Inex April 2017

April 2017 ISSUE 44 inex-online.com Download the Inex app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Search ‘Inex-online’

in[sight]

ex[rated]

in[spire]

ex[pose]

This month, Inex puts Evros Agathou, Founder of interior design practice Avocado Sweets, under its spotlight; expect the unexpected

Blurring the boundaries between inside and out, Pantone and Airbnb’s ‘Outside In’ house was inspired by this year’s Greenery colour

Anna Zaoui and Isabelle Dubern, Founders of The Invisible Collection, elaborate on their joint venture; it all started with a chair

Jimmie Karlsson, Co-Founder of Jimmie Martin, talks Inex through the inspiration behind the brand’s Mannequin lighting collection

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24 Editor in Chief: Hannah Frackiewicz hannah@mixedmediainfo.com Editorial Assistant: Rebecca Kemp rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com Editorial Assistant: Paige Smith paige@mixedmediainfo.com Digital Advertising: Sam Ball sam@mixedmediainfo.com Michael Abrahams michael@mixedmediainfo.com Production: Jack Witcomb jack@mixedmediainfo.com Production Assistant: Sofia Franchi sofia@mixedmediainfo.com Artworker/Sub-editor: David Perry david@mixedmediainfo.com Accounts: Simone Jones simone@mixedmediainfo.com Charlie Ivy charlie@mixedmediainfo.com Managing Director: Sam Ball sam@mixedmediainfo.com Publisher: Mixed Media Information Pear Platt, Woodfalls Farm, Gravelly Way, Laddingford, Kent. ME18 6DA Tel: 01622 873229 Fax: 01622 320020 Terms and Conditions No responsibility will be taken for drawings, photography or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literacy, photographics or artistic belongs to Mixed Media Information Ltd. The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher. The publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearence or non publication of any advertisement.

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ith employees’ health and wellbeing at the front of most businesses’ workplace plans, and with proven results of aesthetically-pleasing interiors enhancing and stimulating employees’ creativity and productivity, it’s no wonder that today’s businesses are turning to interior designers to enhance workplace premises.

This was the case for money.co.uk, when the financial comparison company realised that the refurbishment of its headquarters – within a castle – was too much to handle.

After deliberation, the company turned to workplace design and build expert, Interaction, which transformed the exhausted workplace into an inspiring and fun place of employment. Turn to page 28 to read more about money. co.uk’s headquarters, The Castle, and how Soundtect’s acoustic solutions provided a quiet and relaxing escape within its ‘Radio Room’.

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Top left: Pantone and Airbnb’s collaboration for ‘Outside In’

Fun interiors have taken the limelight in this issue, with Evros Agathou talking to Inex about his colourful designs and explaining how he injects ‘fun’ into all of his schemes.

Turn to page 8 to find out more about his lively and vibrant designs. Meanwhile, eccentric furniture designer, Jimmie Martin, explains the playful and ‘fun’ influence behind its ‘Mannequin’ lighting collection on page 26.

house was inspired by this year’s

Elsewhere in this issue, the Stone Federation explains the numerous benefits of incorporating stone into interior design schemes, Portuguese children’s furniture manufacturer CIRCU offers its advice on designing children’s rooms and Hoare Lea Lighting takes Inex behind the scenes of its lighting concept for the Cumberland Art Gallery at Hampton Court.

passion for decoration and

I hope you enjoy this edition. Don’t forget, you can also access all of Inex’s features and product inspiration at your fingertips via the magazine’s state-of-the-art app. To download your version free of charge, simply search ‘Inexonline’ on the App Store or Google play.

‘Greenery’ colour Cover: Design and build expert, Interaction, has radically transformed ‘The Castle’ to suit the needs of money.co.uk Top: After discovering a shared design, Anna Zaoui and Isabelle Dubern came together to create The Invisible Collection Above: Jimmie Martin’s Mannequin lighting collection brings a sense of playfulness and fun to the interior industry

Rebecca Kemp rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com Follow us on Twitter: @INEXonline Download the INEX app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Search 'Inex-online'.

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Contemporary, elegant and stylish, Lyndon’s hospitality collection Contemporary, elegant and Lyndon’s collection is versatile and adaptable, forhospitality any interior.

Contemporary, elegant and stylish, stylish,perfect Lyndon’s hospitality collection is versatile and adaptable, perfect for any interior.

Contemporary, elegant and stylish,perfect Lyndon’s collection is versatile and adaptable, forhospitality any interior. is versatile and adaptable, perfect for any interior.

The The Hospitality Hospitality Edit Edit The Hospitality Edit Head Office T: +44 (0) 1242 584 897 London Showroom T: +44 (0) 20 7253 0364 Head (0) 1242 Showroom Head Office Office T: T: +44 +44 E: (0)sales@lyndon.co.uk 1242 584 584 897 897 London London Showroom T: T: +44 +44 (0) (0) 20 20 7253 7253 0364 0364 www.lyndon.co.uk sales@lyndon.co.uk www.lyndon.co.uk Head Office T: +44 E: (0) 1242 584 897 London Showroom T: +44 (0) 20 7253 0364 E: sales@lyndon.co.uk www.lyndon.co.uk E: sales@lyndon.co.uk www.lyndon.co.uk

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designing a child’s room is to reflect

INSIGHT Inex talks to Evros Agathou about his life before opening his interior practice with his wife and business partner, Susie.

Here, he illuminates Avocado Sweets’ approach and talks through his latest projects, which includes the design of his and Susie’s own family home.

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INSPIRE Following up from last month’s feature on Pierre Yovanovitch’s Bear Chair series, Inex talks to Anna Zaoui and Isabelle Dubern, Founders of The Invisible Collection – which all started with Pierre’s innovative chair.

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CONSERVATORIES Vale Garden Houses combats the effects that UV rays, together with the volume of glazing, has on furnishings in a conservatory scheme. From discolouration, to fading and fabric damage, Vale offers its advice on keeping a conservatory fade-free.

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PLAYROOM/NURSERY Portuguese children’s furniture manufacturer, CIRCU, offers its advice on pleasing both parents and children when it comes to the design of a child’s bedroom. With mermaidinspired beds and Volkswagen campervan designs, these pieces are sure to make children’s dreams come true.

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EXRATED This month’s Exrated feature takes a subtle twist with a nod towards the continuing theme of bringing the outdoors in. Renowned authority of colour, Pantone, and online marketplace and hospitality service, Airbnb, have joined forces to create ‘Outside In House’, blurring the lines between inside and out.

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EXPOSE Lighting design comes in all shapes and forms and is often referred to as ‘a piece of art’, and Jimmie Martin’s Mannequin collection is no exception. Here, Inex talks to Jimmie Karlsson about the inspiration behind the brand’s quirky lighting collection.

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OFFICE DESIGN From secret doors and ‘ice caves’ to quirky hand-painted suits of armour, step inside the ultimate workplace – a castle – from design and build specialist, Interaction, for money. co.uk.

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LIGHTING Hoare Lea talks Inex through the ins and outs of its lighting concept for the Cumberland Art Gallery at Hampton Court.

The design and visualisation was so successful that the company took home the ‘Visualisation’ award at 2016’s SBID Awards.

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COMMERCIAL FURNITURE As the lines between corporate and hospitality settings continue to blur, Tim Armitt, Managing Director at Lyndon Design, discusses the rise in popularity of modular seating and furniture in corporate and hospitality settings.

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FLOORING Designed by high-end, luxury interior agency René Dekker Design, a selection of Solus Ceramics’ products have added flavour to new restaurant M Victoria Street’s interior in Westminster, London.

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STONE The Stone Federation advises on the numerous aesthetic and practical benefits of using natural stone within interior design schemes. Durable, highly-textured and aestheticallypleasing, stone leads the way in a world focused on aesthetics.

what really defines their personality Middle: The combination of classic artwork and bespoke murals set the scene in Avocado Sweets’ project for Little Saigon Bottom: By combining the use of two different format tiles, René Dekker Design was able to give M Victoria Street an

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Italian Renaissance atmosphere

APRIL DIARY

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Top: The key to

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CONTENTS

INEX-ONLINE.COM

INTRODUCING: THE BREATHTAKING AQUASYMPHONY

BY GROHE AquaSymphony is not a shower - it’s a wellness zone, a place where water takes on a life of it’s own. AquaSymphony plays with water, creating ever-changing liquid harmonies. Just imagine the pleasure that awaits you.

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Retail Design Expo Olympia, London 8-9 May Retail Design Expo has become the definitive annual expo for retail designers, architects and shopfitters.

Providing specifiers with inspiration, ideas, innovation and potential new suppliers, this year’s show will feature a star-studded line up of speakers, over 270 exhibitors and numerous networking opportunities. retaildesignexpo.com Spring Craft & Design Fair RHS Garden, Wisley 27 April - 1 May With more than 170 stalls of contemporary and traditional crafts throughout the garden, you’ll find a wide variety of crafts including jewellery, wood craft, glass, pottery and ceramics, clothes and art.

Choose from hand-painted silk designs inspired by the spring magnolias to quality forged metalwork garden furniture. rhs.org.uk

The Natural Stone Show ExCeL, London 25–27 April Returning for its 12th edition, The Natural Stone Show remains the only UK exhibition and conference dedicated to natural stone. From tiling and block paving to the latest cleaning materials and sealants, the three-day event will host an abundance of seminars for designers and architects seeking inspiration and advice for their next stone project.

If your marketplace is stone slabs, tiling or block paving; CNC machinery; diamond tooling; the latest fixing systems; sealants, adhesives, cleaning materials or another related product or service, then The Natural Stone Show is for you. stoneshow.co.uk Harrogate Spring Flower Show Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate 20-23 April This year’s Harrogate Spring Show will feature beautiful show gardens, the latest in gardening trends, live entertainment and the biggest exhibition by florists and flower arrangers from across the country. New for this year is the ‘Plant Pavilion’, which will house over 100 leading plant nurseries. flowershow.org.uk

Printeriors Hamburg Messe, Germany 8-12 May Printeriors 2017 is a platform for the variety of applications and technologies available for printed interiors. This unique exhibit will be made up of various room sets designed and created entirely by print. On show will be cutting-edge techniques for incorporating print into interior design, as well as opportunities to learn about the practical and economic benefits behind this emerging market. printeriors.fespa.com

NYCxDESIGN Citywide, New York 3-24 May NYCxDESIGN is New York’s citywide celebration of design. Spanning all disciplines of design, the event is a platform for cultural and commercial opportunities and elevates established and emerging design practices, while increasing awareness and appreciation for all aspects of design. Hosted across New York City, this year’s show includes exhibitions, installations, trade shows, talks, launches and open studios. Celebrating its fourth year, NYCxDESIGN includes topics from graphic design to architecture and interiors. nycxdesign.com

INEX-ONLINE.COM

8 INSIGHT

Expect the unexpected Evros Agathou set up Avocado Sweets with his wife and business partner, Susie, in 2010 after graduating from KLC School of Design. Prior to this, he worked for the Government as a Project Manager on construction projects. Making the move into interior design in his 30s inspired him to work for himself and build a design studio that he would want to work in.

Here, Inex talks to Evros about his interior practice and what inspires his designs.

Please can you provide us with a description of your professional career?

Through Avocado Sweets we’ve been privileged to work with a range of exciting, brave, funny, innovative and high-achieving clients. We’ve been shortlisted and won industry awards within the UK and been up against international competition.

We’ve helped startup restaurants, entrepreneurs, established names and homeowners design spaces to be enjoyed.

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What inspired you to become an interior designer?

What inspired me when I started out and what inspires me now are probably quite different. My dad worked for an airline so I spent my childhood travelling the world, staying in interesting hotels and enjoying different architecture.

I was initially drawn to more minimalist interiors while still feeling a huge pull to the more irreverent designs of Philippe Starck and Karim Rashid. I filled my weekends visiting design shops and shows and the transition to interior design came from there.

Now it’s the excitement of having helped a hospitality project succeed or a homeowner enjoy every inch of their living space that inspires me on a daily basis.

Would you say you have a design style?

I don’t have a set style as the inspiration for each project comes from the practical need. I’m interested in materials and mixing different textures to create a new result. The buzz for me is putting things together that are unexpected.

So in our recent design for BOXPARK newcomers, Wine&Deli, we created a mash-up of beautiful Art Deco pieces with urban graffiti art – the rising star of Croydon’s street scene.

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What is your main source of inspiration?

I take pictures constantly and find inspiration in the colour and texture that occurs in different environments and think about how I can bring this into my designs.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?

My biggest accomplishment has been to get to the point where I can design things in the way I want to design them, and how I want to design them – because clients give me the freedom to do that.

What advice would you offer newly-qualified interior designers?

This is a hugely competitive industry and you have to be resilient. My two main tips would be, one: to work hard and be prepared to sacrifice a lot. And, two: have the courage of your own aesthetic.

Top left: In Avocado Sweets’ recent design for BOXPARK newcomers, Wine&Deli, Evros created a mash-up of beautiful Art Deco pieces with urban graffiti art Above left: Evros Agathou set up Avocado Sweets with his wife and business partner, Susie, in 2010 Top: Urban graffiti art is the rising star of Croydon’s street-scene Above: Avocado Sweets looked for wall art that would give Chit Chaat Chai a unique personality Left: Chit Chaat Chai’s toilet walls are clad with colourful Indian magazine articles to ensure every aspect of the dining experience fits the overall look

What was the inspiration behind your Islington Apartment?

Our Islington Apartment design was a real opportunity for experimentation as it’s our own home. The driver for the project was to make it the most creative, open-minded space possible while working as a family home. It’s crucial to get the space planning right first and then layer the beauty and fun on top.

For the aesthetics, we borrowed heavily from our hospitality design to create a unique mix of vintage and modern. Our home is a microcosm of the world.

A place where we’ve taken innovative and beautiful designs from near and far and brought them together into a characterful look. So you’ll find French recycled floorboards, mixed with Danish sofas, German storage from Cubit, Eastern European vintage lighting, modern lighting from Malaysian Designer, Stephanie Ng, and British floorcoverings from Sonya Winner.

To top it off we created bespoke design innovations, such as the vertical LEGO ‘play-room’ wall and hand-crafted concrete island worktop, as part of our signature Avocado Sweets approach.

The joy of a design is in the careful curation of products, surfaces, fixtures and fittings to reach an effortless finish. It’s the personality you add along the way that takes a design from pleasant to exciting and memorable.

How important do you feel colour is for interior design schemes?

The fabric of the world is colourful and why should that stop when you get into your house. But it’s not just colour, texture plays a huge part as it’s more interesting to the eye than flat surfaces. Unexpected things interest us and you can achieve that through colour, but again, it’s the combination of surfaces and colour that bring a design to life. It’s not a one-sizefits-all approach.

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10 INSIGHT

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11 INSIGHT

adjacent mural of Vietnamese-style typography on the exposed brick wall provides an informal street-style backdrop. The upbeat messages reflect the love and care put into the food preparation while evoking a casual street art.

An open window into the kitchen provides tantalising glimpses of this activity from ‘Mama Pham’ and her team. The adjacent bar area is a striking contrast, with glossy black metro tiles and a custom-made wooden bar.

What’s your favourite part of your job?

The best bit is that the end result is a culmination of the discussion you’ve had with every person on the project, every thought and innovation being pulled together and finally achieved. Seeing a design being used by the people it’s been made for, and with, is priceless.

Above left: For Little Saigon, the combination of classic artwork and bespoke murals set the scene Far left: The upbeat messages at Little Saigon reflect the love and care put into the food preparation Below left:The family aimed to create a space that would encapsulate Vietnamese street food culture Left: The venue, a previously run-down Chinese restaurant on Leytonstone High Street, needed a complete overhaul to create a versatile space from lunch to dinner Above: Avocado Sweets chose to echo the vibrancy of a Saigon street into the seating, lighting and wall art

What was the brief that you received for Little Saigon?

The Pham family, who hail from Saigon in the south of Vietnam, had long celebrated their mama’s cooking and wanted to bring it to a wider audience. With street food trends on the rise, they spotted an opportunity to bring some of her lesser-known Vietnamese dishes to the market.

The family aimed to create a space that would encapsulate Vietnamese street food culture while creating a funky, enticing venue for a discerning east London clientele. The venue, a previously run-down Chinese restaurant on Leytonstone High Street, needed a complete overhaul to create a versatile space from lunch to dinner, to seat up to 100.

Street food in Vietnam is a laidback affair with friends, served at low-level tables on the street outside a restaurant. To create the right atmosphere indoors, we took the building back to its original shell. We installed exposed steel ventilation ducting on the ceiling and painted the steel support

beams and an original brick wall in pastel colours. Using these bare bones as a base, we built the design layering colour and texture to the building’s structure to create a pared-back, yet playful and stimulating interior.

We chose to echo the vibrancy of a Saigon street into the seating, lighting and wall art, while maintaining a restrained, original design.

The combination of classic artwork and bespoke murals set the scene with their depictions of Vietnamese daily life. These work alongside an imported rickshaw and sugarcane juicing machine to anchor diners firmly in Vietnam from the moment they step through the door.

Informal, cafe-style seating in an array of bold and pastel colours is arranged around vintage wooden tables to add warmth and an earthy feel to the airy interior.

Hanging smokey glass pendants bring to mind the ubiquitous Vietnamese paper lantern, but with an original twist.

A dedicated low-level seating area creates visual interest and an authentic street food experience. The

Can you please talk us through the Chit Chaat Chai project?

We were looking for wall art that would give this Indian street eats newcomer a unique personality.

What better way than through bespoke graffiti art – mixing beauty, innovation and a street-feel inside.

These series of murals were designed and created by Paintshop studios according to our brief and highlight Indian cinema legend Madhubala in the upstairs dining room.

The overall scheme aims to give customers a taste of the authentic street food experience in a London setting. To understand the design, you first have to understand the food.

As Founder Tania Rahman, explained, ‘chaat’ is a treat food and a comfort food known across India. Each region has its own recipe variation. Served from street stalls, there’s no pretension in the dishes, but the explosion of flavours is of utmost importance.

To capture that sense of quality, comfort, fun and adventure, we set about finding an overall look which – like the twists in the chaat recipes – would be London’s very own Indian street eats destination.

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12 INSIGHT

Unlocking the potential of a room is a key part of getting the customer experience right. And this restaurant needed a fair bit of thought. We reworked the space to create three distinct zones. Moving the bar to allow space for the informal lunch and dinner crowd in the front restaurant, with the vibrant tiled cocktail bar setting the scene for the intimate back area. The self-contained upstairs room was transformed into a fun private dining area.

Keeping the walls bright and white, we injected colour and personality through the fixtures, furniture and lighting. After brainstorming with the Chit Chaat Chai team, we came up with the core innovations that would take the restaurant from good to great.

Enter an upcycled chandelier of imported Indian buckets and upstairs flooring made from replica 19th century copies of the Bombay Courier and Bengal Herald. Not forgetting the toilet walls clad with colourful Indian magazine articles to ensure every aspect of the dining experience fits the overall look.

We played up the atmosphere of the back area with a combination of blackboard paint on the walls, neon Seletti lettering and a vibrant array of patterned tiles.

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For the customer, this all adds up to a unique street food experience from start to finish.

What do you believe is key when it comes to interior design?

I often come back to a quote by Brian Eno that I’ve had stuck in my office for many years now. In it he explores how to generate creativity.

People confuse creativity in design, you hear people say “the inspiration is not coming”, well you have to make it

Top: The driver for Evros and Susie’s home was to make it the most creative open-minded space possible while working as a family home Above: Avocado Sweets’ Islington Apartment design was a real opportunity for experimentation as it’s Evros and Susie’s own home

come. You need to allow creativity, you need to create the right circumstances so when the idea comes, you recognise it. Or as Brian Eno puts it: “you have to build a trap to catch it”.

What can we expect to see from you over the next year?

We’re working with a number of new hospitality ventures and creating enjoyable homes with personality. Watch this space. avocadosweets.com «

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Best of bespoke After showcasing Pierre Yovanovitch’s Bear Chair collection in last month’s issue, Inex talks to Founders of The Invisible Collection, Anna Zaoui and Isabelle Dubern, about how they built their widely available platform for all within the interior industry – it all started with the Bear Chair.

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he Invisible Collection highlights the work of 21st century talents who perpetuate the standards set by the likes of Jean-Michel Frank and Pierre Chareau in the golden period of the decorative arts.

French interior designers, architects and craftsmen have long since been recognised worldwide for setting the standard of craftsmanship and savoir-faire, and The Invisible Collection is not only the first to gain access to their precious inventory of creations, but the first to make it available to a wider public audience.

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This availability of the highest quality craftsmanship and talent is thanks to both Anna and Isabelle. “My love for interior decoration has grown with me,” comments Anna.

“Opportunities like visiting ‘les puces’ in Paris with my mother and the ‘medina’ in Marrakech inspired me to decorate my own bedroom then later, on a larger scale, my own apartments.

“It was much later, during a conversion with my friend, and Co-Founder, Isabelle Dubern that I realised I was passionate about decoration; we then discovered our common taste for beautiful furniture and interior decoration.”

With this evident passion for design, Anna and Isabelle came together to create The Invisible Collection. “It all started with the Papa Bear Armchair that Isabelle was dreaming of,” explains Anna, “but it wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t working on a project with Pierre Yovanovitch.”

Isabelle adds: “We realised that it should be possible to offer such pieces to those who wanted them and that we could do it online. Following on this ‘eureka’ intuition, we had to build a business model to convince the interior designers to come on board and build the technological platform.

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04 “The Invisible Collection is a start-up that we are building every day around our shared love of beautiful things and our common admiration for interior designers and their creations. The technological, commercial and human challenges we face every day are very stimulating.”

Anna continues: “After many conversations to address all possible questions – consulting interior designers, research on the market and putting ourselves in front of the

potential client – the idea was born, website built and since then we have kept developing the collection.”

Coming from a fashion background, Isabelle is passionate about the strong links between the fashion and interior industry. “I have been obsessed with design since childhood,” she comments. “I wanted to be an architect, then an auctioneer or a filmset designer. There are plenty of movies that I see again and again just for their sets.”

01: After discovering a common passion for decoration, Anna and Isabelle came together to start up The Invisible Collection 02: Piotr Sierakowski’s signature style is his

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strong, highly graphic, marquetry-faced furniture 03: Karen Chekerdjian is a LebaneseArmenian designer 04: Karen Chekerdjian’s ‘IKEBANA II’ 05: Karen Chekerdjian’s Vases Object 06: Gilles & Boissier’s ‘Chair Bricfur’ 07: Piotr Sierakowski’s Armoire Automne 08: Atelier Février produces bespoke rugs handmade in Nepal 09: Damien Langlois-Meurinne’s ‘Chandelier Libellule’

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04 01: Fabrice Ausset’s Bout Canape Blackwebwood 02: Thierry Lemaire’s Table Basse 03: Karen Chekerdjian’s Spaceship II 04: Thierry Lemaire’s Gueridon Corciula 05: Atelierd Amis’ Washington Credenza

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A hallmark of The Invisible Collection is that every piece purchased is made to order. “The work of contemporary interior designers, made to order by the most expert hands and with the most knowledgeable craftsmanship, encapsulates luxury furniture designed by the icons of architecture and interior design.

“In a world where everything has become ubiquitous, having a bespoke piece of furniture, textile or a rug made for a home is the definition of luxury. Unique and exceptional pieces of collectable furniture rival the contemporary art market today.”

Made for those who appreciate the French way of life, and who seek things of the utmost quality, The Invisible Collection is for professionals and collectors as well as those who are simply passionate about interior design.

It is a catalogue that brings together the finest and most exclusive designs.

Around 30 of France’s most illustrious interior designers and architects are taking part in this ambitious project including: Pierre Yovanovitch, Daniel & Michel Bismut, India Mahdavi, Thierry Lemaire, Fabrice Ausset, Damien Langlois-Meurinne, Caroline Sarkozy & Laurent Bourgois, Gilles & Boissier, Jérôme Faillant-Dumas, Elliott Barnes, Isabelle Stanislas, François Champsaur, JeanLouis Deniot, Michel Jouannet, Olivier Gagnere, Tristan Auer and Karen Chekerdjian. theinvisiblecollection.com «

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18 CONSERVATORY Left: Interior design is not as restricting as you would initially imagine as there are lots of other materials to choose from for conservatory furniture that are insensitive to sunlight Below left: With wooden furniture these too can fade – walnut being a good example or even get a ‘suntan’, cherry or maple

Sun protection for conservatories

Conservatories today are wonderful atmospheric rooms which can be enjoyed all year round. With most rooms having a considerable amount of glazing, the effect of UV rays on furnishings needs certain elements of the structural design to help combat these effects. Vale Garden Houses explains further.

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ow-e glass reduces the amount of UV and IR light passing through the panes, and blinds can be fitted to both the roof and sides of the conservatory to shade from direct sunlight.

As these rooms are often used for relaxing, furniture mainly consists of comfy upholstered pieces. Fading, discolouration and fabric damage

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is something our clients do ask about and by following some simple guidelines, both in the selection of fabric and placement of pieces, this problem can be lessened.

We advise a more neutral palette using natural fabrics that are blended with polyester, nylon and acrylic as they are generally less likely to fade. For specificallyselected colourful fabric, we advise

to check the lightfastness grade with the supplier who can advise accordingly. Accent colours are still very useful within schemes, you just have to understand that your clients may need to update them every now and again.

With wooden furniture these too can fade – walnut being a good example or even get a ‘suntan’, cherry or maple. It is a good idea to advise your clients to periodically move pieces around and any ornaments or lights to change position too. Most of the wooden furniture that we select for our schemes is painted which alleviates this problem and also marries more with the preferred neutral palette.

Interior design is not as restricting as you would initially imagine as there are lots of other materials to choose from for conservatory furniture that are insensitive to sunlight such as stone, metal and glass.

Lighting in conservatories is one of the most effective ways to change the ambience, and reflections in the glazing can be quite magical. We advise our clients to consider their primary lighting at the design stage so unsightly wires can be hidden within the internal design of the room. Also the facility to dim the lighting allows adjustment as the light changes outside and changes the mood of the room.

Most of our clients choose underfloor heating in their conservatories as it allows for more freedom to design for comfort within the room. Flooring needs to be hardwearing so it will withstand the constant toing and froing from the garden. Stone and ceramic have the least resistance and will transfer heat more efficiently. We particularly like the natural tones you get with stone flooring and nowadays there is an excellent choice of both finish and colour.

Wooden floors can be included and we recommend the use of engineered wood for its structural stability.

What we must remember is that these rooms are designed to be light-filled and have a unique atmosphere like no other room in the house. They are a comfortable sanctuary and a space that is often the most popular room in the house. valegardenhouses.co.uk «

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2/12 DESIGN CENTRE, CHELSEA HARBOUR, LONDON, SW10 0XE +44(0)20 7351 0863

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sales@christopherhyde.com INEX-ONLINE.COM

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A touch of magic ‘Magical’ children’s furniture manufacturer, CIRCU, designs its products to allow children to be and live in their own fantasy world.

From mermaid-inspired beds, to Volkswagen campervan pieces, here the company gives an insight into children’s dreams.

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pecifying furniture for a child’s room is an uphill struggle. Not only do the pieces have to be aesthetically-pleasing in the eyes of both a child and their parents, which is a chore in itself, but the pieces selected must meet the high quality standards set out by the parents.

That’s why designating high-quality pieces of furniture for children’s rooms is of utmost importance for peace of mind both for the parents and the interior designer. For example, our products are all hand-crafted, handtailored pieces made in Portugal with INEX-ONLINE.COM

the finest materials, combined with passion, so we can deliver only the highest quality furnishings.

Selecting furniture pieces from reputable manufacturers is always advisable. For example, our design team has over 14 years’ experience in baby-care and, combined with the work of our highly skilled craftsmen, our pieces are designed to be strong, durable and, ultimately, safe for the use of children. Behind each piece there is a great deal of care with regards to the material selection, usitlising noble materials and techniques.

Children’s minds are bursting with creativity, exuding happiness, comfort, adventure and, lastly, emotion.

It’s important that these child-like qualities are reflected within the design of their rooms to encourage youthful mindsets and create an enjoyable and playful environment for them to learn and grow within. All these characteristics of a child’s room will stimulate a child’s imagination – which is of high importance from a young age – as well as build upon a child’s personality.

Eccentric and playful designs, such as CIRCU’s air balloon, plane-shaped and shell beds, rocket chairs and collection of room accessories and lighting, encourage children to ‘go to bed’ when asked, often a term frowned upon after 7pm. Opening up a world of new possibilities, designs such as these can uplift children’s spirits and could, even possibly, motivate them to complete homework on time – much like the current commercial wellbeing in the workplace trend which focuses on pleasant interiors in the workplace having a positive influence on employees’ productivity and creativity.

The incorporation of new technologies is also an important factor for a child’s room. While children’s minds are filled with fantasy, today’s youth are part of a tech-savvy generation and this has to be accommodated in the design. For example, our ‘Magical Mirror’ design appears as a normal mirror but, with magic, it turns into a 22" TV. Amidst a glittering cloud of mermaids and fairy dust, little girls live in an all-enchanted world, filled with ponies, unicorns and magical sky-scraping castles.

21 PLAYROOM/NURSERY

So when designing a room for a ‘little princess’, opt for pieces that will create a magical and amazing experience.

Moving to the other end of the spectrum, little boys’ minds are filled with pirate-fighting adventures, car-inspired dreams and trips to the moon on a shiny red rocket, so accommodating for this mindset is of vital importance. Car-inspired pieces, and even gender-neutral pieces, such as our teepee bed, meet these needs.

When selecting items for either gender, it’s important to have in mind what really defines each child and to explore their own personal taste. The key is to offer a variety of products that a child will feel is suited for their own tastes.

Children are CIRCU’s best critics and they’re the only ones we need to listen to when creating a new piece of magical furniture. Creating a magical wonderland is an amazing experience and seeing the glow on a child’s face once they enter their own magical room where they can play and live to the fullest is what makes grown-ups’ lives magical too. circu.net «

Above left: A bed to protect a delicate princess, the Little Mermaid bed is the ultimate piece to turn a little girl’s dreams into a reality Above centre: The Bun Van is a remarkable icon of fun of freedom adding a touch of relaxation and peace to a room Above: The Rocky Rocker armchair is the best partner for children’s play sessions Right: Eccentric and playful designs encourage children to ‘go to bed’ when asked

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22 EXTERIOR FABRICS

Transform gardens with Extex’s glow-in-the-dark outdoor fabrics Transform gardens this summer with the luxurious, glow-in-the-dark Solar fabric from Extex.

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ushing the boundaries of innovative textile design, Solar is a one-of-a-kind furnishing fabric that is designed to bring exterior spaces to life.

Printed with a glow-in-the-dark pigment that appears as a subtle and sophisticated neutral patterned fabric by day, by night its decorative swirls come to life with a striking neon effect that lasts for several hours after just five to 30 minutes of exposure to lights or natural sunlight.

Available in three light colour options; sandy-hued Mars, icy grey Neptune and cloudy creamy Venus, Solar is woven using 100% solutiondyed acrylic to create a textile INEX-ONLINE.COM

that is not only beautiful but also able to withstand the unpredictable British weather.

It’s the first Extex fabric to use a new and advanced permanent water-, soil- and stain-repellent treatment, applied after printing, whilst its lightfast, pre-shrunk and machine washable qualities make the striking Solar collection the ideal choice when adding the wow factor to outdoor spaces and gardens.

Extex fabrics are designed and produced by Marina Mill, a family business based in rural Kent, England, which has been specialising in designing and producing bespoke fabrics (including expertly hand-printed replications of historical fabrics for royal castles and households) since the company’s Founders, Keith and Stephanie Rawkins, started the business in 1967. extex.co.uk « 01634 718871 « info@extex.co.uk «

Top left: Solar is a one-of-a-kind furnishing fabric that is designed to bring exterior spaces to life Top: Solar is printed with a glow-in-thedark pigment that appears as a subtle, sophisticated neutral pattern by day Above: Solar is woven using 100% solutiondyed acrylic

24 EXRATED

Green with envy At the beginning of the year, renowned authority of colour, Pantone, and rapidly-growing online marketplace and hospitality service, Airbnb, came together to ‘bring the outdoors in’ through a magical indoor wonderland in the heart of London. Here, Inex looks at the transformational project – ‘Outside In’ house.

2

017 initiated with the design world’s most anticipated announcement, Pantone’s ‘Color of the Year’. This year’s colour was awarded to an organic and wholesome hue, ‘Greenery’ (PANTONE 15-0343). This tone has been meticulously studied and applied to many great design houses’ pieces, with others following suit.

The Greenery shade has in fact been the key inspiration for Pantone and Airbnb for the design of their collaborative scheme for Clerkenwell’s ‘Outside In’ house.

The pair came together back in January this year to unveil their transformational experience that was available to guests from all around the world.

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Bringing to life Pantone’s Greenery, a home in London underwent a stunning metamorphosis, transforming into an indoor-outdoor oasis so, that for the very first time, people can truly live Pantone’s colour.

Promoting growth and vitality for the year ahead, this magical haven featured a woodland reception, an indoor greenhouse that doubles as a dining room, garden bedroom with its own mown lawn, topiaries and soporific plants, a tented nook for children to sleep in and a herb garden kitchen.

In November 2016, Airbnb expanded beyond the home with the launch of trips, and the ‘Outside In’ house welcomed the public and encouraged them to sample Greenery-themed, local experiences.

25 EXRATED Far left: All experiences in the house were interactive and inspired by living nature Below left: Bringing to life Pantone’s Greenery, a home in London underwent a stunning metamorphosis Left: Promoting growth and vitality for the year ahead, this magical haven featured a woodland reception and an indoor greenhouse that doubles as a dining room Below: The house was designed to be environmentally green too; all materials were recycled where possible and spare plants have been donated to community gardens

All experiences in the house were interactive and inspired by living nature: guests could hear the soft sounds of nature throughout, forage from its walls for vegetables and herbs, drink tea with leaves picked from a hydroponics installation, choose plants to make terrarium vases and even pick leaves to design prints.

The public could also book overnight stays in the ‘Outside In’ house, as well as a number of sample Airbnb experiences with expert hosts during the day.

As guests crossed the earthy threshold, they were fully immersed in the outside, and greeted by the house ‘groundskeeper’ with a fresh, healthy green juice, made locally

and colour-matched to PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery. The house was designed to be environmentally green too; all materials were recycled where possible and spare plants have been donated to community gardens.

Commenting on the project, Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute, said: “As PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery is a warm and zesty yellowgreen shade that speaks to our desire to disconnect, replenish and energise,

it seemed a natural extension for us to partner with Airbnb for the very first time to bring the Pantone Color of the Year 2017 to life. The holistic view of travel and community – on promoting a feeling of connection to nature and each other no matter where we go – speaks to the spirit of Greenery and has changed the way we explore, and experience cities internationally.” pantone.com « airbnb.co.uk « INEX-ONLINE.COM

26 EXPOSE

Strike a pose

Indoor lighting is a key component of interior design and, often, is a piece of art in itself. Lighting design has radically transformed since the introduction of ceiling-mounted chandeliers in the 15th century and today’s designs are not only fit for purpose, but are frequently used as statement centrepieces for interiors. Lighting designs are regularly referred to as ‘works of art’, and Jimmie Martin’s Mannequin lighting collection is no exception.

T

hree years ago in west London’s Notting Hill district, dynamic design duo Martin Nihlmar and Jimmie Karlsson, of innovative furniture design company Jimmie Martin, took their first steps to designing a distinctive lighting collection to add to their portfolio – the Mannequin collection. Today, the Mannequin lighting collection comprises an abundance of styles and designs and are works of art in their own right.

The duo’s inspiration derives from their surroundings; art, fashion, pop culture and current affairs. “Being based in London there’s so much to be influenced by,” explains Jimmie. “A lot of the designs featured on our mannequins in this collection are taken from pre-existing pieces. We wanted to create a piece of art by transforming a shape into something that was both fun and functional, and many of the designs are repeated across our collection – from mannequins through to furniture.

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Above left: The mannequins are so versatile that they can be suited to any space that a client is looking to enhance Left: The Mannequin lighting collection comprises an abundance of styles and designs and are works of art in their own right Above: Jimmie and Martin designed their Mannequin collection for clients who are looking for a statement piece Above right: The first mannequins the pair designed were the ‘Diaz’ and ‘Ka Boom’ Right: Jimmie and Martin wanted to create a piece of art by transforming a shape into something that was both fun and functional

27 EXPOSE

“For our striped design, we wanted to play with the angles of the body against the lines of the monochrome stripes. It’s a timeless and versatile design.

“Another example is our parrot design. Here, we wanted to create a design that differed from the others by exploring interesting ways of draping the wire around the body. The shape is much lighter without the shade and, as she’s balanced on one leg, the design is less imposing and could be suitable for smaller spaces.

“The mannequins weren’t based on anyone in particular. The human form is a beautiful thing and is enjoyed by both men and women alike, so by having the option of both a male and female figure allowed for more people to enjoy them.”

The first mannequins the pair designed were the ‘Diaz’ and ‘Ka Boom’ and, with endless design possibilities, today’s collection is available in various poses and designs. “We like to offer our clients a choice – it keeps the designs fresh and unexpected,” comments Jimmie.

“And, as the designs are custommade, we often create unique designs for clients that are personal to them.”

Jimmie and Martin designed their Mannequin collection for clients who are looking for a statement piece for their space. Jimmie explains further: “We designed our Mannequin collection for someone who wants something different and exciting. Much like all our pieces, they transform an interior into a unique setting, whether it be a home, hotel or workplace. The mannequins are so versatile that they can be suited to any space that a client is looking to enhance.”

Jimmie and Martin’s mannequins have been specified for a variety of settings, as Jimmie explains: “The lamps aren’t designed for one place in particular. They belong anywhere people want them and we cater to that. From office spaces and homes through to commercial settings, such as hotels.

“Our Mannequin collection brings a sense of playfulness and fun to the interior industry. So much of the design world takes itself too seriously and we want to create pieces that are exciting, unique and make people smile,” concludes Jimmie. jimmiemartin.com « INEX-ONLINE.COM

28 OFFICE

Above: The 10,000ft2 Grade II Listed Victorian ‘Castle’ previously didn’t illustrate money. co.uk’s current standing and vision for the future of the business Below: Interaction approached London-based acoustic consultant, Soundtect, for its

King of the castle Soundtect has supplied its acoustic expertise to workplace design and build specialist, Interaction, in a project that has created the ultimate workplace for money.co.uk. The 10,000ft2 Grade II Listed Victorian ‘Castle’ previously didn’t illustrate money.co.uk’s current standing and vision for the future of the business and Interaction was called in to transform the building.

A

t the heart of the refurbishment was the team; to reward staff with the best place to work.

This meant creating an environment where its team could flourish, fulfil their potential and feel happy.

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The design concept was to juxtapose the traditional architecture of ‘The Castle’ with a contemporary and one-of-akind finish. The unique building provides a characterful and quirky setting for a workplace setting, therefore the interior needed to reflect the eccentricity of the exterior. Just some of the unique design features include: a bespoke Star Wars-themed cinema complete with a popcorn machine, hand-painted suits of armour and Rolling Stones and Steam Punkthemed bathrooms.

expertise in creating an acoustically-sound environment within the Radio Room Below left: The acoustic specialist’s solution was to provide Interaction with its 61 x 61cm Cubism panels for the Radio Room

In 2015, money.co.uk was ranked the second fastest-growing business in the UK by The Sunday Times, and needed its workplace to reflect this growth and illustrate its culture. Furthermore, the comparison company needed its new, inspiring work environment to continue to attract and retain the best talent in the industry.

Making the space work The work on The Castle was completed with staff in occupation and delivered in two stages; the main workspace was completed in the first phase, and the meetings spaces and informal rooms delivered in the second. Some of the more major work included fitting a bespoke oak external staircase which links the back of The Castle to the main entrance.

A feature that was removed years ago, restoring the staircase was critical to unlocking how the space worked by allowing everyone to enter into the main hub of the building.

T: 01908 271155 E: aeon@pitacs.com Visit our website www.aeon.uk.com

30 OFFICE

Before

After Outstanding amenities Interaction also gave a new lease of life to neglected basement rooms, creating two gyms, one for cardio/ yoga and another for weight training; both linked to changing rooms with showers. Another basement was transformed into a completely bespoke and one-of-a-kind Star Wars-themed cinema. The cinema has proved to be a popular addition, being used as a unique setting for a company meeting, or for the team to relax and play PlayStation as well as hosting film nights.

An important part of creating the best place to work meant looking beyond aesthetic and focusing on functionality. Having a diverse range of teams, from programmers to content writers, each with varying needs, money.co.uk’s workspace had to enable people to work the way they wanted. As a result, Interaction explored the individual requirements of every employee in order to design a multitude of flexible and adaptable workspaces tailored to the needs of the team. These spaces give people the freedom to work how they want, to support their wellbeing and thus productivity.

Before

After INEX-ONLINE.COM

31 OFFICE

Before Soundtect’s standout solutions Wellbeing in the workplace is a term currently on everyone’s lips, and adapting workplaces to suit both introvert and extrovert personality types is coming to the fore. To meet this trending need, Interaction approached London-based acoustic consultant, Soundtect, for its expertise in creating an acoustically-sound environment within money.co.uk’s Castle for its ‘Radio Room’.

Soundtect was asked to supply Class A-rated acoustic panels to provide money.co.uk’s staff with a relaxing and quiet environment that they could retreat and relax in, to escape the hustle and bustle of the office environment.

The acoustic specialist’s solution was to provide Interaction with its 61 x 61cm Cubism panels for the Radio Room. Not only does the

After Cubism range offer fantastic acoustic properties, the panels are easy to clean and are non-toxic, therefore guaranteed not to irritate or react with allergies. The Cubism panels also reduce background noise levels, which was of utmost importance for the quiet, relaxing environment Interaction was looking to achieve.

Cubism is available in an abundance of colour options, and Interaction opted for Soundtect’s Tan, Charcoal and Ash tones to create a standout area, with furnishings and carpets complementing this combination seamlessly.

Innovative interaction There are a host of settings in which people can go for informal meetings, private work, training, relaxing or socialising. This includes the ‘ice cave’ which can be used for an informal meeting, or to eat and

socialise. There is also the ski lodge, which can be accessed through a secret door in the library; perfect for relaxation or quiet work.

With software and technology at the heart of the company’s business, having the best technology to interface seamlessly with its work environment was imperative.

Interaction installed a SONOS in every room with iPads mounted on the walls to allow the team to enjoy a productive environment. There are also 30 TVs throughout the office, all linked to a HDMI matrix, which makes collaboration effortless. money.co.uk’s new ‘high-tech’ room boasts a 98" 4K TV with the latest video conferencing system, to allow its agile teams to communicate easily, and outside every meeting room is a touchscreen booking panel. These are linked to the email calendars of all employees for a convenient and effective system.

Above left: An important part of creating the best place to work meant looking beyond aesthetic and focusing on functionality Left: Interaction also gave a new lease of life to neglected basement rooms, creating two gyms, one for cardio/yoga and another for weight training Above: An important part of creating the best place to work meant looking beyond aesthetic and focusing on functionality

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32 OFFICE

Before

After

Before

After The cinema also boasts a 7.2 surround sound system with HD projectors and subwoofers built into the tiered seating, topped off with customisable bespoke lighting.

The finished result of the £3m investment is a fun, unique and extraordinary environment that goes beyond convention to give the people of money.co.uk the ultimate workplace.

Proving that a workspace doesn’t have to just be a place for desks, it can have a discernible positive impact upon the people and the business. After nine months on site, the client is beyond delighted with the finished product that has generated real value for the company. This project is a perfect example of how by placing employee wellbeing at the centre of the brief and design you can use your workplace as a tool to incite a positive culture and enhance productivity, creativity and collaboration. The Castle is finally fit for the kings and queens of the tech world.

Commenting on the issues that arose during the project, Egle Bareikyte, Lead Designer on the project, said: “We had to be conscious and considerate to nurture the listed building. We were excited to work with, and accentuate, several original features of the building, such as the windows, archways and some original doors – these have become real statement features which reminds you of the rich history of The Castle. The building continuously revealed new and hidden secrets that kept us on our feet and provided us with unique design challenges. The damp was severe – by the time we were finished we had practically rebuilt The Castle.”

Before

Above left: With software and technology at the heart of the company’s business, having the best technology to interface seamlessly with its work environment was imperative Above: Just some of the unique design features include a bespoke Star Wars-themed cinema complete with a popcorn machine Left: Having a diverse range of teams, from programmers to content

After

writers, each with varying needs, money.co.uk’s workspace had to enable people to work the way they wanted

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Flair can be being added to a bedroom by pairing a designer headboard and divan base upholstered in matching fabric

34 OFFICE

After

This page: This project is a perfect example of how by placing employee wellbeing at the centre of the brief and design you can use your workplace as a

Before

tool to incite a positive culture

INEX-ONLINE.COM

Matt Prouse, Project Manager on the project, added: “At times we felt the building was constantly fighting against us, once we’d managed to overcome one issue, another would prevail. Parts of the building hadn’t been used for a considerable amount of time, with no heating, and suffering from moisture and damp; a lot of original plaster was just falling off. So the challenge was really restoring this precious and magnificent building back into a state in which it deserved.

“Delivering a space like this was so unique, as some of the modern buildings we work on are built to facilitate a working environment, but The Castle was the antithesis. It’s astonishing to think we installed a state-of-the-art energy recovery HVAC system and completely rewired the entire electrical system into a space with no ceiling, wall or floor voids.

36 OFFICE

After “One of the biggest challenges was just the diversity of trades that were involved at any given time, mixed in with the layout of the building created a challenge to manage. Considering we had up to 50 contractors on site at any moment, from 20 separate trades, spread between 38 different rooms (with little or no mobile phone coverage), was definitely a challenge. The only way to overcome this issue was with finite programming of rooms, ensuring that on a daily basis everyone was where they needed to be and weren’t being hampered or interrupted.”

Chris Morling, Founder and Managing Director at money.co.uk, concluded: “We very quickly realised that this was much too big a job to do on our own, and we made the right decision by bringing Interaction on board.

They opened our eyes to what was possible beyond just making the place look pretty. The workplace adds an extra level of motivation and satisfaction from working in such a stunning and functional environment.

“I absolutely love the finished product and I’m really delighted, going above and beyond my original expectations.” interaction.uk.com « soundtect.com «

Before INEX-ONLINE.COM

37 OFFICE Opposite: The finished result of the £3m investment is a fun, unique and extraordinary environment that goes beyond convention to give the people of money. co.uk the ultimate workplace Here: The ‘ice cave’ can be used for an informal meeting or to eat and socialise

After

Before

38 LIGHTING

Image © Hoare Lea (Visualisation image)

Team:

Award-winning lighting Hoare Lea took home the ‘Visualisation’ award at last year’s SBID awards for its prestigious project at the Cumberland Art Gallery, Hampton Court. Here, Inex takes a look at the ins and outs of this award-winning scheme.

H

oare Lea’s winning project comprised a series of visualisations which showed the proposed refurbishment and lighting scheme designed to illuminate both the paintings and interior space of the Cumberland Art Gallery.

Hoare Lea CGI combined its expertise in the niche area of accurate lighting visualisation, with a mastery of 3D-modelling and physically-based rendering tools (such as 3Ds Max and Vray) to create photo-realistic visuals. The resulting visualisations accurately represented the final, relit gallery and proved highly effective in communicating design ideas and showing how the gallery would look.

Karam Bhamra, of Hoare Lea CGI, comments: “It means a lot to us to have the quality of our work recognised by the judges. We didn’t think we would win as this is the first time we have entered the SBID Awards and the standard in the category is really high… we are absolutely delighted.”

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The lighting design The Cumberland Gallery at Hampton Court Palace is a dedicated space for artworks from the Royal Collection. It enables visitors to view the artworks in a stunning gallery setting, which reflects the palace’s history as a destination for the work of artists, such as Holbein, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Bassano and Gainsborough.

The gallery occupies a newlyrestored suite of rooms designed by Architect William Kent in the 1730s, as private apartments for George II’s son, William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland.

Client: Historic Royal Palaces Architect: Purcell Project Manager: Historic Royal Palaces Conservation Plan: Curator of Historic Buildings, Hampton Court Conservation Handling and Maintenance: Historic Royal Palaces, CCC Team Lighting Designer: Hoare Lea Lighting Electrical Services Engineer: Qoda Structural Engineer: Hockley and Dawson Quantity Surveyor: Historic Royal Palaces Planning Supervisor: Historic Royal Palaces Paint Analysis: Patrick Baty Wall Fabric Consultant: Annabel Westman Main Contractor: Fairhurst Ward Abbott Visualisation: Hoare Lea CGI

Suppliers: Raylight TM Lighting Heritage Lighting

The brief given to architect firm Purcell and Hoare Lea Lighting was to return the Cumberland Suite as closely as possible to Kent’s original scheme. Historic Royal Palaces wanted to create a dedicated space to highlight some of the works of the Royal Collection, and to use art as the lens through which to understand the royal history, stories and material culture of the palace.

The process Understanding the heritage of the space, while creating a contemporary solution, was crucial.

Simon Dove, Associate at Hoare Lea Lighting, explains: “Working within a listed building such as Hampton Court inevitably presented challenges, and mock-ups were used to explore the implications of introducing light fittings and to communicate design ideas.”

Ion Glass specialise in bespoke architectural and structural glass installations for commercial, residential and heritage buildings

www.ionglass.co.uk

0345 658 9988

40

Image © Hoare Lea

LIGHTING

The solution While remaining faithful to the architecture and finishes, the intent was for the environment to have the feel of a gallery, and the lighting immediately announces that this is a different type of space.

Picture rails supply power to LED spotlights, which highlight the paintings. Although, tungsten has often been used in gallery settings, the quality of the white light now produced by LEDs, together with benefits such as energy efficiency, small size, high colour rendering of 95+, warm colour temperature, ease of dimming and the lack of ultraviolet light created, made LED an ideal choice.

The look of each fitting was carefully considered to ensure the scheme complemented the space during the day, as well INEX-ONLINE.COM

Image © Historic Royal Palaces

Hoare Lea Lighting’s CGI product, the LightSIM, was also used to create a virtual reproduction of the space; this proved highly effective when discussing the proposed scheme.

as enhancing it at night. These fittings, developed in favour of the traditional linear picture lights usually specified in heritage buildings, give a contemporary elegance to the rooms.

To incorporate flexibility, achieve the precise lux levels required and create the desired visual impression, individual dimming

control of every fitting was important. Simon explains: “It was a key requirement to dim each luminaire from within the space, rather than from a remote location or via a complex lighting control system.”

This is demonstrated by the ceiling rosettes used to light a number of rooms. The disc-shaped rosette is suspended from the ceiling above the chandelier.

Miniature spotlights mounted on the disc accent the artwork. Each spotlight is dimmable and mechanically adjustable and can be moved within the disc and angled

41 LIGHTING Far left: (Visualisation) Hoare Lea’s winning project comprised a series of visualisations which showed the proposed refurbishment and the lighting scheme designed to illuminate both the paintings and the interior space

Image © Historic Royal Palaces

Image © Hoare Lea

Left: (Visualisation) The brief given to Purcell and Hoare Lea Lighting was to return the Cumberland Suite as closely as possible to Kent’s original scheme Below far left: (Completed project) The look of each fitting was carefully considered to ensure the scheme complemented the space during the day, as well as enhancing it at night Below left: (Completed project) While remaining faithful to the architecture and finishes, the intent was for the environment to have the feel of a gallery

to light a painting or an architectural feature. Fittings are linked to an architectural lighting control system; this uses simple scenes and allows switching for security and cleaning purposes.

To the left of the lobby is the ‘Wolsey Closet’. A surviving Tudor room, this wood-panelled closet features an ornate gold ceiling and a sequence of vivid painted panels. Adjustable uplights in the window sill light the ceiling, while an antique-brass finish fascia ensures the fittings blend seamlessly with the architecture.

Floorstanding LED uplights infill the gold ceiling and light the paintings that line the room at high-level, creating a diffuse light.

Housing Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait in a Flat Cap, amongst other artworks, the Presence Chamber features a beautiful William Kent ceiling. The visitor’s eye is drawn to the white plaster ceiling and its details, which are picked out by LED spotlights discreetly integrated into seating in the centre of the room. Background lighting is provided by decorative wall sconces. Due to the historic nature of the space, particularly the Kent ceiling, finding locations for luminaires to light the artwork was challenging, and the solution was to mount the spotlights to the rear of the picture frames.

Within the Duke’s light closet are 12 ‘Grand Canal’ views of Venice by Canaletto. Miniature spotlights mounted on the ceiling rosette above the chandelier highlight the paintings and provide general illumination.

A spokesperson from Purcell concludes: “The new lighting was carefully designed to provide beautiful illumination of the paintings using the latest LED technology, but minimising the impact on the sensitive building fabric. The result also greatly enhances the artwork and the room’s architectural features.” hoarelealighting.com « INEX-ONLINE.COM

42 COMMERCIAL FURNITURE

Here: The Orten modular seating collection offers specifiers and interior designers significant freedom in creating venues to match their exact criteria

The future is modular

Tim Armitt, Managing Director at Lyndon Design, discusses the rising popularity of modular seating and furniture in corporate and hospitality interiors.

I

t’s an exciting time for commercial furniture. The crossover between corporate and hospitality environments continues, such that any boundaries that still apply are few and far between. Take soft seating, for example. No longer confined to the foyer of corporate establishments, today it’s an accepted design element throughout all office and corporate spaces. As well as helping create a softer environment, it offers more relaxed and flexible open-plan areas that cater to multiple activities and uses. The same goes for the hospitality sector too. Also, as hotels and other hospitality venues increasingly seek to fulfil the needs of their corporate clients, soft seating is now a vital necessity for informal work lounges, phone booths and touchdown spaces.

Soft seating is indeed here to stay. And, as communication, collaboration and flexibility continue to be the key driving forces in design schemes throughout corporate, hospitality and leisure interiors, we’re seeing modular seating and flexible furniture rise to the fore.

Although some clients often misunderstand the term, modular furniture is typically a collection of individual INEX-ONLINE.COM

pieces that can be tailored to fit the specific needs of a given space or use.

Space efficient, it successfully meets the demands of formal and informal meeting areas, as well as public spaces such as reception spaces and atriums. Nowadays, it even graces circulation areas commonly found in shopping malls. If required, modular seating can be expanded at a later date by simply choosing from the same collection and style that was first used, without compromising the overall setup and style of the original furniture. It also tends to be easy to assemble and reassemble, if needed, thereby facilitating cost-savings.

There’s no doubt that the rise in popularity of modular seating and furniture is attributed to the flexible solution it provides for a wide

variety of spaces. Today, seating and furniture is no longer specified purely on comfort, practicality, colour, texture or shape alone. Instead, it has to meet the needs of the space it occupies, and it must create a balance that fulfils both functional and aesthetic requirements. Modular seating and furniture meets the brief on all counts. Boasting flexible and reconfigurable options, it offers specifiers and designers infinite layout arrangements.

From straight and curved configuration seating, to more traditional options of sofas, corner units and footstools, the possibilities are endless. By introducing differing table heights and seating levels, it’s easy to adapt furniture to suit any given scheme. Combined with a wealth of choice of fabrics, colours and finishes, it’s no wonder that interior designers and specifiers enjoy taking flexible design to new heights; from classic and distinctive, to fun and organic.

43 WOOD

Brilliant: the three-tier sink system.

The series BLANCO ETAGON in Stainless Steel and SILGRANIT®.

Bowl: BLANCO ETAGON 500-IF/A, Stainless Steel satin polish Mixer tap: BLANCO PANERA-S, Brushed Stainless Steel

The three-tier sink system for added convenience through a unique function. BLANCO ETAGON 500 extends the individual bowl to include an additional functional level. The brand new system concept has all the versatility of the sink centre, yet requires little space. The integrated ledge combined with the specially developed ETAGON rails allows working at three levels of the modern, linear bowl.

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44 COMMERCIAL FURNITURE

Modular seating is more commonly specified for corporate reception areas and public spaces where large numbers of people need to be accommodated. However, in a bid to bring a more casual and relaxed feel to these spaces; upholstered cubes, stools and benches are often included too.

Since there’s a growing need for furniture in the workplace that can adapt to new and changing requirements, we’re finding that this is where modular furniture really comes into its own. Smart office furniture choices to support a well-designed, high functioning and adaptable workplace include: modular soft seating, modular workbenches and desk pods. We know from experience that high-backed modular meeting booths are also a popular specification. Designed to help break up large, open-plan spaces, they are available in a range of seating configurations and are capable of seating from as few as two people, up to larger groups of eight. As their contoured high-back design helps reduce peripheral vision and external noise, they are perfect for aiding privacy.

Likewise, with employee wellbeing in the workplace an increasing priority for many companies, compact modular units help provide the perfect breakout space for staff to rest and escape from a busy work environment. Whether working in solitude, focusing on a concentrated task or making phone calls, these pieces offer the intimacy and privacy that is vital for today’s modern working methods.

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Since recently bursting onto the scene, landscape modular seating has become a firm favourite too with specifiers; offering a mixture of different seating or leaning levels, and creating an inviting and interesting seating area for those quick impromptu meetings and spaces where employees want to catch up or sit and work with a device.

An expansive combination of linking units allows multiple configurations for office, breakout and public spaces, making it a truly modular product which can be reconfigured when desired. For this reason, landscape modular seating is commonly found in areas of passing; such as large, open corridors or the open-plan office or atrium. Delivering ‘create and connect’ versatility, this type of seating is inviting to co-workers and guests for brief social and workrelated interactions.

Right: Olivia is a versatile modern seating system made using traditional methods and quality materials Below: Fusing highback and low-back seating into one striking piece, Arthur Cityscape’s modular design offers a unique seating solution Below right: The Entente meeting booth echoes the trend for corporate breakout spaces

45 COMMERCIAL FURNITURE

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46 COMMERCIAL FURNITURE

For any modular furniture to be truly successful, however, it has to aid connectivity. As the reliance upon mobile electronic devices increases, so too has the need for keeping mobiles, laptops and tablet devices charged. Indeed, everyone now expects the same level of connectivity in an hotel foyer as found in a bank. Hence, it’s imperative that charging points can be incorporated into modular upholstered seating panels as well as tables and desks. The integration of such technology should be clean and seamless and aesthetically coordinate with each piece. As well as power and data units, some

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modular pieces such as meeting booths, for instance, even come equipped with multi-media capabilities.

Today, commercial seating and furniture needs to be multifunctional, adaptable and able to meet the demands of its surrounding environment. Modular furniture fully meets these expectations. No longer confined to breakout spaces, it can fulfil the needs of any given space and facilitate connectivity too. By introducing modular solutions into their design schemes, designers and specifiers can at last breathe life into both corporate and hospitality settings, and bring true creative licence to their projects. lyndon.co.uk «

Above: Lyndon Design’s ‘Us’ lends appeal to corporate areas, from intimate reception lobbies to expansive atriums Below: Sectional seating from the Imogen collection comprises standalone footstools and sofa options

Leisure Plan Showroom Stansted Mountfitchet Essex, CM24 8HD Tel: +44 (0) 1279 816 001 leisureplan.co.uk

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MAKE EVERYDAY A LAIDBACK SUNDAY HIVE BY E G O PA R I S

48 FLOORING

Tantalising tiles for M Victoria Street Solus Ceramics has added a touch of flavour to the new M Victoria Street restaurant in London with the installation of its innovative Concreta, Porcelain Solid Basics, Porcelain Flare and Metaltone floor tile ranges.

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Victoria Street is the second London restaurant venture from Martin Williams, following the success and wide acclaim of M Threadneedle Street in 2014. M Victoria Street is a 9000ft2 part leisure, part retail venue that has several distinct offerings set over three floors. These include the Grill Dining Room, Raw Bar, both public and private members bars, private dining, event spaces and a wine tasting room, all under one roof.

High-end luxury interior design agency, René Dekker Design, which oversaw the M Threadneedle Street project, was tasked to create a

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visually stimulating and inviting interior that echoed the industrial feel of the surrounding landscape.

Having worked closely for more than 10 years, René Dekker Design featured a wealth of Solus Ceramics’ tile ranges throughout the wine store, main restaurant, kitchen and WC areas.

René Dekker, Creative Director at René Dekker Design, commented: “The brief set out by Martin Williams was to create a destination that would not only offer passers-by a quiet oasis from the hustle and bustle of busy London streets, but also an atmosphere that would reflect the history of the industry within the surrounding landscape.

49 FLOORING

Top opposite: By combining the use of two different format tiles, René was able to give the restaurant an Italian Renaissance atmosphere Opposite: René utilised Solus Ceramics’ Porcelain Solid Basic range within the wine store Centre: René Dekker Design was tasked to create a visually stimulating interior Above: René worked with Solus Ceramics to implement a new design aesthetic for M Victoria Street Left: René Dekker Design featured a wealth of Solus Ceramics’ tile ranges in M Victoria Street’s design

“The entrance of M Victoria Street brings you into the wine store where we utilised Solus Ceramics’ Porcelain Solid Basic range due to its large 1200 x 600mm format. The combination of the large format tiles and the white sheen finish really opens up the space, resulting in an engaging and welcoming entrance.

“We also used the Porcelain Flare range throughout the kitchen due to the slip resistant and robust nature of the tiles – which is ideal for use in a busy commercial kitchen.

“Upstairs from the wine store brings you to the wine tasting room and throughout the whole area is the vibrant metallic copper range

that brings a great contrast between the two areas and a warmth to the space. Thanks to the innovative tile cutting technology available at Solus Ceramics, we were able to obtain a range of bespoke tiles that we laid in a traditional herringbone pattern, really adding to the visual appeal to the entire floor.

“At the heart of M Victoria Street is the main restaurant which is located on the lower floor. Wanting to keep the link to the industry throughout the epicentre of the design, we utilised Solus Ceramics’ Concreta range that enriched and complemented the overall design aesthetic we were hoping to achieve.

“By combining the use of two different format tiles, 600 x 300mm and 600 x 600mm, and the complementary Concreta decor tiles, we were able to give the restaurant an Italian Renaissance atmosphere that would cater to guests wanting anything from a social drink through to a sit-down meal.

“The overall result is a project that has been great to work on from start to finish. By working closely with Solus Ceramics, we have been able to implement a design aesthetic that brings a new sense of style and vibrancy to one of London’s busiest areas.”

Michael Irvine, Area Sales Manager at Solus Ceramics, said: “I have built a strong working relationship with René Dekker over the past 10 years and to see his approach to high-end modern interior design and his painstaking attention to detail is a joy to watch. M Victoria Street has been a huge success and we look forward to working alongside René again in the future.” solusceramics.com « INEX-ONLINE.COM

50 STONE

Using natural stone for interiors

In the world of interior design, in a sector where aesthetics lead the way and individuality is a unique selling point, natural stone is the ideal material. Here, the Stone Federation highlights the benefits of using stone within interior schemes.

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uarried and mined from the earth, bearing a unique characteristic that is the result of complex geological processes, natural stone offers interior designers more than just a material, it offers a story.

No two pieces of natural stone will be exactly the same and, when embraced, this unique material can provide a wealth of options in both texture and colour.

Stone Federation is the official trade association for the natural stone industry, and we work with interior designers, architects, clients and specifiers to connect them with the ideal material and company for their project. We have over 100 years’ experience in helping the professional understand and therefore benefit from the inimitable qualities of natural stone.

Choosing the right material for the project in hand is always crucial to the success of any job, and there are three key steps to follow to ensure correct selection of stone for interior spaces.

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The first step is to ensure that the samples are up to the task in hand, namely, giving you a true representation of what the final product will look like. One key factor in this is looking at range/control samples. These will show you the range of geological characteristics typically found within the bed of stone as opposed to the small snapshot you would find in a single indicative sample piece. This helps avoid any confusion as to what the finished floor, wall or countertop will look like, however, it is worth bearing in mind that this is a natural product, and therefore each stone will have its own unique features.

The second step is the quarry or mine visit. Stone Federation strongly advises that a visit is made so that the stone proposed for the project can be carefully inspected. This is also the ideal stage at which to involve an independent stone consultant to come and provide you with an expert opinion. This allows you and the client to be a part of the unique journey of your material; to connect the final material to its origins and story.

The last of these three steps is the technical assessment of the stone. There are various tests that help build a picture of a stone’s potential suitability for a particular application, and whilst past projects are a good indicator, recent test data on the CE certificate and ‘Declaration of Performance’ should be examined.

Natural stone is the ideal material for a wide range of applications, but choosing the right materials for the desired application is important, and this is where testing can really help. When it comes to choosing the

right stone for the project in hand, it’s worth exploring the wealth of options that natural stone offers the interiors market.

The Natural Stone Awards are run by Stone Federation and seek to celebrate the best examples of the use of natural stone across a wide range of applications including interiors. The interiors category is a fantastic showcase for the successful use of natural stone in bathrooms, hotels, highend apartments, churches and so much more. The 2014 and 2016 awards have seen a wide range of natural stones used in the successful projects, stretching all the way from British limestones through to Italian marbles. The finished projects cover everything from the dramatic to the understated, but all have one thing in common, the designer or architects’ skill in choosing the perfect stone for the desired application.

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What does natural stone offer interior designers?

We’ve mentioned a few times that natural stone has a lot to offer to interior design professionals, but what exactly is contained within this wide range of choice?

Texture: from the fossils found in Portland stone to the natural, subtle layers of slate, texture is a strong selling point for using natural in interior spaces. The three-dimensional dynamic that a feature wall of unpolished, naturallytextured stone can provide is stunning and definitely a trend that is on the increase. Unlike many other materials, the same piece of stone can be finished in a number of ways to provide the texture best suited to the application. Flamed, honed, blasted, sanded, polished and line textured are all finishes that can give the same piece of stone a very different visual impact.

Impact: the geological striations and natural colour streaks found in marble creates a striking aesthetic utilised across the interiors world, from hotel lobbies and internal walls through to floors and countertops. In a market where individuality is key, the unique visuals that natural stone can create are striking, bringing a strong identity to interior spaces of all descriptions.

Durability: as a result of the geological processes, the thousands of years of compression, natural stone is an incredibly hardwearing material. You need only look at the centuries old, limestone-clad streets of London, the granite-paved streets of Aberdeen or the Clipsham-rich buildings of Oxford to see evidence of the longevity of this natural material.

Stone Federation is the official trade association for the natural stone industry, with over 100 years’ experience in connecting interior designers and architects with the best materials and professionals.

We have a membership of over 240 natural stone firms, covering everything from international

stone suppliers and British quarry operators through to design consultants and sealant manufacturers. Each of our members are vetted and approved and have access to a vast resource of technical backup, training and guidance documents on all the latest Government legislation and guides to best practice. stonefed.org.uk ÂŤ

Top: One key factor in specifying stone is looking at range/control samples, these will show you the range of geological characteristics typically found within the bed of stone as opposed to the small snapshot you would find in a single indicative sample piece Above left: Stone Federation strongly advises that a visit to a quarry is made so that the stone proposed for the project can be carefully inspected Above: In the world of interior design, in a sector where aesthetics lead the way and individuality is a unique selling point, natural stone is the ideal material

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52 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Quality and innovation from BLANCO Quality has been key to BLANCO ever since the company was established in Germany way back in 1925.

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tarted by Heinrich Blanc, the business was founded on the principle of offering its customers the best in terms of design, function and innovation. Whilst the products may have changed considerably in response to changing times and needs, BLANCO’s commitment to quality and service remains as firm as ever.

BLANCO supplies a superb range of sinks, taps, hobs, extractor hoods and other kitchen accessories to world markets. The company strives to supply a combination of quality, value and service that has become the bedrock of its growth and success.

BLANCO products have a reputation for innovation, versatility and high quality. BLANCO offers an exceptional choice with different materials, colours and models; the extensive range will meet most requirements.

BLANCO’s Culina-S Duo tap

BLANCO’s BH467829 hob

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The company has established worldwide acclaim for its unswerving commitment to producing innovative, functional products of the highest quality, and to supporting the products with second-to-none service. This commitment remains the cornerstone of its policy.

BLANCO UK’s purpose-built headquarters near St Albans, Hertfordshire, houses an impressive showroom where the extensive product range is displayed. Also accommodated are administration facilities alongside a warehouse and distribution centre. BLANCO is dedicated to offering first-class service and guarantees fast and reliable nationwide delivery via a proprietary fleet of vehicles. The products are widely available from department stores, kitchen retailers and builders’ merchants. blanco.co.uk « 01923 635200 « info@blanco.co.uk «

53 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Pro Ply Tile Backer Board– providing a backbone for tiling projects The key to a successful tiling job lies not in the tiles themselves, but in what they are fixed to. The latest launch from Norcros Adhesives provides a strong, stable background for all types of projects, especially installations in bathrooms and wetrooms.

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orcros Pro Ply Tile Backer Board is high performance, mineral based, water- and mouldresistant and exceptionally strong. The product is manufactured using a process that produces very little in the way of CO2 emissions, unlike cement-particle and gypsum boards. The board is silica and asbestos-free and has a Class A1 noncombustibility fire rating making it ideal for use with underfloor heating and in build-ups for fire resistant systems and firewalls. As with all Norcros Adhesives’ products, Pro Ply is covered by a lifetime guarantee.

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Noble Russell – 25 years of bespoke contract furniture 2017 marks the 25th anniversary for Noble Russell, a contract furniture company specialising in the creation of exceptional products. Noble Russell has dedicated itself to years of furniture design and production, providing customers with bespoke products. It has added an extra special quality and knowledge to all that it produces, developing a strong reputation amongst its associates. Over the last 25 years, Noble Russell has worked with many of the leading names in architecture and interior design on countless high-profile projects. To join its extensive list of satisfied clients, contact the company to arrange a meeting. noblerussell.co.uk 01572 821591

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Norcros Pro Ply Tile Backer is suitable for use internally and externally on both walls and floors, is exceptionally strong and easy to use. It can be fixed using Norcros Rapid Porcelain or One Part Flexible adhesive or with mechanical fixings. The strength and rigidity of the board allows bathroom accessories to be fixed through the tiles into the backer board. It is also highly versatile, being suitable for overboarding new and existing timber floors, covering concrete floors, stud walls or masonry walls.

Norcros Pro Ply Tile Backer is available in 6 and 12mm sheets, 1200 x 800mm in

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1.TIMBER STUD WALL 2.MASONRY WALL 3.TIMBER FLOOR 4.CONCRETE FLOOR 5.NORCROS PRO PLY 6.NORCROS RAPID PORCELAIN GREY ADHESIVE 7.WALL TILES 8.FLOOR TILES 9.NORCROS GROUT

size, with 6mm boards normally used on floors and 12mm boards on walls. norcros-adhesives.com « 01782 524140 « sales@norcros-adhesives.com «

Christopher Hyde continues to develop its range of lighting Christopher Hyde is renowned for its traditional designs and has now started to develop more contemporary ranges.

The handmade lights have been installed across the world, from country cottages to Royal palaces. In many of its ranges, Christopher Hyde can offer handfinished options as standard, allowing the client the finish they require to complement the interior decor in the project.

Many architects and designers approach the company to produce bespoke designs. Using its artisan skills, the company is able to manufacture almost anything its customers request.

As an expert in manufacturing of cast fixtures including creations of low wax cast decorative details, Christopher Hyde produces exquisite designs. christopherhyde.com 0207 351 0863 INEX-ONLINE.COM

54 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

A dazzling project Focus SB’s electrical face-plates were recently specified for the radical refurbishment of Lansdowne House, which saw the recording studio transformed into a lavishly modern interior.

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Above: Focus SB’s electrical faceplates were selected in a satin chrome finish Below: Chosen for their quality and clean-looking design, the plates are available to order on a bespoke basis

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rtists like John Lennon and the Sex Pistols once recorded in Lansdowne House and the Edwardian building, originally built for struggling artists, has always had creativity flaring in it.

It is now a dazzling project by Designer, Audrey Lovelock, who transformed the space into a lavishly contemporary interior using, among other stylish brands, Focus SB’s electrical face-plates in a satin chrome finish.

Audrey says: “I chose this Focus range because of its quality and clean-looking design, plus their plates could be made to a bespoke combination. The sockets are a sleek design. I was looking for good quality and Focus SB fitted the bill.”

Focus SB can design bespoke plates exclusively for clients to suit their requirements, incorporating data outlets, USB charging ports, foreign power sockets, 5 amp lamp sockets and anything else onto plates to complement existing ranges.It has a dedicated team of product consultants to advise on projects, however large or small.

01424 858060 « focus-sb.co.uk « sales@focus-sb.co.uk «

55 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Specifier’s Guide to Tiles & Stone returns for 2017 Kick-Start Publishing has launched the essential 2017 guide for the tile and stone specification market, in print and online.

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he Specifier’s Guide includes comprehensive information and insightful commentary on a wide spectrum of subjects relating to the art and science of tile and stone. Content topics include stone and composites, tiles, adhesives and grouts, alongside other ancillary products. It also features the expertise of Editor, Joe Simpson, whose unique knowledge of the UK tiling industry has been honed over 25 years of experience.

In addition to analysing contemporary design trends, the guide contains expert technical information on the installation of tiles in interior and exterior settings. Technical contributors include Mapei and Kerakoll, with other manufacturers providing their perspectives on subjects ranging from wetroom tanking systems to 3D tiling innovations. The guide’s initial distribution includes over 22,000 architects, as well as developers, interior designers and facility managers.

“If you think tiles are just glazed, coloured squares or rectangles, it’s time to think again,” Joe Simpson contends. Over the course of the 184-page publication, Joe – and the guide’s guest contributors – make the case for the “virtually limitless potential” of tile and stone.

This potential is truly global and, reflecting that, the guide provides an overview of the tile industry, not only in the UK but throughout the world; Brazil, China and a multitude of other countries’ tiling sectors are explored for an in-depth picture of the international marketplace.

The team behind the UK’s leading trade publication for the professional ceramic tile and calibrated natural stone sector – Tile and Stone Journal – is also responsible for the 2017 Specifier’s Guide. specifiersguide.co.uk « 01892 752400 « john.passmore@kick-startpublishing.co.uk «

Plaza – KI’s functional, elegant one-piece polypropylene chair Plaza from KI is an elegant, low-maintenance one-piece polypropylene chair ideal for indoor and outdoor spaces. Clean and contemporary, Plaza offers a streamlined, simplified design.

This lightweight chair features a curved shell for user comfort and is both durable and versatile. Moulded from high impactresistant polypropylene with UV protection, Plaza is as strong as it is durable, passing all applicable BIFMA tests for general seating. Easy to clean and 100% recyclable, these chairs are light and stackable. Plaza is available in a range of eight colours. kieurope.com 0207 404 7441

Liberty – a quality sit/stand desk The new electric height-adjustable Liberty desk from Century Office helps keep users active at work or in the home office. The height of the desk utilises the latest technology allowing the height-adjustable desk to be increased from 715 to 1190mm at the touch of a button. The desk comes with a sleep mode to reduce energy consumption, and has four memory settings, meaning that the workstation can be set according to the user’s preference. Century Office offers the Liberty frame in grey or white, and tops in a range of stylish finishes and colours, making it perfectly adaptable to personal choice and style. century-office.co.uk 01206 844541 INEX-ONLINE.COM

56 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Underfloor heating ticks all the boxes When it comes to heating, there is no single solution that suits every situation and it is no longer a case of considering the individual components in isolation. The emphasis is on looking at the design and mixing various systems to achieve the best solution. This is being driven by Building Regulations taking account of the sustainability agenda, energy use and reduction of CO2 emissions in buildings. Underfloor heating scores well in terms of environmental performance and is regarded as economical, ultra-efficient and comfortable. Simple to install and control, it provides complete design freedom and offers solutions for any sized project. gaia.co.uk 01359 242400

Helvar shines bright with ILLUSTRIS touch control panel Lighting controls expert, Helvar, has launched a Bluetoothconnected, touch-sensitive panel in glass or plastic.

ILLUSTRIS is designed to provide stylish, easy-to-use control of Helvar lighting control systems and DALI Type 8 colour devices for human-centric lighting applications. Out of box functionality and the ability to edit and store scenes from the ILLUSTRIS panel or from the app makes control DALI Type 8 devices simple, with minimal set-up. Helvar has designed ILLUSTRIS to fit most UK/DIN/EU back boxes for quick and easy installation. helvar.com 01322 222211

Expona Flow helps to refresh University Hospital Wales restaurant Commercial sheet vinyl flooring from UK manufacturer Polyflor’s Expona Flow PUR collection was recently used to create a new restaurant area at University Hospital Wales in Cardiff.

Approximately 600m² of the Silver Oak and Smoked Oak woodeffect designs from Polyflor’s Expona Flow flooring was installed throughout the canteen, by Swansea-based contractor Artisan Flooring. The Expona Flow PUR collection of heterogeneous vinyl flooring features 50 wood, stone and abstract designs in a 2m-wide sheet format with a 2mm gauge and 0.7mm wear layer, making it ideal for heavy commercial environments including the healthcare sector. polyflor.com 0161 7672551

Copper Loft joins Aqua-Step range Copper Loft is a brand-new design addition to the Aqua-Step waterproof laminate flooring range, available from International Decorative Surfaces. Offering a mix of warm brown tones and copper highlights in a random stone effect, Copper Loft is a versatile design for domestic and commercial applications including bathrooms, en-suites, WCs, washrooms and spas. It is part of the Ceramics by Aqua-Step range, which offers five designs in a tile size of 592 x 297 x 5.3mm thickness with R10 slip resistance to meet commercial requirements. The product can be used with electric or water-fed underfloor heating and is backed by a 25-year domestic wear warranty and seven years on commercial applications. idsurfaces.co.uk 08457 298298

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57 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Left: Leisure Plan’s outstanding pieces are permanently on display in a beautiful 1836-built chapel conversion showroom in Essex Below: Understanding the importance of those finishing details, Leisure Plan offers a bespoke cushion make-up service and manufactures its cushions in-house

Luxury outdoor living from Leisure Plan With the trend for outdoor living gaining traction amongst UK homeowners, specifying high-quality furniture that is both aesthetically-pleasing to the eye and can withstand the UK’s downpours and frosty evenings is no mean feat. There are few suppliers in the luxury outdoor living furniture industry that can boast these qualities and luxury outdoor furniture supplier, Leisure Plan, is no exception.

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s the exclusive sales and distribution partner of the most distinguished names in the outdoor living industry, including Dedon, Ego Paris and Fischer Möbel, Leisure Plan’s outdoor furniture not only looks great, but is built to withstand the elements – even the frequent downpours in the UK. Housed in a quiet corner of rural Essex, these outstanding pieces are permanently on display in a beautiful 1836-built chapel conversion showroom where specifiers can witness first-hand Leisure Plan’s high-quality and diverse range of furniture and experience the materials and textures on offer. Furthermore, the showroom hosts an outdoor terrace where designers can distinguish pieces in a semioutdoor setting.

Finishing touches Understanding the importance of those finishing details, Leisure Plan offers a bespoke cushion make-up service and manufactures its cushions in-house. This allows designers to match their furniture specification with the smaller details seamlessly, providing a stylish finishing touch to any outdoor setting.

Design detail is of utmost importance when it comes to specifying furniture, and consumers are continuously in search of a completely bespoke, unique product.

Leisure Plan can design and create cushions in an abundance of sizes, colours or materials – which all comply with UK fire regulations – on a bespoke basis. This combination of furniture with impeccable pedigree and a tailored bespoke cushion make-up service, results in a level of individuality only found at Leisure Plan.

Leisure Plan’s expertise doesn’t stop there, the company manages the whole ordering process from start to finish, with a dedicated delivery service. The company’s large stockholding ensures both a fast and reliable delivery service throughout the UK and overseas. Items are handpicked by Leisure Plan’s warehouse manager and delivered using its own transportation, ensuring arrival of deliveries at the correct location and at the agreed time.

Leisure Plan’s team have a wealth of experience and know-how when it comes to specifying outdoor furniture, which is all delivered with an outstanding level of customer service.

For more information on Leisure Plan’s exquisite product range, please visit the company’s website.

Alternatively, experience the luxurious pieces first-hand with a trip to its showroom, located close to the M25/ M11, junction 8.

01279 816001« leisureplan.co.uk « sales@leisureplan.co.uk « INEX-ONLINE.COM

58 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Left: A well-designed chair should not only be aesthetically-pleasing, but also have adjustable controls and actions to manipulate the chair to fit every body shape Below: Research has found that moving from a sitting to standing position helps the user feel more energised, aids improved concentration, increases productivity, reduces back problems and burns up to three times more calories

Treading the line between comfort and casual Working from home has been on the uprise in the past few years with the number of individuals staying home soaring to record highs. Many opt for the relaxed domesticity of home over the more traditional and formal corporate environment. While working from home evokes a sense of comfort, there is a fine line between being comfortable and casual.

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o ensure welfare and productivity, it is important to find a balance between stylish home interiors and functional ergonomics when designing a home office. Adding wall art or injecting pops of colour, seating for visitors/clients as well as an ergonomically-designed chair and desk with useful lighting can create the ultimate contemporary interior to thrive in. This has never been easier as high-quality office design will no longer cost you a fortune.

While a domestic feel, created by incorporating prints, colours, decorative items and more, is highly desirable, practical furniture plays a key role in defining your workspace.

The pieces that you ultimately choose should be designed with ergonomics in mind to promote prosperity whilst conducting your daily work tasks.

Over recent years, furniture manufacturers have researched and invested time and money into improving ergonomics. This has culminated in significant improvements in adjustability INEX-ONLINE.COM

and comfort for home and corporate office workers alike, proving that when choosing furniture significant attention needs to be paid.

A well-designed chair should not only be aestheticallypleasing, but also have adjustable controls and actions to manipulate the chair to fit every body shape whilst supporting the back and the spine. For an even more relaxing work experience, footrests and wrist pads are essential as they eliminate unnecessary pressure and stress on these parts of the body.

The right desk is often overlooked but is a necessity.

Extensive surface space is highly imperative as a great amount of this area can be occupied by paper trays, pencil cups, notepads, telephone and your computer, hindering movement and thus productivity.

Additionally, if you work more than two days from home, you should strongly consider investing in a sit-stand to avoid back pain and establish a healthy and active working position continuously. Research has found that moving from a sitting to standing position helps the user feel more energised, aids improved concentration, increases productivity, reduces back problems and burns up to three times more calories!

Furniturise promotes furniture which reacts to the needs of the human frame whilst incorporating a variety of ergonomically-designed seating available in a variety of sizes, shapes, colours, textures and high-quality materials.

The group also offers a range of desk options to suit any space and style, including ‘Autonomy Pro’ desking which uses the latest in sit-stand technology to allow for active and productive working.

Furniturise is a sister company of Century Office that has over 40 years of experience and operates under the COE Group. Furniturise believes in making your office the home of your business by combining ergonomics, value, quality and design, and provides the perfect solution for professionals working from home, as well as SMEs that operate from small office spaces.

01206 844541« furniturise.co.uk « sales@furniturise.co.uk «

59 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Get creative with DI-NOC architectural finishes 3M has launched 153 new patterns in its range of DI-NOC Architectural Finishes, a durable and cost-effective solution for creating aesthetically-pleasing environments without the expense of replacing fixtures or fittings. The range now includes more than 800 patterns and effects. A new ‘Trendline’ of the 80 most popular patterns will be available from local key distributors Spandex and Wm Smith. The self-adhesive finishes can be used to express corporate styles, modernise appearances and optimise interior and exterior assets for refurbishment and new construction. The films’ flexibility to conform to flat and curved surfaces gives fast and easy installation with minimal disruption.

3m.co.uk/innovativefinishes 01344 858000

Transform a house to a chateau with Osmo flooring Osmo UK, the eco-friendly wood and finishes expert, presents ESCO Chateau, a sleek and contemporary style of oak flooring.

Prefinished with Osmo Polyx-Oil, Chateau embraces the wood’s knots and grains, complementing a wide range of current decorative trends. The flooring range is a smooth oak design that effortlessly showcases the wood’s natural beauty. Chateau is available in eight different colours and is a high-quality, water-repellent and tread-resistant wood finish. Chateau flooring is supplied in a choice of two grades. Original grade is ideal for interiors that want to retain the natural look and Elegance grade provides a sleek look reducing knots. osmouk.com 01296 481220

Taking hardworking functionality to the next level with BLANCO BLANCO has introduced three novel sinks which comprise the new Etagon portfolio. Designed for optimum functionality by adding a further level to the sink centre, the ‘one bowl – three level’ sinks demand no extra space. The unique Etagon saucepan rails or runners, along with the chopping board and bowl, offer the user three levels to work with. The three models, designed for 600mm cabinets, are the Etagon 500 IF (without ledge), the Etagon IF/A (with ledge) and the Etagon 500-U (the undermount version). Each is available in stainless steel. The Etagon 500-U is also available in Silgranit/PuraDur in 10 colours including the new Nutmeg option. blanco.co.uk 01923 635200

Brightgreen joins the RIDI family The RIDI Group has signed an exclusive deal with Brightgreen to distribute the Australian LED specialist’s lighting solutions in the UK. Brightgreen utilises the latest LED technology combined with forward-thinking product design to create high-quality lighting solutions for high-end residential and hospitality applications.

Brightgreen offers a comprehensive range of LED lighting from spotlights and downlights to track lighting systems, that are efficient, easy to install and deliver exceptional light quality.

Within Brightgreen’s premium lighting portfolio is its Tru-Colour LED technology, which provides phenomenal colour rendering to enhance the visual appearance of colour and interiors. ridi.co.uk 01279 450882 INEX-ONLINE.COM

60 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

BIID announces exhibitors for sixth annual conference The British Institute of Interior Design is pleased to announce the exhibitors for the sixth BIID annual conference, ‘Inside Knowledge: The BIID Business Success Conference’.

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aking place on Thursday 8th June at 30 Euston Square in London, the BIID is delighted to welcome Hamilton Litestat, Roca, Selectaglaze, Spiral Cellars and UK Hide.

Hamiliton Litestat: is a British electrical solutions provider which designs, develops and manufactures innovative electrical accessories of the highest quality.

Well known for its on-trend range of decorative electrical wiring accessories, lighting controls and multi-room audio systems, Hamilton has become a leading supplier to interior designers and interiors specifiers.

Roca: returns as a BIID Conference exhibitor for the third time.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, premium bathroom brand Roca is a world-leader in the design and manufacture of innovative bathroom products.

Selectaglaze: is a leading UK specialist in secondary glazing and will be joining the sponsor lineup for the first time. Achieving a Royal Warrant in 2004, Selectaglaze INEX-ONLINE.COM

designs and manufactures all units bespoke exact to the project’s specification and needs, providing significant noise reduction, improved thermal performance and enhanced security.

Spiral Cellars: with over 35 years of knowledge and expertise, Spiral Cellars designs, crafts and installs exceptional wine cellars. A true specialist in its field, Spiral Cellars has become the company of choice for those wishing to specify a wine cellar in a project.

UK Hide: offers the largest range of leather hides in the country and completes this year’s exhibitor line up.

Working with furniture, automobiles, aircrafts, accessories and more, UK Hide works with designers to produce high-quality leather projects.

“The BIID is delighted to welcome the first official exhibitors of this year’s conference,” comments Katherine Elworthy, COO at BIID. “Complete with a new conference format for 2017, ‘Inside Knowledge’ has been curated especially to deliver real and actionable guidance, as well as strategic insights and practical ideas that

Above: Selectaglaze is a leading UK specialist in secondary glazing and will be joining the sponsor line-up for the first time Below: Roca returns as a BIID Conference exhibitor for the third time

interior designers can apply to their business. We are thrilled to be joined by an exciting line-up of prestigious brands, who supply the interior design industry and will join us on the day to showcase their brands.

“Without the support of our exhibitors we would be unable to host this industry event and would like to extend our thanks to all for supporting the event.”

The one-day-only event, Inside Knowledge: the BIID Business Success is the only UK conference developed for and by working interior designers. Tackling fundamental business issues, including marketing, PR, branding, business planning, negotiating, people management and much more, this is a must-attend event for industry professionals and design students who wish to learn about how to develop and build a thriving interior design business.

Each exhibitor will have a stand at the BIID Conference and will be available to network with attendees and answer any questions during the day’s break sessions.

0207 628 0255 « biidconference.com «

61 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Polyflor is right on track at Thomas Land Approximately 700m² of Expona Flow heavy commercial vinyl flooring from Polyflor was recently used to create a fun traintrack floor design at Drayton Manor Park’s Thomas Land. Multiple designs from Polyflor’s Expona Flow commercial sheet vinyl collection were selected to create a floor inspired by the children’s TV series Thomas and Friends for the Thomas Land gift shop and Engine Shed photo area. Three shades from the Expona Flow Cosmos range (Woodland, Taupe and Luna) provided a bold and eye-catching backdrop, while the ‘Bronzed Pine’ design from the Expona Flow Wood collection was used to replicate the look of railway sleepers. polyflor.com 0161 767 1111

Bemz x Tom Dixon transform DELAKTIG with haute couture cover Bemz and Tom Dixon have joined forces to create an haute couture concept cover to transform the DELAKTIG bed/ sofa. The haute couture cover is the focal point for the announcement of the Bemz x Tom Dixon collaboration – a collection of textile covers designed exclusively for the DELAKTIG furniture series, an open source living platform conceived by IKEA and Tom Dixon. DELAKTIG is designed to be customised by external companies and individuals. Bemz is the first company to hack the open source platform with this collaboration. The Bemz x Tom Dixon collection of covers will be available in February 2018. bemz.com +468 664 6200

Versital specified for stylish Newcastle pizzeria renovation The popular Central Oven & Shaker, a stylish pizzeria in Newcastle, recently underwent a thorough renovation throughout the premises with Versital’s bespoke surfaces being specified for the project.

Versital’s bespoke surfaces were supplied for Central’s bar tops and front panels in a white faux marble finish. Versital products are designed to beautifully replicate the luxurious appearance and intricate veining of the natural material, while providing added benefits. Whilst natural marble is prone to erosion and staining, making it an impractical material for design, Versital has provided a solution that maintains the beauty of marble without any of the problems it is commonly associated with. versital.co.uk 01204 380780

OrganoWood makes timber cladding sustainable With strong sustainable and aesthetic qualities, OrganoWood provides architects, professionals and end users with an environmentally-friendly and durable wood protection system that ensures longevity, without using harsh chemicals.

OrganoWood is a tried and tested ecological alternative to pressure-treated finishes, producing products that offer aesthetically-pleasing and sustainable results. Featuring three leading products – OrganoWood 01 Protection, OrganoWood 02 Repellent and OrganoWood 03 Cleaner – the system provides a wood protection treatment that protects and aesthetically enhances external timber cladding from the exterior elements. organowood.co.uk 01296 323770 INEX-ONLINE.COM

62 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Technical Information Product Category: vertical heated towel rail Material: available in polished and brushed stainless steel Width: 500mm Height: 1500mm Warranty: 10 years

New design strikes from AEON Sculptural Heating Stepping away from conventional home heating supply designs, AEON brings a refreshing twist on the towel warmer and radiator to homes everywhere.

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triking in stainless steel, Zig Zag (the M model), new to the AEON Collection, stimulates the eyes and imagination. Never seen before in radiator design, the jagged, unpredictable continuous line forms an irregular pattern. Short diagonal bars haphazardly interlink to create strength and visual appeal.

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Much like a maze, Zig Zag (M) leads the eye to follow the cleverly designed pointed path. Smooth hand-finished edges, provide a smooth premium look and feel welcome in any room daring to be a little bit different.

Inspired by a striking lightning bolt, angular zig zags give energy and dynamism to any interior. Traditional radiators limited to functionality can now have a life of their own.

Like an unexpected bolt of lightning, this design crashes into the radiator industry at ISH 2017.

For more information on AEON’s Zig Zag model, please visit the company’s website. Alternatively, you can find AEON at stand A24 in Hall 3 at ISH 2017.

01908 271155 « aeon@pitacs.com « aeon.uk.com «

Top: Striking in stainless steel, Zig Zag (the M model), new to the AEON Collection, stimulates the eyes and imagination Above: Inspired by a striking lightning bolt, angular zig zags give energy and dynamism to any interior

63 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Pushing the boundaries in structural glass Bespoke structural glass specialist, Ion Glass, regularly pushes the boundaries when it comes to using glass as a building material.

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tructural glass often looks deceptively simple once it’s installed and it is this aspect that can be most satisfying, from frameless glass balustrades with no visible fixings; to use of structural glass beams and fins for a minimal result or glass partitions with frameless glass doors.

A recent project completed by Ion Glass is an impressive semi-circular garden room built using a series of individual glass wall panels and a roof entirely constructed from glass.

Each triple laminate glass roof beam is set at a slightly different angle to accommodate both the pitch and the curve of the roof, with each beam interfacing perfectly with the vertical glass fins that provide the structural integrity of the walls. The glass roof panels fit together to provide a

seamless and weatherproof finish, projecting slightly over the glass walls for an optimum result.

The building is finished with double glass doors, set into a discreet metal frame which is the only structural support not created from glass.

“This was an unusual and demanding project,” says Peter Hazeldean, Ion’s Managing Director, “the calculations had to be exceptionally precise to ensure the finished building was structurally

Above: Bespoke steel frame showing the angles of the structural glass beams Left: The curving glass screen, recently installed in the Dimbleby Cancer Care unit at Guy’s Hospital in London, was taken from one provided

by Sculptor Nicholas Dimbleby

sound whilst the light, airy result met all the client’s expectations.”

Taking a project from a simple sketch to finished installation is another skill regularly accomplished

by Ion’s technical team. The curving glass screen, recently installed in the Dimbleby Cancer Care unit at Guy’s Hospital in London, was taken from one provided by Sculptor Nicholas Dimbleby. He had designed a series of gentle curves across the width of the space but this had to be developed into a structurally-sound screen, fully supported to ensure its integrity without detracting from the simplicity of the concept.

Ion Glass created bespoke metal channels to hold the glass top and bottom with structural metal poles built to hold the glass at either end.

The opposing glass curves were manufactured to sit seamlessly together without creating a step and, as an added challenge, the entire project had to be installed over a weekend to allow the centre to re-open for patients on Monday morning.

The team at Ion Glass work closely with architects, interior designers and builders on a wide variety of newbuild and renovation projects in the residential, leisure and commercial sectors. They also have an unrivalled reputation for their sensitive structural glass installations in heritage and ecclesiastical buildings.

Their work includes structural glass screens, glass doors, balustrades, rooflights and exceptional frameless glass shower enclosures.

Ion is justly proud of its experienced team of installation technicians. “Our guys have worked together for many years,” says Peter, “which makes a big difference. They have worked on some exceptionally challenging glass structures, in highprofile environments such as the Tower of London and Tate Britain as well as luxury residential properties and high-value commercial projects.

We hear nothing but praise for their technical skills and teamwork.”

0345 658 9988 « ionglass.co.uk « sales@ionglass.co.uk « INEX-ONLINE.COM

64 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Danish designer embraces Nordic elegance in Luv bathroom series The design of Cecilie Manz’s bathroom series Luv combines Nordic purism and timeless emotional elegance. Gentle forms follow a sharp geometry. The selection of materials and colours is testament to Danish Designer, Cecilie Manz’s refined sense for nuanced form.

Her colour palette of matt lacquers and glazes in soft shades was developed exclusively for Duravit and emphasises the fresh character of Luv. Three sizes of oval above-counter basins made from DuraCeram impress with their subtle lines, generous inner basins and clean edges. The optionally glazed exterior is available in satin matt white, grey or sand, which together with the furniture surfaces underline the fine character of Luv. duravit.co.uk 0845 500 7787

Margraf marble chosen for luxury hotel Baglioni Hotels, an icon in the luxury hotel industry and an example of the excellence of ‘made in Italy’, has chosen Margraf marble to restyle the bathrooms in the new rooms at its historical establishments in Milan and Rome. The project, directed by architecture and interior design firm SPAGNULO & PARTNERS, included 11 rooms in Milan and 12 rooms in Rome that have been renovated with the utmost respect for the original Art Deco style. Margraf Bianco Statuario and Grafite modular marble – 61 x 30.5cm and 30.5 x 30.5cm tiles – are the protagonists of the bathroom and the floors of numerous suites, creating a classic and extremely distinctive ambiance. margraf.it +39 0444 475900 INEX-ONLINE.COM

SBID and IIDA offer dual international membership The Society of British and International Design (SBID) has announced a new dual partnership with The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) in the United States. The partnership comes as a result of a shared goal to unite and promote the design industry. Offering an international platform for knowledge-share, access to resources and professional opportunities around the globe, the alliance will provide increased benefits for members of both organisations and marks the foundation of future initiatives to come. The alliance invites current accredited interior designers, architects and associates from the SBID and IIDA to join for access to the exclusive benefits available under the newlyformed partnership. sbid.org 0207 738 9383

Vibrant meeting spaces Leading British design brand, Deadgood, has partnered with Breather – a leader of on-demand meeting rooms and workspaces – to curate a series of four incredible mobile workspaces, featuring Deadgood’s range of furniture offerings.

Located in the heart of London’s commercial furniture district, this partnership with Breather will furnish 2500ft2 of Grade A office space in one of the most vibrant destinations in London.

The ‘Deadgood x Breather’ meeting spaces can be booked by anyone, either through Breather’s app or online. Breather has more than tripled its footprint in 2016 and is on track to increase density in its existing markets. breather.com 0808 164 0909

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