Author

Diane

Browsing

KBB Birmingham shares exhibitor highlights

Returning to the NEC Birmingham from 3-6 March 2024 is the UK’s largest dedicated kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms exhibition, kbb Birmingham.  Showcasing over 250 exhibitors, from 20 different countries across the KBB sector, the biennial event will feature the latest industry product innovations and advanced designs across the four-day show.

“We can’t wait to welcome thousands of designers, retailers, installers, property developers and buyers to discover the impressive array of exhibitors that are showcasing the latest KBB trends and innovations at our event in March. There will be plenty to explore, with brand-new launches and the chance to see live product demonstrations throughout the four-day event.” comments Sam Fisher, Event Director for kbb Birmingham.

Bathroom Highlights

This year’s kbb Birmingham features exciting bathroom brands including VitrA, Roca, Merlyn, House of Rohl and Vado. Some of the exhibitor highlights to look forward to from the bathroom sector include:

Whitebirk Sink Company (H84) uses the skills of master craftsmen to manufacture its traditional handmade fireclay sinks. Kréte, its concrete range of bathroom basins will launch at the show, made from materials sourced in the UK and fully recyclable. With a variety of sink and tap types in different designs and materials, products can be tailored to exact requirements.

Scudo, owned by Harrison Bathrooms (E54) is a family-run business dating back over 100 years. Kbb Birmingham will see the launch of two new furniture collections, including the Esme floor-standing cloakroom unit. The unit is compact and slimline and features luxurious soft close doors that provide quiet and controlled closure with plenty of storage space for bathroom essentials. The brand also uses Eco-Stone gel coat technology as an environmentally friendly alternative, potentially saving 1.4kg of plastic from polluting the environment each year.

Newly exhibiting for 2024 is the Artweger JOICE Walk-in+ barrier-free walk-in shower, by Leda Bathrooms (C72). The brand proudly supplies beautiful bathroom furniture for the less abled, blending style and accessibility for the bathroom. Leda Bathrooms is a ‘zero landfill’ company, with all waste and byproducts screened for recycling and the remainder used for power generation.

Brassware manufacturer, Ramón Soler (J91) from Barcelona will showcase its comprehensive range of eco-efficient and highly reliable hydrotherapy shower systems, bathroom taps, kitchen mixers, and bathroom accessories. The brand prioritises research to optimise the consumption of water, energy, and materials within the home and during the production of its products.

Presenting innovative and avant-garde decorative concepts for the shower space, Acquabella (D44) will launch its Noon Slate Bathtub. Combining elegance with functionality, its contemporary design blends seamlessly into a variety of bathroom styles characterised by an exclusive material with the durability of Akron® and the natural appearance of slate.

Kitchen Highlights

The show floor will be full of leading kitchen brands from the kitchen sector including Haier, Rangemaster, Nobili, Loch Anna, Novy, RotPunkt and Caple all at the event. Discover some of the exhibitor highlights to look forward to from the kitchen sector:

One of the world’s largest furniture fitting manufacturers, Hettich (R70) will feature its new LightTower® – an illuminated tower unit larder storage, with no mains wiring required and based on the AvanTech YOU platform drawer system.

Miro Products (J90) will exhibit its wide range of kitchen extractors for the UK market at this year’s show. The stylish and unique range of high-performance products all feature the latest cutting-edge technology designed for the demands of modern-day kitchen living.

This year’s sponsor of the kbb Innovation Awards and the world’s leading manufacturer of kitchen and furniture fittings, BLUM (C90, C85, B98), will launch REVEGO, a pocket door system designed to intuitively change entire spaces for multifunctional use. The journey at the Blum ‘Village’ will include a display which will enable visitors to explore living spaces ranging from the compact through to open plan, presenting different solutions and stories along the way.

Renowned for its high-quality furniture, innovative product design, and pioneering technology, Sachsenküchen (N70) will showcase AccuraBox – a precision drawer system with six customisable options and a sleek new black design, in addition to its 2024 kitchen collection. With sustainability at the heart of the brand, they were recently certified as a CO2-neutral manufacturer by the German Quality Association (DGM).

The QVac built-in vacuum sealer by BORA (K90) reduces food waste by maintaining taste and appearance for up to three times longer. With three functions: vacuum sealing, resealing bottles, and marinating, the QVac which will be demonstrated at the show, continues to revolutionise the kitchen as a living space. Throughout the kbb event, Bora will showcase how its products are used in the kitchen with live cookery demonstrations.

Clearwater Products (M113) combine functionality, great design, and reliability in its designs for kitchen sinks and taps. The company will display its wide range of hot taps, pull-outs, and sinks in materials including Quarex Granite, Cast Iron, and Nano-coated stainless steel.

Keep Reading
By

Can a toilet make a design statement without compromising functionality or hygiene?

This was the question Duravit explored with the Italian industrial designer Antonio Bullo. This led to their recent collaboration: a toilet that combines a hygienic ceramic interior with a customizable exterior made from DuroCast Smooth.

“I created Millio to breathe new life into objects that are otherwise confined to their bare essentials,” said Antonio Bullo, explaining the basic idea of the toilet. The design includes three surface finishes that are available in different colors. “Millio goes beyond mere function by dissolving the division that currently exists between sanitary ceramic and the bathroom.

Millio is completely integrated into the aesthetics of the bathroom,” Bullo went on to say, describing his creation.

The best of both worlds: innovative material composite.

The toilet is comprised of two distinctly separate parts, yet they are a perfect fit: a ceramic toilet interior and a mineral-material exterior that is pleasantly soft to the touch.

The unique material combination offers the best of both worlds: the customizable exterior provides the maximum opportunity for versatility of design and is combined with outstanding hygiene thanks to the ceramic toilet interior. Duravit’s choice for the exterior is DuroCast Smooth, a durable material that is more than equal to the rigors of everyday use.

WC design with maximum individuality

DuroCast Smooth provides a gel coat finish that enables a variety of colours and textures to be combined, making it extremely versatile in terms of design opportunities.

The colour palette comprises five contemporary colours curated by designer Christian Werner and is available in one of three different grooved and patterned surface textures. The colour concept includes other Duravit products that can be merged in various ways – from a monochrome bathroom in Parlour Blue right up to a multi-coloured composition.

A special option is available for order quantities of 24 units and above. Ordered in such numbers, Millio can be manufactured in any colour, opening completely new design opportunities for projects.

For example, if the colour of a brand identity is to be consistently integrated into a building project, such an offering can be included within the overall design concept.

Design that meets the highest hygiene standards

As a ceramic specialist with decades of experience, Duravit selected hygienic ceramic as the material for the body of the Millio toilet. The inner basin of the glossy white surface was additionally finished with the HygieneGlaze antibacterial glaze to offer maximum hygiene. After just six hours, 90% of bacteria (e.g. coli bacteria) are inhibited and after 24 hours 99.9% – an unprecedented level. The exterior made from DuroCast Smooth is affixed to the ceramic bowl via a waterproof bond, making it easy to clean. Similarly, the pore-free surface of the mineral material plays its part in keeping the toilet clean and hygienic.

Keep Reading
By

KBSA celebrates 17 new retail members

KBSA 17 Retail Members

The Kbsa has announced a record number of new retail members joining in the last two months of the year.

A total of seventeen new members have been accepted for membership, completing an exceptionally successful year of growth for the Kbsa.

The retailers are based across the UK and include:

  • Dale Jones Kitchens, Greater Manchester
  • Eclipse Kitchens & Bedrooms Ltd, Wigan
  • Kitchen Culture (Cambridgeshire) Ltd, Cambridge
  • Gainsborough Kitchens Ltd, Lincolnshire
  • Thomas Vaughan Ltd, Glamorganshire
  • Creating Spaces Group Ltd, Halifax
  • Chris Sharp Cabinets Ltd, Lincoln
  • The KBB Centre, Ipswich
  • Creative Interiors By Design, Suffolk
  • Icon Kitchens, Croydon
  • The Little Kitchen and Bathroom Company, Derbyshire
  • Crown Homeworks Limited, Grantham
  • Phoenix Kitchens Ltd, Metheringham
  • Dale Interiors of Jacksdale Ltd, Nottinghamshire
  • Cook & Sleep Kitchens and Bedrooms, Lincoln
  • Kings Norton Kitchens Ltd, Birmingham
  • Barras Home Improvements Ltd, Coventry

Retail and Corporate membership director Malcolm Scott said, “I am delighted to welcome all seventeen retailers into the Kbsa.

“As the UK’s only trade association that supports the independent KBB retailer, the Kbsa offers unrivalled support and business benefits that enable retailers to operate more efficiently and profitably.

“We are continuing to invest in our 5-year plan to increase the profile of the Kbsa and improve member benefits, which has undoubtedly helped us achieve substantial growth in membership this year.

“2024 promises to be a great year for the Kbsa as we become bigger and stronger, there has never been a better time to join the Kbsa.”

Keep Reading
By

PJH Macmillan fundraiser boosted with 3-peaks & coffee!

PJH Macmillan

Having nominated Macmillan Cancer Support as its Charity of the Year, PJH, the bathroom, appliance, sink & tap distributor, has successfully passed the halfway point of its ambitious £10,000 fundraising goal, with an amazing £6,136 raised!

Thanks to incredible staff support and motivation, PJH has doubled the amount raised since the summer (£3,000 was the total in September), by way of a Three Peaks Challenge, Macmillan Coffee Mornings and a Funday held at the PJH Cannock Distribution Centre.

PJH pledges to match the £10,000 goal once this target has been achieved, and staff throughout PJH’s UK network are demonstrating extraordinary dedication in their fundraising efforts, determined to exceed the target and make an impact in its support of this worthy charity.

Taking on the challenge of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, six PJH colleagues successfully covered an impressive 24 miles including 5,200ft of ascent. Conquering the Yorkshire Dales peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, the team finished in high spirits, delighted in raising vital funds for Macmillan.

Meanwhile, numerous Macmillan Coffee Mornings took place across a number of PJH sites where staff got baking plenty of Bakewell tarts, chocolate brownies and Victoria sponges, washed down with a good cuppa! PJH’s Head of Retail Customer Experience, Brett Jenkinson even dug out his pinny for the special occasion to serve refreshments to the whole office at Cannock!

Colleagues at Cannock also took the fundraising one step further by enhancing their coffee morning with the addition of a full range of fun-filled activities throughout the day to raise yet more funds. From sponsored leg waxes to a Tombola, and Medieval Stocks to raffles, staff went all out to get the donations rolling in.      

Katy Burns, PJH’s HR Business Partner, said: “We chose Macmillan as the 2023/24 PJH charity of the year, as it is such an amazing organisation that makes a huge difference to the lives of millions of people affected by cancer. All PJH fundraising events present the opportunity to raise awareness of the Macmillan Cancer Support charity and communicate the incredibly important work it does in supporting people affected by cancer. PJH colleagues have really got behind so many fundraising activities so I’m sure we’ll smash our target!”

For further information on Macmillan Cancer Care, visit www.macmillan.org.uk, and for PJH, visit www.pjh.uk , www.partners.pjh.uk or call, T: 0800 8 77 88 99.

Keep Reading
By

Peach Fuzz named colour of 2024 by Pantone

Peach Fuzz PANTONE colour of the year

Global authority Pantone has announced Peach Fuzz as its Colour of the Year, which also marks the 25th anniversary of the annual selection.

Pantone 13-1023 Peach Fuzz is a gentle velvety tone, claimed to enrich mind, body, and soul as to meet the need for nurturing, empathy and compassion and imaginings of a more peaceful future.

According to the colour authority, this warm and cozy peach hue is subtly sensual and brings a feeling of tenderness, communitcating a message of caring, sharing, community and collaboration.

Executive director of Pantone Colour Institute Leatrice Eiseman commented: “A cosy peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange, it brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending time with others or taking the time to enjoy a moment by ourselves.

She continued: “Drawing comfort from Pantone 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we can find peace from within, impacting our wellbeing.

“An idea as much as a feeling, Pantone 13-1023 Peach Fuzz awakens our senses to the comforting presence of tactility and cocooned warmth.”

The new colour follows on from Viva Magenta, the colour of 2023, which was claimed to symbolize strength, and its first Colour of the Year Cerulean Blue, in 1999.

Colour of the year for 2022 was Opal Blue

Keep Reading
By

Bussey & Armstrong turns to Ideal Standard

When North East-based housebuilder Bussey & Armstrong came to specify the bathrooms for its latest development, style and functionality topped the list of priorities. After a visit to Ideal Standard’s London Design and Specification Centre, the brand’s premium Atelier Collections were identified as the perfect solution. 

West Park Garden Village is a unique development of new homes in Darlington. Based around the first new park in the town in one hundred years, the scheme aims to bring together a new community with amenities including housing, a school, a hospital, a pub and shops. 

Juniper Avenue is a brand new phase of West Park Garden Village, a selection of beautiful four- and five-bedroomed detached homes within walking distance of the amenities of the village centre.  

Architect-designed and traditionally constructed, these houses reflect the Arts and Crafts movement on which many of England’s historic Garden Cities were based. Inside, the homes offer spacious, design-led rooms with luxurious finishes including brushed brass and marble tiles.  

A new era of design 

Featuring modernist, contemporary, traditional and vintage styles, Ideal Standard’s Atelier Collections offered Bussey & Armstrong a wealth of choice, and Bussey & Armstrong director Tony Cooper could select products that complemented the high specification seen throughout the properties. 

He commented: “We were determined to elevate the design of the bathrooms in Juniper Avenue’s homes, providing buyers with bathrooms they wanted to spend time in – sanctuaries of calm where they could relax and truly switch off. 

“As soon as I saw the quality of the Atelier Collections, I knew they were the right fit for this development. The pieces we chose are stylish and luxurious while offering the functionality and high performance required in busy family homes.” 

“The combination of timeless design with contemporary textures is perfect for these Arts and Crafts-inspired properties, and I know the craftsmanship will stand the test of time.” 

Partnered for success 

Bussey & Armstrong and Ideal Standard have a longstanding relationship spanning over 15 years. In 2022 Mr Cooper visited the London Design and Specification Centre to get a hands-on experience with the latest products. 

The unique space in the heart of London’s Clerkenwell showcases Ideal Standard’s latest products and innovations. The showroom allows architects, developers and interior designers to visualise products in their projects thanks to industry-leading software used by Ideal Standard’s in-house experts to create accurate 3D models of bathrooms and virtual worlds to present a 4D experience of their future space. 

Kerry Jessop, residential specification manager at Ideal Standard, said: “We’ve worked with Bussey & Armstrong for many years, and the fact that they repeatedly turn to us for bathroom products is a testament to the quality and service we provide. 

“Another range was initially specified for this product, as it had been used by the housebuilder many times in the past, but as soon as we heard that Tony was keen to create a more luxurious feel, we knew the Atelier Collections were the perfect fit.” 

Bussey & Armstrong echoed: “The first properties in this phase of development are complete and the finished product is stunning. We’ve created bathrooms that we know our buyers will love, and to see the rooms come to life from the initial specification and design has been wonderful.” 

For more information on Ideal Standard’s Atelier Collections, visit: For more information on Bussey & Armstrong, visit: https://www.busseyarmstrong.co.uk/  

Keep Reading
By

Fairmont Collection – Roper Rhodes adds Terra Finish

Fairmont Collection Roper Rhodes

Roper Rhodes has updated its popular Fairmont bathroom furniture collection with the introduction of a new finish called Terra. This warm terracotta hue offers a contemporary twist to the mid-century modern aesthetic of the collection and is available across the Fairmont range, including the 600, 800, and 1000 freestanding vanity units.

The Fairmont collection, known for its spacious storage and sleek design, now invites an earthy, vibrant tone into the bathroom space. The Terra finish complements the range’s existing features, such as ceramic winged basins and high-quality Hettich soft close runner drawers, enhancing the luxurious feel and functionality of the units.

The collection now also features the option of a new Toledo handle and brass furniture legs to complement the brand’s extensive brassware and accessory offering.

“The introduction of the Terra exemplifies our commitment to design innovation and market responsiveness. This new finish offers our retail partners an on-trend option that caters to consumer preferences for natural tones while maintaining the quality and functionality inherent to our brand.”, comments Simon Taylor, marketing director, Roper Rhodes.

More from Roper Rhodes

Keep Reading
By

BATHROOMS2GO is ready to GO from PJH!

BATHROOMS2GO

KBB distributor PJH has announced the launch of its new BATHROOMS2GO Collection, an affordable and complete range of popular bathroom products ready ‘2GO’ as soon as required by customers.  

Brimming with industry-leading deals and savings, BATHROOMS2GO comes complete with the usual first class PJH customer service and delivery benefits. Customers can expect a Next Day Delivery service – to either their store or the end-consumer’s home address, thanks to excellent stock-holding levels across PJH’s 355,000 sq.ft. distribution network, and vast fleet of over 130 vehicles.

The BATHROOMS2GO portfolio includes hundreds of the latest on-trend product styles throughout bathroom suites, furniture, baths, enclosures, showers, brassware, heating and mirror categories. PJH strives to offer the most competitive prices, ensuring customers receive the best products, at the best prices and with the best levels of service.  

Presented in a new catalogue, including product RRP’s, the collection features the bold new BATHROOMS2GO branding, a concise and ‘easy-to-shop’ layout, aspirational photography and product USP’s clearly highlighted throughout the pages. The A4 brochure has a no-nonsense trade look and feel and is the perfect selling tool for both trade counters and bathroom showrooms.  

Kim Cooper, head of marketing & product, PJH, explained: “Our new BATHROOMS2GO collection is your one-stop destination for top quality products at unbeatable prices. The wide choices available enable complete and affordable bathroom projects to be created including plenty of colour and finish options for optimum style and customisation. Customer service is a number one priority for PJH and our vision continues to pivot around always being the customers’ ‘First Choice’ in bathroom solutions.”                                                                                          

To view the new brochure, click here: B2GO-Issue-1.pdf (pjh.uk)

For further information or to order brochures on PJH’s new BATHROOMS2GO collection, contact PJH on Tel: 0800 8 77 88 99, email sales@pjh.uk or visit www.partners.pjh.uk.

BATHROOMS2GO
Keep Reading
By

PJH’s Bathrooms to Love introduces Fluted Glass Wetroom Shower Panels

PJH’s Bathrooms to Love brand has launched a luxurious new collection of Fluted Glass Wetroom Shower Panels, now available from its RefleXion Enclosures ‘Iconix’ range.

Featuring beautiful soft fluted glass, the new wetroom range offers a choice of metallic profiles and support arms, including this contemporary matt black version (pictured), perfect for coordination with other black or anthracite-finished bathroom elements, such as brassware, showers and radiators.

From Bathrooms to Love’s top-of-the-range RefleXion Iconix enclosures family, the new fluted glass wetroom panels boast a generous height of 1950mm and come in four widths (800mm to 1200mm). This also includes optional fluted side panels available in two widths (800mm and 900mm), making the range particularly versatile.

The fluted glass is manufactured from high quality, crystal-clear glass, meaning no green tint – often seen on wetroom panels – which gives the RefleXion screens an extra crisp contemporary edge. Thick 8mm toughened safety glass adds to the high specification look, which is coated with ‘Easy Clean’ glass treatment for practical low maintenance and longevity. Concealed fixings add to the range’s sleek lines and flawless finish and the panels can be installed directly onto a prepared wetroom floor or on a tray.

Showering Product Manager for Bathrooms to Love, Richard Eaton, said: “The use of textured or ribbed glass in bathroom design is increasing steadily, creating the perfect balance between visibility and privacy. Our new fluted wetroom glass screens can add a touch of elegance and visual interest to the showering zone, diffusing the light to create interesting shadows and patterns – and complement, perfectly many design styles.”

Available from stock and supported with Next Day Delivery (to 91% of UK postcodes), including the opportunity to deliver to store or home, the new fluted wetroom glass screens from Bathrooms to Love are now available to order via PJH’s class-leading Partners Portal™ e-commerce website.

Keep Reading
By

Organisers announce cancellation of London Design Fair 2024

Despite a successful return in 2023 (with over 13,000 visitors) and after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Diversified Communications has decided to postpone London Design Fair for the immediate future. The show was due to take place at the Truman Brewery, London, on 19-22 September 2024.

Commenting on the decision, Carsten Holm, managing director of Diversified Communications, said, “I am so proud of the team, who have worked so incredibly hard in delivering a world-class event, promoting excellence in design both here in the UK and to an international audience. The event has always been a highlight of the design year, with incredible engagement from the community, including over 100,000 followers on social media, and 13,000 people coming to the show this year. However, we have found it increasingly difficult to serve the very broad spectrum of companies exhibiting at the fair effectively and reconcile the high expectations for an event of this quality, with the commercial support from the industry.”

“London Design Fair leaves a legacy of creativity, innovation, and community. The decision to postpone reflects the commitment to delivering an event that not only meets but exceeds the high standards set by the diverse and dynamic design community.”

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our incredible partners, exhibitors and visitors for all their support over the years and are as disappointed as they are that the show will not take place again in 2024.”

Keep Reading
By