Essential Kitchen & Bathroom Business 175 August 2020 by Immediate Media Company London Ltd.

Voted Best Trade Journal 2019

August 2020 Issue 175

www.kbbdaily.com

STOVES HITS 100!

SPACE CRAFT

BUILDING UTOPIA

When the heat is on… How to stay hot after100 years in the business

Discover 2020’s art of out-of-sight storage and ultimate convenience

Why the requirements of the British bathroom are key to the firm’s success

Pg 22

IN THIS ISSUE

Pg 26

Pg 56

KBB KEEPS POWERING ON COMING BACK TO LIFE AFTER LOCKDOWN

Pg 38

IN A SPIN Can the exciting innovations of the latest laundry appliances change the way we live? Pg 32

ANDREW RYAN Its plans for growth plus the opportunities presented by the latest technology Pg 13 – Pg 61

GET THE LATEST Discover new products, new looks and new trends for both kitchen and bathroom

Forward thinking continues to lead the way out of lockdown as the world of kbb finds its feet and fights its way back to business. And as the community pulls together, help is out there. “Lifeline”: AO’s CEO John Roberts Examples include Bushboard’s Restart Together Club, which enables existing and prospective suppliers of Bushboard surfaces to easily obtain new in-store displays and marketing support via an exclusive digital resource centre. There are image libraries for use on social media, new digital brochures for contact-free marketing and retailers will also be able to order showroom stands for the brand’s ranges, including samples, at no extra cost, and get a striking full-size worktop display for free. “We’re helping our retailers reopen with up-to-date showrooms while still prioritising hygiene and public safety,”comments Nick Jones, leader of UK residential kitchen business units at Wilsonart. You can find out

more about Restart Together Club by heading to https://bit.ly/2Ea8OkH. Meanwhile, the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) has announced the launch of Protected, a new digital platform that connects homeowners with professionals via the independent retailer. The initiative, available to retailers of all sizes at no cost, aims to help homeowners find, appoint and transact with specialist kitchen and bathroom installers, giving an extra level of protection for the parties involved during uncertain times. Visit www.protectmyinstall.co.uk/retailers. Finally, appliance giant AO.com has been powering through and learning lessons by strengthening its logistics network, following stringent safety measures and embracing a new way of working. “We’ve been a lifeline to our customers, and working from home has opened our eyes wider to what might be possible going forward, giving opportunities for an even more diverse workforce that will be less geographically constrained,” says John Roberts, founder and CEO.

COVID 19 IMPACTS ATTITUDES TO PUBLIC SPACE As we collectively move from impact stage to long-term management, Swiss brand Vitra has shared suggestions on how this could impact our public space. Hand washing was just step one… Firstly, they suggest that hygiene standards will be permanently increased. Just as airport security changed forever after 9/11, so too are we likely to see a profound shift in public hygiene, they suggest. Cleaning crews will become more visible in daily life and design measures such as self-operating doors, cashless commerce,

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wipeable surfaces, movable screens and flexible layouts will become the norm. Secondly, we will travel with more intention, interrogating which interactions still require a personal presence. This is particularly true of global events such as trade fairs. Thirdly, while a volume of transactions will move online, digital cannot compare with the personal connection of a local store or experiencing the creativity of a team. What remains physical will be of higher quality. Stores could become more about brand-building rather than shifting units. For more, check out the report at kbbdaily.com.

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www.leicht.com

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essentially... Phew. What a scorcher! As we write this, the mercury is barely being contained by the thermometer and the allure of al fresco dining and lazing around pondering new kit for kitchens and bits for bathrooms is pretty much preventing this column from taking place. This month we’ve been delighted to say “hi” to familiar faces and new ventures in equal measure as, post lockdown, things have been coming back to life and the colours, styles and innovations for 2020 are feeling more refreshing this year than ever. We’re throwing our net ever wider to not only give you that broad overview, but to introduce new names and ideas from smaller, bespoke innovators that are sure to inspire. We hope you enjoy this month’s “best of the best” mix and it finds you fired up and ready for business. And we’ll be answering three big questions in fine style this month. Where’s the best place to put that lumpy coffee machine? (See page 26). Why would I need Wi-Fi in my washing machine? (Check out page 38). And can you really spice up the humble shower tray? (Good lord, yes! Page 50). Dive in!

15 50 38 22 this month...

Daniel Griffiths Editor daniel.griffiths@immediate.co.uk

1 K&B business news All the latest news in kitchens and bathrooms

KITCHENS

the team...

13 Kitchen inspiration Life Kitchens’ modern, sophisticated Luxe range 15 Kitchen new products The latest happenings in the world of kitchens 22 Profile | Stoves Hitting the hot 100! Happy birthday, Stoves!

Darren Summerfield

Emma Lewis

William Linn

Commercial Director

Production Editor

Designer

26 Special report | Space Craft Why hardworking larder-style storage solutions are the key to a successful 2020 kitchen 32 Profile | Andrew Ryan Planning for 2020 growth through using the very latest technology

Rebecca Messina

Thea Jeffreys

Kayla Rose

Digital Editor

KBB Daily

Brand Executive

Lara Sargent

Emma Hedges

Amelia Thorpe

Contributor

38 Special report | In a Spin From voice-control to machines that calculate detergent usage, we pick up the latest in laundry

Paul Craig

Contributor

Photographer

ABC audited readership figures Average net circulation per issue.....9,212

www.kbbdaily.com

Winner of Best Trade Journal 2019

46 Bathroom new products If it’s new for bathrooms, you’ll find it here 50 Special report | Tray Chic How today’s shower trays are packing a punch, combining fashion with functionality 56 Profile | Utopia Why knowing the UK market gives Utopia the edge

INFLUENCES 63 Influences Neolith’s sumptuous new Alps-inspired surface 64 Web doctor All the latest online offerings rated 66 Professional focus The Kbsa’s Richard Hibbert gets back to business

PUBLISHING

EDITOR Daniel Griffiths

MANAGING DIRECTOR Marie Davies

DESIGNER William Linn

PROMOTIONS & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Rosa Sherwood

PRODUCTION EDITOR Emma Lewis CONTRIBUTORS Amelia Thorpe, Paul Craig, Nicola Hanley, Emma Hedges, Lara Sargent, Katy Bell

PUBLISHING ASSISTANT Lara Van Weber

ADVERTISING

CEO Tom Bureau

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Mark Reen

Katy Bell

45 Bathroom inspiration Discover the latest in Kast’s colourful Canvas collection of patterned concrete basins

EDITORIAL

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Darren Summerfield

Nicola Hanley

BATHROOMS

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR Andy Marshall CFO Kevin Langford

CONTACT

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Sophie North

Essential Kitchen & Bathroom Business Immediate Media, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST

MARKETING AND PRODUCTION

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Sarah Powell

Tel: 01173 008 804

JUNIOR PRODUCTION CONTROLLER Georgia Tolley

EDITORIAL

SUBSCRIPTIONS DIRECTOR Jacky Perales-Morris

SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES

DIRECTOR OF LICENSING & SYNDICATION Tim Hudson

UK Tel: 03330 165 798

Email: ekbbusiness@immediate.co.uk

©Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, 2020, member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Unsolicited manuscripts and transparencies are accepted on the understanding that the publisher incurs no liability for their storage or return. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without permission. All prices are correct at the time of going to press. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services that may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. Essential Kitchen & Bathroom Business is published by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST, UK. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. Immediate Media Co Ltd is working to ensure that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests. This magazine can be recycled. We abide by IPSO’s rules and regulations. To give feedback about our magazines, please visit immediate. co.uk, email editorialcomplaints@immediate.co.uk or write to Legal Director, Immediate Media Co, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London, W6 7BT, UK.

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picture this... Geberit Charity Champions Geberit has been named CRASH Ashgate Hospice Charity Patron of the Year in the post revamp Above and Beyond Awards 2020. The premium bathroom manufacturer received the award for donating the most construction product to its homelessness and hospice projects, allowing places such as Ashgate Hospice to overhaul their buildings. Brent Hudson, marketing & product director said: “It’s fantastic to witness the transformation of the space.”

BLANCO’s new UK website goes live Now live at www.blanco.co.uk, the homepage showcases BLANCO with attractive lifestyle images set in today’s stylish kitchens. Above this is a panel that features sections for sinks, taps and finishing touches (such as lighting and sink accessories) alongside inspiration guides and FAQs. Then, thanks to the simple layout in the “where to buy” section, homeowners can get in touch with a member of the BLANCO team quickly and easily.

WHIRLPOOL PLEDGES COMMITMENT TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited, parent company to KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Hotpoint and Indesit, together with its colleagues at Whirlpool Corporation, the leading major appliance manufacturer in the world, has announced its commitment to a sustainable future. In 2019, Whirlpool Corporation achieved its best rate of emission and energy reductions in over a decade after investing in wind turbines and on-site solar panels, and is now working towards reducing its factories’ greenhouse-gas emissions by 50% by 2030. The major domestic appliance manufacturer is also striving for a zero-waste-to-landfill goal at all

manufacturing sites by 2022. In the UK, the use of reusable coffee cups and stainless-steel water bottles will remove more than 158,000 single-use coffee Going greener cups and 56,000 plastic bottles from Whirlpool’s canteens. Ian Moverley, public affairs director, Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited, said: “At Whirlpool, we believe that sustainability is vitally important and we’re committed to improving our environmental efficiency, reducing waste and making positive changes that impact the planet in all areas of our business.”

Sleek new looks

Neolith goes carbon neutral Neolith has confirmed that it has Green processing achieved carbon-neutral status for its manufacturing facilities. In 2019, the Spanish surfacing brand recorded no net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from gate-to-gate emissions. It used 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, cutting out 7,690 tonnes of CO emissions. Impressively, nearly half of its slab composition is obtained from recycled material, too.

GROHE nominated for Sustainability Award GROHE has been recommended for a German Sustainability Award, a national High standards prize for excellence in sustainability in industry, municipalities and research. Last year, the company was ranked one of Germany’s top three most sustainable companies. Thomas Fuhr, COO Fittings LIXIL International and CEO Grohe AG said: “This year we’ve again been able to reach important milestones. We constantly scrutinise and improve our processes.”

HI-MACS® delivers high style Premium retreat Les Olivades Relax on HI-MACS® Marrakech has used HI-MACS® – the thermoformable solid-surface material that can be moulded into any shape and is available from James Latham in the UK – for the interior and exterior of its project. Composed of minerals, acrylic and natural pigments, it provides a non-porous and visually seamless surface for all their basins, worktops, bed heads, kitchens and even outdoor furniture.

Worcester Bosch raises £8,000 for NHS Worcester Bosch’s recent NHS-themed rainbow-boiler raffle produced a total donation of £8,192.76 to NHS Charities Together. The winners were picked via a live Zoom draw with both winners promising to donate their prizes. Francesca Renouf-Stone, office manager at winners Will Stone Plumbing said: “We’re hoping to give it away to a local NHS worker as another thank you for the essential work they do for our community.”

Francesca at Will Stone

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Hansgrohe Group closes financial year on new sales high The Hansgrohe Group, comprising brands AXOR and hansgrohe, has closed its 2019 financial year with a new sales high of 1.088 billion. Compared to the previous year, this represents an increase of around one per cent. Hans Juergen Kalmbach, chairman of the board of management of Hansgrohe, said: “For the 10th time in a row, Hansgrohe has achieved a new record in sales. We’ve also achieved the second-best economic result in the history of our company. “Our focus is on the health and safety of our employees, as well as on our customers and partners and their families around the world. Only thereafter comes our task as a commercial enterprise. We remain confident that we will succeed in this task in the mid-term and will continue to invest in our future: for example, in the development of new products for the ISH trade fair in Frankfurt 2021.”

JP DISTRIBUTION CEASES TRADING AND APPOINTS ADMINISTRATORS JP Distribution, one of the UK’s leading distributors of kitchen and bathroom products, has appointed administrators. The Yorkshirebased firm, with headquarters in Dewsbury, had struggled to secure a cash injection in the face of the lockdown trading landscape. Joint administrators Francis Graham Newton and Simon Edward Jex Girling have been appointed to find a buyer to rescue the company or sell off its remaining assets.

Speaking to kbbdaily.com, JP Distribution MD Graham Bucktrout said he was “hoping a buyer comes forward”. Potential buyers can get in touch by emailing JPDIPComms@bdo.co.uk. Staff can contact ERA Solutions on enquiries@ era-solutions.co.uk or 01827 383 531 with any questions. Founded in 1980 as Clovenorth, the company established a firm presence in the North of England before becoming a national distributor in the early 2010s.

deal Bathrooms has boosted its premium offering with an exclusive new partnership More luxe looks with specialist brassware brand BAGNODESIGN. The bathroom distributor will be exclusively stocking 650 brassware pieces from BAGNODESIGN, which is part of the Sanipex Group, covering brassware, accessories, mirrors, cisterns and frames. Ideal Bathrooms’ commercial director Danielle Lillis said: “BAGNODESIGN is the perfect fit to strengthen our brassware category.” For more information and to download a brochure, visit www.idealbathrooms.com or call 08006 342 600.

KEVIN WELLMAN: “CONSUMER LABELLING PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN REDUCING WATER WASTAGE” Speaking to kbbdaily.com, Kevin Wellman, CIPHE CEO, believes that consumer labelling and the Universal Water Label (UWL) has a pivotal role to play in influencing Kevin Wellman behaviour change. “There’s no doubt we’re facing a global water challenge. Water scarcity will remain a global problem because of climate change, and COVID-19 has raised further awareness of health and hygiene related to hand washing, with water companies in some areas reporting that people are using 20-40% more water while staying at home. “We all have a responsibility to use water wisely and safely to protect our environment and wellbeing. What is important is that the message

is clearly focused on water efficiency and the reduction of water wastage, rather than just using less water. Reducing water wastage by measuring the amount of water required for a particular purpose and the amount of water used or delivered is different from water conservation as it focuses on reducing waste, not restricting use. “Labelling water-using products is a growing practice and has a pivotal role to play in influencing behaviour change. A label that provides the consumer with information about how much water and energy the product uses helps them make informed choices, especially when combined with education about the impact of using water wisely in the home.” For the full article and to find out more about the UWL, visit kbbdaily.com. www.kbbdaily.com

POGGENPOHL PURCHASED BY CHINESE FIRM JOMOO Poggenpohl Möbelwerke, the oldest kitchen brand in the world, has found a new owner after filing for bankruptcy at the end of April. Jomoo Germany, a subsidiary of the Chinese Jomoo Group, is taking over the brand after the previously reported purchase by the Lux Group fell through for undisclosed reasons. The owner-managed Jomoo Group, leader in its home market for sanitary fittings, is

committed to retaining Poggenpohl’s production site in Herford, northern Germany, and keeping on a large part of the company’s workforce. Poggenpohl CEO Gernot Mang, who will continue to head the company under the new deal, said: “Together with Jomoo, we will expand the international project business. Interesting synergies between the kitchen and bathroom

fter almost four months of enforced closure following the UK’s lockdown, the Hansgrohe Group has confirmed the re-opening of its showroom in Clerkenwell, London. The Water Studio, home to the group’s leading bathroom brands AXOR and hansgrohe, is now open by appointment only for B2B customers. The showroom will operate with necessary COVID-19 precautions including a maximum of two persons on site at one time, correct PPE, a one-way system and relevant social-distancing procedures. Hansgrohe says that working water displays will be wiped down after every visitor and the showroom will be deep cleaned each evening. Reopening for business

KBSA SUPPORTS KBB RECOVERY RESEARCH The Kitchen, Bathroom Bedroom Number crunching Specialists Association (Kbsa) is supporting a research project that’s assessing the demand for the kitchen and bathroom industry as the lockdown restrictions ease. The project, run by market-research companies Trend-Monitor Ltd and JKMR, will track the buying patterns from kitchen and bathroom retailers until the end of 2020,

to discover the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. KBSA national account manager Allister Reed said: “There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence pointing to a ‘pent-up’ demand for kitchen and bathroom products after lockdown restrictions are lifted. This research will help us examine how reliable this evidence is.” If you’d like to take part, visit https://trend-monitor. co.uk/kitchen-bathroomindustry-recovery-study/

segments will become possible, because in future we’ll be able to offer project developers a one-stop design for both rooms. Poggenpohl is advancing beyond the kitchen into the extended living space. In future, we will push even further into the luxury-kitchen segment, increasing the number of kitchens produced in Herford. The specialist trade plays a key role for Poggenpohl.”

Used Kitchen Exchange to create 180 jobs The Used Kitchen Exchange has been awarded a £120,000 government grant, to support its expansion and help develop sustainable business practices. The company – which sells premium pre-owned used and ex-display kitchens – is looking to boost annual sales from £4million to £50 million by 2025, and will use the funding to create 180 jobs over the next five years. The funding was given to the Widnes-based kitchen brand in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, and they’ll work together to drive business growth and support the low-carbon transition. The Used Kitchen Exchange will also work with Claire Hannibal, professor of operations management at Liverpool Business School, to capitalise on the boom in new homefurnishing markets and create best practice for sustainable business growth.

Water and energy-efficiency trade fair ISH has urged the sanitary sector to “stand shoulder to shoulder and look ahead together” by supporting next year’s event. ISH 2021 is set to take place in Frankfurt in March, but bathroom behemoth GROHE recently announced that it’s not taking part due to concerns about COVID-19 transmission.

Nolte Küchen to participate in Kuchenmeile Nolte Küchen has announced that it will participate in Küchenmeile, the major German trade exhibition, this year. The kitchen brand will offer

www.kbbdaily.com

visits to its exhibition by appointment only from 19th to 25th September. MHK has cancelled its annual forum at Küchenmeile due to COVID-19.

Sleep & Eat goes virtual Organisers have announced that Sleep & Eat 2020, Europe’s leading design and innovation event for the hospitality sector, will take place in an all-virtual format this year. Mark Gordon, event director, said: “There is still a huge desire for the industry to be united, to be inspired, share knowledge, and spark planned and ad-hoc conversations.” The design event, which has been running for 15 years, will take place online between the 3rd and 5th November 2020.

the latest from the industry Keller Kitchens takes on a new Northern area sales manager Paul Shiels joins Keller Kitchens as its new area sales manager for the Northern region. Shiels joins Keller’s team of kitchen experts to assist and support development in the years to come. He said: “I’m delighted to have joined Keller and Tim Spann’s progressive UK team. I’m really looking forward to developing the region in these new, exciting times.”

Paul Shiels

Uform Group appoints two new directors Wes McKenna joins the company as Dunne and McKenna group sales and marketing director, and Brian Dunne has been promoted to Irish sales director. McKenna has over 20 years’ experience and has held senior positions for leading retail brands such as Nestlé and Coca Cola. Dunne has over 30 years’ experience in the kitchen industry, 24 of those at Uform, most recently as national sales manager.

Mark Mills becomes new Mereway MD The Mereway Group has announced that Bob and Richard Norris are to take up the Mark Mills new role of joint-chair of Mereway Kitchens Ltd. As part of the restructure, sales and marketing director Mark Mills will become MD of the company, supported by an augmented board of directors. Bob Norris said: “The time is right for us to take a step back from the day-to-day management of the business.”

Brandt Design hires new project designer Brandt Design, the luxury interior design O’Brien specialist with showrooms in Stevenage, Hatch End and Hampstead, has announced new appointment Dionne O’Brien as project designer. O’Brien worked across both residential and contract interiors, and has previous experience with kbb specialists such as Cameo Kitchens, CC Kitchens and Majestic Showers. “I’m really keen to deepen my areas of expertise and, by virtue, capacity for original interior-design projects,” she said.

AO Business has a new housebuilder lead

stop press... ISH issues open letter to bathroom sector

movers & shakers

Falmec wins ‘Quiet Mark’ Premium appliance brand Falmec is the first specialist extraction company in the UK to be awarded ‘Quiet Mark’ status. The ‘Quiet Mark’ is an internationally recognised awards programme that encourages manufacturers to prioritise noise reduction in appliance design.

jmm PR nominated for two awards KBB PR agency jmm PR has been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories of the PRCA DARE Awards 2020, for the Small Consultancy of the Year and Low Budget Campaign awards for the Midlands region.

AO Business has announced that John Farnham has been promoted to lead John Farnham the firm’s housebuilders division after a successful first year for the company. Farnham, who previously held roles with Samsung UK and Electrolux before joining AO, has been promoted from the role of national account manager for the B2B division of AO.com. Farnham said: “I’m determined to make AO Business the best appliance distributor on offer.”

Ideal Standard appoints new finance director Ideal Standard, the leading manufacturer Whittaker of bathroom and washroom solutions, has appointed Rachel Whittaker as its new finance director for the UK & Ireland. Whittaker has been with Ideal Standard for 12 years, most recently working as Group Commercial Finance Business Partner in Brussels. She takes over the role from David Barber, who was appointed MD for UK & Ireland in April.

ek&bbusiness

ONE SINK YOU WOULDN’T MIND BEING TIED TO

INTRODUCING MULTA GRANITE SINKS FROM REGINOX Visually striking and featuring a deep 200mm bowl, complemented by an understated UHFWDQJXODU RYHU RZ DQG integrated waste cover, Multa is set to make a true style statement in the kitchen. The high performance ‘see, touch, feel’ technology offers both a stunning visual and tactile

T: 01206 280033 E: sales@reginox.co.uk W: www.reginox.co.uk

experience and ensures that the beauty and strength of the sink can be maintained for longer. Available in three colour ways - Light Grey, Black and White - the Multa range comes in a choice of three different sizes and is suitable for either inset or XQGHUPRXQW WWLQJ

essential news | business update

WORKING HARDER TO PUSH QUALITY PRODUCT EVEN FURTHER, V+A BATHS’ INTERNATIONAL REACH BRINGS ITS PRODUCTS HOME, ALL OVER THE WORLD With innovations in material and colour, the firm’s line-up and plans for the future mean business in a tough climate Words Daniel Griffiths

MAKING GREATNESS

Tell us about the history of V+A. A: Victoria & Albert Baths was formed in 1996 in Telford, Shropshire, where the head office remains today. Our dedicated manufacturing facility is located in South Africa and produces all of our baths and basins.

What is V+A’s philosophy? What makes your products unique? A: Victoria + Albert was born from a passion for luxury bathing. Our vision is simple: to set the standard for style, innovation and performance in bathing. Today the business is truly international and you’ll find our baths and basins in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and homes. We pride ourselves on our product quality, craftsmanship and the unique materials we use in our products.

How have the current circumstances affected your business? A: Like all businesses, we’ve found it really challenging over the last few months. We’ve been working hard to keep everyone safe and our business operating. We’re all really committed to doing the right things and it’s been good to see that from the whole team at every level. Our showrooms in London and Milan remain closed at the moment but we’re working on a plan to re-open when the time is right and it’s safe to do so.

James Smith Director of marketing and innovation of Fortune Brands Global Plumbing Group

V+A’s factory is in South Africa. From the very first freestanding bath that was made in South Africa, Victoria + Albert Baths have strived to be innovators and market leaders in the freestanding-bath market. All of V+A’s baths and basins are made from 100% QUARRYCAST™, a blend of Volcanic Limestone™ and high-performance resins, hand-finished by craftsmen

ON SALE NOW V+A’s current focus is its latest launch of 100% matt baths and basins, first previewed at kbb Birmingham this year. The new finish produces a luxurious mattwhite interior and exterior on the product. The overall effect is a serene, calming and spa-like sensation

NEW CHALLENGES What are you most excited about in your current line-up? A: We’re really proud of our RAL colour offering and it’s doing very well. We recently showcased the range at kbb Birmingham and it stole the show from a V+A perspective. The colours give the customer so many options and we’ve been excited by how many coloured baths we’re now selling. We intend to enhance the RAL offering by selling it even harder in the future and making it easier for the customer to choose a colour that’s right for them.

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The brand’s showroom in Design Centre Chelsea Harbour will be the subject of a major refurbishment in the coming months and a push for customers with smaller bathrooms via space-saving freestanding baths will also become a focus. Watch this space…

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essential kitchens | design inspiration

KITCHENS

p13

– p 43

THIS MONTH’S DESIGN INSPIRATION

LIFE KITCHENS Industrial cool meets rustic opulence and earthy colour in the Luxe range from Life Kitchens. The look is modern and sophisticated, with flashes of lowkey metallic glamour injecting interest. Dekton’s Trilium ultra-compact surface cascades down one side of the island unit, creating a striking contrast with Dekton’s dark, marble-effect Kelya worktops. www.life-kitchens.co.uk

Functional and sleek, the full-length pocket doors neatly slide away to reveal a bank of Miele appliances (single oven, two steam ovens and a warming drawer) plus plenty of space for kitchen essentials

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Tall Sepia Gladstone Oak doors subtly contrast with the Capita Matt Lava cabinetry for an easy-on-theeye warmth. Metallic knurled bar handles up the glamour in a streamlined way

“The cool, sleek lines of a contemporary kitchen intertwine with an indulgent colour palette. Pocket doors hide the practical elements when necessary”

Graeme Smith, head of retail & commercial design, Life Kitchens

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Living in the kitchen.

Most popular German kitchen brand.

Join our successful dealer network in the UK For more information please contact Chris Rushby, Nolte KĂźchen Country Manager +44 7935 756779

essential kitchens | new products

NEW PRODUCTS

A preview of all the latest product designs coming your way Words Lara Sargent

Flexible cooking and lower running costs combine in the latest 13-amp AGA R3 cooker

2 3

4 1

HARLO PURITI

COFFEE MAKER

LONDON

AGA R3

Caple Tel: 01179 381 900 www.caple.co.uk Caple has added a new black-steel finish (HARPUR/BS) to its Harlo Puriti filtered-water tap collection. Made from solid stainless steel, the monobloc tap has an elegant swan neck, a quarter turn ceramic valve and an under-sink filtration system. Normal cold water is diverted via the filter when you turn on the tap. Other finishes include stainless steel, copper and gunmetal

Fisher & Paykel Tel: 08000 886 601 www.fisherpaykel.com Fisher & Paykel has introduced its first-ever, built-in coffee machine, featuring 13 drink settings, 13 grind options and a touchscreen interface. It comes in stainless-steel or black-trim finishes and the 60cm appliance is perfect for a compact kitchen. It offers adjustable coffee strength, temperature and coffee-cup sizes, plus there’s a self-cleaning function

Villeroy & Boch Kitchens Tel: 01922 698 000 www.euromobel.co.uk New to Villeroy & Boch is the contemporary Scandi-style London kitchen, shown here in Bardolino Natural Oak, a real-wood veneer. Available with or without handles, the slab-style door also comes in two other wood-veneer finishes – Black Oak and Dark Walnut – with matching worktops so that clients can create a calming, natural look with ease

Aga Tel: 08001 116 477 www.agaliving.com Flexible cooking and lower running costs combine in the latest 13-amp AGA R3 cooker which features a separate infra-red grill and an energy-efficient e-mode. You can choose to have a cooker with two hotplates (one for boiling, one for simmering), or a one-hotplate and a two-zone induction hob. Each oven and hotplate can also be operated independently

www.kbbdaily.com

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THE STONE EVOLUTION MADE IN GERMANY

Planet Pluto: long veins and full body Quartzforms Planets are now available Exclusively made in Germany with a 25 year warranty

Some of our certifications

PLANET Collection

Interstellar Cloud

2035

Neptune

2025

Honey Galaxy

3005

Venus

2005

Mercury

2001

Saturn

2015

Mars

2010

Jupiter

2020

Pluto

2030

Halley

3015

2VBSU[GPSNT 6, -UE Lovet House, 1 Lovet Road Harlow CM19 5TB United Kingdom ph. 01279 41 3077 customerservice@quartzforms.com www.quartzforms.uk

essential kitchens | new products

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CHIANTI Lapicida Tel: 01423 400 100 www.lapicida.com Lapicida’s new wood-effect, Chianti porcelain tiles are designed to replicate the look and feel of oak. Suitable for indoor and outdoor floors and walls, the textured porcelain planks come in four colourways – Castagno, Natural, Quercia (pictured) and Rovere – and would suit contemporary or traditional settings. The tiles measure 1800 x 225 x 10.5mm

DUALCLEAN SINGLE OVEN Teka Tel: 08008 778 899 www.partners.pjh.uk Teka, exclusive to distributor PJH, has launched the Teka WISH HLB 860P DualClean Single Oven. In black glass, the multifunctional oven includes two auto-cleaning options: the HydroClean PRO system for fast, maintenance cleaning and a three-setting Pyrolytic mode for a deep clean. It is rated A+ for energy and has telescopic tray guides

NOVY GAS PRO Novy Tel: 02078 662 493 www.novy.co.uk With kitchen studios open again, the Novy Gas Pro range is being reintroduced after its launch at the KBB show. The high-design concept sees gas burners directly integrated into stone, granite, quartz or Corian worktops, without a frame, in a number of different design configurations, from a single burner to a group of five. Black-matt rotary controls are also built in

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essential kitchens | new products

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SWITCHES & SOCKETS deVOL Tel: 01509 261 000 www.devolkitchens.co.uk Inspired by 1920s Art Deco styling and vintage dolly switches, Devol’s elegant new brass switches and sockets are handmade by metalsmiths in its Cotes Mill studio. In aged or oxidised brass, the range includes simple sockets, dimmers and toggle switches, in a number of different sizes and shapes to suit all settings www.kbbdaily.com

EARTH COLLECTION Bisque Tel: 01276 605 800 www.bisque.co.uk Perfect for adding sophisticated colour, Bisque’s new Earth Collection includes five of its most popular radiator designs – the Classic, Arteplano, Lissett, Flow Form and Archibald – in a selection of grown-up, muted tones. The new bespoke colourways include Lake Red, Dutch Orange, Ultra Marine Blue, Verdigris and Rangwali from the Farrow & Ball paint palette

K SERIES 8 TUMBLE DRYER Küppersbusch Tel: 01922 698 000 www.kuppersbusch.com Ideal for small kitchens and utility spaces, the new 60cm-wide, freestanding tumble dryer from Küppersbusch can be purchased with a kit to allow you to stack it. With an 8kg capacity and B energy rating, the K-Series 8 Collection TD1840.0 machine has a digital control panel, 20 programmes, LED drum light and 61dB noise level

HARVESTFRESH COOLING TECHNOLOGY Beko Tel: 01923 818 121 www.beko.co.uk Beko has launched a collection of fridge-freezers that are designed to revitalise fruit and vegetables using HarvestFresh cooling technology. The new colour-changing light feature mimics the natural sunlight cycle to preserve vitamins in fruit and veg for up to five days after they leave the shop ek&bbusiness

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essential kitchens | new products

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NAVY BLUE STRIPES TILES Otto Tiles & Design Tel: 02037 291 072 www.ottotiles.co.uk For a cool, Mediterranean vibe, the new Navy Blue Stripes encaustic cement tiles can be laid in the same direction or in a patchwork effect with alternate tiles turned at ninety degrees. The handcrafted Turkish cement tiles for walls and floors measure 20cm x 20cm x 1.7cm and also come in pink, green, yellow and mustard hues www.kbbdaily.com

LOFT CTD Tiles Tel: 08000 142 994 www.ctdtiles.co.uk Clean-lined and contemporary, the new, large-format Loft tiles from CTD offer a Scandi-style look. Suitable for floors and walls, each tile measures 750 x 750mm and is made from glazed porcelain with rectified edges for thinner grout lines. The four colour options â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Beige, Antracite, Grigio (shown) and Bianco â&#x20AC;&#x201C; allow for looks from pale to dark

BREAKFAST COLLECTION Rangemaster Tel: 01159 736 602 www.rangemaster.co.uk Rangemaster has branched out into small appliances with the launch of its Breakfast Collection. The range includes a kettle and toaster (in two-slice and four-slice options) in black or cream with stainless-steel or chrome-effect trims. These are perfect for co-ordinating with a range cooker or fridge-freezer from the brand for a unified look

BRONZE METAL KQ Rotpunkt Tel: 07415 113 946 www.rotpunktuk.com Rotpunkt has introduced Bronze Metal KQ, a brushed-metal-effect laminate that will help create a low-maintenance, industrial-style kitchen with a warm hue to it. Available on the Titanium KQ range, the smooth, shiny Bronze Metal door can be matched with the same bronze-finish handles, as pictured here on the new mini T-bar 487 ek&bbusiness

As Stoves reaches its centenary milestone, Mark Davison, MD of parent company GDHA, explains how the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to rise to the challenge over the past 100 years is standing it in good stead during the current crisis Words Emma Hedges

f By 1937 the focus had shifted from oil-powered stoves and a range of camping stoves to range cookers, including the Bakerloo, Newhome, Reliable and Kitchenette models

1940

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1930

1920 22

f Formed in 1920 and originally a sheetmetal and gas-heater manufacturer based in Warrington, Stoves moved to its current premises (formerly a First World War munitions site) in Rainhill, Prescot in 1925

f To support the munitions-manufacturing effort during the Second World War, Stoves returned to the roots of its Rainhill site

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essential kitchens | Stoves

2 3

5 6

f Responding to the runaway success of the Newhome model, Stoves expanded the range and launched the Newhome Cabaret

1 The Sterling Chimney hood

4 The Sterling Deluxe 110cm

is shown here with the Deluxe

dual fuel range cooker, shown

110cm range cooker, and features

here in stainless steel, has a

three speeds and a maximum

seven-burner Gas-Through-Glass

noise-level rating of 65dB 2 The Precision Deluxe range

hob, Zeus Bluetooth connected

cooker features innovative black Umbra Glass that becomes

litres total cooking capacity 5 The Precision Deluxe

transparent when cooking, so

S1000DF 100cm model has a

the user has clear visibility without

sleek contemporary aesthetic

needing to open the door and

that’s ideally suited to a modern

lose heat 3 The Stoves 90cm built-in

handleless scheme 6 GDHA MD Mark Davison

Multifunction+ double oven

is pictured here in the Prescot

has Zeus Bluetooth control,

showroom alongside the Stoves

and functions include defrost,

Richmond Deluxe dual fuel

slow cook, bread proving

with four ovens and a 5kW

and catalytic liners

PowerWok

1970

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1960

1950

f As Britain emerged from the war years, kitchens began to be equipped with a variety of appliances, and the Newhome stove soared in popularity

here aren’t many companies that can claim to have started life shortly after one world war, survived another, and gone through several incarnations over the past 100 years to remain a thriving business today, but Stoves can. Added to that, it has been making products at its current site in Prescot, Merseyside, since 1925. It was acquired by Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA) in 2000, and current GDHA MD Mark Davison, who joined the business in 2017 from Aga Rangemaster, has overseen a shift in emphasis at Stoves over the past 12 to 18 months to focus more on range cooking out of its portfolio of appliances. Broadly, its range-cooker collections consist of the traditional-style Richmond, and the contemporary-style Sterling and Precision range cookers, and there are two tiers of product – core models, and Deluxe models that look similar to the base ones but carry more features. Functionality such as Bluetooth connectivity, powerful wok burners and the ProFlex cavity splitter, are all recent additions and among the superior features available on Deluxe models. Davison believes that these advances in technology have helped Stoves close the gap with Rangemaster, its main competitor in the UK. “Given the innovation we’ve introduced in the last 12 to 18 months, I think pound for pound, the Stoves Deluxe products are very competitive to Rangemaster in terms of what people get for their money,” he says. “The product quality has massively improved and we’re doing a lot of work on the brand image among consumers. And I think that some of the support we give to our target retailers is very competitive compared to Rangemaster.” Like any other business, Stoves has had its plans thrown into disarray by COVID-19, and had to adapt quickly as the crisis unfolded. f

timer and quad ovens with 200

f The Newhome model became a major hit with UK consumers and Stoves became part of the Newhome-Veritas company, which was then acquired by manufacturing giant Valor

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1 & 2 The Prescot showroom

4 The Gas-Through-Glass

features more than 100 products

ceramic glass gas hob provides

on display across the Stoves,

an elegant finish that’s available

Belling, Britannia, Lec and New

across Precision, Sterling and

World brands, and has a live cook

Richmond models in all sizes:

area for training purposes and

90cm, 100cm and 110cm 5 The ProFlex Splitter is available

cookery demonstrations 3 Pictured here with the

on the 90cm range cookers to

Richmond 90cm dual fuel range

divide the tall oven into two

cooker, the Richmond Chimney

separate ovens to provide space

hood boasts three speed settings

and flexibility, depending on your

and an A energy rating

cooking requirements

MEMORIES OF STOVES LONG SERVING MEMBERS OF STAFF LOOK BACK

1 3

2 f However, by the time the Government released its guidelines for working safely during the pandemic in mid May, measures such as social distancing, one-way systems and PPE were already in place, and the factory had only had to close for a week. “From a supply point of view, we don’t think we’ve been impacted, but demand has been reduced, and we’re just hoping that starts to rebuild,” says Davison. “Like most other companies, we’re speculating about what’s going to happen.” One aspect of the GDHA business that has been running non-stop is its refrigeration brand Lec (lec.co.uk) – as a supplier of medical fridges and freezers to the NHS, pharmacies and care homes for more than 20 years, it has seen an uplift as a result of COVID-19. As for Stoves, it has remained operational and has been helping its retail customers by assessing each case individually and “having some conversations in terms of financial flexibility” where possible. Future plans include a relaunch of the brand’s Colour Boutique collection in the next

f Stoves opened its own training school and also began selling products overseas. After a £10m investment in the Rainhill factory, plenty of product innovation followed, and Stoves acquired New World and renamed itself the Stoves Group. Chef Keith Floyd was brand ambassador

“I started with Stoves in 1975 on its apprenticeship scheme, and in 2002 I left the factory floor and made the switch to the office to manage product returns. One of my favourite Stoves products was the Gasglo portable fire on wheels, which was so popular that we used to open the factory on a Saturday for sales. I also loved the mid 1990s, when we had the wonderful Keith Floyd as the ambassador for the brand. He was regularly seen in the middle of the factory floor cooking and drinking wine. Today’s health and safety rules would never allow it!” Peter Heaps, returns co-ordinator “I joined Stoves in 1974. The most exciting time in my career was the late 1980s to the early 2000s, when we released an unprecedented number of new products from built-in ovens to range cookers. My favourite Stoves product was the Customised Range, which allowed customers to choose everything from the door finish to the handles and knobs. The concept was way ahead of its time.” Phil Moxon, mobile service engineer

2000

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1980 24

f Following a management buyout, the decision was taken to re-invest in the Rainhill factory and bolster the product range using the latest marketresearch techniques

few months, plus the introduction of more new product features in the second half of next year, and a renewed focus on kitchens channels – both chains and independent specialists – where Davison sees the most potential for Stoves. “In the next five years, I think there will be an acceleration of what we’ve been doing, and I see a healthy and growing business. I see a growth in sales to the kitchen channel, and I see a growth in international business, which has been slightly neglected,” he says. When it comes to the impact the pandemic will have on the business, Davison sees no reason for this to be different to any of the other crises Stoves has ridden out in its 100-year history. “The brand has been around for 100 years. If you think about the all the difficult times that it’s experienced during that period, the fact is that it has kept going and adapted. There’s no reason why this won’t be just another period where it adapts, survives and continues to flourish,” he concludes. Q

“My career at Stoves started in 1990 when I turned up at the Stoves site and presented myself to the apprenticeship course leaders for work. They tried to turn me away but I badgered them, and in the end they gave me some metal to file to keep me busy. Thirty years later I’m still here! In four years I became the youngest supervisor in the history of the business and since then I’ve continued to progress and been able to travel the world. I’ve also had the honour of showing several VIP guests around the factory, including HRH the Duke of Kent.” Dave Pearce, manufacturing support manager

f In 2000 the brand was acquired by Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA). The Stoves Genus, which used a combination of fanned and microwave cooking technology, was born. Much of Stoves’ manufacturing returned to the UK and the brand launched a campaign for a Made in Britain marque www.kbbdaily.com

essential kitchens | Stoves

PROFILE Stoves Who are we? Mark Davison, managing director, Glen Dimplex Home Appliances Where are we? Stoney Lane, Prescot, Merseyside, L35 2XW Tel: 03442 484 149 www.stoves.co.uk

What we do... British manufacturer of premium cooking appliances

Business history Stoves, which was founded on 14th February 1920, began life in Warrington as a manufacturer of gas heaters before recognising the evolution that was taking place in British kitchens and starting to produce gas cookers. It moved to its current manufacturing facility in Rainhill, Prescot, in 1925

From manufacturing munitions for the war effort, the company went on to develop a number of innovative ‘firsts’ in the 1960s, including a hotplate ignition button and the first self-cleaning oven lining, and by 1971 its Newhome gas cooker had 15% of the UK cooking market After acquiring New World in the late 1990s, the company renamed itself the Stoves Group and, continuing to invest in innovation, it introduced a Powercool system that kept the temperature of the oven casing down, a self-cleaning gas ceramic Maxigrill, and the high-spec Rotostar collection of built-in gas ovens

In 2000 it was acquired by Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, and remains part of the GDHA family today alongside other leading appliance brands Belling, New World, Britannia, Valor and Lec. Over the last 12 to 18 months it has focused on expanding and developing its range-cooker offering with new models and more technical features, such as its Zeus Bluetooth connectivity Sales stats Boosted by the launch of the new Stoves Richmond and Sterling collections in late 2018 and Precision in early 2019, GDHA has grown its value share of the range-cooker market for 12 consecutive months Staffing levels GDHA has approximately 700 employees

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2020

2010

f With the Stoves portfolio now consisting of range cookers, built-in ovens and hobs, freestanding cookers, hoods and splashbacks, GDHA invested £1.5m into improving range-cooker build quality. Stoves introduced Bluetooth connectivity and the Quad Oven ProFlex cavity splitter

f To celebrate its 100th birthday, Stoves unveiled a series of Stoves on Tour events, staff initiatives to raise money for various charities throughout the year, and national promotions following an investment in media activity. The brand also has plans to relaunch its Colour Boutique collection

6 The Zeus Bluetooth

and enables the user to add

connected timer allows the

moisture and flavour to a dish

user to control and adjust cooking times remotely using a

in a shorter cooking time 8 Twin 5kW PowerWok Plus

smartphone via the company’s

burners are available on 100cm

downloadable Zeus app 7 The Steam & Infuse function

and 110cm dual fuel Gas-Through-

is available on all Deluxe models,

intense heat over a large area

Glass products, to provide an

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HARPTREE Caple Tel: 01179 381 900 www.caple.co.uk The impressive Harptree pantry from Caple’s inframe collection with classic Shaker styling features hung spice racks, two lacquered oak dovetail drawer boxes and handy shelves for storing small appliances, cookery books and crockery. Shown here in Coal and Gravel with chrome handles, it’s available in 18 painted colours and comes with an optional decorative feature plinth if desired

SPACE CRAFT Whether the project you’re working on is open plan or compact, hardworking larder-style storage solutions are key to a successful design Words Emma Hedges

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essential kitchens | special report

STATS AT A GLANCE: TREND MONITOR KITCHEN BEHAVIOURS & PRODUCT USAGE REPORT 2019

48% of consumers have one tall larder unit in their kitchen

39% of consumers have no larder units in their kitchen

15% say they don’t have enough storage space for their requirements

17% struggle with storage space at times when extra capacity is needed, such as Christmas

63%

he character of a kitchen spaces between units, the range of options depends on its shape, location available to designers is broad. Pull-out drawer in the house and its size as much as systems are among the most practical ways to anything else, but if the storage side make the most of available space. Each drawer of the scheme isn’t right, it won’t in one of Vauth Sagel’s pull-out systems can be a pleasure to cook or spend time hold up to 40kg, or even 70kg with heavy-duty in. Richard Turner, UK & Ireland national runners. The drawers in Blum’s Space Tower sales manager for have a similar loadGerman kitchen bearing capacity, and manufacturer the brand says that with Pronorm, believes high sides to the pullthat assessing your outs, you can gain up client’s storage needs to 55% more storage should form part of in the unit. initial conversations. But it’s also worth “It’s good to drill into considering areas that specifics, such as if are perhaps not used as they use a lot of oils, often as a chance to get herbs and spices creative. “Designers are when they cook, experts in maximising and also understand dead kitchen space, Tony McCarthy, commercial director for which of their items but one area we often Crown Imperial take up valuable see forgotten is plinthworking space and height storage,” says would be best stored Matt Lissaman, regional away but easily accessed when required,” sales manager for Häfele UK. “Usually the he says. “This allows you to plan task space between cupboards and the floor is storage for things you only bring out at covered with fascia boards but there is so Christmas or parties.” much space sitting behind them that could be “Interior storage should offer retailers used for drawers. For example, the space below the opportunity to personalise the design an oven that is mounted under a countertop to their customer’s needs,” says Tony would make a perfect 600mm-wide drawer McCarthy, commercial director for Crown for storing cooking equipment.” f Imperial. “The most practical internal configurations offer a balance of open and closed storage elements, ensuring users can organise and prioritise their storage needs for easy access. Where space is at a premium, pantry cabinets offer the benefit of door storage racks. They’re ideal for storing everyday essentials and creating a dedicated space for jars and tins.” From showpiece traditional-style larder cabinets to slimline solutions for narrow

“Interior storage should offer retailers the opportunity to personalise the design to their customer’s needs̜

say countertop appliances such as toasters and coffee machines are the most difficult items to store

VAUTH SAGEL TAL LARDER Häfele Tel: 08001 712 909 www.hafele.co.uk The Vauth Sagel Tal Larder system from Häfele is ideal for storing everyday items, with each basket having a 16kg load-bearing capacity. The runners feature a hydraulic damping system for smooth operation and a Power Assisted Movement add-on is also available to ensure the unit comes to a gentle stop when pulled out. The baskets can be individually positioned at the required heights, and the units come in 300mm and 400mm versions

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HATHAWAY Masterclass Kitchens Tel: 01443 449 499 www.masterclasskitchens.co.uk The Hathaway by Masterclass is available in slimline or double options – pictured here are two double pantry systems in Portland Oak placed side by side to maximise a walk-in larder space. The systems have a range of drawers, racks and different types of shelving to conveniently store a broad spectrum of items, and the internal finish can be matched to the rest of the kitchen scheme for a synchronized, bespoke look ek&bbusiness

MIDSOMER

f Pronorm’s Turner says it’s important not to forget about high-up areas too. “In a Pronorm kitchen you can use the areas behind the plinth if you want to, but secondary storage cupboards above the tall housings and even up to the ceiling provide highly valuable space for those items used once a year, or gadgets that have fallen out of favour for now,” he says. However, while making sure that every inch of space is working as hard as it possibly can is vital, creating a design where all storage elements pull together harmoniously ultimately provides a winning formula. “Larders are lifestyle products that give kitchens an edge. They should not replace shelves entirely, but be used together with them to make a kitchen complete,” says Matt Lissaman. Q

Crown Imperial Tel: 01227 742 424 www.crown-imperial.co.uk The Midsomer Shaker pantry design by Crown, pictured here in Lavender with complementary Rose units, offers a variety of flexible individual elements to enable homeowners to personalise the solution to suit their needs, including spice drawers, wine and plate racks and door storage. The versatile interiors are available for 600mm, 900mm and 1000mm medium and high wall cabinets, and the pantry comes in 18 painted colours and a primed finish, with soft-close doors

PLANERO Pronorm Tel: 07801 862 691 www.pronorm.de This aluminium storage system optimises storage capability for either a slimline 300mm or 600mm-wide tall unit, as shown here. The tandem unit fits a 600mm-wide tall housing and makes use of the inside of the door as well the full cabinet depth and width. The pull-out design gives easy access to items at the back, and the slim, door-mounted shelves, along with the six large shelves, have a total weight capacity of 140kg

DURHAM MAGNASPACE Lochanna Tel: 01204 328 720 www.lochannakitchens.co.uk The traditional-style Durham 1000mm bi-fold dresser can be fitted as a stand-alone furniture unit on top of base units, or in a run of base and wall units as part of a seamless wall-to-wall layout. It has solid ash soft-closing doors, and comes in a broad palette of 30 colours, from neutral Sage and Lavender, through to bolder shades Soft Black, Damson and Warm Earth. It’s pictured here in vibrant Sapphire

Masterclass Kitchens Tel: 01443 449 499 www.masterclasskitchens.co.uk The MagnaSpace pull-out larder storage unit from Masterclass has an impressive total weight capacity of 210kg, and comes in three interior colour options: Portland Oak, Tuscan Walnut and Anthracite Linen, shown here. Pictured in a contemporary scheme with the slab-style Sutton door, the MagnaSpace is available in five heights of up to 2150mm, and widths of 150mm, 300mm, 400mm, 500mm and 600mm

BESPOKE DESIGN Day True Tel: 02077 889 229 www.daytrue.com This larder-style cocktail cabinet in a bespoke design by Day True features pocket doors that hide the contents when it’s not in use. Or they can slide neatly out of sight into the carcass for when a full display is required, revealing the walnut interior. There is a walnut crate for lemons and limes, a drawer for mixers, two pull-out trays and a pull-out worktop for prepping drinks, while the bronze mirror in the back of the unit enhances the sense of luxury

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SWITCH Scavolini Tel: 07444 799256 www.scavolini.com Shown here as part of Scavolini’s Food Shelf collection in Prestige White matt lacquer, separated by an open-fronted larder unit in Titanium Grey, these double Switch larders have retractable pocket doors and can house up to four appliances. They feature fixed shelves, spacious drawers, a pullout worktop to provide extra prep space when required, as well as LED lights that come on when the doors open www.kbbdaily.com

Diane Berry, MD of Diane Berry Kitchens, delivers her top tips for providing optimum storage solutions for discerning clients

ALNOSTAR Alno by Diane Berry Tel: 01617 985 335 www.alno.co.uk This kitchen scheme by Diane Berry with Alnostar handleless cabinetry is packed with clever storage elements and looks seamless when all the units are closed. On the back wall to the left is a swing-out food pantry, and above and below the side-by-side ovens are double storage units with pull-out drawers in the lower ones. To the right of the ovens there’s a double breakfast unit with coffee machine and microwave, and on the far right another swing-out pantry

» “Lots of people go for pretty but not practical. Ask your client to make a wishlist including all the practical elements. Although this is the boring stuff, it’s also what makes a kitchen a joy to be in. Ask them to think hard about the tasks they do daily, and in a large kitchen, try to keep the essentials within three paces if you can. In a small space, remember there has to be room to move back from pull-outs and swinging mechanisms. A simple solution can be smaller-width doors or hinges that swing the doors back on themselves.” » “I always like to understand how big a family is, how much they like to cook and entertain, and have conversations with them about baking and tidiness. Keeping your client talking and laughing is key as, while most people don’t really like to admit it if they’re not into cooking, what you’re after is an honest appraisal of their needs. Some families will buy industrial bags of flour and rice, and others the bare minimum as they prefer to use convenience food. It’s a good idea to get them to photograph what they have in their cupboards now and share this with you. That way you can give it some thought and propose solutions that really work for them.”

COOKWARE CENTRE Leicht Tel: +49 71 714 020 www.leicht.com/en/dealer The Cookware Centre has convenient storage for cooking utensils and small appliances. It’s available across all of Leicht’s ranges in 500mm and 600mm single-door units, and 900mm double-door units. Featuring wide-angle hinges on the door so it can be opened to allow as much access as possible, the Centre is equipped with a suspended basket, three utility cupboard battens with hooks, an inner drawer, a vertical compartment and fixed and adjustable shelves

SPACE TOWER Blum Tel: 01908 285 700 www.blum.com Available in widths of 300mm right up to 1200mm, shown here, Blum’s Space Tower has five pull-out shelves, each with a high load-bearing capacity of 40g to 70kg depending on width. The advantage of pull-outs over fixed shelves or wire work is that you can pull out the specific one required instead of the entire contents of the cupboard. Internal organisation elements such as removable spice racks or Ambia-Line drawer-dividing systems are also available

» “Personally, I think pull-out storage is always the best. Shallow shelves are great for spices as it’s nice not to have rows and rows of them in front of each other. Deep drawers are great for a lot of things, but not for cans as you can’t read the labels. I love to include some hidden vertical letterbox slots for baking sheets, cutting boards and trays in my designs, as it’s preferable to have them all organised and not lying in a pile so you have to drag out the one you need.”

ONIX COLOR Schmidt Tel: 02077 312 090 www.home-design.schmidt The Onix Color drawers by Schmidt are available in a selection of widths and offer an ergonomic storage system that can be tailored to suit individual tastes. With a choice of around 30 colours including wood effects for both the drawer interiors and exteriors, clients are able to personalise their designs and create a matching or contrasting effect. Pictured here is a brightly coloured Tangerine scheme with Tobacco drawers

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LANGHAM Daval Tel: 01484 848 500 www.daval-furniture.co.uk The contemporary-style Langham kitchen collection from Daval comes in two stone-effect finishes for an on-trend urban look: Basalt, and Slate, pictured here. The range’s spacious contemporary larder unit features convenient pull-out drawers, which have glass fronts and sides to help the user to see the contents, and are made from stainless steel with an anti-fingerprint finish to protect against dirt and corrosion ek&bbusiness

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essential kitchens | special report

BESPOKE DESIGN Martin Moore Tel: 08451 800 015 www.martinmoore.com This breakfast cupboard is next to the dining area in an open-plan scheme and has a Miele coffee machine and microwave, Kohler stainless-steel sink and worktop-mounted Quooker Fusion boiling-water tap in it. To save the homeowners having to fetch items from the kitchen area it has spacious drawers underneath, a fitted larder cupboard for dry food to the left, and a cupboard for crockery on the right, with a rack in the door for glasses

LASTRA Mereway Tel: 08000 284 466 www.mereway.co.uk The flexible Lastra double larder unit from Mereway’s Cucina Colore collection, shown here in a White Gloss finish, has been adapted in this scheme to create a convenient breakfast cupboard. It’s spacious enough to fit several working appliances such as microwave, kettle and toaster, as well as to store extra countertop ones, while its lateral-opening doors provide easy access with minimal impact on the rest of the space

AND

HOUSEKEEPER’S CUPBOARD

RISE SHINE A self-contained unit for breakfast paraphernalia that can double as a mini workstation is making its way up the consumer wish list COFFEE STATION Eggersmann Tel: 02070 789 640 www.eggersmann.com A compact coffee station, such as this one from Eggersmann, is a neat, small-scale alternative to a breakfast cupboard and a great way to keep surfaces clutter free. In this scheme with the brand’s Paso Nano Black cabinetry, the vertical bi-fold door rises to allow easy access to the coffee machine and a shelf for storing cups and mugs. When not in use, these items can be hidden from view

Ledbury Studio Tel: 02075 666 794 www.ledburystudio.com The Housekeeper’s Cupboard from the Ledbury Shaker collection, shown here in a custom-designed Lapis Deep paint finish with handmade concave brass handles, is a beautifully crafted piece of furniture. With walnut interior shelves and racks, it’s designed to house a toaster, kettle and coffee machine, and has plug sockets and a quartz work surface to make it fully functional

COMPACT SOLUTION Davonport Tel: 0845 468 0025. www.davonport.com For a client who wants a dedicated breakfast cupboard but they lack the space for a traditional larder unit, this countertop cabinet with bi-fold doors is the perfect approach. Coffee, cups and the like are stored on the top shelves, with small appliances on the bottom shelf, which can be pulled out when required so that any heat or steam generated doesn’t affect the interior www.kbbdaily.com

ek&bbusiness

Irish kitchen brand Andrew Ryan Furniture has opened its first showroom in the UK and director reveals his plans for growth plus the opportunities presented by the latest technology Words Amelia Thorpe Photos Paul Craig

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essential kitchens | Andrew Ryan

8 7

6 espoke kitchen company Andrew huge amount of turnover increase in the Irish Ryan Furniture may be well market, as the size of the population isn’t established in Ireland, where it was big enough. To achieve growth, we have to founded 45 years ago, but it had, be selling in the UK,” he explains. The team until recently, yet to break into selected a 5,000 sq ft premises as a flagship the UK. Now former Tom Howley showroom, designed to draw visitors from director Michael Cowell a wide radius. is changing all that. And how were sales, In November 2019 prior to lockdown? he opened the “Over here, we were first UK Andrew hoping to do £1.5million Ryan showroom in to £2million, but we Altrincham, Cheshire, would have been quite with a plan to grow the happy with £1million in brand over here and the first year, because Michael Cowell, director at Andrew Ryan triple the overall sales we’re not investment of the business. owned and haven’t “The company is a stripped ourselves to market leader in Ireland,” says Cowell, 35. the bone to open it,” he says. “We were well “Anybody shopping for a luxury bespoke ahead of target until March.” kitchen there will know Andrew Ryan and “Now we need to be flexible, we need to be know the company does very good work. smart and we need to be hardworking. If we do They have decades worth of experience at the all of those things, we’ll come out of this well,” factory.” When Cowell became involved with he says, as he emphasises the importance of the business, 2017 annual sales were about technology. “The middle market has been able 3 million Euros. “£10 million is our initial goal,” to do nice renders for kitchens for a while he says. “We know we aren’t going to get a because the software quite easily aligns with

“We’re going to diverge the business into three clear directions for customers̜

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1 New England kitchen

furniture painted in Grey

painted in Grey No 2 with tall

No 2 with Silestone

cabinets in Blue No 6 2 Wolf Transitional built-in

Statuario worktops 7 A glazed wall cupboard

ovens and Sub-Zero fully

in Blue No 6, complete with

integrated fridge freezer 3 Michael Cowell, director

integrated lighting 8 A matt-black Quooker tap

4 Quooker tap in gold finish

above a worktop in Xtone

above custom pull-outs in the

Liem Black porcelain on an

New England island 5 New England pantry,

Architectural island 9 Inframe Industrial wall

painted in Blue No 6, with Gris

cupboards with ribbed glass

Belge oiled-oak-veneer interior 6 Wolf induction hob and

doors, and brass gallery rails 10 A matt-black Quooker tap

custom Westin extractor,

above a worktop in Xtone

displayed in New England

Liem Black

the products, but it’s been hard to do that with a unique handmade product where everything is different,” he says. A new combination of software (including Cabinet Vision, SketchUp and 3ds Max) now allows him to speedily produce, in-house, a fully rendered set of design drawings. This means people don't need to come into the showroom as much. “It has changed the client journey. They used to come into the showroom five or six times. We now have a large percentage of clients who only ever visit once or twice, and in some cases don’t come in at all.” “We’re going to diverge the business into three clear directions for customers: our core business, which is showroom-based, then design-led bespoke furniture for customers, plus the specialist side for interior designers, architects and high-net-worth clients who want something one-off,” he explains. “In addition, lockdown has given us the time to develop the online side for those who know what they want, as a way of offering bespoke furniture with an affordable price tag. Some people scoff at the idea of buying a kitchen on a mobile phone, but just look at the way the market’s moving.” Q ek&bbusiness

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essential kitchens | Andrew Ryan

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Q&A

What is your greatest challenge? “It always has been and will always be… planning. You have suppliers with their own challenges, designers trying to get their clients to sign off on projects, and then you’ve got the site and whether it’s ready. And the ever-present problems are going to be compounded over the next six months because the supply chain is going to be up the wall” What is your greatest opportunity? “To see what the online market will look like in the UK. Compared to the cost of a showroom, it’s a relatively low-cost opportunity to explore”

1 & 2 Andrew Ryan’s

3 Inframe Industrial wall

Industrial kitchen display in

cupboards with ribbed glass

Grey No 7 and Grey No 1,

doors, and brass gallery rails 4 Miele’s new MasterCool

with chunky satin antique brass handles, with Caesarstone Rugged Concrete and White

French-door fridge freezer 5 Cocktail cabinet with oak

Attica worktops and working

and mirror interior

Miele appliances

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Strange but true “My dog, Betsy, a Cock Cocker ker Spanie Spaniel,, comes to work with me. All the clients love her and now we’re making luxury custom dog beds for Betsy! clients’ pets” ek&bbusiness

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essential kitchens | Andrew Ryan

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PROFILE Andrew Ryan Furniture Who are we? Michael Cowell, director Where are we? Unit 4D, Stag Industrial Estate, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 5DW Tel: 01619 283 344 www.andrewryanfurniture.co.uk What we do... Bespoke kitchen and furniture manufacturer

Business history Founded by Andrew Ryan in 1973, the company has always been based in Wexford, Ireland. Today, the business is run by his sons, Dominic and Aidan Ryan, and the company remains privately owned by them and director Michael Cowell, who joined in 2018 Michael Cowell has a degree in computer systems networking and telecommunications, and an MBA, both from Manchester Metropolitan University. He was a founder member of the Tom Howley team in 2005, before leaving his post as technical and commercial director in 2015, followed by a period of consultancy. “As I got to know the Ryan brothers, I was very excited to work with them and to develop the opportunities for the business,” he says

5 6

Kitchen prices start from £35,000; average £50,000; most expensive to date, over £150,000. Kitchens make up 75% of sales and the rest is furniture for other rooms in the house. All furniture is made in the company’s 25,000sq ft factory in Wexford, Ireland Appliances by Miele, Sub-Zero and Wolf, Westin. Sinks and taps by Quooker, Franke, Kohler Sales stats Pre-lockdown, the company was expecting to turn over at least £1million in the UK in the first year Staffing levels About 30 in the Andrew Ryan group

1 Solid-oak dovetailed

5 Cupboard interiors are

drawer boxes 2 Sliding doors front the

finished in natural oiled-

Monaco china storage cabinet 3 The Monaco kitchen

oak veneer 6 Monaco inframe handpainted furniture with

painted in Black No 9 with

extra-detailed moulding and

Silestone Eternal Calacatta

cornice, shown with a Wolf

Gold worktops 4 Silestone Eternal Calacatta

range cooker and Silestone

Gold worktop and sink with

worktops

Eternal Calacatta Gold

Quooker Classic Fusion Round tap

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ek&bbusiness

From voice-control capabilities to machines that calculate how much detergent to use, the latest laundry appliances boast plenty of exciting innovations to suit the way we live Words Emma Hedges 38

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www.kbbdaily.com

essential kitchens | special report

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CDA Tel: 01949 862 000 www.cda.eu This 8kg integrated washing machine from CDA has 16 programmes, and variable spin and temperature functions so that the user can adapt the cycle to specific cleaning requirements. There is a 15-minute quick wash, an intensive-wash function, an extra-rinse function, a delay timer, a safety key lock and a childlockable control panel. With an A+++ energy rating, it has a noise-level rating of 57dB on a wash cycle, and 76dB on a spin cycle

Siemens Tel: 03448 928 999 www.siemens-home.bsh-group.com One of Siemens’ iQ700 models, this 9kgcapacity heat-pump tumble dryer features the intelligentCleaning system to separate and store fluff, which then alerts the user when it needs emptying. Programmes can be selected remotely via the Home Connect app, and the Easy Start function suggests the right programme for the load. It has a maximum noise-level rating of 62dB and an energy rating of A+++

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H WASH500 Hoover Tel: 03330 062 975 www.hoover.co.uk Models in Hoover’s new H-WASH500 washing machine range come in sizes from 8kg to 14kg – shown here is the 10kg model – and are Wi-Fi connected to work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Among the features is an Active Care programme that directly injects detergent into the drum to penetrate stains, and CareDose, an intelligent self-dosing system. There are 1400rpm or 1600rpm spin speeds, and a maximum noise-level rating of 51dB for a wash cycle

HOW WAS THE UK WASHING MACHINE MARKET AFFECTED DURING THE PEAK OF THE COVID 19 LOCKDOWN? » In the week preceding the UK’s lockdown period starting on 23rd March, the UK’s washingmachine market had grown 13% year on year in value and 10% in volume » The first week of lockdown saw a reversal as it shrank YoY by 2% in value and 3% in volume » The market continued to shrink for the next three weeks, reaching its lowest point around Easter of -32% YoY in value and -30% in volume » From that point, there was steady improvement each week, with the market as of the week ending 6 June almost back to last year’s base, with -1.8% in value and -3.3% in volume

Figures from market researcher GfK

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Bosch Tel: 03448 928 979 www.bosch-home.co.uk With a generous 10kg capacity, this Serie 8 washing machine from Bosch features the brand’s new 4D wash system, which has an extra jet at the top right of the porthole and is particularly useful for full loads, and AntiStain Plus for detecting and removing stubborn stains. It can be controlled remotely via the Home Connect app and has an energy-efficiency rating of A+++. It has a maximum spin speed of 1600rpm and a noise-level rating of 47dB (72dB during a spin cycle)

eeping pace with fluctuating also in high demand,” he says. Better energy consumer trends is never ratings, plus automatic detergent-dosing easy, but meticulous research and systems for washing machines, as well as impressive technological advances heat-pump technology for traditionally have enabled manufacturers energy-hungry tumble dryers, are also helping of washing machines and to cut down on wasted resources, plus keeping tumble dryers to stay one step ahead. The costs down at the same time. latest laundry appliances boast features that All these benefits offer retailers plenty to are particularly attractive to today’s timetalk about when selling the products, and poor consumer, who demands outstanding Whirlpool’s brand manager, Charmaine cleaning results with Warner, recommends minimal impact on his having machines wired or her daily life. Wi-Fi for demonstration and connectivity, voice displayed in a setting control and ultra-quick that feels relevant programmes are all to help increase popular features and sales. She suggests many models now creating an “engaging feature large-capacity experience centre” in the drums to suit bigger showroom, adding that households. Whirlpool’s connected Other important laundry appliances factors for consumers have demo modes built buying washers into them and the 6th Charmaine Warner, Whirlpool’s and dryers are also Sense Live app is free to brand manager being addressed. download so retailers “We’re finding that can easily run through environmental issues continue to lead the way features and functions. “Let the customer take when it comes to appliances in the kitchen,” control using the demo mode – show them the says Luke Shipway, product manager for Caple. functions and tell them what a difference it “Washes that take no more than 14 minutes will make to their lives, including the savings are another trend as this saves so much water, it will offer on time and resources,” she says, and high-speed spins such as 1400rpm are adding that this gives independents a clear proving popular as this means less drying advantage over online retailers. “The benefit time. Twenty-four-hour delay timers, which of smart appliances to the independent enable users to plan washes to take place in kitchen specialist is that they cannot be the evening when electric bills are lower are effectively demonstrated on the internet.” f

“The benefit of smart appliances to the independent kitchen specialist is that they cannot be effectively demonstrated on the internet̜

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f Richard Treffler, Miele’s category manager for laundry, agrees. “Retailers who focus on delivering outstanding service with a personal touch, exceptional product knowledge and a great in-store experience backed up by expert advice will always have the edge over their online counterparts,” he says. And, as well as ensuring that showroom staff are up to date with product knowledge, he has a tip for those who want to add a show-stopping element to their in-store demonstration. “Nothing showcases the gentle care of a Miele washing machine better than washing a rose that comes out perfectly intact!” he says. The latest figures from market researcher GfK show that, in spite of shrinking dramatically during the initial lockdown period, by the end of the first week of June this year, the UK washing machine market was almost back to the same point that it was at in June 2019. This is reassuring news for laundry-appliance retailers and offers proof if it were needed that manufacturers are successfully ensuring products stay relevant in the face of evolving lifestyles and challenging market conditions. Q

HSCX10441 Whirlpool Tel: 03448 111 009 www.whirlpool.co.uk A 10kg tumble dryer with heat-pump condenser technology, this Whirlpool model features the Steam Care system that reduces the need for ironing, and features a SoftMove function that customises the drum movement and drying temperature to suit different fabrics, while the brand’s 6th Sense technology monitors and adapts the temperature and humidity automatically. The energy-level rating is A++, while the noise-level rating is 65dB

WTX88EH9GB Bosch Tel: 03448 928 979 www.bosch-home.co.uk This heat-pump tumble dryer uses heated air to dry clothes efficiently and has an Iron Assist function that uses extra steam to smooth dried laundry. The Smart Dry function enables the model to wirelessly receive information from the washing machine on the exact wash programme, fill level and remaining moisture content of the last load to select the best drying programme. With an A+++ energy rating, it has a 9kg capacity and a noise-level rating of 62dB

F4V909BTS LG Electronics Tel: 03448 475 454 www.lg.com This 9kg black stainless-steel washing machine is able to detect both the weight of the load and the softness of the fabric to select the optimal wash setting. With TurboWash 360, a load can be cleaned in 39 minutes, and LG Steam technology is said to eliminate 99.9% of allergens. It can be remotely operated via the ThinQ app, has an A+++ energy rating, and noise-level ratings of 48dB for a wash and 71dB on the spin cycle

BWE91484XWUK Indesit Tel: 08000 921 922 www.indesit.co.uk The freestanding 8kg Indesit Innex washing machine features the Push & Wash function: a one-button system that starts a 30 C wash without any need for the user to adjust the settings. With 14 programmes, it has an A+++ energy rating and uses Water Balance Plus technology to adapt the volume of water used to the cycle’s needs in order to reduce waste. It has a 1200rpm spin speed and a 52dB noise rating for washing, with 79dB for spinning

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WA1920.0 Küppersbusch Tel: 01922 698 000 www.kuppersbusch.com This brand-new 60cm freestanding model has an 8kg capacity and an A+++ energy-efficiency rating. With 35 programmes to choose from including an express turbo wash of 18 minutes, it has a versatile spin speed from 200 to 1500rpm and washes laundry from 20°C to 90°C. To save space, it can be stacked as part of a washer-dryer tower when combined with one of Küppersbusch’s dryers, and has LED drum lighting to aid visibility when filling and emptying www.kbbdaily.com

WMI4000 Caple Tel: 01179 381 900 www.caple.co.uk The new fully integrated WMi4000 washing machine has a 9kg capacity, and a maximum spinning speed of 1400rpm so that washed items hold less water and dry more quickly. Programmes include rapid washing, available at 14, 30 and 44 minutes, eco, silk and hand wash, and the delay timer enables the user to plan a wash up to 24 hours ahead. It has an A+++ energy rating, a 56dB noise rating for washing and 77dB for the spin cycle

NTM1182XBUK Hotpoint Tel: 03448 224 224 www.hotpoint.co.uk This tumble dryer’s A++ energy-efficiency rating is achieved thanks to innovative heatpump technology, which recycles warm air until clothes are dry, maximising energy efficiency, which the brand says ensures a saving in energy usage of over 45%. It has a dedicated woollens programme, as well as programmes for synthetics, silk and cotton, and features technology that reduces the production of lint, which in turn is said to prolong the life of clothing

WHT1114LSUK AND DHT81LUK Smeg Tel: 03445 570 070 www.smeguk.com Smeg’s new WHT1114LSUK 11kg washing machine (on the left of the picture above), has 16 washing programmes and a variable spin speed of up to 1400rpm. It’s rated A+++ for energy efficiency and has a noise level of 59dB for the wash phase, and 76dB for the spin cycle. The A+ energy-rated freestanding DHT81LUK heat-pump condenser dryer (on the right of the picture), can hold 8kg, and has a noise-level rating of 66dB

NSWM863CWUK Hotpoint Tel: 03448 224 224 www.hotpoint.co.uk This 8kg freestanding model has an A+++ energyefficiency rating, and a variable spin speed up to a maximum of 1600rpm. The Anti Stain 40° programme tackles common household stains, and the Anti-Allergy programme uses a combination of high-temperature technology and extra rinses to neutralise 99.9% of major allergens including dust mites and pollen. It has a wash noise level of 52dB and an 85dB noise-level rating for the spin cycle

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WHAT’S NEXT WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNICAL INNOVATION? » “We expect to see products with more ‘consumer-controlled’ technology, such as programme recommendations and downloadable cycles. Smart laundry models, like Hoover’s H-WASH range, are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, as well as having Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity via the Hoover Wizard app” Steve Macdonald, business director, Hoover Candy UK » “LG’s new AI DD (artificial intelligence direct drive) washing machine has an ezDispense feature that calculates detergent dosage based on load size, and customers can connect with Amazon Alexa through LG’s ThinQ mobile app to provide notifications when the laundry detergent is running low. Our new Proactive Customer Care is also a brand-new feature and a smart service solution. By alerting users to potential problems before they occur, it offers useful maintenance tips and expedites repairs when they’re needed so consumers can expand the life of the laundry appliances” David Palmer, product specialist home appliances, LG Electronics » “Connecting the washer and the dryer so they can talk to each other is a natural link, and the more we can link appliances to take out extra steps for people, the better. I can imagine we’ll get to the point where the washing machine would learn what you’re washing and automatically default to programmes based on an average month of washing, for example. It would almost know what you’re going to put in before you even told it” Alex Lucas, category manager dishwashing and laundry, BSH Home Appliances

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essential kitchens | special report

ADORAWASH V6000 V-ZUG Tel: 02031 318 080 www.vzug.co.uk The new Adora range of washers and dryers from V-ZUG all have a TFT touch screen that can be tilted up 45° for easier use and are Wi-Fi connected as standard. The 8kg washing machine, pictured left, offers a 28-minute Sprint wash, a Steam anti-creasePlus setting and delayed start function. It has an A+++ energy rating and noise-level ratings of 49dB on a wash cycle and 74dB when spinning

WMS914 Amica Tel: 01949 862 010 www.amica-international.co.uk The Add+ feature on this Amica washing machine allows forgotten items to be added to the drum at various points in the cycle, while OptiDose adds the right amount of detergent needed for the level of soiling and programme selected. With 16 wash programmes and an A+++ energy rating, it has a generous 9kg capacity, a noise-level rating of 54dB (78dB for the spin cycle), and a maximum spin speed of 1400rpm

TCR860

WM1490F1 Fisher & Paykel Tel: 08000 886 605 www.fisherpaykel.com/uk With 16 wash profiles including Time-Saver, Soak and Wool, this 9kg washing machine also has an Add a Garment function so forgotten items can be added at any point in the cycle. It features the brand’s SmartDrive technology to use a motor that provides feedback to a computer controlling tumble and spin action for a quicker and quieter wash, and has been awarded Quiet Mark recognition for its 48dB noise-level rating for a wash cycle, and 69dB rating for a spin cycle

Miele Tel: 03301 606 600 www.miele.co.uk This new 9kg tumble dryer from Miele is rated A+++ for energy efficiency, and features 12 programmes catering for silks, sportswear, and even larger items such as pillows. It can be operated by the brand’s miele@mobile app and can also communicate with a corresponding Miele washing machine thanks to Wash2Dry technology, which enables it to select the right programme for the load. It has a maximum noise-level rating of 62dB

WED325 Miele Tel: 03301 606 600 www.miele.co.uk This new 8kg washing machine has an A+++ energy rating and has Automatic Load recognition to ensure only the exact amount of water and energy needed is used. Useful features include Minimum Iron to reduce creasing, a 49-minute QuickPowerWash and AddLoad technology, which means that forgotten items can be added at any point in the wash cycle. It has a noise-level rating of 50dB during a wash, and 74dB when spinning

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essential bathrooms | design inspiration

BATHROOMS

p45

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THIS MONTH’S DESIGN INSPIRATION

KAST Available in 28 colours, including Ember, pictured, Kast’s Elm Mini basin is one of the latest additions to its Canvas collection of patterned concrete basins. Featuring the same pinstripe pattern, curved corners and integrated splashback as the original Elm basin, this new compact version measures 450mm (L) x 320mm (W) x 450mm (H) www.kastconcretebasins.com

Featuring a striking triangular pattern, the concrete Vos basin from Kast’s Canvas collection is suitable for wall or surface mounting. It measures 600mm (L) x 450mm (W) x 180mm (H) and is seen here in the Steel colourway

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With a pleated pattern that twists diagonally around its exterior, Kast Canvas Collection’s circular Otto countertop basin has a tactile, three-dimensional surface. It’s suitable for use with wall-mounted taps and is pictured in blush

“We lead the way in concrete product design, pushing the boundaries of form, colour and material. Our Kast Canvas collection explores the parameters of concrete while further establishing our design values”

Tim Bayes, Kast MD

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NEW PRODUCTS Your monthly update of the latest bathroom designs Words Nicola Hanley

Crosswater’s new Kai 6 shower enclosure collection includes pivot, bi-fold and sliding doors

3 1

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LISSI ACCESSORIES

D.1 BASIN MIXERS

PJH Tel: 08008 778 899 www.bathroomstolove.uk PJH has added four new ranges of Italian-made accessories to its Bathrooms to Love Collection. Made from solid brass and available in chrome, matt-black and white ceramic finishes, the Bertini, Lissi, Bertini Matt Black and Vitti ranges include towel rails and rings, 8mmthick glass shelves, tumblers and toilet-roll holders. Pictured above is a soap dispenser from the Lissi range, which is characterised by boxy, square shapes and would suit most bathroom styles

Duravit Tel: 08455 007 787 www.duravit.co.uk New to the UK, Duravit’s D.1 brassware range was designed by Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez. Featuring a cylindrical base and an accented, flat spout, the two-hole basin mixers come in two sizes of 157mm or 253mm, a chrome or matt-black finish, and three styles. The D.1 has a singlelever design, the D.1z has a knurled rotating handle and the intuitively controlled, electronic D.1e, pictured, has a temperature display showing light blue through to red

KAI 6 SHOWER ENCLOSURES Crosswater Tel: 03458 738 840 www.crosswater.co.uk Featuring 6mm-thick toughened glass and gently contoured aluminium edges, Crosswater’s new Kai 6 shower-enclosure collection includes pivot, bi-fold and sliding doors, quadrant and corner-entry enclosures as well as bath screens. Seen here is the Kai 6 Bifold door, suitable for left-or right-hand installation and for use with a tray or wetroom floor. Measuring 1900mm high, it comes in widths of 760mm, 800mm and 900mm www.kbbdaily.com

essential bathrooms | new products

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VULCI DECORO TILES

STAGES ACCESSORIES

Indigenous Tel: 01993 824 200 www.indigenous.co.uk New from Indigenous, Tuscan is a collection of glazed porcelain tiles that are suitable for use on walls and floors. Handmade in Italy, the collection features vintage-effect, patterned tiles in mixes of fawn, blue, brown and sage and four coordinating plain tiles. Patterned tiles measure 400mm x 400mm, while the plain tiles also come in two additional sizes of 400mm x 800mm and 130mm x 800mm. Pictured is the brown-tinged Vulci Decoro tile

LG Hausys Tel: 01732 897 820 www.himacs.eu Stages is a new bathroom-accessory collection that can be made in a wide range of HI-MACSÂŽ colours. Created by Marike Andeweg for Dutch label Not Only White, the accessories, primarily targeted at the hotel market, have been created to complement the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s washbasin collection and are designed for displaying small toiletries. They are available in seven colours including Alpine white, Sapphire, Ruby and Almond, pictured

AZURE BLUE FINISH Utopia Tel: 01902 406 402 www.utopiagroup.com Responding to the trend for adding more colour to your bathing space, bathroom manufacturer Utopia has added seven new foil-finish options to furniture in its Original Fitted, You, iLine, Symmetry and Geo ranges. Azure Blue, along with other new colours Blush, Sea Green and Storm Grey, features a super matt, softtouch foil finish. The new blue shade is pictured above on the Nadia door style from the Original Fitted range, complete with brushed-brass bar handles ek&bbusiness

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ATHENA FURNITURE Roxor Tel: 01422 417 100 www.nuiebathrooms.com Joining the Athena furniture range from Roxor’s Nuie bathroom brand are twin ‘his & hers’ units in wall-hung and freestanding versions. Topped with a double, white polymarble basin, the new units measure 1200mm wide and come in eight gloss, matt and woodgrain finishes, including Grey Gloss (pictured), Stone Grey Matt and Hacienda Black Matt Woodgrain. With chrome handles on the softclosing doors and drawers, the new units have a five-year guarantee 48

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BLACK JT WASTE COVER JT Tel: 01132 015 090 www.just-trays.co.uk JT has added a new black waste cover to its popular JTFusion tray. Tapping into the trend for black in the bathroom, the new optional waste cover is designed to complement matt-black brassware and shower-enclosure fittings. The JTFusion tray comes in 48 sizes and nine colours in square, rectangle, quadrant and offset quadrant shapes. It can be installed flush with the floor or on legs and is available with the company’s anti-slip coating

NIZA TILES Harmony Tel: +34 964 602 012 www.harmonyinspire.com Suitable for use on walls and floors, Niza is a range of contemporary cement-effect porcelain tiles from Spanish manufacturer Harmony. Available in a rectangular 92mm x 370mm size and a 215mm x 250mm hexagonal format, the tiles, which have a matt finish, come in six ocean-inspired colours. Choose from white, green, clay, grey, mustard and taupe and enjoy the subtle shade variations which add depth and an authentic look. These tiles are also suitable for outdoor use www.kbbdaily.com

essential bathrooms | new products

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KINEMOON SHOWER TRAY

LECCO TOWEL WARMER

Saniflo Tel: 02088 420 033 www.kinedo.co.uk On show at kbb Birmingham and now available, Kinemoon is a stoneeffect, textured shower tray from Saniflo’s Kinedo range. Designed to provide easy access into the showering area, it measures just 26mm high and comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 900mm x 750mm to 1800mm x 900mm. It’s made from Biolex, which the company says is resistant to damage, and comes in five colours including white, grey and black

Stelrad Tel: 08445 436 200 www.stelrad.com Part of radiator manufacturer Stelrad’s recently launched Boutique Collection, the eyecatching Lecco provides a contemporary take on the traditional ladder rail. It features a two-tone, brushed and polished stainless-steel finish and measures1200mm high and 500mm wide. Suitable for central-heating systems, it has a heat output of 200W and will help elevate the feel of a bathroom from practical to luxurious

DURHAM BATH BC Designs Tel: 01206 827 100 www.bcdesigns.co.uk An addition to the mid-market BCSolidBlue range, the new Durham bath from BC Designs comes in three single- and double-ended versions. The single-skinned acrylic tubs are reinforced with layers of fibreglass, resin and the company’s SolidBlue composite material while the outer bath panel can be tiled, as pictured. Single-ended tubs are 750mm wide and 1500mm, 1600mm or 1700mm long. Doubleended sizes range from 1700mm x 700mm to 1800mm x 800mm ek&bbusiness

CONOFLAT Kaldewei Tel: 01480 498 053 www.kaldewei.co.uk Made from steel enamel, Kaldeweiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 32mm high Conoflat shower trays were designed by Sottsass Associati to be installed flush with the floor. They come with a flat enamelled waste cover that fits seamlessly into the trayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface. The trays come in lots of sizes from 800 x 900mm to 1000 x 1800mm. Pictured here in Alpine White, they are also available in several other colours including black, grey and cream

Available in more sizes, colours and finishes than ever before, shower trays are packing a punch in the design stakes by combining fashion with functionality Words Nicola Hanley

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essential bathrooms | special speciial report

SLIMLINE WETROOM Hudson Reed Tel: 01422 417 100 www.hudsonreed.co.uk Pictured in gloss white but also available in slate grey, Hudson Reed’s Slimline Wetroom shower tray is made from Pearlstone Matrix, an acrylic-capped polyurethane resin, which the company says has the best ‘weight to strength ratio’ and is up to ‘50% lighter than conventional stone resin trays’. It is 40mm high, is available in five sizes and comes with a lifetime guarantee

JT SOFTSTONE JT Tel: 01132 015 090 www.just-trays.co.uk The JT Softstone is described by the company as a ‘soft-touch shower floor featuring an aqua cushion, non-slip surface’. There are 12 sizes in square and rectangle shapes and a bespoke option is also available to allow consumers to create a wetroom effect. The antibacterial tray is available in black, cream and white slate-effect finishes and comes with a 25-year guarantee

Shower trays have been somewhat ignored for a while, being perceived as a commodity rather than a luxury product, but over the last decade their focus has steadily increased and product design has really taken off,” says Richard Eaton, product manager at distributor PJH. Claire Gay, marketing manager for Roca, agrees. “Shower trays are increasing in popularity. They are functional, fashionable and very much an on-trend and stylish addition to the bathroom,” she says, adding that they can also add colour to the bathroom. It’s a trend that John Schofield, sales and marketing director at Just Trays (JT), has noticed, too. “We’re seeing the consumer desire for more attention to detail and style in the bathroom, mixed with the move to more vibrancy and colour,” he says. “The bathroom is evolving and consumers are looking for differentiation as they invest in their homes.” Manufacturers are meeting this demand with trays in myriad standard and bespoke sizes as

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the market,” he says. Manufacturers agree that finishes that replicate natural stone are also becoming ever more appealing to consumers. PJH’s Eaton says that grey, slatewell effect cast-stone trays introduce a designeras an inspired focal point to the bathroom. “They everare so much more affordable now too, due growing to advancements in tray manufacturing palette of technology,” he adds. PJH and Matki have both colours. Some, recently introduced slate-effect trays and such as Villeroy & shower floors and Schofield says that JT is Boch, whose ViPrint always looking to expand on the popularity of design concept offers 20 its award-winning JT Softstone range. different decors and patterns on When it comes to size, bigger seems to be its Subway Infinity tray, are providing best, but slim is definitely in, with low-profile shower trays that can be customised to allow trays proving a safe and stylish solution. “The consumers to inject even more character and trend for bigger shower trays continues and is personality into their bathroom. being powered by both design preference and While white continues to dominate the the decision to replace baths with showers,” market, sales of coloured trays are increasing. advises JT’s John Schofield. Likewise, Kaldewei “In 2020, our estimates UK has also seen are that around 25% increased demand of shower-tray sales for larger shower are in colours other trays as well as those than white,” says Mark that help consumers Waddy, director at create a wetroomMTW Research. Greys, style showering space. beiges and darker “The key trend is for shades, which can flat, floor-level shower complement bathroom surfaces with flush flooring, are currently waste covers, as they Mark Waddy, director at MTW Research in vogue, advises Sven create a seamless Rensinghoff, Bette’s transition to the floor. head of marketing. Not only do they make “Stone and tile colours are popular, with 40% the room appear larger, but the ease of access of Bette customers choosing from our matt with no edges to trip over improves safety as colours that are designed to coordinate with well as visual appeal,” says its head of sales popular flooring trends,” he says. Roman Adam Teal. managing director David Osborne also points Safety considerations and the rise of out the popularity of matt finishes. “As multigenerational households has also seen bathroom design has become more eclectic, anti-slip surfaces and finishes, once seen as matt finishes dominate at the premium end of an optional extra, now topping consumer f

“In 2020 our estimates are that around 25% of shower-tray sales are in colours other than white̜

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TOP TRAY TRENDS » “Floor-level shower areas are the trend. Consumers can choose from a variety of materials, surfaces and colours and use these opportunities to express their own personality in the bathroom” Claudie Horel, senior product manager wellness, Villeroy & Boch

f wish lists. “Anti-slip finishes ensure safefooting in the shower and do not detract from the shower design and colour finish as they're virtually invisible to the eye,” continues Teal. Looking ahead, MTW’s Waddy believes the coronavirus pandemic will make antibacterial and easy-clean shower trays more appealing as consumers have a “significantly greater appreciation of hygiene in a post COVID-19 world”. Richard Eaton, product manager for PJH, predicts that as technology continues to evolve, we’ll see even more finishes and

» “We’re seeing a strong demand for ultra-slim trays – the lower-profile the better – as the consumer seeks to create the wetroom look as well as the practicalities of having a flush-fitting tray” Richard Eaton, product manager, PJH

SLATE EFFECT SHOWER FLOOR Matki Tel: 01454 322 888 www.matki.co.uk Featuring a textured, anti-slip finish, Matki’s slate-effect shower floors are made from cast-stone resin with a gel coating. Designed to be installed flush with the floor, they come in a variety of colours via Tile Matching, RAL or Pantone to allow consumers to blend them seamlessly with surrounding floor tiles. There are 60 standard sizes between 700mm x 760mm and 2000mm x 1000mm to choose from and bespoke sizes are also available

» “There’s a push towards making stronger, longerlasting and sustainable materials that are highly efficient against wear, aggressive chemical agents and fading” Claire Gay, marketing manager, Roca

» “The UK market is dominated by a 45mm capped acrylic shower tray” John Schofield, sales & marketing director, JT

SUBWAY INFINITY Villeroy & Boch Tel: 02088 714 028 www.villeroy-boch.co.uk/bathroom-and-wellness The recipient of an iF and a Red Dot Design Award, Villeroy & Boch’s Subway Infinity shower trays come in a variety of standard and bespoke sizes between 800mm x 800mm and 1600mm x 1000mm. Made from ceramic, they’re available in White Alpine, Taupe and Ardoise as well as 20 ViPrint decors, including Driftwood, pictured. With a low, 40mm profile, these trays are suitable for fitting flush with the floor and come with an anti-slip finish

» “Larger shower trays, which can be colour coordinated to the rest of the bathroom, are an important factor in the shower-tray market” Adam Teal, head of sales, Kaldewei UK » “The trends are very much driven by the solid-surface material and the anti-slip properties which have been the norm in luxury hotels for some time and are now taking hold of the premium retail sector” David Osborne, MD, Roman

materials that replicate natural stone coming to market, while JT’s John Schofield suggests consumer appetite for a coordinated look across the bathroom will provide areas for growth. “I think the next key product features to come onto the market will be those that coordinate the shower tray seamlessly into the bathroom design. An example of this is the option of the new JT black waste to coordinate with the increasing trend of black edging on enclosures and fittings,” he says. Who knew at-home showering could be so stylish? Q

As bathroom design has become more eclectic, matt finishes dominate at the premium end of the market̜ David Osborne, MD, Roman

ROMAN INFINITY Roman Tel: 01325 311 318 www.roman-showers.com Available in matt and gloss white and three shimmer colours of grey, black and white, Roman’s Infinity trays are made in the UK from a solid-surface material called Roman Stone, which the company describes as strong and durable. Measuring 40mm high and available in sizes from 1000 x 800mm to 1700 x 800 plus a 900 x 900mm quadrant style, these trays can be installed level with floor tiles and have a matching Roman Stone cover to the fast-flow waste, which can carry away 25 litres of water per minute

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essential bathrooms | special report

SMART QUIZ Acquabella Tel: +34 964 661 919 www.acquabella.com/en Featuring a drain hidden in its centre and a grating that’s fully integrated into its shapes, Spanish bathroom brand Acquabella’s award-winning Smart Quiz shower tray comes in a variety of sizes from 1000mm x 700mm to 2000 x 1000mm and is just 26-31mm high. In a plethora of colours, this striking, geometric shower tray is made from the company’s Akron polyurethane and mineral filler composite material and combines three HD textures: Beton, Zero and Ethnic

Shower trays are increasing in popularity. They are functional, fashionable and very much an on-trend and stylish addition to the bathroom̜

REFLEXION SLATE GREY PJH Tel: 08008 778 899 www.bathroomstolove.uk PJH says that over the last 12 months, its shower tray sales have ‘increased significantly, with the biggest growth within the 25mm ultra-slim range’. Made from cast stone, its RefleXion slate grey shower tray has a slip-resistant finish and comes with a 90mm fast-flow waste, which is tested to over 32 litres per minute. This low-profile, 25mm-high tray comes in nine rectangular sizes from 1000mm x 800mm to 1700mm x 900mm

Claire Gay, marketing manager, Roca

KINEROCK

Saniflo Tel: 02088 420 033 www.kinedo.co.uk One of the bestselling shower trays in the Kinedo range, Kinerock is made from Biolex, a patented, mineral-based composite material, and has a textured surface designed to replicate the look of natural rock. Colours include white, pictured, mocha, sable and grey, and there are 16 sizes to choose from, with trays above 1000mm measuring 40mm thick and smaller models just 30mm high. They can be fitted flush with the floor or raised on feet if required

£ TEMPANO Duravit Tel: 08455 007 787 www.duravit.co.uk Duravit’s Tempano shower trays can be floor mounted, installed flush with the floor or semi recessed for added flexibility. Made from a glossy, white acrylic, these trays come in 27 square and rectangular sizes from 800mm x 800mm to 1800mm x 900mm and are available with an anti-slip coating

MONEY MATTERS Sales of shower trays have naturally been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. MTW Research’s Shower Market Report 2020* reveals a 20% decline this year. “Despite this decline, sales are set to reach £32m by December 2020 with the pressure on the market slowly easing from mid June onwards as domestic refurbishment steadily returns and housebuilding returns to growth,” continues the report. “By September 2020, sales growth is expected to return to the sector, albeit at modest rates.” JT’s sales & marketing director John Schofield is also optimistic about the future: “We’re confident sales will rebound strongly in the last quarter of 2020.” *MTW Shower Market Report 2020, £475. www.marketresearchreports.co.uk

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Sublime Sliding

Liberty 1700 x 800 Alcove Fitting Two Sliding Doors in Brushed Nickel finish with Matt White White Anti-Slip Tray

Liberty 1700 x 800 One Sliding Door and Side Panel in Matt Black finish with Matt White Anti-Slip Tray

The Liberty Collection Choose door style; Choose glass thickness; Choose frame colour; Choose inward or outward opening for hinged doors; Choose silicone free wall fixing

Heavenly Hinged

The Liberty Collection is freed from the shackles of traditional bathroom design, with its ultra-modern and minimalist focus. The striking minimalist look is captured with options such as door hinged straight from wall with optically clear seals. This modern collection features a unique hydro-active wall profile sealing tape system technology, to increase water integrity, whilst also keeping with the minimalist design. This leading collection of design led shower enclosures is perfectly completed with frame finish options of polished chrome, brushed nickel, polished nickel or matt black finish on all components.

What will your colour be.. .?

Matt Black

Polished Chrome

Brushed Nickel

Liberty 1600 Alcove Fitting Hinged Door with Two In-Line Panels in Chrome finish with Gloss Infinity Tray

Polished Nickel Registered Member

To request our latest Showroom Guide with the full range of products: T: 0845 050 7611* E: brochures@roman-showers.com

www.roman-showers.com *Calls to our '0845' numbers are charged at your local rate from a BT Landline and may also be free on some BT call plans, other network operators' charges may vary, calls from mobiles may cost significantly more.

essential bathrooms | special report

PRO MARBOND Laufen Tel: 01530 510 007 www.laufen.co.uk Designed by Peter Wirz and part of Laufen’s contemporary Pro collection, the Pro Marbond shower trays are made from Marbond, a mineral composite material, which the company describes as durable, hygienic, easy to clean and anti-slip. Available in over 30 standard, plus bespoke, sizes, ranging from 800mm x 800mm to 2000mm x 1000mm, the trays come in matt white, anthracite grey and light grey

CRATOS Roca Tel: 01530 510 007 www.uk.roca.com Roca’s new Cratos shower trays are made from Senceramic, the Spanish manufacturer's vitreous china material with an antislip, textured enamel surface, which is created during the firing process at a temperature of over 1000°C. Cratos trays have a slim 35mm profile, come in sizes from 1000mm x 700mm to 1800mm x 800mm and a variety of colours including matt white, beige, coffee, pearl and onyx to complement the coloured sanitaryware in Roca’s Beyond and Inspira collections

The trend for bigger sizes of shower tray continues and is being powered by both design preference and the decision to replace baths with showers̜ John Schofield, sales & marketing director, JT

HI MACS SHOWER TRAYS LG Hausys Tel: 01732 897 820 www.himacs.eu LG Hausys says that its HIMACS® bath and showertray collection has been ‘extremely well received’ since its launch last year. The trays are made from Alpine White HI-MACS®, an acrylic, mineral and natural-pigment composite material that's easy to clean, warm to the touch and can be floor- or flush-mounted. Consumers can choose from a square 900mm x 900mm or rectangular 900mm x 1200mm tray, which is available with a central or side waste

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BETTEFLOOR Bette Tel: 08448 000 547 www.my-bette.com/en Made from glazed titanium steel, the BetteFloor is one of German manufacturer Bette’s most popular shower trays. Seen here in gloss white, it’s available in over 400 colours, including 22 matt shades, and 52 sizes/shapes ranging from 800mm x 800mm to 1800mm x 1000mm. It can be specified with BetteAntislip Pro, an enamel coating designed to provide enhanced slip resistance ek&bbusiness

Understanding the particular requirements of the British bathroom is key to Utopiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success, say founders and joint MDs Ian Hall and Dave Conn Words Amelia Thorpe Photos Paul Craig

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essential bathrooms | Utopia Bathrooms

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an Hall, joint MD of British manufacturer Utopia Bathrooms, wastes no time in explaining what makes his business stand out. “We make furniture just for bathrooms, whereas a lot of our competitors manufacture for other rooms, such as kitchens and bedrooms, as well,” he says. He goes on to suggest that “more hybrid products” made by some competitors may be less suitable for bathroom use, especially edging, which must be tested to a different standard to withstand the humidity of a bathroom. Hall also believes that Utopia’s 30 years’ experience on the requirements of the average compact “seldom more than four-square-metre” British bathroom has resulted in a particular strength. “We’re used to making small components to suit small UK bathrooms,” he says. Hall founded Utopia Bathrooms in 1989 with joint MD, Dave Conn, and describes the company’s market position as “mid to lower-upper”, with an offering that includes 12 furniture collections, varying from entry level (Cube) to luxury (Roseberry). Choose from freestanding, fitted and modular wall-hung furniture then pair it, should you wish, with complementary ranges of sanitaryware, brassware, baths and tiles. In June, the company launched seven new foil finishes across several furniture ranges and two new colours in the Roseberry paintedtimber collection, which is on display at the brand’s newly refurbished showroom at the Wolverhampton HQ. “When we started, furniture was put in only about a third of bathrooms, and it was usually just a vanity unit with a cabinet above, but now every bathroom has it and when you look at the number of styles and types you can buy, it’s unbelievable,” says Hall. “We’re one of the few pioneers that have brought bathroom furniture up to that level.” There will be further launches in late summer to the entry-level range, and in October to the top-end collection. “It’s very important to keep the product range alive and on trend,” adds Conn. Despite shutting the factory for six weeks during the COVID-19 lockdown, the company has been able to keep engineers and design staff working from home. “That has put us in a great position moving forward so that we can keep our launches on track,” explains Conn. With sales over the last few years growing at the rate of 2-3% per annum and approaching £17million last year, Hall says they had predicted 7-8% growth in 2020 and were on track until lockdown. While it’s difficult to predict sales for this year, he says that “sales are surprisingly good”. Why’s that? “We’re lucky that we have a good, broad, balanced base of customers, so we’re not totally reliant on any one sector at any time,” he explains of the OEM (original equipment manufacture), distribution, builder-developer and retail sectors in which they operate. “We’re feeling positive that we’re getting back on an even keel, and, at this rate, we’ll be back to our normal monthly turnover by the end of the summer,” he says. Q

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essential bathrooms | Utopia Bathrooms

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Q&A

8 What is your greatest challenge? “As one of the market leaders, our challenge is staying ahead of the game. We’ll do it with product innovation and design, and investment in the three departments that are so intertwined within HQ here: marketing, engineering and design” Dave Conn What is your greatest opportunity? “As a country, now we’ve gone through the pain with Brexit, we’ve got to encourage people to buy British and support British manufacturing” Ian Hall

1 The Utopia Bathrooms showroom in Wolverhampton 2 Samples of countertop, door front and

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Copper detailing 7 Symmetry curved basin unit in new Burnt

Strange but true “I’m a qualified yacht master and have travelled thousands of miles sailing around the British Isles, Ireland and the Atlantic coasts of France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while Dave is a Tough Guy competitor who has completed a number of extreme physical challenges. It’s all excellent experience for us when it comes to steering the Utopia ship and turning business challenges into opportunities” Ian Hall

handle colours and styles 3 & 4 Original Fitted furniture in new

Copper finish 8 Roseberry painted

Azure Blue finish with new Brushed Brass

timber furniture in new Emerald

Bar handles 5 Wall-mounted Roseberry painted

Green finish 9 Roseberry painted timber furniture

the new Rose Quartz finish, teamed with

timber furniture in Peacock Blue finish 6 The Dualelle bath in new Burnt Copper

in new Rose Quartz finish 10 Original Fitted furniture in new Blush finish

Dove Grey 12 Symmetry furniture in Burnt Copper,

finish, with Opula furniture in Indigo with

11 Roseberry painted timber furniture in

teamed with Black Linear plinth

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essential showcase

Contact Sophie Roberts 0117 300 8801, sophie.roberts@immediate.co.uk

To advertise here please call

Sophie Roberts on 0117 300 8801 Elstead Lighting, established since 1969, has recently launched the Distinctive Lighting Bathroom and Kitchen collection. This priced catalogue is a great tool for designers. Its product reference codes are not online to help avoid price comparisons. To request a catalogue and learn more about EHFRPLQJ D UHVHOOHU FRQWDFW RXU VDOHV R FH

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essential directory

Contact Sophie Roberts 0117 300 8801, sophie.roberts@immediate.co.uk

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essential bathrooms | Utopia Bathrooms

PROFILE Utopia Bathrooms Who are we? Dave Conn and Ian Hall, joint MDs

Where are we? Springvale Avenue, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV14 0QL Tel: 01902 406 402 www.utopiagroup.com

What we do... British bathroom furniture manufacturer with supply of complementary sanitaryware and brassware

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Business history The company was founded in 1989 by Dave Conn, now 55, and Ian Hall, 54, making fitted bathroom furniture from an industrial unit in Wednesfield, West Midlands. Today it operates from a 144,000sq ft facility in Wolverhampton, purpose built in 1999 and expanded in 2002, which includes a 7,000sq ft showroom with over 45 settings. There’s a second warehouse of 42,000sq ft under a mile away Furniture is designed and made in-house, although most raw materials come from outside the UK. The range also includes complementary products such as sanitaryware, brassware, baths and tiles. Furniture makes up about 70% of sales and is typically presented as pre-constructed “plug and play” units designed to reduce installation time

Customers include OEM for the likes of Wolseley and Grafton, a range called Origins supplied through distributor Barwick, builder developers and about 600 retail showrooms (including about 50% high-street independents and 50% merchant showrooms). Retailers make up about 60% of sales Sales stats “Last year’s turnover was just short of £17million,” says Ian Hall Staffing levels Over 150

1 Contemporary Fitted furniture in Washed Oak and Flat Grey finishes with Black handle trim 2 Original Fitted furniture in new Silver Fusion and Pewter

3 Symmetry furniture in new Pewter Fusion finish 4 Original Fitted furniture in new Storm Grey finish

6 & 7 Halo furniture in new Washed Oak finish 8 & 9 Utopia Bathrooms’ purpose-built manufacturing facilities

5 The new Divine basin monobloc mixer in Matt Black

Fusion finishes

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essential directory

Contact Sophie Roberts 0117 300 8801, sophie.roberts@immediate.co.uk

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essential influences | design inspiration

INFLUENCES

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THIS MONTH’S DESIGN INSPIRATION

NEOLITH Neolith Mont Blanc, shown here on the central island, is inspired by the slopes of the French Alps and combines neutral tones with a creamy white background and subtle veining in deep black, oxide and ochre. Available in a silk finish, the surface features a slight inward relief running through the veins to deliver an authentic texture www.neolith.com

Suitable for work surfaces, splashbacks, flooring and cladding, Mont Blanc comes in 6mm and 12mm thicknesses, and two large-scale slab formats: 3200 x 1600mm and 3200 x 1500mm

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A homage to white quartzite, Mont Blanc suits both traditional and contemporary designs and has all the highperformance qualities of sintered stone (made from 100% natural stone with no resin binders)

“Mont Blanc has been developed using a revolutionary water-based decoration technique to deliver the high-quality designs Neolith is known for, in an eco-friendly way”

Mar Esteve Cortes, director, Neolith

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Want your website here? Send your request for a complimentary website review to ekbbusiness@immediate.co.uk

WEB DOCTOR Our web doctor monitors the pulse of one company’s online offering. This month, it’s PWS – so what’s the diagnosis?

www.pws.co.uk ou may believe that The Doc is infested with both a niggling nostalgia for the good old days of technology and an unhealthy interest in the online habits of younger generations. And you’d be right. The perfect example comes with the multi-millionpound industry known as ‘unboxing’. As a lifelong Apple slave, I was dimly aware of nice, youngish nerds opening up the first iPod in late 2001 to reveal the extraordinary number of leads, connectors and ephemera that would come with that era’s Apple products. I won’t admit to watching any of the videos, but I understood the strong impulse to crack those taut cardboard innards. The first iPod came in a box so sturdy even your cat couldn’t collapse it and included the charger, user manual, user agreements, converters, headphones (with plug-in controls), plugs and an installation CD. So the Big Box of White Cables began its genesis. I still have most of them and only vaguely know what they do. Fast-forward to 2020 and unboxing is a multi-billion-pound industry. If you can buy it, there’s almost certainly a video sitting at the bottom of the YouTube algorithm ready for its moment of fame. Be it toys, tech or make-up, influencers and brands have been making this rite of passage a must in the marketing process on the world’s second biggest search engine. 64

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Seeing that the top YouTube earners per video are four and six-year-old, toy-loving brothers Vlad and Niki, I feel empowered to attempt my own unboxing of a kind, but in this instance, with leading distributor of kitchen and bedroom components PWS’s newly relaunched site. PWS, I find, is certainly a calming space to visit after sampling that YouTube fayre. It opens with a large-scale statement home screen packed with full-width horizontal multimedia panels. Top marks for the hero images at the top that aren’t just pretty faces as they also link through to content chosen by PWS as being of particular interest to visitors. Further down, a white panel adorned with bespoke icons and short bits of text lays out the key elements on offer and acts as a navigation route to the product areas. As usual, I visit the About area to get it out of the way, expecting a deeply uninviting chunk of prose. Not here though. Instead, there’s an interactive timeline of the company’s history. Using photography to tell most of the story, it’s a lovingly put-together effort.

The FAQs on the Contact screen cre show ow w another big push by the team to gett th the new site up and running during the pandemic. Several of the questions are specific to the times (“I’m placing a new order – what delivery options are you offering at the moment?”) and probably vital as everyone scrabbles to keep their business functioning efficiently. You know you’re on a trade-facing site when the filter system for doors looks like another language, and so it should be. Always speak the language of your core audience. The level of detail for specs is genuinely impressive, but should the user be having a blank moment, the secondary filter menu will take care of that. Each product has a dedicated spec sheet of course. There’s a lot to unpack, however the final take-home is that even under difficult circumstances, the PWS team has fast-tracked this new site with a high degree of expertise. Did I find a missing image? You bet I did. Do I take my hat off to a beautiful navigation experience that doesn’t stint on vital data? You bet I do. Who needs more white cables or small, indestructable boxes? Q

“The PWS team has fast-tracked this new site with a high degree of expertise̜

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essential influences | web doctor

WEB WATCH|OUR PICK OF THE BUNCH We examine how easy it is to navigate and interact with this month’s sites... TO P PI C K

hotspot-titanium.co.uk Very sleek all round

elica.com Inhabits a desktop or mobile space with consummate ease Top marks The Find a Store search map gives a very detailed results screen that means you can see at a glance which are premier dealers, retailers and distributors. When you click on the circles, contact details and full addresses appear Works well Devoted to explaining Elica’s intelligent suction system, the section titled Snap could result in a complicated information overflow. Instead, the layout, heavily reminiscent of the very best of Apple’s product-focused web pages, is perfectly curated. It uses multiple formats such as video and representative icons. They should all look like this Could do better I’m not sure there’s anything to grumble about really Suggestion box Given how expertly the filter system works, could it be co-opted to also offer a comparison tool? Attraction factor Peppered with bespoke imagery and icons that lift this to the heights of sophistication +++++

axor-design.co.uk The first hero home screen image is an attention-grabbing island scene taken from above Top marks You’re never far away from a reminder of who the product’s designer is, which reinforces the message that beautiful, personalised creations are at the heart of the brand Works well In addition to a notepad for your favourite items, there’s a product-comparison function that shows an easyto-read table of the main differences, such as whether a showerhead has a dirt filter Could do better I wish some of the product cut-out images could come with a 3D view Suggestion box It would be nice to have web addresses for the retailers, alongside the other info that’s supplied Attraction factor A beautiful and highly functional website that lures you in ++++ www.kbbdaily.com

crystaldoors.co.uk Aimed at the trade market, this manufacturer uses the site to reach out to customers Top marks Crystal displays its ecological credentials in a prominent position on the home screen, using its certifications as proof of its commitment Works well Intelligently, rather than populating all social-media platforms with the brand’s marketing message, Crystal has concentrated on YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. Know your customer base and you’ll know which is best for you Could do better The benefits of signing up then logging into the trade account area could be better explained. It’s a bit vague Suggestion box Much of the text overlaid on top of images just isn’t legible enough. Try a heavier version of the font Attraction factor A professional job +++

Top marks The Which Hotspot is Right for You? section is genius as it takes you right to the shopping basket. Before you know it, you’re all set to head to the checkout Works well Lots of panels remind you of the USPs such as convenience Could do better There are too many pop-up boxes when you land: a help chat box, a Shop our Products box and a cookies acceptance box Suggestion box It took a few goes to find out why titanium was the material of choice. A quick panel explaining this on the home screen would be good Attraction factor The FAQs answer all the queries you may have, but short panels of this info on the home screen would make for interesting micro-content ++++

jjoplc.com The furniture manufacturer’s site has a pared-down, open feel to it Top marks Through the quarantine period, JJO’s website had regular service updates, showing it’s an integrated part of its communication network Works well News, support, brochures etc are all neatly housed in one section labelled Media and more Could do better The range landing screens and individual screens should have more calls to action. Even a ‘get in touch with our sales office to discuss your requirements’ would help customers make that vital first connection Suggestion box It would be great if the technology used for the kbb 2020 virtual showroom could be used to spice up the product screens Attraction factor Optimised fully for mobile use +++

ssk.uk.com A disrupter in the market with a weirdly sensible site Top marks It’s very green and white, however there’s some worthwhile content and an overall message that will surely resonate with a lot of consumers Works well The Blog is interesting, but rename it for more clicks! Could do better A pareddown panel offering a snapshot of how SSK can deliver would be great. There’s a lot to take in in the Our Services section. It’s worth trying to drill down the portfolio for those with short attention spans Suggestion box The next iteration could add some muchneeded touches of luxe. It’s possible to meld the sustainability message with a hint of glamour. Attraction factor A vibrant company with lots more to show off ++++

hib.co.uk User-friendly bathrooms site with a good navigation system on any screen Top marks The dropdown main menu is organised by type, features and width Works well In the Meet the directors section, there’s a link to their LinkedIn profiles. It’s a great way to make use of a platform that can often feel moribund Could do better If your site is well designed, do you need huge pop-up boxes offering up links to your retailer search function or brochures? These things can be irritating Suggestion box The Gallery section is a mish-mash of showroom images, projects and product lines without any attribution or context. These are lumped in with some videos. This area needs a rethink Attraction factor The best iteration so far +++

lochannakitchens.co.uk There’s lots to commend Top marks There’s a fabulous trade area with an informative description of what partners can do within the passwordprotected section. It’s a perfect example of how to encourage future engagement Works well You can take a 3D showroom virtual tour Could do better It was satisfying to see three pictures from the manufacturing process, but a short message or a monthly update from the founders would add extra flavour. A two-minute monthly video of part of the operation would help buyers feel a personal connection Suggestion box Shout louder that the kitchens are built in the UK and have a 10-year guarantee Attraction factor Ditch the 2019 Collection and swap for The Collection for even more appeal ++++

landau.uk.com Solid if not particularly inspiring Top marks The mobile version is less clogged up visually Works well The Find a retailer section includes a widget cookie that will work out where you live. If an option was added to expand the distance range, the search would pull up fewer zero results Could do better On the mobile dropdown range menu, there’s a glaring typo next to the Manor House link. It’s odd that no-one internally has noticed it Suggestion box The desktop home screen includes a panel of range brand logos above the fold but the clash of styles creates a mishmash that’s not easy on the eye. It’s messy rather than dynamic Attraction factor The gallery has some attractive images, but practical info about the projects would bring them to life + ek&bbusiness

essential influences | Kbsa

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS The COVID-19 epidemic has changed the face of retail forever and with all eyes focused on the best steps to recovery, Kbsa national chair Richard Hibbert, looks at how the independent sector can adapt and change to the new world Tel: 01623 818 808

Email: info@kbsa.org.uk

Website: www.kbsa.org.uk

Q How can independent retailers adapt to the new normal, as the high street re-opens?

>> Harness the power of the collective

>> Make the most of technology

The pace and magnitude of the change that the High Street is experiencing is unprecedented. It has become clear that working collectively and sharing experiences has proved to be beneficial for many. Kbsa retail members have been meeting regularly via Zoom and engaging via a Facebook page to keep each other up to date. Many independent retailers are small, family businesses and being part of a larger community gives access to a wider range of knowledge and insights. It also provides a more powerful voice during these uncertain times.

We know that our members have embraced technology for video conferencing and the sharing of plans and drawings. It has become clear that there are advantages to working in this way, such as convenience for clients. One positive to come from the COVID-19 situation is that retailers may have embraced these new technologies sooner than they otherwise would have done. Retailers who continue to invest in technology will find it easier to tap into the changing shopping habits of consumers in the future, too.

>> Upskill and train

>> Deliver the story

The COVID-19 epidemic has brought home the necessity to keep up to date with legislation, plus upskill and train. The Kbsa has provided resources and briefings on HR and health and safety issues via a series of webinars designed to help businesses adjust to the new way of working. It has become essential to have the support of a partner who can help a retailer to find this information and provide easy-to-access updates.

One significant change in consumer perceptions is their new allegiance to shopping local and supporting smaller and family businesess. Consumers have come to value the interaction and relationship they can build with an independent retailer. This provides a great opportunity for independent retailers to tap into this sentiment, and promote their brand values of service and customer care.

Kbsa retail members have been meeting regularly via Zoom and engaging via a Facebook page to keep each other up to date

1 The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association keeps its members informed of legal and best business practice 2 Kbsa members meet at their annual general meeting

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INTRODUCING RIMANO THE NEW MODERN CLASSIC The delicately proportioned bevel defines this solid Ash framed door with its veneered centre panel. Rimano is a modern classic comfortably at ease in every style of home. A choice of 18 painted colours including new Sky shown here. Available with handles, handle-less or handle-less tip-on. Exclusively from Crown Imperial.

See more new innovations for 2020...

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