Smart Homes

32 2022 SMART HOME DESIGN TRENDS FROM GIRA

Gira, global leader and supplier of intelligent system solutions for the connected home and building, unveils the latest automated systems and technologies to enhance your home in 2022…

“The last two years have seen us all spend more time at home and so it’s no surprise that we want to make our personal interior spaces as comfortable and versatile as possible. This is where the “connected home” has come to the fore, equipping the modern home with smart functions and devices that are specifically designed to improve daily life and contribute to a more efficient household” says Jacob de Muijnck, Managing Director at Gira UK Ltd.

2. Smart appliances for easy living

From stoves that won’t let anything burn to bathrooms that know how you like to shower in the morning – intelligent technologies make life safer, easier and more energy-efficient. Automated vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and dryers are only the first steps towards a

In fact, UK consumers are now very familiar with smart TVs, fitness trackers, voice-activated assistants and 24/7 access to all kinds of media, and this has become part of everyday life as the features and benefits appeal to multiple generations. The global health crisis and inevitable after effects have only highlighted that we need reliable systems in order to stay in touch with the outside world anytime, anywhere. With this in mind Gira present four key smart home trends that are set to redefine the idea of a ‘connected home’ next year and beyond:

1. The home office that thinks for itself

Fewer people leave their house to go work in 2020 and the concept of working from home has become increasingly mainstream, but digital tools and services alone are not enough to maintain a high level of productivity. A home office requires a healthy, well considered environment that keeps you focused and motivated and so premium manufacturers are creating innovative solutions for the connected home office. Innovations include clever chairs and desks reminding you to stand up, multifunctional charging stations for mobile devices and smart lighting and blind systems that adjust room brightness according to the time of day or work discipline under way.

connected home in 2022, with indoor greenhouses becoming increasingly popular as we bring the outdoors in. More and more, smart devices are compatible with IFTTT (“If this then that”) technology, which makes it easy to configure individual systems where products from different manufacturers need to work in sync. For example, you can switch off multiple electric appliances with just one command before stepping outside – to save energy and prevent accidental short circuits.

3. Connected Smart Home concepts are in demand

Single, standalone applications are giving way to sustainable all-inclusive solutions as architects and builders consider the digital infrastructure and connectivity of living spaces early on in the planning phase. Lights, blinds, heating, entertainment systems, security systems, home gyms and electronics, along with smart tools and appliances, can be controlled via one central unit in connected homes adding luxury and touch of design exclusivity. Connected living is easy to facilitate whether you want to build a new house, renovate your existing, or just rent an apartment. Wireless systems such as Gira eNet SMART HOME communicate via radio transmitter – which means they can be retrofitted in both old and new buildings. Thanks to a synchronised interplay of all components, your Smart Home will do exactly what you need at any given time. Smart sensors, for example, react automatically to external factors such as ambient brightness, temperature, or humidity levels. Jacob adds “Many digital services and applications are already indispensable to modern lives like Alexa light control via voice command to blinds that go up automatically at sunrise. Smart technology will become even more universal in the years to come so be future-ready with a connected house (or apartment). Once you’ve installed your system, you can add all sorts of functions and devices whenever you want so your home can evolve with your lifestyle.” Since March 2015, the Gira interactive online magazine G-Pulse has been providing regular, up-to-the-minute information on interesting developments in multiple areas: smart home technology, interior design, lifestyle, trends and architecture. The online magazine is your source for interior design and lifestyle inspiration and your platform for exchanging views on your favourite topics with other design enthusiasts. 15 authors keep you informed, up-to-date and are especially keen on visiting key industry events, so you will always be informed about the latest interior and smart home trends.

Discover more at: https://g-pulse.com/aboutus?r=header

developer-update.co.uk

WATERPROOF WET WALL COLLECTION

MODERN TILES, MODERN CONSTRUCTION: BARRATT AND JOHNSON TILES PARTNER

Johnson Tiles has partnered with leading housebuilder, Barratt Developments, to build a unique zero carbon concept home – ‘Z House’.

Featuring six tile ranges across four rooms, the flagship project is the first new home in the country, built by a major housebuilder, to go beyond the new Future Homes Standard by delivering a carbon reduction of 125%, a breakdown of 100% regulated and 25% unregulated energy using heat recovery, low carbon and renewable technologies. The Future Homes Standard ensures that all new homes built from 2025 will produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes delivered under current regulations. Delivering To support the project’s goals to use sustainable materials and reduce build time, a bespoke version of the UK-made Ashlar range was developed for the en-suite. Johnson Tiles’ typical bathroom products are 1cm deep. By reducing the tile thickness by 0.2mm, the company was able to cut carbon emissions by 20%. The thinner tiles also required less packaging and vehicle space, maximising the efficiency of the delivery service with 20% more metre coverage of tiles per pallet. This reduces the number of vehicles needed to deliver to the average new build housing development. “We’re delighted to have been involved in the Z House project, our commitment to sustainability is at the core of everything we do and the opportunity to support the industry as we learn together from this project is incredibly exciting.” says Johnson Tiles’ Managing Director, Stephen Dixon. “Supporting the project’s goal to use sustainable materials, each tile is manufactured to last the lifetime of the building, containing between 20 and 40% recycled content and delivered in 100% recyclable packaging.”

Johnson Tiles is one of over 40 partners from across the housebuilding, sustainability and technology sectors invited to collaborate on the project. Built on the University of Salford’s main campus as a showcase home to demonstrate what is achievable in sustainable living, it will be occupied and monitored to assess its performance, with lessons learnt shared across the industry.

Built using modern methods of construction, a mix of Johnson Tiles’ UK manufactured and UK stocked wall and floor tiles were selected for the hall, kitchen / dining area, family bathroom and en-suite.

Each room features tiles in colours reflective of materials and tones found in nature, including the award-winning UK made South Bank collection of small format, glazed ceramic wall tiles and the UK made Drift collection of wood effect ceramic wall tiles.

Z house concept home features:

• Hall/cloakroom • South Bank, UK made slim format tiles in

Whisper and Pewter • Kielder, UK stocked wood effect tiles in Frosty Oak • Kitchen/dining • Ashlar, UK made textured concrete effect tiles in Crafted Grey • Refine, UK stocked porcelain floor tiles in Pewter • Family bathroom • Drift, UK made wood effect ceramic wall tiles in Summer Shadows • Minerals, UK stocked stone effect tiles in Flint

• Refine, UK stocked porcelain floor tiles in

Pewter

• En-Suite

We would like to firstly wish all of our customers a very merry Christmas and all the very best for 2022! We would further like to thank them all for their continued business and support in 2021.

As we look back on our second year of trading since the pandemic and the challenges that continue to face us, we would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our policy of stockholding and how it is driving our company forward.

‘Last summer we saw widespread disruption to supply and many assumed by now these issues would have ironed themselves out. In fact they have worsened. Most of our competitors are still looking at long lead times. We are able to maintain the chain of supply due to our longstanding policy of stockholding which has provided further financial stability to ourselves but as importantly to our customers” “On a practical note our customers don’t want to go to the expense and disruption of fitting out their bathroom to 2 years down the line find that an inferior mild steel rail rusts, leaks and they then need a complete re-tile when the replacement isn’t dimensionally identical to the original” We offer 3 formats of rail throughout the entire range: Electric, dual fuel and central heating only and we offer both a polished and satin finish as well as the Black Edition Range.

As always the Sussex Range is manufactured from 100% stainless steel including our recently introduced Black Edition of powder coated rails. Stainless steel is 100% recyclable, and manufactured from over 90% recyclable material. It does not rust, flake or corrode. It is the sustainable, durable choice. “The cornerstones of our business are quite simply quality, stock holding and ultimately customer service. The three work hand in hand”

“More and more people are coming round to the durability and sustainability of stainless steel, particularly after the year we have just had, we all need to be aware of our environmental and social impact” We source our rails ethically and take our social responsibility seriously, from our sourcing, to our manufacture, to our charity initiatives. As a stable business with long term stockholding that has maintained a steady supply throughout the pandemic we are able to do all of this whilst protecting our pricing structure.

Should you require further details please visit our website www.sussexrange.co.uk or contact us on 01825 722988 and

info@jiseurope.co.uk

Abode, award-winning designer of market leading kitchen taps, sinks, bathroom taps & showering solutions is among the top-tier global design talent to be awarded an SBID International Design Award 2021, as it’s crowned the winner of the Kitchen Product awards category for its innovative water filter

system, Abode Swich → www.sbidawards.com/ finalist-pda/swich/

The 2021 SBID International Design Awards winners were revealed at the Nobu Hotel Portman Square in London on Friday 22 October, each presented with a prestigious crystal awards trophy, designed by Sans Souci Glass Deco. Shining a spotlight on the world’s brightest design talent, the creative A&D community came together in a global celebration of interior design excellence to celebrate the industry’s most revered interior designers and makers.

Abode Swich is a revolutionary design solution that will transform a new or existing kitchen tap in to a filtered water tap that delivers a constant supply of crystal clear filtered water!

The exclusive and patented Swich water filter system is a discreet yet ultra-luxe device, which is easy to use and install, either retro-fit in an existing kitchen or add to a new kitchen design. Swich works in conjunction with your normal kitchen mixer tap to improve the overall taste, appearance and quality of your drinking water without compromising on style.

Available in four high fashion finishes – Brushed Brass, Matt Black, Brushed Nickel and Chrome – simply turn the Round or Square control handle to indicate the type of water supply you wish to channel through the tap. Providing immediate access to both the domestic water supply and Abode-safe water, via the Swich filter cartridge, customers can enjoy clear refreshing results, every time!

Paul Illingworth, Design Manager

at Abode says, “For the first time, our customers are not restricted to the style of tap they can have in their kitchen and now, they can enjoy fresh filtered tap water while removing the need for a countertop water purifier or bottled water, which we all know is harmful to the environment.”

“To be recognised by SBID and its panel of leading industry experts is a great achievement for Abode, acknowledging Swich for its outstanding examples of technical innovation, aesthetic creativity and fit-for-purpose functionality.”

“Achieving an SBID Award is an unparalleled marque of design excellence.”

“As another year draws to a close, the SBID Awards continues to empower the design industry to exhibit their creative work and celebrate their achievements on its inclusive stage, as a testament to the incredible outcomes that can be accomplished through the power of good design and quality craftsmanship” says the SBID

International Design Awards. The featured images also include a range of market leading kitchen sinks and taps by Abode, including:

1. Swich Chrome with Virtue

Semi-Professional Mixer Tap with flexible hose & Matrix R50 undermount Sink 2. Swich Matt Black with Linear

Nero Monobloc Mixer Tap & Londa Single Bowl Sink &

Drainer, Black Metallic 3. Swich Brushed Brass with Prime

Single Lever Mixer Tap & Matrix

R0 Large Single Bowl Sink

NOTE: Swich Brushed Nickel available, in either a Round or Square handle design

For further information, please contact Abode: t: 01226 283 434 | e: info@abodedesigns.co.uk | w: www.abodedesigns.co.uk | For the latest news & company updates, please follow Abode on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn #WaterTheWayYouWantIt