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

Voted Best Trade Journal 2019

September 2020 Issue 176

www.kbbdaily.com

PROFILE: SMEG

VERSATILE STYLE

SEE THE LIGHT

Pressing ‘on’ with new tech, a reputation for style and bold business intentions

Not just hard-wearing and hygienic, tiles give style to any kitchen aesthetic

Lighting has evolved to meet the needs of today’s multifunctional spaces

Pg 22

IN THIS ISSUE

Pg 38

Pg 26

BREXIT IS BACK: TIME IS UP TO PROTECT CONSUMER CHOICE

Pg 54

LEADING LIGHTS How to create beautiful bathrooms with the latest illuminating innovations Pg 44

PROFILE: QUOOKER This one goes up to100! Growing the market sector for boiling and multifunctional taps Pg 15 & 50

WHAT’S HOT Discover new products, new looks and new trends for both kitchen and bathroom

Remember Brexit? The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances (AMDEA) certainly does, and has brought together 15 UK trade associations representing Act now or limit choice and sales thousands of firms to seek clarity on the regulations that will impact makers as Britain starts trading under UK rules. AMDEA’s statement read: With less than five months to go until Britain starts trading under UK rules, nobody knows what these are, threatening Britain’s shopping choices from 1 January 2021 and jeopardising the supply of imported parts for hardpressed UK manufacturers. The problem lies in the fact that leading brands that British consumers expect to find in their shops or online all need to certify that they have complied with rigorous tests, before they can be sold in this country.

According to the Government, on 1 January 2021, previously established EU compliance standards represented by the CE mark, will be replaced by UKCA, a new UK conformity assessment. Unfortunately no details of the compliance requirements needed for this standard are available while companies are already testing, certifying and shipping products to reach this country in time for Christmas and the new year. Paul Hide, CEO AMDEA, suggests that we are approaching the moment when leading international brands will not risk shipping their latest models to the UK. He says, “The Government urgently needs to provide the details of the new requirements or commit to a significant period of tolerance, say 24 months, where the CE marking, a universally recognised mark of compliance, will still be accepted. At this late stage anything less risks severely diminishing shoppers’ choice, increasing prices and disrupting supplies for UK industries.” Head to kbbdaily.com for updates.

UNIFIED WATER LABEL: “GOVERNMENT HAS MISSED VITAL OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE WATER” The Government has missed its opportunity to help homeowners save water and cut energy consumption and carbon emissions during Yvonne Orgill, MD of the UWL the pandemic, according to Yvonne Orgill, MD at the Unified Water Label. Orgill has deemed the government’s Green Homes Grant as “disappointing”, stating that the inclusion of water-efficient and energy-saving bathroom products could have encouraged many to upgrade. “As an industry, we have the technology to offer water-

TOPS ON TOP Cindy Crawford on New Silestone Eternal Noir A product designed by Cosentino® Find inspiration at cosentino.com | Follow Us F T ô

efficient products without compromising the experience for the end user,” she says. “The Unified Water Label identifies the water and energy consumption of products, helping consumers make more informed choices.” And, reacting to recent comments from US President Trump about the problems of water restriction, Orgill comments: “In the US, they have a system that can lead to poor performance. If we are to make a difference here in the UK and Europe, we have to offer water-efficient products that can still perform, so that they are not rejected by consumers.”

FUNCTION. ELEGANCE. HARMONY.

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www.leicht.com

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essentially... Just when you thought it was safe to step back into the office somebody has to go and mention the ‘B’ word… Yes, our old friend Brexit and floundering Government policy (in both COVID and Brexit flavours) has dominated gossip around the industry this month, but – excuse me while I pop ‘We Shall Overcome’ on the office stereo – the bold intention and talent we’ve witnessed from companies and their crews mean that we’re optimistic that 2020 will soon be a minor blot on the rest of the decade’s exemplary copy book. Good luck, everyone! And of course the familiar hail of nonsense entirely failed to prevent the ek&bbusiness team putting together another glittering issue and we hope you all enjoy this month’s mix. Thanks to all the smart, ever-enthusiastic PRs, product managers, owners, makers, creators and innovators that helped us to put it all together. And special mention – for once – to the fabulous ek&bbusiness team below. Trumpets are rarely parped in their direction but this one’s for you – you’re literally the best in the business. So enjoy the issue and until the next time… have a good one!

15 38 54

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 Live inside Scavolini’s amazing modular BoxLife 15 Kitchen new products The latest happenings in the world of kitchens 22 Profile | Smeg Get smart with the very latest designer oven tech

Darren Summerfield

Emma Lewis

William Linn

Commercial Director

Production Editor

Designer

Rebecca Messina

Thea Jeffreys

Kayla Rose

Digital Editor

KBB Daily

Brand Executive

Lara Sargent

Emma Hedges

Amelia Thorpe

Contributor

Paul Craig

Contributor

Photographer

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

www.kbbdaily.com

Winner of Best Trade Journal 2019

50 Bathroom new products New colours, materials, ranges, styles and outlines. If it’s new for bathrooms, you’ll find it here 54 Special report | Leading Lights Today’s smart designers and manufacturers continue to dazzle with new and illuminating innovations

INFLUENCES

32 Profile | Truman Kitchens Why doing more of what you like and less of what you don’t is always the perfect business plan

61 Influences It’s getting darker in our kitchens and bathrooms… We unearth the latest trends from Caesarstone

38 Special report | Versatile Style We deliver the latest in tile trends

62 Web doctor All the latest online offerings rated by the Doc

44 Profile | Quooker Red hot… and only getting hotter!

64 Professional focus Richard George of PJH talks A-grade distribution

EDITORIAL

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

49 Bathroom inspiration Make room in your life for Burlington Bathrooms’ gorgeous new range, Bespoke by Burlington

26 Special report | See the Light Meeting the demands of illuminating today’s spaces

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... Dubai chooses RAK RAK Ceramics has supplied its Cementina series floor tiles for a new Smart floor tiles Asian restaurant and cocktail bar in Dubai. Located on The Pointe, a waterfront complex of upscale shops and restaurants in the popular Palm Jumeirah district, the interior of the Fat Chow restaurant has been designed by brand and interior designers Aces of Space to reflect the culture of the cuisine. Ben Bryden, sales and marketing director at RAK Ceramics UK said: “This high-calibre project’s perfect for RAK.”

Haier’s new ad campaign Appliance brand Haier is set to launch a new marketing campaign to raise Big-screen adverts awareness of its products across both the cooling and laundry ranges in the UK. The campaign is themed around the message of Haier as “the World’s No. 1 brand in major appliances” featuring large-format and billboard ads at sites including the IMAX cinema at Waterloo, alongside Channel 4 Video-on-Demand activity targeting the “real-world lifestyle audience” as part of the Direct Motion laundry campaign.

LochAnna Kitchens releases new brochure LochAnna Kitchens has produced a Value for money brochure to go with the launch of new colours and products in its affordable Evo Kitchen Collection, targeted at trade customers. Paul Jenkinson, MD of LochAnna Kitchens, comments: “Evo was launched to target trade customers and also serve as a value-led offer when studio customers had a tighter budget. We believe Evo will help our trade customers win more business and be the best they can be.”

Villeroy & Boch Kitchens open first UK showroom Kelay at the store

Euromobel, the kbb trade specialist, has announced the opening of a Villeroy & Boch Küchen Cheshire showroom. The 100 square metre high-street showroom – the first independent branded one in the UK – in Alderley Edge presents five lifestyle settings. Bodie Kelay, MD of Euromobel, comments: “It’s extremely exciting to celebrate the new opening. It’s a stunning flagship for the premium German brand.”

Duravit announces tennis star as new brand ambassador Dominic Thiem Duravit, the designer-bathroom manufacturer, has announced Dominic Thiem as its new brand ambassador. For the next five years, the tennis star, who’s number three in the ATP world rankings, will be an ambassador for the Duravit brand. Thiem commented: “I’m really excited about the partnership with Duravit. They set themselves high standards and really value precision.”

GROHE named official partner of Tough Mudder 2020 Good, clean fun!

GROHE will return as the Official Shower Partner for Tough Mudder 2020, following its #ShowerOfChampions campaign last year. This year’s Tough Mudder Challenges will feature a GROHE activity each month, such as sit-ups while being soaked with water. Participants can share their images on social media hashtag #showerofchampions for the chance to win prizes such as the GROHE Euphoria SmartControl.

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VIRTUAL SHOW: DESIGNSCAPE New all-virtual interiors event Designscape was created by Informa, the events firm behind kbb Birmingham and leading design shows Decorex, designjunction and Sleep & Eat, in response to widespread cancellations of in-person exhibitions this year as a result of COVID-19. It took place from 11th-13th August and allowed attendees from across the residential, hospitality and retail sectors to connect, do business remotely, network from anywhere in the world and learn on a scale like never before. Each day offered thought-leading programming and conversations, aimed at different strands of the interiors industry. Day one (Retail) examined physical spaces becoming experience-driven, the intersection of retail and digital, the progression

Moores reaches new sustainability milestone Moores, the leading British furniture manufacturer, has saved 7,726 tCO e (tonnes carbon equivalent) over the last six years, after switching the heating methods used in its manufacturing facilities. That’s the equivalent of removing 1,680 cars from the roads for a year. “We’ve been pursuing a number of sustainability goals since 2014 and are delighted to begin sharing our many achievements,” says Mark Grainger, environmental and quality systems manager at Moores. “Sustainability has become a fundamental part of the Moores brand identity and this recent milestone in our bio-fuel boiler project confirms that we’re on the right path.” In addition to this project, Moores continues to comply with the “waste hierarchy”, with an overarching aim to minimise and actively manage waste, including targeting having zero production waste sent to landfill from its Wetherby site.

of the everyday kitchen, and the shop window as the ultimate storyteller. Day two (Residential) focused on new criteria and considerations governing the design of the home, the evolving and uncomfortable notion of luxury, the emergence of modern primitive styles, and the current state of the residential market. Day three (Hospitality) hosted talks around the alignment of sustainability and safety, AI’s impact on customer experiences, and future-proofing expansion and investment plans. If you missed it, catch it on demand until 13th September, with a host of discussions and a large product directory, at www.thedesignscape.co.uk.

BMA ‘DISAPPOINTED’ BY LIMITS ON GREEN HOMES GRANT The Bathroom Manufacturers Association has voiced its disappointment that watersaving fittings have been left out of the Government’s Green Homes Grant. The Grant was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in July and means homeowners can benefit from a £5,000 voucher to upgrade their homes. However, in the scheme rules published this week, only insulation and low-carbon heating is eligible for the grants, along with a few “secondary measures” in

special circumstances. Bathroom fittings are excluded altogether. BMA’s CEO Tom Reynolds said: ‘Water-efficient fittings are a great way to save water, energy and money. The Government’s advisors on climate change found last year that heating water for showers and hot taps is the second largest source of household greenhouse-gas emissions. Measures to reduce wasted water reduce carbon and protect vital water resources.”

isher & Paykel, the New Zealand kitchen-appliance manufacturer, has collaborated with architectural firm Karekare house in New Zealand Stevens Lawson Architects and artist, creative director and surfer Dean Poole to create a home for Poole’s family, located in the dense, native forest of the Waitakere Ranges west of Aukland, New Zealand. Having worked with Fisher & Paykel over many years in his role as creative director with the Aucklandbased design studio Alt Group, Poole found Fisher & Paykel’s offering of sleek, contemporary appliances the obvious choice for this project.

BRITISH GAS ESCAPES CENSURE OVER HOMECARE AD The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled against a claim that a British Gas ad campaign for its HomeCare boiler and heating cover was misleading. The complainant said that the radio adverts, which first appeared in February this year, offered the protection “from £14 a month”, but misled listeners by failing to mention a £60 excess. In response, British Gas argued that an excess was a normal and expected element of insurance, and therefore not necessary to mention in a short radio spot. It said that listeners were directed to the company’s website, which contained full details of the service, including the excess.

The ASA also considered research by radioadvertising clearance body Radiocentre, which indicated that short and simple terms and conditions were best suited to radio ads. The body found that “listeners were unlikely to recall details of the excess after hearing the radio ads, particularly if they were doing something else while listening”. Therefore, signposting listeners to a longer, more detailed written overview of the terms and conditions on its website was an appropriate course of action. “The British Gas website made it clear upfront that an excess applied, and it stated the value of the excess,” the ASA said in its ruling . “They said that it was more useful for the customer to be given this information at the start of the quote process rather than in the terms and conditions of the radio ad.” www.kbbdaily.com

MIRA SHOWERS EXTENDS CHELTENHAM TOWN SPONSORSHIP Mira Showers has agreed a deal to sponsor Cheltenham Baker and Bence Town FC for another two years. The new agreement will see the brand, part of Kohler Mira Ltd, continue its partnership with the club for a landmark 14 continuous years. Mira will continue to sponsor the Robins’ home and away

shirts in Sky Bet League Two and cup competitions until the end of the 2021/22 season. The company’s Cheltenham site, close to the club’s Whaddon Road ground, employs over 700 people. Paul Bence, commercial director at Cheltenham Town said: “It’s fantastic for us to be able to work so closely with a company that employs hundreds of local people and

he KBSA has supported the news that both Grand Designs Live London and Birmingham have been postponed until next year. The popular consumer exhibition was due to run from 22-31st August in London. This will now take place from 1-9th May 2021. The Birmingham event was scheduled to take place from 7-11th October 2020 at Birmingham’s NEC and will now run from 6-10th October 2021, at the same venue. KBSA national account manager Allister Reed said, “It’s disappointing for those that were preparing to be involved but an inevitable decision, given the current COVID-19 restrictions. We welcome its return in 2021.” TV Presenter Kevin McCloud

CHALON ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE UK DEALER NETWORK Chalon, one of Britain’s leading handcrafted Luxurious looks kitchen brands, has said it’s re-opening its doors to an exclusive retailer distribution network. The historic brand, which is known for its freestanding kitchens, is offering retailers unprecedented access to the brand and its Signature Original collection. Kitchen retailers will receive dedicated support from the company,

with assistance in all areas from the ordering stage through to completion. The company stated: “Chalon kitchen retailers will benefit from a world-class heritage brand that is renowned for producing luxury handcrafted kitchens that are unique and exquisite. With a rich history stretching over 40 years, Chalon’s customers value the brand and the ethical foundations which it is built on.”

boasts such a strong reputation in its industry.” Craig Baker, MD at Kohler Mira said: “As a local business, we’ve always been passionate about giving back to the local community and, with both organisations having been at the heart of Cheltenham for so many years, we look forward to continuing to strengthen our ties and supporting the club for a further two years.”

BC Designs to “invest heavily” in Middle East and USA Leading bath maker BC Designs has brought back all of its employees from furlough as it refocuses its growth plans. The company, which remained operational with a limited service during lockdown, has now resumed its full operations to support both UK demand and overseas sales. Already present in European Countries, BC Designs has received several significant sales enquiries from the Middle East where demand for British products and quality is growing. The company is also currently developing a new collection of products aimed at the USA market. Darren Allison, MD at BC Designs, said: “Lockdown presented us with a unique opportunity to revisit and refocus our business strategy. We have strong growth plans, and one area which will allow us to achieve this is through increasing our presence and sales in the international arena.”

stop press... Lec and Belling products awarded Quiet Mark Refrigeration specialist Lec and leading cooking brand Belling have been awarded a number of Quiet Mark accreditations. Belling has the Quiet Mark for all 14 of its chimney cooker hoods in the Farmhouse and Cookcentre collections. Lec has it on four of its undercounter refrigerators, a tabletop freezer and four of its undercounter freezers.

Kbsa welcomes more new members The Kbsa (The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association) has four more new members, adding to a recent rise in membership which

www.kbbdaily.com

has seen 12 new showrooms joining in the last five months. David Minster from new member Minster Kitchens, Bathrooms & Bedrooms, said “Kbsa membership gives our customers peace of mind that they are dealing with a bona fide company.”

sanitaryware, surfaces and tiles especially designed “for postpandemic society”. The range is produced with a glaze that reduces the possibility of contagion.

Tom Howley opens new Winchester showroom

Nearly a third of UK adults are likely to undertake a partial or full bathroom refurbishment in the next year, a poll has revealed. Opinium surveyed 2,000 people in July for the poll, which was commissioned by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA). Tom Reynolds, CEO of the BMA said: “This poll reinforces our hunch that people may be thinking about upgrading their bathroom.”

The seventeenth Tom Howley showroom, on Jewry Street, is a two-floor showroom showcasing six Tom Howley designs, including the highly popular Hartford style.

RAK Ceramics launches ‘super-hygienic’ range RAK-Sanit is a range of highly hygienic

One in three Brits to remodel bathroom

movers & shakers the latest from the industry Harrison Bathrooms has a new account manager Harrison Bathrooms, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of bathroom products to Peter Rolland retailers, has appointed Peter Rolland as key account manager who will work alongside the current team to drive business in the southern region. Rolland will work closely with retailers, showrooms and relevant merchants in southern England, playing a pivotal part in the company’s push towards its ambitious growth plans to reach £40 million turnover by 2023.

Simon Acres Group hires new consultants Simon Acres Group Ltd (SAGL) has expanded its team with the addition of Bateson and McKinnell two new recruitment consultants. Ben McKinnell and Harriet Bateson both join the company. Aiden Cowell, head of recruitment at SAGL said: “We’ve had a surge in enquiries as companies begin to return to business. These appointments come as we’re looking to grow our presence further in the kbb and merchant sector.”

Faucets celebrates 30 years of service Faucets, the UK’s leading distributor of bathroom brassware and sanitary products, Jason Parfitt is celebrating employee Jason Parfitt’s 30 years of service with the company. Parfitt joined the firm as a delivery driver when it operated out of a single unit in Cwmbran, and since the mid-2000s, Parfitt has been the area sales manager for South Wales and South-West England.

HiB appoints new area sales manager Leading bathroom-product supplier HiB has Kinloch welcomed Matthew Kinloch to its team, as the company’s new area sales manager in Ireland. Kinloch, who will be responsible for supporting retailers across Northern Ireland and parts of the Republic of Ireland, has worked with a number of high-profile brands during his career, and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Irish branch of HiB’s sales team.

New recruits at Geberit David Upperton joins the team at sanitary-product firm Geberit. He has David Upperton moved from shower company Aqualisa, where he was sales director for retail and trade, and brought more than 25 years of experience to the role. He will be responsible for overseeing further growth for Geberit in the retail sector. Phillip Conroy, who has previously held roles at Kohler Mira and Just Trays, also joins the company as national key account manager, with responsibility for Geberit’s independent merchant channel.

CIH CEO Stuart Cook to retire Combined Independents (Holdings) Ltd Stuart Cook (CIH), part of Euronics, Europe’s largest electrical buying organisation, has announced that its CEO Stuart Cook is to retire in 2021. CIH Chairman Steve Scogings said: “During his tenure, Stuart has orchestrated three SAP implementations that have transformed the business, established the Euronics Agency Agreement and founded Blomberg.”

ek&bbusiness

Worktop in KรถnigQuartz Chamonix

At home with Kรถnigstone Stone surfaces for modern living

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essential news | business update

INNOVATING DIGITALLY WHILE PURSUING PERFECTION, MASTERCLASS SIDE STEPS THE CRISIS TO DELIVER THE GOODS With its “next chapter of kitchen design”, Masterclass has not only created a new range, but a new way to market it Words Daniel Griffiths

What makes Masterclass unique? A: We manufacture, retail and deal with the developer market ourselves, as well as supplying a network of circa 130 independent kitchen studios across the country. This means we can truly relate to the needs and challenges that our independent-kitchen-studio customers face and ensures that we give them the tools they need to be as successful as they possibly can be, whether that’s within the products we offer them or the added marketing services and support that we give them.

START HERE… Masterclass Kitchens’ parent company, Sigma 3 Kitchens, has been manufacturing Great British kitchens since 1975. The company has evolved and moved with the trends for 45 years, offering products that cover every part of the market with modern, classic and handleless ranges of furniture

What can customers expect from a Masterclass kitchen? A: We ensure that every cabinet looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside and offer complete coordination with every internal storage solution that a customer may need. Even our waste-management systems look like a beautiful piece of furniture and that can’t be said by many manufacturers! How have you weathered the COVID situation? A: The past few months have been anything but ‘normal’ and it’s a real credit to our staff and customers how well they’ve managed to pull together and continue to operate. We’ve taken this time to rethink how we launch our new products and concepts and decided to launch digitally, which was a new avenue to us. This allowed us to speak to every customer at the same time, rather than over a five or six week period, which was great! We followed it up with a live Q&A session four days after the launch and nearly 100 customers joined in with that. Tell us more about your new launch A: It’s called “The next chapter of kitchen design” with new ranges and new materials, plus designers can easily blend up to five different colours and finishes within their kitchen. All this alongside the key Masterclass signature products that allow them to stand out from the crowd and secure sales at far higher margins. I believe we’ve launched something very special with the colours, textures and complementary accents that we’ve brought together. It has been our vision for some time to create beautiful mix-and-match colour combinations that end customers fall in love with and that’s what we’ve achieved. What are your plans for the future? A: We need to continue to offer better-quality product, sales training and support to allow the designer to have all the tools to make a successful sale. Our aim is to have a Masterclass partner in every major town and city in the country. Our new launch has been the biggest and best I’ve been involved with and to be one of the first in our industry to do this digitally has been invigorating! There aren’t many suppliers who can cover so many different parts of the market with the products they offer, but with our modern, classic and handleless ranges of furniture, Masterclass can. We’re super excited! www.kbbdaily.com

Steve Tough Commercial sales director at Masterclass Kitchens

THE MASTERCLASS DIFFERENCE Masterclass Kitchens firmly believes that “Beauty is more than skin deep”, offering complete coordination of internal storage features that seamlessly match every other part of the cabinet

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE Masterclass Kitchens is unveiling its biggestever launch spanning new modern and classic ranges, colours, worktops, splashbacks, accessories, features and storage solutions. Customers can create a luxury bespoke style at an accessible price tag without having to compromise on quality

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essential kitchens | design inspiration

KITCHENS

p13

– p 47

THIS MONTH’S DESIGN INSPIRATION

SCAVOLINI Scavolini has teamed up with international designers, Rainlight Studio, to create BoxLife, a smart modular concept that allows one space to transform from kitchen to office to dining room or sleep space, all within the same footprint at a moment’s notice. Key to the flexible design are the retractable doors that conceal kitchen units and appliances when not in use, plus clever sleeping areas with pull-out furniture. www.scavolini.com

BoxLife is shown in Jaipur Red Fenix kitchen doors, worktops and splashback, with retractable, external doors in Granada and Delhi Clay. Cupboards can conceal appliances and a sliding worktop

www.kbbdaily.com

In this attic, a central BoxLife block houses the kitchen and sleeping areas. The kitchen is shown in Mineral Green. A pull-down bed in a leather effect finish has oak-veneer retractable doors

“BoxLife is a comprehensive and modular system, ideal for people who are either always on the go, or who have limited space but don’t want to sacrifice comfort for convenience”

Fabiana Scavolini, CEO, Scavolini

ek&bbusiness

The 2020 collection

UMBRIA TEXTURED CER

Ceralsio is the ultimate choice of ceramic surfaces for the kitchen and the bathroom.

6 new exclusive designs...

Available in over 30 exclusive designs and large-format 12mm slabs, the range is completely non-porous, scratch resistant and thermally stable. Order free samples on our website.

t: 01706 863 600 e: ceralsio@crlstone.co.uk www.ceralsio.co.uk

Nero Natural

Bianco Silver Natural

Bianco Silver Polished

Belvedere Black Natural

Belvedere Black Polished

Umbria Textured

CER104N

CER410N

CER410P

CER411N

CER411P

CER210T

essential kitchens | new products

NEW PRODUCTS

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

Bert & May’s new Antique tile collection consists of traditional patterns, reworked from reclaimed tiles

2 3

4 1

NOVARA Deseo Tel: 01780 753 407 www.deseoliving.com Deseo is the new agent for Spanish luxury, complete-outdoor-kitchen manufacturer Novara. The 100% waterproof kitchens use aluminiumcomposite cabinets, foldedaluminium drawers in matt lacquer and marine-grade, stainless-steel hinges and runners. Doors come in matt lacquer, laminate and Dekton stone in standard or bespoke sizes. The kitchens can house appliances www.kbbdaily.com

WHITE CARRARA SPLASHBACK Alusplash Tel: 08001 712 909 www.alusplash.com Inspired by Iceland’s basalt columns, Alusplash has introduced a sleek, marble-effect finish for its Elements splashbacks. The smooth aluminium panels are fire, steam and water resistant, as well as grout-free, non-porous, antibacterial and easy to install. They’re 4mmm thick and are available in four sizes from 3050mm x 545mm

MONZA

ANTIQUE

Villeroy & Boch Tel: 01922 698 000 www.euromobel.co.uk Monza is a new contemporary, design-led kitchen from Villeroy & Boch featuring on-trend, wall-hung units in 12 super-matt-laminate colours. It’s pictured here in Verde Commodore, with gold detail and profiles, and has been offset with an island in Cera, a white-marble ceramic finish. Both kitchen styles offer five handleless profile choices and four edge colours

Bert & May Tel: 02037 440 776 www.bertandmay.com Decorative, ornate and saturated with colour, Bert & May’s new Antique tile collection consists of four traditional patterns, reworked from favourite reclaimed tiles in the company archive. Each new design has been created with a bespoke metal mould, based on the original tiles. Pictured is Quinta Marron, a traditional design with floral and leaf motifs in bold, rich hues ek&bbusiness

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essential kitchens | new products

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ALASKAN OAK & TALPA

INTEGRATED DISHWASHER

Daval Tel: 01484 848 500 www.daval-furniture.co.uk Daval has two new, Scandinavianinspired finishes. Alaskan Oak is a whitewashed, oak-effect laminate with natural-looking details, shown here on Varenna slab doors with knurled bar handles in matt black. This is offset with the Talpa supermatt laminate in taupe on the handleless Rio door, with custom band detail in brushed brass

Pando Tel: 03303 320 803 www.pandouk.com Pandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new range of integrated, eco-friendly dishwashers includes two 60cm-wide models with 14 place settings, a 45cm-wide version with 10 place settings and a compact, in-column eight-placesetting version with a black-glass door. Pictured is the top-of-therange, A+++ rated PLT-7260 that uses just 9.91 litres of water

DARK COLLECTION Caesarstone Tel: 08001 588 088 www.caesarstone.co.uk Inspired by desert landscapes and natural stones, Caesarstone has four new dark surfaces. Piatto Black has a granular look, Black Tempal is a charcoal and warm-white, travertine style and Oxidian is dark grey with an oxidised-russet effect. All three have a slightly textured Natural Finish. Empira Black (shown) has a black polished-marble look, with natural, white veins

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JOYA TAP Caple Tel: 01179 381 900 www.caple.co.uk Caple’s new dual-control Joya tap features an elegant swan-neck spout and separate circular handles with a striking diamond-cut effect. Available in gold, black steel, stainless-steel and copper finishes, the tap will sit particularly well in contemporary, open-plan kitchen-dining areas. It requires a minimum 0.5 bar pressure and measures 340mm high with a 203mm reach www.kbbdaily.com

IRON HOOKS & BRACKETS Devol Tel: 01509 261 000 www.devolkitchens.co.uk Devol’s new range of hand-forged iron hooks and brackets is the first collection to come out of the brand’s recently-opened forge. The new in-house blacksmith has created the everyday yet beautiful accessories to look hundreds of years old and stand the test of time in the home, adding depth and character to the space

INDUCTION HOBS

CASABLANCA

Hotpoint Tel: 03448 224 224 www.hotpoint.co.uk Hotpoint has launched a sevenstrong range of induction hobs with easy-to-use functions and flexible cooking options. Pictured here is the 60cm-wide TS 5760F NE with four cooking zones, 18 power levels and a Flexi Space function, so two zones can be combined for larger pots. There are also pre-set low, medium and high powers to allow you to move pans around seamlessly

CTD Architectural Tiles Tel: 08000 214 835 www.ctdarchitecturaltiles.co.uk Inspired by traditional North-African ceramics, the new Casablanca collection by CTD Architectural Tiles offers a variety of colour and pattern with a handcrafted appearance and uneven edges. Available in a 124 x 124mm format with a warm, matt finish, the glazed, ceramic range includes plain-white tiles and 10 different décor tiles for walls or floors ek&bbusiness

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essential kitchens | new products

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STRATO Rational Tel: 08001 601 845 www.rational.de/en Rational’s new industrial-style Strato kitchen features matt-laminate doors with a metallic textured finish, similar to linen, to help soften the look slightly. The base units are complemented by new anodised black, textured, rolled handles and tall units open with a push-latch system. Inwards-sliding pocket doors also help make the most of tight spaces www.kbbdaily.com

NEXUS STEAM INDUCTION RANGE COOKER

SEMBLANCE ANTIBACTERIAL PORCELAIN

Rangemaster Tel: 01159 464 000 www.rangemaster.co.uk Rangemaster has launched the 110cm-wide, Nexus Steam Induction range cooker with a steam oven and five-zone induction hob with bridging function and three low-temperature settings. In Black, Stainless Steel, Ivory or Slate, it also includes a separate grill, proving drawer and multifunction oven

Lapicida Tel: 01423 400 100 www.lapicida.com Lapicida’s new Semblance range of porcelain tiles and slabs has an antibacterial shield infused into the surface, creating a permanent, protective layer that eliminates up to 99.9% of bacteria. Suitable for floors, walls and worktops, Semblance comes in Moon, Desert, Stone and Carbon marble looks

Q LINE Mereway Tel: 08000 284 466 www.mereway.co.uk Joining Mereway’s contemporary Cucina Colore collection is the new Q-Line kitchen available as a handleless grip-profile door, a touchto-open design or a mix of both. In new sleek ceramic and glass finishes, Q-Line features a lower 60mm plinth line for increased storage capacity as well as extra-wide drawer and wall units for added design flexbility ek&bbusiness

Smegâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new smart ovens are a great selling point for kitchen studios, says the firm's UK MD Mike Giddings Words Amelia Thorpe Photos Paul Craig

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essential kitchens | Smeg

he latest launch from Italian have been bestsellers since the 1990s, and appliance brand Smeg is its special editions produced in collaboration collection of VIVOscreen connected ovens with Dolce & Gabbana and Disney. But do with colourful touch-screen displays. they really work as well as those by other “They have probably one of the most manufacturers? Giddings is quick to respond. advanced, if not the most advanced, “I don’t think that [criticism] has applied for technology displays in the industry now,” many years,” he says. “From a technology point says UK MD Mike Giddings. “They are very of view, we’ve come on leaps and bounds. It’s high-quality pieces of equipment which are something that’s still mentioned, but just also very simple and doesn’t apply. I have straightforward to use.” total conviction that our Available on Smeg’s products are amongst Dolce Stil Novo and the very best.” Jones Linea top-end oven adds that warranties ranges, the displays can on the new VIVOscreen be scrolled vertically range are now a and horizontally, and generous five years. come with automatic Today, the product cooking programmes portfolio includes a Laura Jones, product manager and a temperature complete collection probe designed to of small appliances produce personalised (SDA), “a phenomenal results, with remote control via the success and massively beneficial for the SmegConnect App. “The whole point of these brand,” says Giddings, and MDA (major smart appliances is to enhance our lives and domestic appliances), with sales split about save us time,” says product manager Laura 50% built-in and 50% freestanding. “Built-in is Jones. “You can get better-quality results and our fastest-growing category, or at least it was more enjoyment, with more convenience.” until the virus [COVID-19 lockdown] kicked The products certainly look sleek – and join in,” says Giddings. “We believe there’s still a an extensive family of appliances including massive opportunity for built-in, particularly those designed by Renzo Piano and Marc in the kitchen studios where we haven’t been Newson, the retro-style FAB fridges which as successful as we would want.” f

“The whole point of these smart appliances is to enhance our lives and save us time̜

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4 1 & 4 Dolce Stil Novo built-in

6 The Wi-Fi connected Dolce

appliances with VIVOscreen

Stil Novo built-in oven can

connected ovens 2 Mike Giddings, MD, and

be controlled via the

Laura Jones, product manager 3 The new HOBD 2-in-1 hood in multizone induction hob 5 Dolce Stil Novo built-in oven

SmegConnect app 7 Dolce Stil Novo built-in compact wine cooler with Wi-Fi connectivity and Sommelier drawer

with VIVOscreen full-colour display and temperature probe

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Q&A What is your greatest challenge? “There’s dramatic change in the overall market, with the retail sector under a huge amount of pressure as we all know. Broadly, the same amount of appliances will be bought this year as last, but where they’re bought may be different. Providing the consumer with access to product is changing and we need to follow the pattern. That’s a challenge for all manufacturers” Mike Giddings

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What is your greatest opportunity? “To tap into the market for built-in products in kitchen studios, where we currently under-perform, given the fact that we have such a strong proposition for them. It’s not an easy market to break into, but we’ve got a very good opportunity this time” Mike Giddings Strange but true “Smeg has long had nice connections to the car industry, including the stand-out collection with FIAT500, the British racing-green MG fridge and our sponsorship of the Ferrari racing team in the ’70s. Nothing came close, however, to when we were approached to supply a silver fridge, which, unbeknown to us, was magically transformed into a go-kart and put through its paces in the world-famous Soap Box rallies” Mike Giddings

4 f Continues Giddings, “We’ve always been seen as having cosmetically very desirable, aspirational product with a unique mystique about the brand, so I think the range lends itself to kitchen studios, but in the past, perhaps the range hasn’t been sufficiently complete for them,” he says. “But now, if you look at the depth of products that we’ve got, there’s every reason for the kitchen studios to get behind the brand. I don’t know of any other brand that offers the cosmetic difference that we do, as well as producing great products from a functional point of view.” Last year, the sales team was increased by four to allow for more focus on kitchen studios, while the launch of VIVOscreen will be a focus for a further push. “We were already making good inroads with two years of success in kitchen studios,” he says. “Now we have all the right product, it’s just getting out there and making contact with as many studios as we can.” Q 24

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essential kitchens | Smeg

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PROFILE Smeg UK Who are we? Mike Giddings, MD, and Laura Jones, product manager Where are we? The Magna Building, Wyndyke Furlong, Abingdon, OX14 1DZ Tel: 03445 570 070 www.smeguk.com

What we do... Italian home-appliance manufacturer Business history Founded in 1948 by the Bertazzoni family in Guastalla, Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, Smeg is still a family-owned company run by third-generation family member, CEO Vittorio Bertazzoni. The Smeg acronym derives from “Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla” or “Emilian metallurgical enamel works of Guastalla”. Although there were once family links with the Bertazzoni appliance brand, there are no longer any connections between the two businesses

13 14

Today, Smeg’s in-house design studio continues to collaborate with renowned designers, including Mario Bellini, the Piano Design studio, Marc Newson and Raffaella Mangiarotti. Most MDA products are manufactured at Smeg-owned factories in Italy. The company has 18 direct commercial subsidiaries in international markets, including the UK, plus distribution partners around the world Smeg UK is run by Mike Giddings, who has worked for the company for about 20 years. The firm was established in the UK in 1989, with a HQ, showroom and warehouse facility in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. In 2017, Smeg opened a flagship retail store in central London. In the UK, the company offers about 1,500 SKUs (stock-keeping units), including MDA, SDA, sinks and taps Sales stats “Before the Virus, we were growing at about 10% on last year, with growth across all channels,” says Giddings

Staffing levels About 120 in the UK

1 Inside the showroom at Abdingdon HQ 2 Smeg cookers and hoods produced in collaboration with Italian

VIVOscreen ovens on the back wall 7 Special edition FAB fridge produced in collaboration with

12 Dolce Stil Novo gas hob with Bird Design pan-stand kits

fashion house Dolce & Gabbana 3 Linea built-in appliances

Dolce & Gabbana 8 Personalised FAB28 fridges

shown here in front of Smeg’s small-appliance collection 14 Smeg’s laundry appliances

4 Portofino range cookers, available in eight colours 5 Smeg’s collection of FAB fridges and fridge-freezers 6 Cooking area in the HQ showroom with the new Dolce Stil Novo

9 Smeg’s integrated fridge collection 10 Limited-edition Mickey Mouse FAB fridge

15 Smeg’s dishwasher collection

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13 Smeg’s partnership with Fiat resulted in the SMEG500 fridge-cellar,

11 L to R, Opera, Symphony, Victoria and Portofino range cookers

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SEE THE Kitchen lighting has evolved to meet the multifunctional demands of open-plan living spaces, and getting it right is integral to a successful design Words Emma Hedges

imes have changed. point depending on how the space is Kitchen lighting is no being used. “There’s a trend for using longer about a single switch decorative wall lights to light work and a couple of pendants. surfaces, but this means removing With spaces opening up wall units, which is not an ideal to incorporate cooking, solution if space is at a premium,” dining and living areas, a host of he explains. “Once you’ve ensured different light sources and effects you have enough task light, then are required. “Kitchens are fairly it’s time to layer up the ambient complicated spaces to light as you decorative lights so the kitchen can need the be transformed right mix of into a boutique functional hotel-style space, task lighting when guests and ambient come over and mood lighting the lights so that you go down.” can transform “Layering seamlessly lighting is one from cleaning of the most the pots important and pans elements of to enjoying planning as Massimo Minale, founder and creative an intimate it allows the director at Buster & Punch dinner homeowner with the to adapt the family,” says kitchen space Massimo Minale, founder and throughout the day,” agrees Laura creative director for home-fashion Shutkever, head of marketing for LED label Buster & Punch. “The main manufacturer TLW. “If a kitchen has challenge is knowing exactly how nothing but bright task lighting, the someone will use their kitchen, room may become less appealing and ensuring the lighting is to spend time in.” She believes that tailored to this.” recent technological innovation He recommends starting with works to strengthen the kitchen functional task lighting, with track designer’s hand when it comes to lighting being a flexible option as it layering. “Smart lighting is the most allows the lights to be moved at any important technological advance f

“The main challenge is knowing exactly how someone will use their kitchen, and ensuring the lighting is tailored to this̜

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essential kitchens | special report

ROBIN PENDANT Leyton Lighting Tel: 01268 544 488 www.leyton-lighting.co.uk The Robin pendant is ideal for lining up over breakfast bars and islands, as shown here, to provide a focal point and direct illumination where required. The range includes a 4-bar light, three round plate versions and a table lamp, and is pictured here in Matt Black metal and smoked glass, with an E27 lamp holder. It has a 150cm drop, which can be reduced, if necessary, on installation

EMOTION LIGHT Nolte KĂźchen Tel: 0049 57 328 990 www.nolte-kitchens.com Nolte offers a wide range of LED lighting options, which can be equipped with the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Emotion Light system to allow for a smooth transition between warm and cool white lighting, and also enable it to be dimmed. Lighting in this scheme with the MatrixArt design has been positioned in the handle trims and open shelving to provide task lighting and enhance the horizontal lines

MANILA

MIA Scavolini Tel: 07444 799 256 www.scavolini.com The hanging structure above the island in this scheme, showing the Mia collection designed by chef Carlo Cracco for Scavolini, features LED task lighting underneath to illuminate the sink and hob below. LED lighting on the back-wall panel ensures the prep-zone work surface is well lit, while vertical strips in the glass larder cupboard at the back illuminate the interior to create an eye-catching display

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Rotpunkt Tel: 07415 113 946 www.rotpunktuk.com Integrated LED lighting comes as standard in Rotpunkt kitchens, including within units for display purposes, and under shelves, canopies, cabinets and within drawers for practical illumination. Its collection ranges from flexible LED strips to lighting with smarthome capabilities. Pictured is the new Manila LED under-cabinet lighting with a black finish

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WARM LED TLW Tel: 01302 741 941 www.TLWglobal.com This traditional-style scheme features warm LED lighting in a variety of locations to reinforce the cosy feel. Over the cabinets, 3000K 4.8W LED tape is used to produce soft up-lighting, while under the cabinets are TLW’s Nova lights in 3000K warm white. The plinth features Strata stainless steel square lights in 3000K, and inside the glass-fronted cabinets are Galaxy round spotlights in 3000K. The Murano pendant hangs over the island with a 3000K warm white LED lightbulb

BESPOKE DESIGN John Cullen Lighting Tel: 02073 719 000 www.johncullenlighting.com John Cullen Lighting’s Contour HD27 LED strip lighting is used in this contemporary-style galley kitchen to highlight the linear elements and give the feel of a larger space. Available in different colour temperatures, Contour strips can be cut every 50mm and are sold by the metre. They are ideal for providing detail lighting or highlighting features of joinery and are used here to provide task lighting above the island, along with Square Doubles in the ceiling

f to come to the lighting industry in recent years. Using smart devices such as Amazon Alexa to control lighting enables the user to dim and brighten their lights, schedule them, control them from anywhere in the world, and control multiple lighting areas in the home with one simple command,” she says. Technological advances also extend to colour temperature, which is a key component in bringing out the best in both the aesthetic and practical appeal of a kitchen design. Cool blue light has an invigorating effect and is ideal for task lighting, while warmer yellow and orange tones create a relaxing mood that’s perfect for open-plan spaces. “The next innovation is colour-changing LED and the use of smart solutions to control scenes,” says Minale. 28

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LOOX Häfele Tel: 08001 712 909 www.hafele.co.uk Loox LED technology has been designed by Häfele to enhance the functionality and appearance of a space and lets homeowners combine light and entertainment components, with switches and controls integrated to power other elements including TV lifts and electric sliding doors. Available in 12V and 24V systems, the LED components are colour coded and offer plug-and-play technology for quick installation

“Turning a kitchen purple is not to everyone’s taste, however being able to transform a lightbulb from warm white to cool white – ambient to task – is very useful and ties in with the idea of altering the mood of an openplan space at the touch of a button.” The wealth of different products now available to the designer, from flexible dotless tape for linear, under-plinth illumination through to dimmable ceilingrecessed downlights, means that the opportunities to get creative are vast. So what’s next when it comes to designing with lighting? “I predict that both track lighting and exposed LED bar systems will be the next big thing in kitchens,” says Minale. “We’ll start to design kitchens in the same way we design shops: with flexibility and theatre at the forefront.” Q

DIMMABLE LED Omega Tel: 01405 743 333 www.omegaplc.co.uk This kitchen design with the Inset Sheraton Setosa Painted Graphite range, along with an island in Painted White, features bendable LED strip lighting with a solid light under the wall units and around the plinth light to create a seamless glow. Each area of the design is independently controlled via Wi-Fi to allow for control through Alexa, giving full flexibility on lighting levels, dimming, timing and switching off www.kbbdaily.com

Trend watch: What’s hot and what’s next in lighting?

CARATTERE Scavolini Tel: 02080 900 909 www.scavolini.com Scavolini’s Carattere kitchen is shown here in Prestige White glossy lacquered door and frame door with transparent Bronze glass, with lighting elements incorporated in the design. LED lighting features are inside the glass units, illuminating the contents to create a display, as well as under the units to cast task lighting on the worktops. In addition, inside the Switch appliance cupboard on the right-hand side, LED lighting is turned on when the retractable doors are pulled back

» “We’re now seeing a lot of our clients opt for self-adjusting systems that are activated and deactivated depending on the amount of natural light in the room. This is a great way to make sure the balance of lighting is always right” John Butler, designer, Elements Kitchen Design » “Homeowners are increasingly considering how components can marry up with their style. For example, concealed switches can be integrated into the materials used to make up key pieces of furniture in a space so they are totally hidden from view. Added to that, the white and RGB spectrums that make up LED lighting can be mixed to reflect décor choices” Paul Cook, business development manager, Häfele » “Kitchen lighting is being transformed by the possibilities of wireless lighting controls. The ability to dim and change the colour temperature of lighting through an app is exciting and gives homeowners ultimate control over it” James Bassant, co-founder and design director, Astro Lighting » “I suggest that designers plan ahead by choosing products that are ‘smarthome ready’. By that I mean having the capability to be operated by world-leading apps such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so homeowners can use voice control to set their lighting” Matt Phillips, head of UK operations, Rotpunkt

DOTLESS TAPE Leyton Lighting Tel: 01268 544 488 www.leyton-lighting.co.uk Leyton Lighting’s dotless tape FX-LIP does not need a diffuser and is ideal for placing in situations where it’s preferable to avoid creating a ‘dotting’ effect, such as under worktops with handleless profiles and plinths above highly polished floors. The IP65-rated LIP tape is self-adhesive and can be used for curved planes and surfaces. It can be dimmed if required, and is available in Extra Warm, Warm, Neutral or Cool White

CAGED CEILING 5.0

LED TAPE TLW Tel: 01302 741 941 www.TLWglobal.com Continuous strip lighting such as LED tape emphasises the sleek lines in a contemporary kitchen. In this scheme, 4000K LED tape in 4.8W is installed inside aluminium profiles to provide softer ambient lighting that is also dotless. Under the cabinets, 4000K 9.6W LED tape provides task lighting for the worktop, while inside the glass-fronted cabinets are TLW’s 4000K Nova mini spotlights. Over the island are two Cezanne pendants with 4000K LED bulbs www.kbbdaily.com

Buster & Punch Tel: 02074 070 888 www.busterandpunch.com This rectangular chandelier is made from a matt-black metal cage with knurled details and uses five dimmable LED bulbs or tubes. Great for making a design statement over a kitchen island or bar area, the light can be surface mounted directly onto the ceiling or elongated with additional extension cages measuring up to a metre. It comes with a white or black marble backplate and is IP20 rated

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essential kitchens | special report

VERSAILLES Astro Lighting Tel: 01279 427 001 www.astrolighting.com Featuring ribbed glass and metal edging, the IP44-rated Art Deco style Versailles wall light range comes in a variety of widths and 250mm, 370mm, 400mm and 600mm heights. Available in Bronze and Polished Chrome finishes, the 400mm and 250mm models also come in a Matt Gold option for a luxe look. Pictured here installed vertically is the Versailles 400 in Bronze, with 7.2W LED bulbs offering a 3000K warm-white colour temperature to create an intimate dining area

EXHAUST SURFACE Buster & Punch Tel: 02074 070 888 www.busterandpunch.com Complete with the Buster & Punch signature linearknurl baffle, this surface-mounted fixed spotlight has a powder-coated body in either Graphite or Stone, and solid-metal detailing in Steel, Brass, Gun Metal or Burnt Steel. The baffle has the effect of capturing light and creating a delicate metallic glow, while a honeycomb filter emits a non-glare directional spotlight. The light fits a 9W LED GU10 bulb and is IP20 rated

BESPOKE DESIGN John Cullen Lighting Tel: 02073 719 000 www.johncullenlighting.com This open-plan scheme features layered lighting designed by John Cullen Lighting and demonstrates how a space can be both zoned and pulled together by using lighting effects. Versatile IP67-rated Lucca uplights, which are available in a variety of sizes and finishes, are combined with the brand’s Square Doubles, while Contour HD27 strip lighting is used to highlight recesses and beneath the work surface

DOMO Leicht Tel: +49 71 714 020 www.leicht.com/en/dealer The Domo niche system features the brand’s exclusive lighting concept. Using only LED lights with 4000K colour, it’s designed to create enough light directly above the worktop to prepare food by, while creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere at the same time. The system can be installed as a strip light in a delicate metal housing with a glass cover, as shown here, or as a square spot

, senior lighting designer at John Cullen Lighting, gives her top tips for lighting an open-plan kitchen scheme » Incorporate open, floating shelves to display glassware and backlight them using 2400K LED strips for a sophisticated look. This will create the perfect mood lighting in the evening, and a strip under the front shelf will double up as good task lighting over the worktop.

JOEL Astro Lighting Tel: 01279 427 001 www.astrolighting.com Astro’s classic, mid-century Joel collection comprises wall and pendant lights, as well as floor and table variants for a co-ordinated look that works well in both contemporary and traditionalstyle schemes. The wall lights, shown here providing task lighting over a prep zone, come in Cream or Matt Black, while the pendants are available in two sizes and also a polished chrome finish. All have an IP rating of IP20

» Run warm LED strips along the top of tall cupboards to reflect light off the ceiling and make the kitchen feel airy and bright. If the space between the top of the unit and the ceiling is blocked in, set the panel back slightly and position the LED strip at the front. » Low-level lighting is essential when changing up the mood from day to night. Use low-glare skirting lights in the kickplates, or add Contour HD24 LED strips under the overhang on the island for added ambience. These can then be dimmed to the same level as the lamps in the living area to connect the two spaces. » My simple top tip is that lights with colour temperatures that are 2700K or lower always offer a pleasant atmosphere.

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set up Truman Kitchens last year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to get back to doing what he likes best Words Amelia Thorpe Photos Paul Craig

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essential kitchens | Truman Kitchens

4 5

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1 A custom-made 80mm

5 Drawers in Halifax Oak

oak breakfast bar, with

contrast with Urban Carbon

custom oak shelving unit

units that include a Caple

and Urban units in Carbon 2 & 3 Urban kitchen

wine cooler 6 Custom-made oak

display in Carbon with

shelves, next to Urban

sections of Halifax Oak and Neff ovens, gas hob and

Carbon units 7 Dekton Orix worktop is

canopy hood 4 An 80mm oak breakfast

Center stainless-steel sink

shown with a Franke Box

bar forms part of the Urban

and Semi Professional tap,

kitchen display in Carbon and

above Urban Carbon units

Halifax Oak, with Dekton Orix worktops

ighteen months ago, Alan Bricknell, 52, completed a business management course at Arden University. “It was one of the best things I’ve ever done,” he says. “It made me stand back and look at my business and focus on what I really wanted to do.” After working in kitchens and installations since leaving school, most recently running Developments & Design, a commercial and residential refurbishment business he set up in 2006, Bricknell felt propelled to make a change. “Although we did kitchens, people had started to think that we were a building company,” he explains. “You can get stuck a rut, and before you know it, you can find yourself going down a road that doesn’t really suit you.” As he completed the course, he decided to open Truman Kitchens, after realising he needed to return to the work that gave him most job satisfaction. “I do love kitchens and find them relatively easy,” he says. He was careful, however, to use his previous experience of running a local high-street

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kitchen-retail business (most recently, from Truman’s own glued and dowelled, colour2002 to 2010), to try to avoid the pressure of co-ordinated carcasses, made in an off-site three-deep queues of customers on a Saturday location, with doors from a variety of different afternoon. The Truman Kitchens showroom suppliers. There are six different door styles, forms part of a 320 sq m warehouse and available in any colour. Specials, including workshop unit on an custom-made canopies, industrial park in Sutton are made in the Coldfield and is only workshop adjacent open by appointment. to the showroom. “Here, clients come in “We’re finding that for a one-to-one meeting more and more people with me and it works want our inframe really well. They can designs, so our order have as much time as value is increasing as they need,” he says. “I we move to the higher also wanted to avoid end of the market,” all the time wasters continues Bricknell, who Alan Bricknell, Truman Kitchens you tend to get with has seen the average a showroom in a order value move from high-street location.” about £10,000 up to What makes Truman Kitchens stand out? £25,000 and above. Retailers have also been “We offer the complete package,” says in contact. “Those who are not geared to Bricknell. “We cover design, supply, producing inframe kitchens have asked if we installations and all the associated building can make for them, so now we’re rolling out an work from internal refurbs all the way through offer for them,” he says. “It’s all part of the plan to small extensions.” Kitchens are made using to develop the Truman Kitchens brand.” Q

“Here, clients come in for a one-to-one meeting with me and it works really well. They can have as much time as they need̜

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essential kitchens | Truman Kitchens

1 3 5

HOW HAS THE COVID 19 LOCKDOWN AFFECTED BUSINESS? “Before lockdown, we were going great guns. After lockdown, nothing! But since the first-stage lifting of lockdown, we’ve been back to normal and I’m rushed off my feet again as usual”

4 9

Q&A What is your greatest challenge? “Dealing with suppliers! It’s not true of all of them, but some make you feel almost as if you are working for them, rather than the other way around” What is your greatest opportunity? “Opening Truman has made me fall back in love with kitchens” Strange but true “I fitted a kitchen in a house in 1989. Thirty years later, I’m back there putting in a new one”

1 & 4 & 5 Classic

7 A Falcon range

Cashmere cabinetry

cooker is surrounded

with Franke tap and

by Traditional

soap dispenser 2 Miele oven

cabinetry in Light

and combination

Ocean and Alsace

microwave, shown

brassware by Perrin

with Caple wine

& Rowe 8 Included in the

cooler, in Classic

7 www.kbbdaily.com

Grey, with island in

Cashmere cabinetry 3 Custom banquette

Traditional kitchen

seating with Classic

pantry cupboard

Cashmere storage 6 Pull-out larder

in Light Grey 9 Traditional island

unit as part of

in Ocean with

Classic Cashmere

Silestone White

kitchen display

Arabesque worktop

display, a built-in

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essential kitchens | Truman Kitchens

PROFILE Truman Kitchens Who are we? Alan Bricknell, MD Where are we? 10a Maybrook Business Park, Maybrook Road, Minworth, Sutton Coldfield, B76 1AL Tel: 01213 515 169 www.trumankitchens.co.uk

What we do... Independent kitchen retailer Business history Co-owned by founders and husband-and-wife team, MD Alan and financial director Louise Bricknell, Truman Kitchens, named after Louise’s maiden name, opened its doors in January 2019

1 Traditional island

5 Modern pocket

in Ocean with

doors in Stone Grey

Silestone White

open to reveal a bar

Arabesque worktop 2 A Falcon range

with Quooker Fusion

cooker is surrounded

Blum Oak slimline

by Traditional cabinetry in Light

drawer boxes 6 Modern kitchen

Grey, with island

in Stone Grey with

in Ocean 3 Perrin & Rowe

copper details and

Square tap and

Alsace mixer with lever

Siemens appliances 7 Modern units

handles and rinse

in Graphite with

above a Belfast sink 4 Modern kitchen

Silestone Calacatta

in Stone Grey and

Quooker Flex tap

Graphite with Silestone Calacatta

Gold worktop and a

Alan Bricknell began his career fitting kitchens for new developments, before setting up his own shopfitting and installation firm. In 2002, he bought a large local kitchen retailer, running it until he closed it in 2010, moving away from retail to concentrate on commercial work in his Developments & Design business, which he had set up in 2006. He opened Truman Kitchens to run alongside Developments & Design, which now focuses on commercial washrooms

Appliances by Caple, Bosch, Neff, Siemens, Miele. Sinks and taps mainly from Franke, Quooker

7 Kitchen prices start from £15,000; average £25,000; most expensive to date, £100,000 Sales stats “About £1million a year, including both Developments & Design and Truman Kitchens,” says Alan Bricknell Staffing levels 5 including Alan and Louise Bricknell, with about 53 subcontractors, including son Myles and his business partner Simon Hull, who run one of the teams

Gold worktops

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ek&bbusiness

E L I T A S R E V LE Y T S

SALERNO Stone & Ceramic Warehouse Tel: 02089 935 545 www.sacw.co.uk Measuring 75 x 300mm, the Stone & Ceramic Warehouse’s Salerno decorative ceramic wall tiles can be laid in brick bond, offset and herringbone patterns, as well as vertical or horizontal stacked patterns, as shown, to enhance the height of the space. They are available in Aqua, Apple, Yellow, Red, White, Mink, Beige, Blue and Green, pictured here, and feature a highly reflective, glossy surface

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Tiles are not just hardwearing and hygienic surface solutions – with the latest technology, there’s a look out there to suit every kitchen aesthetic Words Emma Hedges

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essential kitchens | special report

WOOD EFFECT We’re finding that the interest in tiling as a stylish, hygienic and durable finish has never been stronger,” says Paul Luff, chairman of The Tile Association, which represents the UK and Irish industry. He believes the UK wall and floor tiles market is a “dynamic one, enjoying growth and product innovation”, and that while it remains to be seen the extent to which COVID-19 has interrupted the overall growth pattern, he’s confident in the sector’s ability to keep up with consumer trends. “Innovations in tile development mean that the aesthetic of natural wood, for a long time a popular choice in flooring, can now be combined with the ease of maintenance offered by tiles,” says Luff. “Currently the concrete, or industrial, look is also in vogue, along with an increasingly wide range of size, shape and texture options. These innovations mean that more choice is available to the kitchen designer than ever before,” he adds. “Digital printing techniques have exploded over the past few years, bringing with them a host of different designs and innovations to the UK market,” explains Katy Black, marketing director at Verona tile suppliers. “One of the biggest developments has been creating highly realistic wood and stone effects on ceramic and porcelain tiles with raised surfaces and intricate detailing. The printing techniques are so advanced that it’s hard to distinguish these imitation designs from the natural material.” f

Indigenous Tel: 01933 824 200 www.indigenous.co.uk These wood-effect porcelain tiles in pale shade Nougat offer a Scandi feel and capture the natural look of real timber while having the hardwearing and stain-resistant benefits of porcelain. They are also easy to maintain. Available in a 6mm depth, the tiles come in three different sizes – 187 x 1500mm, 250 x 1500mm and 375 x 1500mm. They are suitable for both walls and floors, and are suitable for installation with underfloor heating

SOUTH Apavisa Tel: +34 964 701 120 www.apavisa.com This on-trend terrazzo collection of porcelain wall and floor tiles from Apavisa comes in four base pastel shades – Green, Pink, White and Grey, pictured – each with chips in contrasting colours and all with a natural finish. There are two square formats measuring 1000 x 1000mm and 600 x 600mm, and a hexagonal tile measuring 250 x 300mm, as well as mesh-mounted mosaics measuring 297.5 x 297.5mm

f According to Black, new production methods last 12 months has been the influx of Zellige are also creating a wave of next-generation, glazing technology. It’s a contemporary take large-format tiles that are often convincing on a traditional Moroccan tile that reproduces imitations of marble or stone as well as wood, the charm of historic handmade tiles with concrete or cement. “These porcelain tiles irregular edges and surface variations,” have a thinner profile that makes them just he says. as durable but lighter and easier to handle With wall tiles, the consumer love affair during installation. They’re perfect for openwith a bolder look is continuing unabated, says plan kitchen spaces,” she says. Added to that, Vann, and this is seen, not just in the broad they’re frequently available in both indoor range of colour and pattern that’s currently and outdoor versions available, but also in response to the in the way tiles are trend for creating a installed. “It’s all in seamless look. The the laying pattern,” outdoor tiles appear he says. “The same identical to the tile can be used interior ones but have in myriad ways to anti-slip properties. create feature walls Peter Vann, director and splashbacks, at importer and and patterns can distributor Ceramique include herringbone, Peter Vann, director at Internationale, cites chevron, half-bond Ceramique Internationale the volumetric wallor stacked-brick tile trend that was so arrangements plus a evident at this year’s stacked-portrait style Cevisama tile fair in Valencia, as another result to create lots of different, striking effects.” of innovation. “For those looking for something Says Black: “Designers can choose a plain really different, three-dimensional tiles are tile, then transform it by choosing an intricate the go-to. There are a number on the market basket-weave design and adding a coloured now that are great for adding texture and grout. The overall essence is one of playfulness interest,” he says. However, he’s particularly and experimentation with pattern – it’s the struck by advances in technology that mimic versatility of tiles that makes them such a the look and character of handmade tiles. “The striking option for many designers,” most interesting technical innovation in the she concludes. Q

“The same tile can be used in myriad ways to create feature walls and splashbacks̜

RESIDENCE Winchester Tile Company Tel: 01392 473 000 www.originalstyle.com The Residence collection of hand-finished ceramic wall tiles have a clay base, which creates the slightly rippled surfaces and uneven edges that add to the artisan look, while the traditional screen-printing production method ensures no two tiles are the same. Available in a broad range of patterns and colours (pictured here is a patchwork of the Manoir patterns in Mint) the tiles measure 129 x 129mm www.kbbdaily.com

ek&bbusiness

Andrew Chappell, UK SALES REPRESENTATIVE FOR SPANISH PORCELAIN TILES MANUFACTURER VIVES, REVEALS THIS YEAR’S KEY TILE TRENDS » Eco tiles Specifiers are wanting to know more about the lifecycle of products and the global tile industry has responded well. For example, the Spanish tile sector has developed an Environmental Product Declaration (DAP) that gives details of the recycled content of a tile and its impact on the environment

CR.ARNO Pamesa Tel: +34 964 507 500 www.pamesa.com Pamesa’s Cr.Arno design is a marble-effect grès (meaning that it has been extremely vitrified) porcelain tile, with intense veining that reinterprets the classic Bianco Pisa marble. Available in four formats – 150 x 75mm, 120 x 120mm, 120 x 60mm and 90 x 90mm – it’s suitable for both walls and floors and comes in two colourways: Azzurro, a contemporary bluish option, and golden Antic, shown here

» Enhanced porcelain Groundbreaking manufacturing processes are being used to create enhanced porcelain products that realistically imitate natural materials such as stone or wood, while boasting technical characteristics that make them stronger and tougher than ever before » Volumetric Thanks to their great versatility, ceramics can be used to create all kinds of intriguing reliefs, from subtle textures to large-scale geometrics that easily satisfy the demand for novelty

MEDLEY Reed Harris Tel: 02077 367 511 www.reedharris.co.uk This range of porcelain floor and wall tiles features four pattern types with differing grades of terrazzo from fine concrete to large, widely spaced chips, in a variety of sizes. There are six colourways with contrasting chips to choose from, including bold blues, greens, pinks, and both light and dark greys, with plain-coloured tiles also available for added design flexibility. Shown here is a scheme using the Rock White floor tiles

» Inside/outside As the use of bi-fold doors that open up to the garden continues to dominate kitchen design, ceramic products are firm favourites to make a harmonious continuum, often with two different finishes: a smoother tile surface in the interior and an anti-slip surface for the tiles being used outside, while both are visually identical » Marble effects Large slabs of marble-effect porcelain can be realistic imitations of classic marbles or imaginative interpretations that will make a breathtaking impact » Terrazzo Porcelain terrazzo effects are popular at the moment, sometimes with exaggerated designs and unusual colour palettes that are even more eye-catching than the real thing » Pattern Encaustic-style cement effects are still going strong, but the next big design influence will be the large-surface patterns of fabrics and textiles of the 1960s and 1970s

LONDON DeVol Tel: 01509 261 000 www.devolkitchens.co.uk Inspired by the traditional glossy tiles of London tube stations and East End pub interiors, DeVol’s Emerald Green London tiles are rolled, cut, glazed and fired in its Cotes Mill ceramics studio. Each tile measures 237 x 155mm, with a depth of 8mm, and features subtle variations in tone. They are pictured here with the company’s Classic English Kitchen, fluted Arabescato marble sink and aged-brass hanging rail

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essential kitchens | special report

FUSION STONE RAK Ceramics Tel: 01730 237 850 www.rakceramics.com/uk/ These contemporary-style, stone-look porcelain tiles feature a unique tactile polish to give them an authentic feel and are rectified to create minimal grout lines. They come in several sizes and either a natural or lappato finish, and six different colours including Black, shown here. Also available are natural tones Dark Grey, Greige, Grey, Beige and Ivory

DOVETAIL Harvey Maria Tel: 03303 301 231 www.harveymaria.com Designed by Neisha Crosland, the bold Dovetail tile range comes in seven colours including Burnt Copper, French Clay and Oxford Blue. Pictured here in Ink Black for a striking monochrome effect, the luxury vinyl flooring tiles measure 305 x 305mm, with an overall thickness of 2.5mm, and have a 0.55mm wear layer for added durability. They are waterproof and slip resistant, suitable for kitchen and bathroom applications and are also compatible with underfloor heating

INSIGNIA Ceramique Internationale Tel: 01132 310 218 www.tilesandmosaics.co.uk The Insignia glazed chevron wall-tile collection from Ceramique Internationale comes in left and right configurations to help make the distinctive ‘zig-zag’ chevron laying pattern, which works particularly well when creating a statement splashback or feature wall. Measuring 52 x 186mm, it comes in a high-gloss finish and three classic colours: White, Light Grey and Dark Grey, pictured here

LENK Peronda Tel: +34 964 771 162 www.peronda.com The Lenk wood-effect porcelain tile collection from Peronda comes in 240 x 1500mm and 200 x 1200mm formats and has an R11 anti-slip finish. It can be used outdoors as well as indoors and is shown here in a kitchen scheme that segues from one to the other for a seamless look. It comes in seven warm and cool colourways and tones from dark to light. Choose from Maple, Honey, Taupe, Walnut, White, Ash, and Smoke, shown here

CITY Saloni Tel: 02072 886 337 www.saloni.com Saloni’s City collection of porcelain wall and floor tiles offers a contemporary take on cementeffect tiles, and features five nostalgic geometric designs: City Camp, City Folk, City Zone, City Native and City Land, pictured here. Available in a 185 x 185mm square format and a selection of soft neutral tones, the designs can be complemented by the Poble range of four plain porcelain tiles in Beige, White, Graphite and Grey

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GROHE BLUE PURE FILTER TAPS PURE TASTE, PURE ENJOYMENT Add great taste to your kitchen, effortlessly, with a GROHE Blue Pure Filter tap. The filter technology turns tap water into delicious tasting filtered drinking water, removing impurities that can impair the taste. The filter fits easily under your sink and the tap still offers the normal functionality of a kitchen tap. Available in 4 designs, Minta pull-out, BauCurve, Mono and Eurosmart. The GROHE Blue Eurosmart model (pictured) has also achieved the highly regarded seal of approval from Good Housekeeping Institute. Put pure, refreshing, filtered water at the heart of your kitchen with a GROHE Blue Pure tap. grohe.co.uk

essential kitchens | special report

STATS AT A GLANCE: AMA RESEARCH’S FLOOR & WALL TILES MARKET REPORT 2019 2023

CRAFTED GRADIENT Verona Tel: 01132 444 984 www.veronagroup.co.uk For a subtle approach to creating a statement look, the Crafted Gradient ceramic tiles from Verona consist of nine different detailed patterns, each featuring either stripes, diamonds or a zig-zag effect, and measuring 300 x 75mm. Available in two shades – Grey, or Denim, shown here – they have a gloss finish, and also come in a plain version with a slightly rippled surface for a vintage look

» Annual growth rates for the UK wall and floor tiles market reduced to around 1% in 2018, with the overall market having increased by 8% since 2014 » Value growth has been underpinned by the move towards higher-value, lower-volume and more middle-market products, with porcelain tiles continuing to take the largest share » Import penetration remains a key characteristic of the market, currently at around 70% to 75%, however fluctuations in Sterling exchange rate continue to affect import prices » Annual gains of 1% to 2% are currently forecast for the floor and wall tile market to 2023

LA RIVIERA Equipe Ceramicas Tel: +34 964 381 930 www.equipeceramicas.com Created in response to the current trend for small-format designs, the La Riviera collection of white-body wall tiles has a slightly rippled, artisanal look to the surface, but benefits from advanced manufacturing processes for enhanced durability. The range comes in two formats – 132 x 132mm and 65 x 200mm – and is available in 12 colours, including Ginger, Botanical Green, Rose, and resonant Blue Reef, pictured

VINTAGE VIBES Vives Tel: 07889 674 177 www.claybrookstudio.co.uk The Vintage Vibes porcelain collection from Spanish tile manufacturer Vives is available through Claybrook Studio in the UK and is inspired by 1960s style. There are 10 patterned designs including Terry, shown here, as well as eight plain formats in a distinctive retro palette of predominantly ochre, amber and chocolate. Suitable for both wall and floor, they come in a 150 x 150mm format and are rectified to keep grout lines to a minimum

REAL STONE Lundhs Tel: 02083 904 656 www.lundhsrealstone.com/uk/ The Real Stone collection from Lundhs is quarried in Norway, and this September the brand is launching its range of stone tiles to go with its portfolio of worktops and splashbacks. The collection comprises four materials in matte and polished finishes. Pictured here are hexagonal tiles in Lundhs Blue Larvikite with a polished finish, measuring 200 x 180mm and with a thickness of 10mm

BIANCO CARRARA Original Style Tel: 01392 473 000 www.originalstyle.com Original Style’s Tileworks collection of glazed porcelain tiles comprises convincing marble and stone lookalikes, and includes Nero Venato, Mediterraneo Off White and Amelia Carbon. Bianco Carrara, shown here, is available in a large 600 x 300mm format and is rectified for minimal grout lines to achieve an authentic marble look. It has a polished or matt surface and is suitable for use on walls and floors in light-traffic areas www.kbbdaily.com

ek&bbusiness

ON THE

BOIL Quooker UK MD says there’s still plenty of room to grow the market sector for boiling and multi-functional taps Words Amelia Thorpe Photos Paul Craig

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t was 1970 when Henri Peteri invented the boiling water tap. Based in Rotterdam and working for Unilever, he visited the company HQ in London and attended a presentation on instant soup. “He realised that instant soup could never be instant if you didn’t have boiling water on hand, so from that moment he began developing a tap that could deliver true 100 C water,” says Stephen Johnson, MD of Quooker UK. The tap was launched commercially in the Netherlands in 1992 under the brand name Quooker (“quick cooker”) and the company is now run by Henri’s sons, Niels and Walter Peteri. “Quooker invented the first ever and the world’s remaining only dedicated 100 C boiling-water tap,” says Johnson. “Fundamentally, the boiling tap was invented to replace a kettle, so, to my mind, the first thing it must do is deliver a true 100 C,” he explains. Quooker uses a patented stainlesssteel vacuum flask technology which stores water at 110 C under pressure. “Because it's under pressure, it doesn’t physically boil. It's

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essential kitchens | Quooker

5 4

designed to make it a very energy-efficient way of storing boiling water,” he says. Johnson, now 50, spent 20 years working for his father’s Neville Johnson fitted-kitchen and office-furniture business before the family firm was sold. He stumbled across an advert for Quooker, felt the product had potential and set up the UK operation in 2006. “I wanted to prove to myself that I could develop a business,” he recalls. “I travelled the country visiting kitchen dealers and trying to persuade them to stock and display the world’s first 100 C boiling tap. Some people thought I was bonkers!” That year, he managed to sell 1,000 pieces. Now that annual figure is 50,000 pieces, with sales growing at the rate of 45% at the start of 2020, prior to COVID-19. “I like to run a really simple business,” he continues. “Every day, my objective is to sell more taps than I did yesterday.” Given that the market has matured from dedicated boiling-water taps to a mixer tap that does everything, more and more tap manufacturers have come into the market as they lose their ‘standard’ mixer sales. They

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have developed models with their own USPs. It’s the reason, says Johnson, that Quooker continues to market heavily. It will spend more than £4million on advertising this year. “We want to make sure that Quooker remains the pre-eminent tap brand and that we're able to differentiate ourselves from all of these competitors,” he says. Johnson says that his mission over the next three years is to get to an annual figure of 100,000 pieces. “I still see us as a new product in a new sector. There’s lots of room to grow the category,” he says. Q 1 UK MD Stephen Johnson

Square in Black, Fusion Square

inside the Quooker showroom

in Gold, Fusion Round in

in Manchester 2 Tanks, taps and finishes

Unlacquered Brass 5 Detail from the timeline

on display 3 The Quooker timeline,

wall, showing some early

from invention in the early

models of the tap 6 The Flex tap in Black in use,

1970s to today 4 L to R, Classic Fusion

shown dispensing boiling water

Round in Nickel, Fusion Round

insulated glass. The tap has a

in Patinated Brass, Fusion

flexible pull-out hose

into a Quooker thermally-

Q&A What is your greatest challenge? “We’ve grown from a 1,000-piece business to a 50,000-piece one, and from one member of staff to 70. It’s amazing that we’ve done it and the challenge is to keep on growing like that” What is your greatest opportunity? “I was fortunate to work in a really successful family business. It was an invaluable experience and, without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today” Strange but true “People ring up all the time and ask, ‘Can I use a Quooker to shower? Will it be too hot to wash my hair?’”

ek&bbusiness

WITH STEPHEN JOHNSON Some say that they can’t specify Quooker products because they don’t carry WRAS approval. What do you say? The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme approvals are complex, but we should have a WRASapproved product any day now… What is your solution to the limescale problem? Of course, limescale is nothing to do with the tap itself. It’s to do with the supply of water, so it’s not just an issue for Quooker. However, it’s something that customers need to be aware of, so we give them three options: a pre-scale filter that will prevent scale build-up in the tank, or one of our service engineers will come and service the tap for you at a cost of £150, or we can send a cleaning kit, free of charge It’s easier to deal with limescale in a Quooker than in other models, because any limescale that gets into the stainless-steel cylinder will collect at the bottom, unlike models which use a boiler unit. They are more difficult to self-maintain How do you measure up with competitors in terms of price? The perception of our brand in the marketplace is that it is of premium quality, but very well priced. If you picked a Quooker hot, cold, boiling, chilled and sparkling tap, it is about £500-£600 less than our competitors who do the same, with the benefit that we have true 100 C boiling water

1 The Quooker showroom and office, opened in 2018 2 Boiling-water tanks, L to R: Pro3 which provides 3 litres

next to the Quooker tank in a kitchen base cabinet 4 Scale Control Plus, designed to reduce water hardness and

of instant boiling water, Pro7 which provides 7 litres, and

more streamlined to fit with the larger tanks under the sink 5 Working models include, L to R, Flex in stainless steel,

Combi which provides 7 litres of instant boiling water or 15 litres of hot water (60 C) all from a cold feed 3 The Cube chilled-water tank, designed to be installed

Nordic soap dispenser and Fusion Square in polished chrome, Nordic Round TwinTaps in stainless steel

But what about an entry-level model? The problem with the inexpensive products is, because of the complexity of the job they’re doing, if the materials aren’t of the highest standard, the products tend to have a higher failure rate Can you tell us about your new products? Cube is an accessory to be added to any tap in the Quooker range to enable the tap to deliver sparkling and chilled water. It comes as a chilled, filtered-water tank and CO cylinder. It was launched in September 2019 and is already penetrating at the rate of one in three Quookers

2 5

We also have a wider range of finishes (patinated brass, black and gold to add to nickel and unlacquered brass introduced in 2019), a couple of Classic taps for more traditional-style kitchens, and a new streamlined Scale Control Plus system designed to fit in the limited space in the sink bay with a Quooker tank and Cube system. A new Quooker tank that will be easier to install is coming very soon…

4 7

6 46

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8 www.kbbdaily.com

essential kitchens | Quooker

PROFILE Quooker Who are we? Stephen Johnson, UK MD Where are we? Beaumont Buildings, Great Ducie Street, Manchester, M3 1PQ Tel: 03458 333 555 www.quooker.co.uk

1 9

What we do... Boiling-water tap manufacturer Business history The first boiling-water tap was invented by Henri Peteri in 1970 and sold to his friends and acquaintances. In1992 the first Quooker was launched commercially in the Netherlands and the company is still run by the Peteri family, with offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Norway, UK, UAE, Sweden and Switzerland. All products are made in the Quooker factory in Rotterdam

11 10

Quooker UK is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, and has offices in Manchester, Brentwood and a UK team of 15 based in the Netherlands. There are some 3,000 dealers in the UK of whom about 80% are independent kitchen retailers, with nationals the rest Sales stats “We will turn over in excess of £50million in the UK this year,” says Stephen Johnson Staffing levels 70 in the UK team, with 55 based in the UK, 15 in the Netherlands

6 MD Stephen Johnson

9 Nordic Square tap in

outside the Quooker

polished chrome with drip tray

showroom in Manchester, UK 7 Fusion Round with Cube

for use when the Quooker is

system, an all-in-one mixer, boiling, chilled and sparklingwater tap 8 Nordic Round Twintaps (one boiling water, one mixer)

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positioned away from the sink 10 The Quooker showroom and office, opened in 2018 11 Unlacquered brass finish, introduced in 2019, shown on

above a Cube chilled-water

a Fusion Round tap 12 The stainless-steel Flex is a

tank with filter and CO

boiling-water tap with flexible

cylinder for 60L of sparkling

pull-out hose for hot, cold and

water, next to a Pro3 boiling

filtered cold water. The spout is

water tank, left

insulated so you can touch it

ek&bbusiness

make a statement Arysto Eight | Sliding Door with Side Panel

With an ultra slim frame, the ARYSTO EIGHT range elevates any space it occupies. Subtle design detailing has been used to enhance the virtually frameless quality of this range. Our outstanding ARYSTO EIGHT range has been expertly crafted to guarantee you the ultimate showering experience. Call us today | Freephone 0808 1011 429 For more information visit | www.merlynshowering.com

Come & See us at

STAND E79 HALL 20 As we unveil our exciting new product range

essential bathrooms | design inspiration

BATHROOMS

p49

– p59

THIS MONTH’S DESIGN INSPIRATION

BURLINGTON BATHROOMS Described by Burlington Bathrooms as a new era in traditional bathroom design, Bespoke by Burlington incorporates the Colours Collection and the Decorated Collection, created in collaboration with British illustrator and textile designer Julie Ingham. Pictured from the Decorated Collection is the Oriental Blossom pattern on the Edwardian 56cm 1TH basin and chrome washstand www.burlingtonbathrooms.com

The new Colours Collection, available on a selection of Burlington’s Edwardian basins, pedestals and WCs, comes in Moon Grey, Alaska Blue, and Confetti Pink, pictured here on the 56cm Basin and High Level WC

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The patterns from the Art Deco, Favourite Places, Floral and Bespoke Lettering lines in the Decorated Collection are handillustrated by Julie Ingham and applied by lithographers. Pictured is the London Edwardian 56cm 3TH Basin

“The colours collection was developed from vintage shades to put a contemporary twist on the classic coloured suite, while staying true to traditional ceramic designs and shapes”

Faye Froy, marketing manager, Burlington Bathrooms

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

Indigenous’ new Onyx countertop basins have a rough, rustic exterior and smooth interior

3 1

FLOORSTANDING AQUACLEAN TUMA WC Geberit Tel: 01926 516 800 www.geberit.co.uk Geberit has launched its first floorstanding shower toilet. Like the wall-hung version, this new AquaClean Tuma model has a rimless design and is operated by a remote control or an app. Its features include WhirlSpray shower technology, five shower-pressure settings, variable water-temperature settings and an oscillating spray. It comes in White Glass, White Alpine, Black Glass and Brushed finishes 50

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FINISHPLUS BRASSWARE Hansgrohe Tel: 01372 472 077 www.hansgrohe.co.uk German brassware manufacturer Hansgrohe has added Matt Black to its FinishPlus range of brassware, which is available on a selection of showerheads, shower hoses, basin and bath mixers and accessories from its Metropol and Talis E ranges. The sleek new Matt Black finish is pictured here on the Metropol Single Lever Basin Mixer 230 with Lever Handle and Push-open Waste and will help update a bathroom with ease

ONYX BASIN Indigenous Tel: 01993 824 200 www.indigenous.co.uk Indigenous’ eyecatching new Onyx countertop basins have a rough, rustic exterior and smooth interior. Handmade from cream-toned onyx, a semi-precious stone that’s formed when limestone is dissolved by water and redeposited, these new basins are hand polished to accentuate their ivory, fawn and brown bands. They’re 400mm in diameter, 150mm tall and can be used with a pedestal or vanity unit to create an impressive centrepiece and talking point www.kbbdaily.com

essential bathrooms | new products

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EPOCH BRASSWARE CP Hart Tel: 03458 731 121 www.cphart.co.uk Designed and made in Britain exclusively for bathroom retailer CP Hart, Epoch is a new Art Decoinspired brassware collection that will add elegance to a bathroom scheme. Featuring crosshead handles, etched indices and faceted spouts, the taps, mixers and fittings come in eight living, aged, polished and brushed finishes including Living Brass, Brushed Gold and Polished Nickel. Pictured in Chrome is the 3-piece Bath Mixer with a 200mm swivel spout www.kbbdaily.com

DAME FREESTANDING BASIN Glass Design Tel: 01279 771 159 www.glassdesign.it Originally planned for launch at Salone 2020, Italian manufacturer Glass Design’s eye-catching Dame freestanding basin is now available. Inspired by the fashion world, it’s made from VetroFreddo – a solidsurface material that consists of glass pigments and resin – and comes in Red, White, Black, and Gold- or Silver-Leaf finishes. It’s 900mm high, 450mm in diameter at the top and 260mm at its base

RESORT FURNITURE RAK Ceramics Tel: 01730 237 850 www.rakceramics.com/uk RAK Ceramics has added a range of contemporary furniture to its Resort sanitaryware collection. Designed to be wall-hung, units come in widths ranging from 450mm to 650mm. A corner unit is also available. Consumers can choose from five matt colours of White, Grey, Mushroom, Stone and Denim Blue and are able to retro-fit the unit to existing full, half or wall-mounted washbasins, providing a quick and easy way to have a fresh look in the bathroom ek&bbusiness

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FRAMEWORK FURNITURE

HOXTON BRASSWARE

ROSEBERRY FURNITURE

PJH Tel: 08008 778 899 www.bathroomstolove.uk Framework is a new modular furniture range in PJHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bathrooms to Love Collection. The industrialinspired wall-hung or freestanding vanity unit has a soft-close drawer above an open shelf. The floorstanding version has a blackmetal frame and both have a black handle. Measuring 615mm (W) or 815mm (W) x 845mm (H) x 468mm (D), they come in a Matt White or Grey Metal-effect (pictured) finish. A ceramic inset basin sits on top

Perrin & Rowe Tel: 01708 526 361 www.perrinandrowe.co.uk British brassware manufacturer Perrin & Rowe has extended its Hoxton range with a wall-mounted basin mixer. Launched last year, Hoxton is named after the creative hub of Shoreditch and features a slim spout and gentle, curvaceous lines. Pictured in chrome, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also available in nickel and pewter as standard and satin brass, 24-caratplated gold, English bronze and polished brass to order, providing plenty of choice for customers

Utopia Tel: 01902 406 402 www.utopiagroup.com Bathroom manufacturer Utopia has extended its bestselling Roseberry range of painted timber furniture with two new colourways and five new handles. The new pastelpink Rose Quartz, pictured, and vibrant Emerald Green join six more colours in the range, including London Grey, also pictured, and Blue Lagoon. With a classic raised and fielded door, the furniture is available in fitted, wall-mounted and freestanding configurations www.kbbdaily.com

essential bathrooms | new products

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LOOK TILES Museum Tel: +34 964 602 012 www.museumsurfaces.com Look is a new, contemporary wall-tile collection from Spanish manufacturer Museum. Made from ceramic, the tiles measure 333mm x 1000mm x10.5mm thick and are available in a smooth, matt format or two relief décors, including a bold chevron design. Pictured here in Matt Blue and White Diamond, they also come in Copper and Metal finishes and are a sophisticated way to add colour and texture to a scheme, the complementary colours being easy to mix and match www.kbbdaily.com

ALMOND SATIN MATT FINISH Duravit Tel: 08455 007 787 www.duravit.co.uk The Luv series, created for Duravit by Danish designer Cecilie Manz, now boasts furniture colour Almond in a satin-matt finish. It joins the existing White Alpine and White/ Sand, White/Grey and White/ White satin matt colourways already available within the range, which combines Nordic minimalism with timeless elegance. Also new to the series is a 938mm-wide vanity unit and complementary 800mmwide mirror

ETRUSCAN BATH The Albion Bath Company Tel: 01255 831 605 www.albionbathco.com One of the latest launches from the Albion Bath Company is a smaller version of its Etruscan freestanding design. Like the existing 1600mm and 1810mm-long versions, the new 1505mm (L) x 735mm (W) model is made from the company’s IsoEnamel mineral and resin composite material that helps retain heat. It features an integral overflow pipe cast into the wall of the bath so that an external overflow pipe isn’t required. It’s compatible with wallmounted or floorstanding bath fillers ek&bbusiness

Consumers have switched on to the potential of lighting to create beautiful and functional bathrooms as manufacturers continue to dazzle with new and illuminating innovations Words Nicola Hanley

report by MTW Research* on the UK bathroom market has revealed that, despite the devastating economic fallout from the global pandemic, sales of bathroom lighting will hit £75m in 2020. It’s a sector, MTW director Mark Waddy explains, that has been outperforming the overall bathroom products market. “Over the last five years, total sales have increased by more than 26%,” he says. So what’s driving demand? Hazel Park, senior designer at John Cullen Lighting, says that consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about the different types of lighting available, which in turn is helping to boost sales. “A large number of clients have been tuning into our webinars during lockdown and are now educated on the value of layered lighting and are keen to incorporate this into their bathrooms,” she says. Ash Chilver, sales director at HiB bathroom products, agrees that consumers are now looking for more from their lighting than ever before, prioritising stylish products that provide valuable task lighting and create a warm and inviting atmosphere. “Users are looking for flexible lighting that can be adapted to suit the mood and requirement so that they can feel energised and awake at certain times but can change the lighting levels to enjoy a relaxing and calm atmosphere at others,” Chilver says. Likewise, John Cullen Lighting is seeing consumers increasingly looking for ambience and mood lighting. “LEDs have improved massively in the last five years with the colour temperature and colour rendition improving significantly,” comments Park. “You can create a more indirect soft glow from an LED strip without having to have too many decorative f

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essential bathrooms | special report

CONTOUR LED STRIP, WATERSPRING DOWNLIGHT, PENNE PENDANT John Cullen Lighting Tel: 02073 719 000 johncullenlighting.com John Cullen Lighting used a combination of downlights, pendant and LED strip lighting in this high-ceilinged bathroom to great effect. The Contour HDX27 LED strips, which can be cut every 50mm, light up the top and bottom of the mirror and create a floating effect under the basin, while the LED Waterspring downlights have been used to skim light down the back of the shower. Placed either side of the mirror, the Penne pendant has frosted glass to create a softer lighting effect while adding a decorative touch

LAMPSHOWER Axor Tel: 01372 472 077 www.axor-design.co.uk Combining light with water, Axor’s eye-catching LampShower was designed by Oki Sato from Japanese studio Nendo. Measuring 275mm in diameter and delivering 13 litres of water per minute at a pressure of 3 bar, the LED lighting provides a soft, warm-white glow of 2700K. It can be wall- or ceiling mounted and comes in 11 finishes, including chrome, brushed bronze and polished red gold

OTTAVINO f fittings.” She says that warmer strip lighting Advances in technology are having a huge is proving popular, with homeowners preferring impact on the bathroom-lighting market, just the softer white of 2400K to create a pleasantly as they are in the rest of the home, states relaxing atmosphere. Wayne Dance, managing director of kitchens, With space increasingly at a premium, bedrooms and bathrooms agency, InHouse. the UK’s notoriously small bathrooms have “Lighting tech is becoming very exciting and given lighting products a chance to really will help create the home-based bolthole that shine, continues MTW Research's Waddy: we all crave. Smart tech will absolutely lead the “Lighting has grown in significance as a way of way in terms of trends.” accentuating available space and creating the Joe Elliott, product designer at Roper Rhodes illusion of a larger room by strategic use of task also comments on the effect technology is and accent lighting as well as using effective having on the bathroom-lighting market. room lighting.” “Colour-changing Integrating systems technology to create the into furniture and right ambiance in a room illuminated mirrors to match the time of day, and cabinets provides connected products to a space-efficient, play music, opportunities multifunctional to charge devices in a solution and can act bathroom and more as a “spectacular intuitive interactions with focal point” advises products are all growing HiB’s Chilver. These trends in the bathroomdiscreet solutions lighting market,” he says. are winning over The importance clients agrees Park. of colour-changing Joe Elliott, product designer at Roper Rhodes Think lighting within lights shouldn’t be a shower niche, a underestimated, warns halo around a mirror or under basin cabinets InHouse’s Dance. “It’s easy to dismiss the controlled by a sensor. concept as a novel fad, but the flexibility in In terms of the fittings themselves, chrome colour change is enormous, adding equal has long been the finish of choice, but others transformation to functionality,” he stresses. are now getting a look-in, says James Bassant, “The ability to alter white light to warm and co-founder and design director at Astro cool – and a multitude in between – creates Lighting. “For some time now we’ve seen great optimal task lighting, thus increasing visual interest in our brass finishes and the versatility acuity. Recreating daylight, no matter what they offer. More recently there’s been a shift time of day or night it is, is transformational towards our matt-black finish, reflecting the and a real step towards intuitive designs for fashion for black taps and metalwork.” the future.” Q

Astro Lighting Tel: 01279 427 00 www.astrolighting.com Part of Astro Lighting’s SS20 collection, the cylindrical glass Ottavino range has fluted detailing designed to reflect and refract the light. Ideal for positioning either side of a bathroom mirror, the wall lights measure 267mm (H ) x 82mm (W) x 124mm (D) while the pendant is 800-1275mm high with a 100mm diameter. Both have a polished-chrome finish and an IP44 rating

“Colour-changing technology to create the right ambience, and more intuitive interactions with products are growing trends̜

* MTW Research Bathroom Market Trends Report, £475. www.marketresearchreports.co.uk

www.kbbdaily.com

LEDs have improved massively in the last five years with the colour temperature and colour rendition improving significantly̜ Hazel Park, senior designer, John Cullen Lighting

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LED STRIP LIGHTING Utopia Tel: 01902 406 402 www.utopiagroup.com All the base cabinets within Utopia’s Contemporary Fitted furniture range (pictured in Flat Grey with copper metallic handle trims), feature a set-back, low-level plinth to create a floating effect using natural-white plinth strip lighting. Also pictured is over-cabinet strip lighting, which fits to the top of the mirrored cabinets and frames the furniture from above, while under-cabinet strip lighting, in a recess under the mirrored cabinet, highlights the worktop area. The lighting strips can be cut to size and work via the main bathroom switch or a motion sensor

Lighting tech is becoming very exciting and will help create the home-based bolthole that we all crave. Smart tech will absolutely lead the way in terms of trends̜ Wayne Dance, MD, InHouse.

LEDRELAX MIRRORED CABINET Pelipal Tel: 01661 842 304 www.pelipal.com Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Philips Hue and controlled via voice, app or optional remote control, Pelipal’s mirrored cabinets with LEDrelax provide 16 million colour shades and 50,000 white options. The lights can sync with playlists to create different light shows and there are four userpreference settings. Cabinets come in various sizes ranging from 600mm – 1800mm wide in 100mm increments

SEEING THE LIGHT James Bassant, co-founder and design director at Astro Lighting, on the relationship between lighting and wellness » How colour and light intensity affects our wellbeing is becoming increasingly prominent and our design approach considers how light can significantly improve mood and emotions. » Whether in the bathroom or any other space in a home, working with the natural circadian rhythm can have a profound effect on productivity. » Bright and bluer light sources help the body wake up in the morning and warmer, red light helps us wind down and relax. » Bathrooms are often the first room we visit when we get up and the last room we visit before bed, so sympathetic lighting in these spaces can improve the start and the end of a day.

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TRIEDRO PENDANT Christopher Wray Tel: 02070 130 180 www.christopherwray.com The perfect companion to a statement, freestanding bath, the contemporary Triedro suspension pendant light from Christopher Wray features crystal prisms within a chrome frame and light-refracting crystal elements inserted into the base. It comes in round and oval versions and is IP44 rated for use within the bathroom. Matching wall lights are also available

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essential bathrooms | special report

TOP TRENDS » “Pendants are now less popular, unless you have a high ceiling, where they do an excellent job of making the space feel more intimate” Hazel Park, senior designer, John Cullen Lighting

BROOKLYN PENDANT Industville Tel: 02079 717 871 www.industville.co.uk The Brooklyn Pendant from Industville is rated IP20, IP44 and IP65, enabling it to be used in zones 1, 2 and 3 in the bathroom. Designed to complement contemporary as well as vintage interiors, the industrial-style light is available in brass, pictured, pewter and copper finishes. It measures 1300mm (H) x 135mm (W) x 135mm (D)

» “LED vintage bulbs have taken the world of interior design by storm in recent years and are a great choice for bathrooms” Marketa Rypacek, MD, Industville » “Chromotherapy and the use of light for wellbeing are set to become increasingly important, used in standalone lighting solutions and integrated into shower enclosures” Mark Waddy, director, MTW Research » “Multiple circuits make a huge difference. Being able to control various layers of light hugely enhances the enjoyment of a bathroom space and its effectiveness” James Bassant, co-founder and design director, Astro Lighting » “We’re seeing a real shift towards slim, clean lines of light around the perimeter of mirrored products. There’s a growing interest in metal trims, coloured finishes and different shapes such as circles, ovals and pill-shaped products” Joe Elliot, product designer, Roper Rhodes » “Vanity cabinets with integrated LED lighting are the biggest sellers” Wayne Dance, MD, InHouse

RIFLY PENDANT DEUCE WALL LIGHT Dar Lighting Tel: 01295 672 200 www.darlighting.co.uk Ideal for using independently of or in conjunction with the main bathroom light, Dar Lighting’s Deuce wall light features a dark-grey, curved arm with a diffuser mounted on a white, marble plate. The light is IP44 rated and is operated by a discreet push button. It measures 160mm (W) x 450mm (H) x 240mm (D)

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Kartell by Laufen Tel: 01530 510 007 www.laufen.co.uk Part of the Kartell by Laufen range designed by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, the Rifly pendant lamps are made from polycarbonate and come in transparent crystal, silver, gold and copper finishes. With an IP44 rating, they measure 80mm wide and are available in heights of 300mm, 600mm and 900mm and can be used independently or grouped in clusters and hung at various lengths ek&bbusiness

essential directory

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

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essential bathrooms | special report

SOLAS ILLUMINATED MIRROR HiB Tel: 02084 410 352 www.hib.co.uk HiB says that Solas has become one of its top-performing illuminated mirrors since its launch early last year. It features a circle of LED light offset from the surface of the mirror to provide full facial illumination. Operated by a sensor switch, the colour-temperature-changing technology allows users to choose from cool to warm-white light to provide task and ambient lighting. It also has a heated pad to help keep the glass clear of condensation. The circular LED light frame is available in chrome with mirrored sides or industrial black. With an IP44 rating, it comes in sizes of 700mm x 500mm and 800mm x 600mm and can be hung portrait or landscape

Users are looking for flexible lighting that can be adapted to suit the mood and requirement so that they are able to feel energised and awake at certain times but can change the lighting levels to enjoy a relaxing and calm atmosphere at othersĚ&#x153; Ash Chilver, sales director, HiB

LUV MIRRORS Duravit Tel: 08455 007 787 www.duravit.co.uk Duravit says that illuminated mirrors continue to be popular as consumers look for practical mood and task lighting. Part of the Luv series by Danish designer Cecilie Manz, the mirrors feature a horizontal strip of dimmable LED lighting along the top. This is operated by a touchless control panel integrated into the mirror that also controls the heating element to keep the glass clear. Featuring rounded edges, the 1P44-rated mirrors measure 38mm deep, come in heights of 800mm or 1200mm and widths of 500mm, 800mm, 1200mm and 1600mm

ACADEMY MIRROR Roper Rhodes Tel: 01225 303 900 www.roperrhodes.co.uk Part of Roper Rhodesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; contemporary Academy furniture range, this IP44-rated illuminated mirror features a slider control to allow users to adjust the brightness and warmth of the LED lighting. It can be hung portrait or landscape, has a heat pad designed to keep the glass steam free and comes in three sizes: 500mm x 700mm, 600mm x 800mm and 600mm x 1000mm, with a depth of just 25mm

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essential showcase

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

To advertise here please call

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essential influences | design inspiration

INFLUENCES

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THIS MONTH’S DESIGN INSPIRATION

CAESARSTONE UK Quartz surfacing company Caesarstone UK has updated its portfolio with four new dramatic shades in response to the growing demand for darker kitchens and bathrooms. Pictured here is Oxidian, which has been added to the Metropolitan Collection, and has a dark grey base with a slightly textured finish to give it an industrial-style, oxidised look www.caesarstone.co.uk

Empira Black has joined the Supernatural Collection. It has an intensely dark base enhanced by fine white veining, evoking the look of polished marble but with the technical properties of quartz

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Also added to the Metropolitan Collection is Black Tempal, which has a charcoal-coloured base with white mineral deposits to create the look of travertine. It has a fingerprint-resistant Natural Finish

“The ‘dark theme’ is a testament to our unique design process and demonstrates how we continuously monitor the latest design trends to inform our newest ranges”

Amir Reske, MD, Caesarstone UK

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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 TK Components – so what’s the diagnosis?

www.tkc.co.uk t hardly needs saying that The Doc is very susceptible to shiny, luxurious sites and can be easily distracted by spectacular artwork, even when I should really be judging the offering in a more dispassionate way, weighing functionality and usability. But we’re all human and the good news for TKC (The Kitchen Company, ‘kitchen suppliers to the trade’) and its newly redeveloped website is that I have my sensible hat on. The timing for the new release couldn’t have been better, given TKC had focused on improving the tools and data provision just as we were navigating the realities of running our businesses from our kitchen tables and box rooms. Speaking from personal experience, coding and puppies do not a happy mix make, especially when every Zoom meeting has to be abruptly curtailed with a shout of “What has he got in his mouth?” Thankfully TKC’s website is infinitely more productive. It’s packed with improved and enhanced features that the professionals will surely be eating up already. One of the most notable elements is the appropriately monikered sticky cart. For the uninitiated, this means that wherever you are on the site, your cart follows you around, making it super simple to track your progress, increase amounts of items already in the basket and check out with

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the minimum of steps. It’s really well done, even down to the thumb-friendly, chunky ‘Buy’ button. The solid frame of white space that characterises the design is another pleasing element. Full-bleed, edge-to-edge templates have been popular with creators for a time now, perhaps because they make photography the star of the show, but that was not the way to go for task-focused TKC. The wide frame provides a stable, solid structure to contain each section in a neat grid so that each part of a page has its own priority. This is especially important on a mobile screen that will be used by busy people with a job in mind rather than idle browsing. Despite this being so packed with content and functions, the navigation actually feels ultra minimalist, which is not an easy get. There’s always a temptation to add level after level of menus until you get something that resembles a family tree going back hundreds of years. If your site map is long rather than flat, it’s time to head back to the drawing board, I’m afraid.

It’s curious to note that many n of the e design d trends that have been capturing the industry’s i creative minds in the last twelve months are so absolutely absent. Rather than a glowing, luminous colour scheme of courageous palette pairings, we basically get grey and a sort of red. But what would be the point of anything otherwise? There’s no immersive 3D layers or interactions, just a separate area for the Jigsaw brand to satisfy customer requests. Is this a sublime example of ‘What Does my Consumer Want? Let’s Do That.’? If I had any suggestions for TKC, I’d consider adding a dark mode, which we’re starting to see a lot of now. Yes they look cool and brooding, but offering visitors the choice to turn the screen dark can increase productivity. They’re easier on the eye, especially on OLED screens. Given how much work has gone into this root-and-branch redesign, TKC could be thinking its work is done, but sadly websites are always a work in progress, so roll on Version 2.0. I’d continue to congratulate TKC, however I have to go and find out what the puppy has in his mouth… Q

“One of the most notable elements is the appropriately monikered sticky cart̜

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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... SO SL EE K!

blum.co.uk The iconic orange branding complements a calming white background and grey accents Top marks The Zone Planner tool is really immersive. You click elements you want in your kitchen such as somewhere to store your bread. You can even customise if you have a requirement not listed Works well The Purchasing and Ordering section lays out the online capabilities aimed at making life easy for professionals Could do better I can’t work out what the Innovations and Topics section represents. Perhaps it’s a page on a previous iteration that has been carried over without really asking what the function is Suggestion box Is there a way to repurpose the Ideas area into snippets throughout the site? Attraction factor Slick and sleek ++++

coleroberts.co.uk There’s a calm and collected vibe on this well-paced site that’s a breeze to navigate

rutlandlondon.co.uk This brassware expert’s site puts its manufacturing prowess front and centre

ottotiles.co.uk You could rack up quite a bill browsing these superbly framed images

Top marks The online shopping experience is a professionally put-together process. You can check out as a guest, but creating an account is quick and easy too Works well There’s a helpful menu option to shop by brand Could do better Would a more personal approach on Instagram garner more followers? Showcasing real-life installations might encourage more engagement on Facebook as well. This has an incorrect link from the footer icon Suggestion box The text on the About Us section is really small on a desktop and was too wide on a mobile screen Attraction factor You can look around the showroom via a Google Maps tool ++++

Top marks Every product image is beautifully staged. From the individual screen you can see various views as well as closeups of noteworthy elements Works well The Recently Viewed panel helps keep you browsing Could do better The Finish Buying guide sounded tantalising, but you’re taken to a 40-page brochure pdf. Try a filtered system that whittles down people’s preferences Suggestion box The jury’s out on whether having such a long home screen is a winning tactic. Will visitors get scroll fatigue or find it useful that so much of the story can be tasted from the first page? Attraction factor Finished with polish ++++

Top marks A facetious comment on the Trustpilot review site about not being able to find something was answered by noting they could find no record of the author getting in touch. Other readers will understand why the low rating isn’t fair Works well Your favourites can be added from the landing screens or you can click the quicklook tool to see a pop-up with more images. It’s an intuitive way to browse as it’s easier to look at the things that have caught your eye with less back and forth Could do better Asking a person’s gender when signing up is a bit last decade Suggestion box Lose the Google+ badge. It’s closed Attraction factor A perfect buying system ++++

mowlemandco.com It wouldn’t take much to provide a sneaky peek around the showrooms or an insight into the design and manufacturing process

johncullenlighting.com A site flooded with high-end products presented in exquisite, inspiring photography

hdmkitchens.co.uk This site explains a novel product offering in a simple way

armacmartin.co.uk The colourway is a restful and luxe-feeling mix of white, grey and golden highlights

kellerkitchens.com Get ready to hand over your address, phone number AND email to download a brochure!

Top marks Having browsed through the projects, which look like something out of Architectural Digest, a cheeky call to action at the bottom must nudge visitors to get in touch Works well During June and July, John Cullen ran a series of Light Bite Webinars, ensuring an even greater social-media reach. A great use of in-house talent in trying times Could do better A short description of what benefits await in the downloads section might be useful, plus who the sign-up is aimed at Suggestion box A little more embedded video to showcase interactive lighting systems would make some great fresh content Attraction factor Perfect for your superyacht! ++++

Top marks Buying and planning a kitchen makeover could be a daunting task, but HDM breaks the process into digestible chunks, explaining how the service works Works well Wherever you land, there are constant calls to action so visitors are always reminded to get in touch Could do better I was instantly drawn to the customer case studies only to find there are no before and after pictures, which is a shame. That would make great content on social media too Suggestion box Could it be made easier to find out which areas HDM Kitchens covers? It would be an easy fix Attraction factor Professionally finished +++

Top marks If your clients are design-orientated people of taste, you’d better curate your site like a demon just as Armac Martin has. All the fat has been cut so the products and the overall aesthetic shines through Works well Registering for a site account takes seconds and allows you to make the most of the favourites function to set up a wishlist Could do better The very first thing you see is a pop-up box asking you to sign up to the newsletter. Don’t obscure and delay your most impactful content Suggestion box Try making the Twitter feed a little more personalised and humorous Attraction factor A restrained delight that looks smashing on any screen size ++++

Top marks The News section is kept up to date regularly Works well The section devoted to Keller’s USP has the kernel of a winning home-screen panel that would be more engrossing than the Our Mission bit Could do better Sometimes the lack of a persona gives the site a generic feel. Finding the UK dealers was easy enough, but those retailers have found a way to market with more flair Suggestion box Most templates allow you to turn off commenting on blog posts, so given they haven’t attracted any, you could give that a miss. Nobody should remind their readers there’s little engagement Attraction factor Monochromatically glossy ++

www.kbbdaily.com

Top marks Designed as an introduction to the brand and the collection so the approach is broad strokes rather than going heavy on specs Works well The commissions gallery is Insta-ready Could do better The aspect ratio on some mobiles is way off, so the main hero home screen image is stretched vertically and the text below it goes beyond the edge. The hero image could be edge to edge for even greater impact Suggestion box I was craving more close-ups of details in the kitchen descriptions. The images are beautiful, but a bit samey Attraction factor Blissfully low on prosey guff ++ ek&bbusiness

essential influences | PJH Group

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS is CEO of leading kbb distributor, PJH Group. Since landing the job in 2016, he has been instrumental in leading PJH through the next stage of its growth strategy and developing the company’s ‘together we’re better’ approach

Tel: 08008 778 899

Website: pjh.uk

Q What challenges are facing distributors and how can retailers and suppliers help get things moving again?

>> While the COVID-19 crisis has

impacted the entire sector more than anyone could have imagined, the signs are that the shock will be short and sharp, with the bounce back being almost as rapid. There are strong indicators that this is the case. Of course, there are challenges along the way, and it’s important that the entire supply chain, from distributor to retailer, is in the best position possible to capitalise on the opportunities as they present themselves. Customers are beginning to spend. You can see this from the performance of the DIY sector, and this will only increase as the year progresses. The challenge for distributors is to ensure they can offer the widest choice of on-trend products, backed up with strong stock levels and fast delivery times. It’s important that retailers have the products their customers demand. Customer service will be key too, so the distributors and retailers who can differentiate themselves on this will be the ones who succeed. PJH is focused on being its customer’s first choice and this has helped it bounce back strongly. We have further ‘intensified’ our Field Sales presence and now have a team of 22 covering the country to support customers. We’ve launched a home-delivery service, which has been

well received. We’ve also maintained high stock levels so that we can meet the increased product demand, plus we’ve continued with our Next-Day delivery service. Retailers need this reassurance, and distributors can help here. Consumers are just as demanding as ever and will still seek out retailers and products that meet their ever-exacting criteria. As a distributor, we know new products are essential, so launches we had planned in our Bathrooms to Love Collection have continued throughout lockdown. New appliance brands, such as Whirlpool and Hotpoint, plus Abode in our Sinks & Taps category, which was added recently, will help our retail partners come back strongly, giving them the latest products customers want. Distributors need to look to enhance their online sales channels too. Our PJH Partners Portal has been invaluable through lockdown and will continue to give retailers a class-leading tool that benefits them and their customers.

Consumers are just as demanding as ever and will still seek out retailers and products that meet their everexacting criteria

1 PJH is the UK’s largest supplier of bathrooms, appliances, sinks and taps with over 300,000 sq ft of warehouse space and over £17m stockholding. Established in 1972, the company

To overcome the challenges, we must all work collectively because, as a sector, ‘together we’re better’.

is based in Bolton, operates throughout six UK sites and employs almost 500 people 2 Customers include over 3,000 independent retailers, builders’ merchants, housebuilders, developers and specifiers. PJH own brands include Bathrooms to Love, RefleXion and Prima Appliances 3 PJH is part of the Globe Union Group, a world-class design, marketing, manufacturing and trading organisation supplying kitchen and bathroom products to customers worldwide

ek&bbusiness

www.kbbdaily.com

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