in relation to each other, which creates an interesting outdoor space between each of them. Every apartment has been designed to receive maximum daylight, as they all let in light from two corners of the world,” says Line Ryming Funch.

“We knew we wanted to fit the bathrooms with Unidrain’s linear drain. It has a simple and exclusive look and creates a seamless unity between the shower and tiles.” Said Line Ryming Funch.

The bathrooms in Stempelhusene were prefabricated by Badelement a leading bathroom manufacturer; who were delighted when asked to install Unidrain’s linear drain.

Badelement’s Managing Director Hans Henrik Nielsen says: “The line drains are both stylish and easy to install, we always hope we’ll be allowed to install linear drains. They look exclusive and they’re easy to mount.”

A versatile range, the contemporary new Volta family includes a wide choice of cabinetry suitable for bathrooms, en-suites and cloakrooms, including slim units for compact spaces.

Available in both wall-hung and floor-standing styles, Volta provides plenty of practical storage solutions as well as an ultra modern coordinated look to help streamline bathroom spaces and create an on-trend interior. With a high gloss lacquered finish, three flawless colours to choose from – Anthracite Gloss, Grey Gloss and White Gloss – provide consumers with the perfect palette to suit personal tastes and bathroom styles.

Supplied rigid for ease of installation, all the Volta units are colour coordinated throughout and include luxurious soft-close cabinet fittings and a sleek bar handle. To complete the look, the range also includes a Volta floor-standing 500mm WC unit and 350mm tall unit with two doors.

Complete with a five-year guarantee, the new Volta Modular Furniture range is now available from PJH Group and can be ordered via the PJH Partners Portal for next day delivery. For further information, contact Bathrooms to Love at PJH on: T: 0800 8 77 88 99; or visit www.partners.pjh.uk (for ordering & account management); and www.bathroomstolove.uk

Statement bathrooms require eye-catching furniture possessing functionality and flair. HiB Novum’s new Fabrica range oozes luxury and sophistication, while also giving homeowners and designers the chance to express their style through bathroom furniture.

Fabrica’s distinguishing feature is the combination of colour and texture, with Dark Emerald, Midnight Blue and Carbon Grey options complete with a sleek, tactile design. The range has been developed to answer the growing call for more choice, but with the added benefit of interchangeable details that offer enhanced personalisation.

HiB Novum Fabrica Midnight blue
Midnight Blue

Handles and brassware options are all part of Fabrica’s appeal, with finishes such as brushed brass, black and chrome offering a new level of design expression, creating a bathroom that is decadently stylish. The vanity unit can be paired with a wash basin or vessel basin with countertop, with further accessories such as optional legs, to suit each customer’s personal preferences.

To accommodate a variety of bathroom sizes, Fabrica is available in 50cm, 60cm, 100cm and 120cm units. The Fabrica Cloakroom range is available for those with an ensuite or smaller space, while those with larger bathrooms may choose to explore the 100cm and 120cm options, which present the opportunity to install couple’s vanity stations with two basins and mirrors to offer that additional touch of extravagance and luxury.

To ensure that the bathroom remains free from unsightly clutter, Fabrica has ample storage, with soft-close drawer runners for gentle closure and elegance.

Fabric Carbon Grey
Carbon Grey

Ash Chilver, Sales Director at HiB, said: “Fabrica’s rich unit colours and multitude of personal touches make it a really sophisticated and striking design. It is such an eye-catching unit that suits a wide variety of styles and bathroom sizes. As a statement furniture piece, it really draws attention.”

For more information about the HiB Novum Fabrica ranges visit https://www.hib.co.uk/product/fabrica/

More news from HiB

VitrA Bathrooms has worked with award-winning multi-disciplinary artist Arik Levy to create the Voyage bathroom collection.  With more than 130 products available in the range this extensive collection offers endless possibilities for customisation.

The vast number of furniture and sanitaryware pieces can be individually tailored using the extensive range of colour, material and size options.  The sheer variety of horizontal and vertical units and wall panels create the ideal layout to suit any bathroom, shower or en-suite space.

Voyage is entirely wall-hung, making it exceptionally versatile and ideal for small or awkward spaces. Both open and closed storage options are available – from hooks and open shelving through to mirrored wall boxes and various storage units – and each piece can be positioned anywhere in the room to suit individual needs. Coordinating accessories, including a heated towel rail and a toilet roll and brush holder, are also available to complete the look.

VitrA Voyage Cloakroom

Voyage bathroom furniture is available in five different dual colour finishes, including flamed grey and natural oak, planked sand and stone grey, and flamed grey and forest green.

The sanitaryware is cast from hygienic and easy-to-clean ceramic; the Voyage collection includes a range of countertop and wall-hung washbasin units that offer a convenient combination of wet, dry and semi-wet areas, blurring the lines between a traditional bowl and a vanity unit. 

VitrA Voyage Statement Bathroom

Inspired by his time living and working in Japan, Arik Levy worked closely with VitrA’s in-house design team to create a bathroom collection that allows both mind and body to relax. He comments: “Taking time for ourselves in the bathroom each day can be extremely purifying. Our daily habits are deep-rooted, but I hope that the Voyage collection will help us to indulge ourselves and make time to enjoy our daily rituals”.

www.VitrA.co.uk

With restrictions over the past year leading to people spending more time both living and working in the home, REHAU Furniture Solutions has launched a new report delving into consumer preferences.

REHAU surveyed 2,000 UK homeowners to understand current attitudes to interior design, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms.

Launched this week, the downloadable guide, titled Designing Different, explores the findings of the research, outlining how the demands of modern life have changed and how designers can provide solutions that resonate with consumers’ needs.

Of those surveyed, 69 per cent said that spending more time at home while under COVID-19 restrictions had increased their desire to make improvements to the kitchen and bathroom. Two thirds (67 per cent) also stated that they are more aware of bacteria on surfaces in their home, highlighting the need for hygienic solutions such as zero-joint edgebanding and non-porous work surfaces.

Just under half (47 per cent) agreed that it is important for visitors to complement their home décor and when it comes to choosing a new kitchen or bathroom, the majority (54 per cent) said that they listen to trends, but that it’s important to them that the design will still look good in years to come.

When asked about colour schemes, a third (31 per cent) of consumers stated their preferred option in the kitchen is new neutrals (greys), closely followed by white (29 per cent) and warm neutrals (creams and browns) at 26 per cent. Lively hues were bottom of the list, with only 6 per cent noting that they favoured bright colour pops.

Scott Williams, National Sales Manager for REHAU Furniture Solutions explains: “It’s clear that now more than ever, not only are consumers looking to update their homes, but they want do so with hygienic solutions that maintain a healthy home. More than this, our research shows that homeowners are looking for surfaces that are easy to maintain, as well as options that are of a high quality and will last a long time.

“It’s therefore important for designers to ensure they are specifying products that meet these requirements and indeed, explain the full benefits of opting for materials that are both built to enhance daily life and provide the reassurance of longevity.

“Our report delves deeply into what consumers want in their kitchens, bathrooms and beyond, not only providing insightful data-driven trends, but solutions that can help facilitate designs that suit modern needs.”

To download a copy of REHAU’s Designing Different report, visit: www.rehau.com/uk-en/designing-different

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) has announced the opening of three boutique hotels in Sweden under the JdV by Hyatt brand. Story Hotel Riddargatan and Story Hotel Signalfabriken in Stockholm, and Story Hotel Studio Malmö in Malmö, Sweden– all join Hyatt’s independent collection portfolio, significantly increasing Hyatt’s brand presence in Sweden. The three hotels join Hotell Reisen bringing the total number of Hyatt properties in the country to four.

Deeply rooted in the culture of its local neighbourhood, each hotel is as unique as the individuals who enter through its doors, providing guests with a range of locally inspired programming that allows them to connect authentically with the surrounding community during their stay. With modern, Scandinavian design that reflects the edgy nature of both Swedish cities, the hotels offer amenities for business and leisure travelers alike.

“We are truly passionate about the neighbourhoods in which our hotels are located – so much so that we ensured the design of each hotel was a true extension of its surroundings and authentically reflected the local culture”, said Alexander Hederstrom, general manager of Story Hotel Riddargatan and Story Hotel Signalfabriken. “This is why we are so proud and excited to be joining JdV by Hyatt – a brand that truly recognizes and celebrates the importance of local community.”

“We are excited to welcome guests through our doors and share with them the spectacular views of the ocean and the beautiful city of Malmö from our rooftop. Story Hotel Studio Malmö is at the heart of the city, only a five minute walk from the Malmö Central Station,” said Sebastian Kamieniarczyk, general manager of Story Hotel Studio Malmö. “With each hotel’s unique location, there really is no better place for guests to stay when coming to explore the city and immerse themselves in the local culture”.

Story Hotel Riddargatan, Story Hotel Signalfabriken and Story Hotel Studio Malmö all feature individually designed boutique guestrooms, vibrant public spaces and food and beverage offerings for both visitors and residents.

Story Hotel Riddargatan, Stockholm

Rooms

The 83-room hotel is designed with an industrial theme to reflect the building’s former life as an apartment complex, a famous hair saloon and garage. The rooms are perfect for urbanites looking for a stylish place to stay, featuring distressed walls, sleek furniture, and rustic exposed pipework.

Food and drink

The Bar & Lounge is a distinct space, popular with local residents as well as hotel guests, serving a wide menu of cocktails, and offering DJ sets several evenings a week. The hotel also has a fantastic restaurant, Ling Long, specializing in Southeast Asian cuisine.

Location

Located in the trendy area of downtown Stockholm, Story Hotel Riddargatan is just around the corner from the business and shopping district of Stureplan – appealing to both business and leisure travelers. For those interested in immersing themselves in the vibrant city center, the hotel is close to most key tourist attractions, ferry boats to the archipelago and designer shops and boutiques.

Story Hotel Signalfabriken, Stockholm

Rooms

Story Hotel Signalfabriken features 83 individual guestrooms, all chic and contemporary in their design. With copper plating, brick walls and rainfall showers, the hotel is perfect for those who prefer a modern industrial vibe.

Food and drink

Guests can grab a delicious burger at the in-house restaurant, Phil’s Burger, or enjoy a drink as the bustling bar which hosts DJ sets throughout the week.

Location

Located inside the listed Signalfabriken building, formerly a fire station and town hall, the industrial-chic hotel serves as the perfect home base for both business guests attending meetings in the surrounding areas of Solna Business Park, and leisure guests who want quick access to Stockholm’s city center. The hotel is ideal for those interested in exploring the Friends Arena and Mall, Scandinavia’s biggest shopping center, which also has an IMAX theatre, and can be reached by car in about 10 minutes.

Story Hotel Studio Malmö

Rooms

Story Hotel Studio Malmö features 95 unique guestrooms, all designed to reflect the distinct look and feel, and vibrant nature of the local neighbourhoods. With an airy and modern finish, each bedroom offers guests a beautiful view overlooking the city center and/or ocean glass windows.

Food and drink

The hotel features a restaurant on the 14th floor, Kasai in the Sky, with views overlooking Malmö and the Oresund – showcasing both the ocean and city skyline. The restaurant serves delicious modern Japanese cuisine, paired perfectly with one of the many cocktails available at the bar. The rooftop comes alive during the evening, with great music and a lively atmosphere.  

Location

Story Hotel Studio Malmö is located by the water at Universitetsholmen, a few minutes walking distance from the Malmö Central Station and city center, making it the perfect springboard for guests to explore the city. The hotel is located within the STUDIO building, which also features conference and meeting facilities, corporate offices, retail outlets, several restaurants, and a café. The best way to explore the city is by bike, which is perfect as Story Hotel Studio Malmö offers free cycle hires for all guests.

The JdV by Hyatt brand is known for its collection of vibrant, independent hotels that welcome all vibes, tribes and unique souls. Each property looks to embrace the local culture of the neighbourhood in which it is situated and welcomes guests to explore, celebrate and live in the moment. Already present in 15 locations in the U.S., and with a property recently opened in China, the brand is expanding its presence in Europe with these openings, as Hyatt looks to build its lifestyle portfolio in the region.

For more information about the hotels, please visit: Story Hotel Riddargatan http://storyhotelriddargatan.com, Story Hotel Signalfabriken http://storyhotelsignalfabriken.com, and Story Hotel Studio Malmö

http://storyhotel-studiomalmo.com.

Well known kbb industry professional Toby Griffin is to work with leading kbb and merchant service provider Simon Acres Group – SAGL as a training consultant. Toby is a business consulting expert with 17 years of experience with kbb companies.

SAGL director Simon Acres says, “We are thrilled that Toby has joined us.  He shares our passion for excellence and will be a great asset to our business, as we continue to service our growing kbb retail and merchant client base.

Toby Griffin added, “I am delighted to be working with Simon and the team.  It’s a great time to be joining as we come out of lockdown and take advantage of the lessons learned and the new ways of working that have evolved.

“I am looking forward to getting back out into showrooms to work face to face with clients and share the extensive portfolio of training that we can offer together.”