Diane, Author at Bathroom Review

KBSA welcomes level playing field for Independent showrooms

November 23, 2020

The Kbsa has welcomed the news that Wren and Magnet are to close their stores in accordance with the
latest government guidelines.

Kbsa national chair Richard Hibbert said, “We have been relentless in our pursuit of Trading Standards to
clarify the position of Wren and Magnet, since the guidelines were changed on Monday, with kitchen and
bathroom showrooms being included in a list of retail stores required to close”.

“It was disadvantageous to our members and all independent showrooms that Wren and Magnet had
chosen to keep their showrooms open, despite clear guidance that they should close”.

“We understand from our discussions with Trading Standards that the Primary Authority responsible for
Wren nationally has withdrawn their previous advice that Wren could stay open.”

“The current lockdown is challenging for all retailers, as an association we do not wish to see any
business in difficulty but we must protect our member’s interests, and have worked hard to ensure that
level playing field is maintained in terms of closures”.

“The remaining weeks of the year will no doubt present new challenges for independent retailers. Our
support networks remain in place for members to discuss any issues and our HR and legal partners will
continue their relevant updates and webinars to help members negotiate their way through this lockdown
and beyond.”

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Kudos Premium SR collection due to launch in January

November 23, 2020

A new collection of premium shower trays is about to be launched by British shower product manufacturer Kudos. Featuring a new surface material which is Slip, Scratch and Stain resistant, these new trays will be known as the Kudos SR Collection.

The slip-resistant properties are embedded in the material, rather than a coating on the surface, which means it cannot be removed and, unlike many other anti-slip surfaces is comfortable underfoot. The easy to clean textured material also provides a high level of scratch and stain resistance ensuring that the trays maintain a pristine condition throughout the lifetime of the product.

Kudos Premium SR collection slip-resistant

The Premium SR option will intially be available in all current Kstone sizes with the revolutionary Connect2SR range, which will be manufactured at the newly commisioned £650,000 tray production facility in Cumbria, becoming available early in the new year.

Kudos Shower Products Ltd has been designing and manufacturing shower products since 1999. Their portfolio includes shower enclosures, shower trays, over-bath screens and wet-room solutions sold via KBB showrooms and merchants across the UK.

Visit their website kudosshowers.co.uk, call them on 01539 564040 or email info@kudosshowers.co.uk.

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Lakes adds stunning new showering spaces to Premium Island Collection

November 23, 2020

Lakes, best known as a manufacturer of innovative showering spaces, has enhanced its premium Island Collection with the addition of Antigua and Aruba. The exciting new ‘showroom exclusive’ products are designed with Lakes Definitions for an exclusive finishing touch.

The Antigua is an elegant 2-metre high slider with high specification design. It includes an easy-glide, softly closing door; concealed wheels for a cooler look; a low threshold for easy and safe access; and a solid cast handle in chrome complete with smooth, rounded edges for supreme elegance. An ultra-slim gap between the fixed panel and sliding door, and a discreet Quick Release mechanism adds to the practical and aesthetic appeal of this impressive showering space.

The Aruba has all the performance and design benefits of the Antigua and with the addition of a side panel, making this showering space ideal for corner areas. Both products benefit from Lakes Glass – PureVue^HD low-iron glass for superior clarity and AllClear^® advanced glass coating for long-life looks. Glass thickness is 8mm.

Lakes Premium Island Collection — **Lakes Aruba showering space shown with a gold handle and profile caps from Lakes Definitions**

Define the showering space with Lakes Definitions

Lakes Definitions is a new contemporary suite of shower door handles and accessories, designed exclusively for the Antigua and Aruba. The high-quality cast handles and stylish profile caps are available in four on-trend colour options: gold, rose gold, nickel and matt black. This latest innovation meets the growing demand from homeowners to personalise their complete showering space to suit their bathroom style. The handles and caps can be fitted retrospectively too, making Lakes Definitions a flexible choice for bathroom renovations.

All of Lakes products are backed by a unique ‘no quibble’ lifetime guarantee.

For more information visit www.lakesshoweringspaces.com.

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Pictured Top: Lakes Antigua showering space with a chrome handle and profile caps as standard

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Aqualisa awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in ‘Best In Tech’

November 20, 2020

Leading shower manufacturer Aqualisa has been ‘Highly Commended’ in the Best in Tech category at this year’s Brit List Awards.

Now in its fourth year, The Brit List Awards is Hotel Designs’ nationwide search to find the most influential designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers operating in Britain. This year’s meticulous process began months ago when Hotel Designs opened up nominations and applications to its readers.

The finalists were invited to attend The Brit List Awards’ annual award ceremony – that took place virtually on November 12. At the event, which was broadcast live from London, The Brit List 2020 – a publication that profiles the top 25 designers, architects and hoteliers – as well as the individual winners – were announced.

“Now more than ever, we should recognise and celebrate the leading individuals who are consistently and meaningfully at the forefront of British design, architecture and hospitality,” said editor Hamish Kilburn. “Although, on record, 2020 has been one of the most challenging periods for the industry, I have faith that the individuals and businesses we shortlisted, have the skills and experience to create meaningful solutions for hospitality and hotel design in the post-pandemic world”. Hamish also pointed out how well Aqualisa had done to get its new smart shower ranges launched during the first period of national lockdown earlier this year.

Aqualisa, an Award Partner for the second year running, was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Best in Tech award for its Aqualisa Quartz Touch smart shower. The app controlled shower and bath fill product was identified by the international panel of judges as a significant development for bathroom technology and for pushing the boundaries of the hotel in-room experience in terms of convenience and control.

Aqualisa CEO Colin Sykes said: “It’s always nice to be recognised for the quality of the products we make and we are delighted to have done so well in these acclaimed design awards. We believe our latest smart showers, which are operated by Alexa and Google voice activation and a first-to-market shower app, will achieve prominence in bathroom design and technology over the next few years. We’re delighted Quartz Touch has been acknowledged as the leading edge product it is and for the opportunities smart showers offer a Hotel industry that’s having to adjust to new post-Covid parameters.”

For more information, head for www.aqualisa.co.uk.

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Arabba Texture & Flow Zero shower tray

November 20, 2020

Acquabella has launched three new products for 2021. Delivering the perfect mix of tradition, innovation and design, the new products promise a sanctuary of wellbeing.

Arabba Texture (pictured top) is Acquabella’s new textile-finish textured shower tray, with this tray Acquabella pay homage to traditional craftsmanship.

Tradition and design

Acquabella-new-collection-Tempo-Arabba-showertray

Arabba is a new high definition texture that simulates the look and feel of a handcrafted fabric made with natural fibres that blend with the stone finish.

The Arabba texture perfectly embodies the bespoke irregularities we might see in a work of true craftsmanship. The tactile, non-conformist finish has a ‘textile-look’ texture that is perfectly suited to the Tempo design.

Unlike other shower trays, the Tempo Arabba encourages water to flow to the sides of the tray, gently running around its perimeter until it reaches a delicate and subtle grate that receives the flow with great elegance.

The Arabba texture complements other Acquabella products, such as panels and countertops, helping designers by delivering a complete collection that is both traditional and sophisticated.

Tomorrow’s innovation

Aquabella has also launched the Flow Zero high-flow shower tray and the Mini countertop, both designed to deliver minimalist and contemporary styling,

The Flow Zero shower tray is silhouetted by soft lines that direct the water towards an almost invisible grate under which the water slides, creating a minimalist flow that immerses users in a universe of calm and relaxation. Flow Zero lives up to its name, as its subtle grate easily collects the large amount of water flowing over its surface.

The Flow Zero shower tray was created with a countertop that represents the pinnacle of practicality. Acquabella’s new Mini bathroom countertop is compact yet features a deep, wide soft-touch basin. The exterior is coated with the Slate texture, an elegant finish that faithfully reproduces the appearance of slate, while a modern and subtle towel rail completes the design of the Mini countertop, making it the ideal addition to any bathroom.

Aquabella has been internationally recognised in a variety of design awards.

cquabella-new-collection-Mini-worktop.jp — Flow Zero Shower Tray

www.acquabella.com

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Bette easy-to-fit shower trays available in 400 colours

November 19, 2020

Bette manufactures a wide range of shower trays in a huge choice of sizes and colours. Made from durable glazed titanium-steel, they are 100% recyclable, available with almost invisible anti-slip and BetteUpstand; a clever way to avoid silicone where the shower floor meets the wall.

Bette trays are also available with a system that makes installation faster and easier. The Minimum Support can be ordered pre-attached to any BetteFloor, BetteFloor Side or BetteUltra shower tray and is then simply glued to the screed or wooden floor.

The BetteFloor shower area, pictured, can be fitted flush with the floor and is strong, easy to clean, sustainable and 100% recyclable. Like all Bette shower trays, it comes with a 30 year warranty.

The BetteFloor is available in over 400 colours, including matt white and a total of 22 matt shades.

It comes in a total of 52 different size/shape options from 800 x 800mm to 1800 x 1000mm. It has extremely angular corners, which means it fits perfectly into the floor tiling pattern, with no large areas of grout required.

Sustainability is central to Bette’s approach, and this is confirmed by the company’s Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) as per ISO 14025 and to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

For more information see www.my-bette.com/en telephone 0844 800 0547 or email info@bette.co.uk

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Abode accredited for investment in people

November 19, 2020

Abode has been awarded ‘We invest in people’, standard accreditation from Investors In People (IIP), in recognition of its dedication to putting people first and ensuring Abode is a great place to work for all staff.

Promoting what it takes to lead, support and manage people well for sustainable results, the IIP assessment took place in October and found that Abode employees were engaged and empowered by the business, with staff referring to the culture as supportive and ‘like a family’.

The company’s commitment to empowering and involving its people, building capability and leading and inspiring were among the top strengths identified by assessors, who spent time talking to Abode employees, as well as senior management before finalising their report. On leadership, one Abode colleague commented: “We get regular updates; the communication lines are much better than they have ever been. We have really grown as a business and there are lots of things in place now for us.”

The company was also recognised for how it involves staff in its commitment to continual improvement, with one employee stating: “This is the only company I’ve worked for where they take your suggestion on board and do something about it.”

Another staff member said: “We had absolutely brilliant support through Covid. I was at home for a few months and still felt a valued member, as we had regular catch ups and updates.”

Commenting on the IIP accreditation, Abode Managing Director Matthew Pitt said: “Abode is a business built on its people. Our knowledge, flexibility and service ethos are part of our DNA. Customers buy from us partly because we are easy to deal with and that is all down to our brilliant team of staff.

Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People, said: “Being accredited with We invest in people is a remarkable effort for any organisation, and places Abode in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people.

“We are very pleased to have achieved the accreditation and we are looking forward to continuing to work with Investors in People so that we can remain a business that values people and supports them to achieve their full potential.”

For more information contact:

Abode

Tel: 01226 283434

Fax: 01226 282434

Email: info@abodedesigns.co.uk

www.abode.eu

Pinterest:

@AbodeDesigns/

Facebook:

@AbodeHomeProducts

Twitter: @abodehome

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/abode-home-products-limited

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RAK Ceramics new mirror ranges reflect style & quality

November 19, 2020

The focal point in every bathroom, RAK Ceramics range of mirrors and cabinets offers design, function and versatility. LED Illumination, heated glass keeping your vision mist-free and soft close hinges are just a few of the standard features the range has to offer.

The comprehensive new collection has something for every bathroom, taking this must-have fixture and turning it into a statement piece that is as big on practical features as it is on style.

Some of the many features and benefits of the new range of mirrors from RAK Ceramics include touch sensor technology for cleanliness and hygiene, shaving sockets for convenience, demister pads to ensure the glass is mist-free no matter how long you like to shower or bath for. Bluetooth connectivity means the mirror can be paired with your mobile telephone, tablet or digital music player to make the bathroom truly your personal domain. Whether listening to your favourite playlist, audiobook or radio station, you can truly relax. RAK Ceramics shaving mirrors have a magnetic switch, with the light coming on when the mirror is pulled towards you and off again when the mirror is stowed for tidiness.

Finally, built in low energy consumption LED lighting in mirrors and under cabinets provides more consistent lighting while reducing energy consumption and your carbon footprint.

RAK Ceramics cabinets offer surface mounted and recessed options, giving even the smallest bathroom the opportunity to benefit from well needed storage. Each mirror and cabinet in the range has ultimately been designed not only to look good on your bathroom wall, but to maximise on user comfort too.

Contact:

RAK Ceramics UK

01730 237850

www.rakceramics.com/uk/

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Bathroom showrooms can open when lockdown lifts

November 18, 2020

KBB retailers in England will be able to open their showrooms once the lockdown restrictions are lifted on December 2.

Non-essential retail – to include kitchen and bathroom showrooms – was outlined by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he announced details of his post-lockdown plan.

Under the new guidelines, parts of the country have been placed into high-risk or very high-risk tiers, stricter measures will be introduced within those tiers.

Previously government guidance, updated on 16 November required kitchen and bathroom showrooms in England to close.

Kbsa national chair Richard Hibbert had commented at the time “This is a change to the guidance which was issued on the 05 November. The new guidance provides a new list for retail stores which must close and this includes ‘showrooms open to the public for products used in homes, including bathrooms, kitchens and glazing’.

“It is regrettable that showrooms must close but it is welcome that the guidance is now very clear and we have a level playing field for all kitchen and bathroom retailers”.

“We have advised our members of this change and have also reassured them that we will continue our efforts to ensure that the level playing field is maintained. We are aware that some showrooms such as Wren and Magnet are still open and are continuing our dialogue with BEIS and Trading Standards to address this and protect our member’s interests”.

“This change only applies to showrooms in England. In Wales showrooms are currently open and in Scotland, where they have a five-tier system, showrooms in all tiers can also remain open”.

“Our support networks remain in place for members to discuss any issues and our HR and legal partners will continue their relevant updates and webinars to help members negotiate their way through this challenging period.”

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Acquabella wins SBID Award for Smart Quiz

November 18, 2020

Acquabella has won an award from The Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID), a professional accrediting body for the Interior Design industry across the UK, Europe and around the world.

Acquabella achieved an SBID Award for the best Bathroom Product at the inaugural SBID Product Design Awards for 2020. The bathroom furniture specialists were awarded this accolade for the product, Smart Quiz.

The winners were revealed online on Friday 23 October alongside this year’s eagerly anticipated SBID International Design Awards winners.

The Bathroom Product category focuses on any products suitable for use within a bathroom setting, ranging from bathroom cabinets, mirrors and towel rails to shower doors, floors and screens.

About Smart Quiz

Smart Quiz represents 25 years of innovative creations which blend into a unique finish formed by different textures set beneath geometric patterns. It results in a surface with an appearance that has never been seen before, featuring three high-definition finishes created by Acquabella; Beton, Zero and Ethnic. The first portrays the appearance of manually handled cement; the second consists of a minimalist microtexture; and the third combines wood and cement. This is thanks to the qualities of Akron®, Acquabella’s patented formula, which allows for top performance in terms of resistance and non-slip functionality.

Aqcuabella claim avant-garde, creativity and non-conformity is in the Quiz collection’s DNA; showcasing a design that breaks all the established rules, uses abstract geometry as an art form, and combines harmony and contrast with futurism and functionality.

Despite the unprecedented challenges facing the industry this year, the SBID Awards 2020 claim to have been the most globally represented edition to date. With industry talent hailing from 49 countries across the world, the results are a testament to the profession’s extraordinary resilience, demonstrating a world-wide determination to continue to celebrate the achievements of the design profession at large.

Now in its eleventh year, the GOLD-rated awards programme is recognised for its transparency, as well as its professional and ethical standards by The Independent Awards Standards Council. With all categories assessed by panels of leading industry experts who look for outstanding examples of technical content and aesthetic creativity, as well inviting the public to cast their votes, achieving an SBID Award is an unparalleled marque of industry excellence for the deserving winners. Judges this year included a host of top tier professionals from global design businesses such as Karim Rashid Inc, Unilever Prestige, Zaha Hadid Architects, Wanda Hotels and Resorts, HOK London Studio, Katharine Pooley Ltd, and the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).

SBID Founder and CEO, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE comments:

“We have all been struggling to cope with the broad effects caused by Covid-19 – as individuals, as well as a community. So the Awards this year, whilst very different, have been particularly inspiring to review. It just goes to prove the importance of our surroundings and how the way we feel and act within them is directly impacted by it.

“It’s been an important reminder to business owners that good design is not just about its aesthetic and functionality, but particularly in commercial space, it’s also about the intrinsic value great design adds to business.” In line with its mission to promote and elevate talent and creativity with fairness and equality, the annual event will continue to reward outstanding projects and products as it looks to 2021 with a new optimism in this rapidly evolving industry”.

www.acquabella.com

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