Diane, Author at Bathroom Review

Calla and Joy Neo join Ideal Standard’s Atelier Collections

April 22, 2022

Ideal Standard has added to its award-winning Atelier Collections with two new beautifully crafted ranges: Calla and Joy Neo.

The collections combine classic features with modern technology and innovative design. Created by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba, the products in the Calla and Joy Neo ranges have been developed with flexibility in mind, allowing them to integrate with a variety of different interior styles.

Streamlining the design process for customers, architects and specifiers, these two collections bring together the company’s sector expertise and design vision, as well as the complete range of Ideal Standard’s products.

Calla

Inspired by the Victorian age and early ceramic production, Calla features simple geometric shapes with strong horizontal and vertical lines, for a timeless end result.

Calla comprises a wide range of ceramic pieces, including elegant basins and pedestals, sophisticated toilets and bidets, and a stunning statement piece – a free-standing bathtub. The basins can also be combined with the more contemporary leg set, giving the product a completely different and more contemporary identity.

Joy Neo

Joy Neo represents an evolution of classicism, combining features from the more contemporary and cylindrical Joy collection with classic, square design elements, and either cross or lever-handles. The result is a highly versatile and sophisticated range of fittings that can be perfectly combined with neo-classical ranges similar to Calla, but also with more minimalist ceramic lines, such as Ideal Standard’s Extra.

Joy Neo offers a comprehensive variety of pieces, including single lever basin mixers, dual control basin mixers, wall-mounted basin mixers and 3-hole basin mixers as well as different bath and shower products. Available in two finishes, Magnetic Grey and Chrome, the collection is adaptable to suit any space.

Sustainable features

The EcoFlow regulator reduces water consumption down to 5 litres per minute for a more sustainable use of water without compromising on comfort. It is effortless to install, with EasyFix® decreasing installation time by 30%.

The Magnetic Grey products are produced using the latest technology – Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) – to preserve the vibrancy of the coloured brassware. PVD is a thin protective coating applied in a vacuum, which ensures products are ten times more resistant to chemicals, wear, impact, discoloration and corrosion. Additionally, SmartShine® finishing on the chrome models increases longevity, while also making cleaning easier.

Speaking on the new collections, Roberto Palomba said: “It was never our intention to create collections that can only be used in classic interior design, but instead our aim was to design products that can be adapted and fused with elements from other eras to give customers freedom to express themselves. Innovation, heritage and the needs of the modern day are key elements represented in the neoclassical Calla and Joy Neo ranges.” Both the Calla and Joy Neo ranges are available as of April 2022.

Both the Calla and Joy Neo ranges are available as of April 2022.

Bathroom_Review_Calla_Conca — Calla pedestal & bath – Joy Neo basin mixer

More information about the Calla is available here: https://www.idealstandard.co.uk/products/collections/calla

To find out more about Joy Neo, visit: https://www.idealstandard.co.uk/products/collections/joy-neo

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Impey – the UK’s market-leading wetroom brand

April 21, 2022

With more than 25 years of manufacturing experience and over half-a-million installations across the UK, the market-leading Impey brand continues to raise the bar for modern wetrooms.

Combining key design elements and innovative showering scenarios, Impey’s contemporary showering solutions portfolio showcases countless possibilities for wetroom designs within residential, commercial and specialist settings.

The Impey product selection has been designed specifically to offer a choice of wetroom solutions to the premium end of the retail market. It includes an array of unique products, which it says improve the versatility and adaptability of a wetroom installation, whilst maximising desirability.

At the heart of Impey’s recognisable range are flagship products like the multi award-winning AquaDec EasyFit™ wetroom floor formers and WaterGuard™ tanking system, which are synonymous with high quality and longevity. These designs sit alongside a unique collection of linear floor formers, designer drainage grates and high end, design-led bathroom accessories from Impey’s sister brand Geesa.

known for the concept and creation of the UK’s leading wetroom elements, Impey considers it has been influential in the advent of modern wetrooms into the British market; helping consumers to understand how to incorporate a contemporary showering space into every kind of bathroom setting.

At Impey’s UK factory every wetroom dec is precision engineered with attention to detail, ensuring enhanced quality and reliability, which retailers can recommend with confidence.

And, to aid with the realisation of the design process and help maximise sales opportunities, Impey’s latest brochure allows users to ‘step-into’ the wetroom spaces as seen on the page. Developed in association with Virtual Worlds, the virtual-reality click-throughs offer an immersive experience of wetroom scenarios, revealing a tempting snapshot of how a wetroom can look and feel.

Find out more, or enquire about becoming an Impey retailer at:

www.impeyshowers.com

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Elisa Intuition digital smart shower

April 21, 2022

The Intuition smart digital shower from the Elisa range incorporates smart shower technology designed to enhance the wellbeing of owners through its personalisation features, while providing greater visibility of water usage, to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle.

The Intuition smart digital shower comes with a clever app called ShowerMe, which allows every member of the family to create their own personal showering profile. The shower can be activated through voice control, thanks to seamless connectivity with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa smart home systems, or can be started remotely over Wi-Fi, with the reassurance that the water is at the precisely desired temperature when the user steps in. A bath fill option ensures the bath is filled to the perfect temperature and level every time, while a convenient wireless remote control is included, providing simple on/off operation.

Thanks to the ShowerMe Smart App, users have the ability to select the duration of the shower, helping to save water and energy, while an easy-to-use dashboard gives the homeowner a clear picture of individual water consumption.

Powered by Elisa’s SmartValve technology, Elisa showers offer multiple options for installation in any bathroom size, shape or configuration. The SmartValve also allows the maximum temperature of the shower to be set for added safety, and the flow rate switched to ‘Eco’ mode to reduce water usage further (by up to 33%).

Intuition comes with a choice of fixed drencher head, adjustable handset and bath fill features, and is fitted as a concealed shower unit for a discreet and elegant finish. It is available in a choice of chrome, matt black or brushed brass finish, and each model comes with a five year guarantee.

www.elisabathrooms.com

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Kbsa welcomes bathroom & kitchen retailer GHLÖSS UK Ltd

April 21, 2022

GLHÖSS is a family-run business that was founded in 2015 and now has a showroom in Brentford, Middlesex, and two design centres in Slough and Marylebone. They specialise in designing and installing well-designed kitchens and functional living spaces to create a better everyday life for their clients.

Owners Mani Sehmi and Anuraj Sehmi said, “We are delighted to become part of the Kbsa family. As a business we are committed to delivering an exceptionally high level of service, having the Kbsa badge will help reassure potential customers that they will be in very safe hands”.

“The range of benefits offered as part of the membership package is also impressive, giving us access to market leading support services. We are particularly interested in the consumer finance package which could prove to be a significant benefit for our customers, and help us achieve more sales, the Kbsa Designer Awards and access to a pool of specialists in the KBB industry”

Kbsa national chair Richard Hibbert added, “I am delighted to welcome GLHÖSS as our latest retail member. We have increased our retail membership substantially since the start of the year and are looking forward to building on this with the 6-figure investment and 5-year support plan that we have recently secured with Quooker.”

SAVE THE DATE

We are delighted to announce that the Kitchen & Bathroom Conference 2022 hosted by the Kbsa will take place on 28^th September. The venue is the Belfry Hotel and Resort in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. The conference will be preceded by the Kbsa Retailer Networking Dinner on 27^th September and culminate in the Kbsa Awards Dinner following the conference.

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Home renovation professionals anticipate business growth in 2022

April 21, 2022

Houzz Inc, a leading platform for home renovation and design, has released the 2022 Houzz UK State of the Industry report.*

The report provides an outlook on 2022 and review of 2021 performance for residential renovation and design businesses based on data reported by industry professionals in the Houzz community.

The report details that businesses have a confident outlook for 2022, with more than three-quarters anticipating revenue growth (76 percent) and two-thirds expecting profits to increase (66 percent). This follows strong 2021 results with more companies reporting revenue growth, as compared to the previous four years, exceeding expectations for the year.

“Following a successful year for the home renovation and design industry, the findings from the Houzz State of the Industry report show that professionals are bullish that momentum will continue throughout 2022,” says Marine Sargsyan, Houzz senior economist.

“The positive outlook is prevalent across industry groups from interior designers to builders, despite global challenges and increased costs of doing business.”

2022 UK State of the Industry: Major Findings

Design and build firms are most optimistic about 2022: Design and build firms are the most optimistic about revenue growth in 2022 (88 percent), followed by interior designers and architects (80 and 76 percent, respectively). Companies across all industry sectors plan to grow revenue by bringing in larger budget projects (60 percent).
Revenue growth surpassed expectations in 2021: In 2021, a larger share of businesses reported year-over-year revenue growth than in the last four years (69 percent). More than two-thirds of companies reported that revenue growth was at or above their initial expectations for the year (69 percent). Nearly three quarters of both design and build firms and architects reported increases in gross revenues in 2021 (72 percent), followed by interior designers (70 percent).
Hiring is on the rise: More than a quarter of businesses increased headcount in 2021 (29 percent), compared with only 17 percent of businesses who added employees in 2020. Design and build firms were the most likely to hire last year (35 percent), compared with architects and interior designers (29 and 26 percent, respectively). Hiring is expected to continue among nearly two in five of businesses in 2022 to support revenue growth (38 percent).
Increases in the cost of doing business: More than three-quarters of businesses reported an increase in the cost of doing business in 2021 (77 percent). Design and build firms were the most impacted by rising costs (94 percent), followed by interior designers and architects (70 and 65 percent, respectively). Price volatility of products and materials was one of the top challenges reported by one in five businesses (22 percent).

*The complete 2022 Houzz UK State of the Industry report can be found here.

There are more than 2.7 million active home renovation and design professionals on Houzz, including architects, interior designers, home builders and design and build firms.

Image Credit: Jours & Nuits © Houzz

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UWLA calls kbb industry to promote wise water use

April 21, 2022

The Unified Water Label Association is calling on the kbb industry to promote their own commitment to using water wisely on World Earth Day (Friday 22 April). World Earth Day is an international event to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held in 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally, which includes 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.

UWLA MD Yvonne Orgill says, “Earth Day presents a fantastic opportunity for companies to communicate what they are doing to use water efficiently, helping to save energy and protect our planet.

“The UWLA has been engaging with the industry to help them realise they have an important part to play in helping consumers make responsible water-saving choices. We have made good progress, gaining support and commitment to help consumers understand the issues around water scarcity, and drive home the message that for the sake of the planet we must use water wisely.

“The Water Label is used extensively by over 10,500 architects on new building projects and we have a database of products across 14 categories, which currently covers over 13,500 individual products. Support is growing from a number of retailers both large and small with global home furnishing brand IKEA, and leading German DIY retailer Globus now promoting the Unified Water Label across their sustainable bathroom and kitchen products.

“Companies that share their commitment to water efficiency and the Unified Water Label this Earth day, will be playing an important role to influence and educate consumers on the options available, and help them make the right environmental choices when investing in their home.”

“There has never been a better time to become involved and support the UWLA – visit the website today to find how you can play your part.”

www.uwla.eu

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Hyatt announces milestone development with plans for Thompson Vienna

April 21, 2022

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) has announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with an affiliate of SIGNA and CENTRAL Group for Thompson Vienna, a stunning new sophisticated lifestyle hotel to be located in the Austrian capital.

The milestone development demonstrates Hyatt’s drive to expand its brands throughout Europe, along with a strong commitment to growing the Thompson Hotels portfolio.

Expected to open in late 2024, the 148-room hotel will be located on Mariahilferstrasse (Mariahilfer Street) in the popular retail area of Vienna, as part of an exciting development bringing a new KaDeWe high-end department store to the city. Thompson Vienna and KaDeWe together will create an immersive, cultural destination for tourists and locals alike, offering an all-encompassing experience that brings together global luxury brands, exciting dining and entertainment options.

“We are excited to be expanding our relationship with SIGNA and CENTRAL Group by introducing plans for Thompson Vienna, the third Hyatt property in the city,” said Felicity Black-Roberts, vice president development Europe, Hyatt. “Offering a refined residential feel, Thompson Vienna will attract visitors and locals alike with a dynamic social scene, all within the unprecedented development that will integrate high-end shopping, dining, entertainment, fashion and accommodations within one destination.”

World-renowned architects OMA and interior designers Tara Bernerd & Partners will design Thompson Vienna, creating a modern, edgy design inspired by the architecture and distinctive characteristics of Austria’s famous capital, complemented by the Thompson Hotels brand’s layered design, culinary sophistication and exceptional service.

“We are delighted to extend our collaboration with Hyatt on this exciting new landmark hotel for the Viennese social scene,” said Claus Stadler, COO SIGNA. “Together we will reimagine how retail and hospitality are intertwined to create a high-quality, lifestyle offering for our guests and visitors.”

The development follows Hyatt’s recent announcement of plans for the Thompson Hotels brand debut in Spain with Thompson Madrid.

Thompson Vienna will mark the third Hyatt-branded hotel in the city joining Park Hyatt Vienna and Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere.

About SIGNA Real Estate

SIGNA Real Estate has been developing and managing exceptional real estate projects in central locations in Germany and Austria for over 20 years. An experienced team of real estate experts manages all activities from a project’s acquisition to its completion, and it meets the highest standards with regard to profitability, technology and sustainability. Reliability, fairness and completion on schedule are at the forefront of the team’s cooperation with project partners. These values are anchored in the philosophy of the company, which was founded by René Benko, and they make SIGNA a respected partner.

Its portfolio includes the KaDeWe and the Upper West Tower by the Gedächtniskirche in Berlin, the spectacular Elbtower high-rise project in Hamburg’s HafenCity, the premium Alsterhaus department store in Hamburg and the Oberpollinger and the Karstadt development project near Munich’s central train station. In Austria, the outstanding portfolio properties include the premium Park Hyatt Vienna hotel and the Goldenes Quartier business district.

With these projects, SIGNA is making important contributions to the development of cities. SIGNA doesn’t just concentrate on individual properties; it re-conceptualises topics such as inner city development, sustainability, variety of utilisations, networking and mobility. For liveable cities – for all of us.

About Central Group

Thailand-based CENTRAL, owned by the Chirathivat family for four generations, is a leading multi-format and multi-category retail group focusing on physical and digital retail formats, hotels, restaurants and real estate across Southeast Asia and Europe. CENTRAL began its expansion into Europe with the acquisition of Rinascente in 2011. After acquiring the Danish department store Illum in 2013, CENTRAL partnered with SIGNA to jointly invest in and develop The KaDeWe Group in 2015, followed by Globus in 2020. As a result, Europe has become a key market and strategic focus for CENTRAL, with significant senior management presence across various locations, including London.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of September 30, 2021, Hyatt’s portfolio included more than 1,000 hotel and all-inclusive properties in 69 countries across six continents, and the acquisition of Apple Leisure Group added 96 properties in 10 countries as of November 1, 2021. Hyatt’s offerings include the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Alila®, Andaz®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt™, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Thompson Hotels®, Hyatt Centric®, Caption by Hyatt, JdV by Hyatt™, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Place®, UrCove, and Hyatt Residence Club® brands, as well as resort and hotel brands under the AMR™ Collection, including Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Breathless® Resorts & Spas, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Alua® Hotels & Resorts, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Hyatt’s subsidiaries operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and the Trisept Solutions® travel technology platform. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

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Compusoft launches Global Inspiration Contest for kitchen, bathroom and office designers

April 21, 2022

2020 + Compusoft has announced the return of their Global Inspiration Contest for kitchen, bathroom and office designers. The contest provides a platform for 2020 Design Live, 2020 Fusion Live, 2020 Office, Winner and Innoplus users to be recognized among their peers for their creative, functional and aesthetic design skills.

This year’s contest is sponsored by 9to5 Seating, Caesarstone and ARAN Cucine. There are twelve categories that designers can submit to:

2020 Design Live
•   Kitchen
•   Bathroom
•   360° Panorama (Any Space)

2020 Fusion Live
•   Kitchen
•   Bathroom
•   360° Panorama (Any Space)

2020 Office
•   Educational Space
•   Large Office Space
•   Small Office Space

Winner and Innoplus
•   Kitchen
•   Bathroom
•   Showcase 360 (Any Space)

Multiple submissions are encouraged, however each submitted design must be unique. The winners will be chosen by a panel of guest judges, including Business of Furniture Editor Rob Kirkbride, NKBA Director of Member Relationships Alan Dove, KBB Review Editor Rebecca Nottingham, and President of ESPRITMEUBLE Gaëtan Ménard. Grand prizes will also be awarded by the sponsors as well as a Voters’ Choice prize based on votes.

The contest opens on April 20, 2022 and closes on May 23, 2022. The winners will receive Amazon gift cards varying between $500 and $1,000 (awarded in the winners’ country currency).

“2020 and Compusoft are thrilled to be hosting this year’s Global Inspiration Contest,” says Steve Hopkins, chief customer success officer at 2020 + Compusoft. “We look forward to all the wonderfully creative designs our customers come up with and we hope everyone enjoys the experience.”

To learn more about the 2020 Global Inspiration Contest, visit the 2020 Global Inspiration Contest.

Click the link to learn more.

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Aqualisa introduces Downtown™ taps range in matt black

April 21, 2022

British bathroom specialist Aqualisa has introduced a range of matt black models to its premium Downtown™ taps collection. With a refined and contemporary finish, the matt black Downtown taps make a bold and punchy impact, adding contrast to any modern interior, and continuing the ongoing industrial trend for black bathroom brassware.

Each tap features an angular, soft square lever style with ultra-smooth movement, allowing precise and effortless operation. The matt black surface is both easy to clean and scratch-resistant, ensuring durability and longevity. Available from the end of April 2022, the new line-up includes a small and large pillar mixer tap, a deck-mounted bath filler and a bath shower mixer.

Aqualisa Downtown Matt Black Small and Large Pillar Mixer Taps
Available in small (130mm) and large (147mm) sizes, these elegant basin mixer taps are equipped with an integrated aerator for a softer, non-splash flow. Suitable for both high and low-pressure water systems, each model is machined from high-quality brass with a zinc handle, and comes with a matching, flush-finish metal click clack waste.

Bathroom_Review_Aqualisa_Downtown_Matt_Black_Deck_filler

Aqualisa Downtown Matt Black Deck-Mounted Bath Filler
Engineered to the same soft square design as the individual pillar taps, the Downtown deck-mounted bath filler incorporates dual levers for hot and cold water. Engineered from brass with zinc handles, this durable bath filler can be used with high and low pressure systems, and thermostatic technology ensures a safe temperature for family bathrooms.

Aqualisa Downtown Matt Black Bath Shower Mixer
Adding the convenience of a high-performance 65mm hand shower, this stylish shower mixer features a thermostatic brass body, zinc handles, a 1.25m matt black smooth hose and wall-mounted handset holder. The hand shower is equipped with rub-clean jets for easy maintenance. This unit is also suitable for high and low water pressure systems.

Aqualisa Midas™ 220 in Black with Downtown Taps Combination
In addition to the individual models, the Downtown large pillar tap will also be available as a combination with the Aqualisa Midas 220 in Black mixer shower, with a choice of overhead shower column and adjustable head, adjustable shower only or bath shower mixer.

All models in the Aqualisa Downtown collection are quick and efficient to install, with the reassurance of Aqualisa’s long-standing reputation for reliable and trusted bathroom solutions that are built to last. The full range is WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme) approved, and each product carries a five year manufacturer’s warranty after registration, plus the backing of Aqualisa’s in-house sales and service support teams.

For further details on the Aqualisa Downtown taps range – also available in chrome – please visit: https://www.aqualisa.co.uk/products/type/bathroom-taps/downtown-taps.html

Pricing and availability
The Aqualisa Downtown Matt Black collection will be available from the end of April 2022. For pricing and more information, trade partners can contact their Aqualisa representative or the Aqualisa Customer Support Team on 01959 560020 or 01 864 3363 (Ireland).

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Utopia welcomes retail partners to newly refurbished showroom

April 21, 2022

As part of its recent major Spring product launch, Utopia has added an array of stunning new displays to the showroom at its Wolverhampton headquarters.

The newly updated showroom opened in March for a series of exclusive customer preview days to showcase the new product collections. In total, over 200 retailers have been welcomed on site to view key developments across the flagship Roseberry and YOU collections, as well as a multitude of new additions across the entire product portfolio.

Helen Clark, Head of Marketing at Utopia, comments “Our showroom is an incredibly valuable resource enabling us to present our new products in truly inspirational settings. Since we not only supply the furniture but also a large portfolio of complementary products, our showroom provides us with the perfect backdrop to execute carefully thought out and imaginative new displays, showing creative combinations of our latest furniture, sanitaryware, baths, brassware and tiles. The reaction to our latest product launch has been incredible.”

Bathroom_Review_Utopia_Roseberry_Showrroom

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