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Our Green Promise

Our Green Promise

Given everything that has been happening over the last year, one beacon of light our industry has continued to carry is the many promises made by manufacturers to go green. The initiative to reduce carbon footprints, switch to sustainable and cleaner manufacturing processes, or offer refurbishment/repair of components shows how hard our sector are working hard to offer sustainability as standard.

As a digital publisher, we fully support these commitments. Not using print/paper and associated distribution chains means we already have a head start, but a year ago we took the conscious decision to pay more for the electricity we use, relying on renewable energy providers to run our service. We are now delighted to also announce that we will make further contributions to a carbon reduction programme to offset carbon emissions from our AWS hosting and social media presence.

Like all the designers and innovators in our industry, we want to make the world a better place for now and the future.

Diane Larner

Bathroom Review & Kitchens Review – Keeping your PR Social… and now carbon neutral!

Image by Muhammad Ridha from Pixabay

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RAK Ceramics introduces new brochure editions

RAK Ceramics launches ne

With new product launches coming on board in 2021, RAK Ceramics is publishing new editions of its Bathroom and Tiles Books, providing retailers with up-to-date marketing material at what is a busy and exciting time for the bathroom brand.

A much-used sales and reference tool for RAK Ceramics’ customers that they can pass on for free to their clients, the new brochures feature the latest ranges of sanitaryware, brassware, furniture and mirrors, including the design-led RAK-Petit range launched with compact bathrooms in mind. The Tile Book for 2021 features stunning new large-format slabs and ceramic wall tiles, among the latest additions to the range.

A4 and full colour in format, both brochures feature inspiring room set photography to help bring the products to life, as well as full specification details to help make ordering simple. Available to download in PDF versions from the RAK Ceramics website, printed copies of both brochures are available from regional sales teams.

Contact:

RAK Ceramics UK

01730 237850

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Wilsonart UK expands Marketing team

Wol;sonart expands marketing team

Wilsonart, the UK manufacturer of laminate worktops and home to surface brands Bushboard, Wetwall and Mermaid Panels, has expanded its Marketing team in the UK ahead of ambitious plans for growth and development in 2021.

The County Durham based company has appointed a Marketing Communications Manager, and Digital Marketing Specialist, to head up the bathroom arm of the business. The new team will oversee a trio of brands – Mermaid Panels, Wetwall and Bushboard’s Nuance range – that serve the bathroom surfaces industry, with the team driving a primary focus towards the Mermaid Panels brand for 2021.

“We have an exciting year ahead of us here at Wilsonart UK and are planning considerable measures to continue to elevate our brands, particularly in the bathroom sector”, says Neil Horton, Sales Director at Wilsonart UK.

“As part of this, we’re making a significant investment into our marketing drive with an expanding team to ensure we continue to offer specific tools and support to meet the varying needs of our different stakeholders including retailers, installers and the wider community”.

Wilsonart UK is pleased to welcome:

Helen Dennett, UK Marketing Communications Manager; Mermaid Panels, Wetwall and Bushboard Nuance

Helen (pictured top) brings a strong understanding of the industry and a wealth of key channel experience gained from her previous roles at Travis Perkins and Plumbase. As well as bringing integral strategy and campaign management skills to her role, Helen has an established rapport with suppliers in the merchanting sector and an in-depth understanding of the wants and needs of installers. Helen will be responsible for elevating the marketing communications around Wilsonart’s three bathroom brands, whilst continuing to focus on building key relationships with retail and merchant partners.

Wilsonart UK expands Marketing team
Sasha Betty

Sasha Betty, Digital Marketing Specialist

Sasha is delighted to join Wilsonart UK and return to her B2B marketing roots after several invaluable years working in the consumer field. Armed with an abundance of knowledge about end-consumer behaviour and customer journey optimisation, Sasha will focus on driving reach and awareness, positioning Wilsonart’s brands as the centre of the conversation in the digital space. New to the KBB industry, Sasha hopes to bring a fresh pair of eyes to the role, with plans to create authentic and innovative campaigns that will educate, excite, and inspire.

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Acquabella unveils Mini bathroom basins

Acquabella unveils Mini bathroom basins

Acquabella’s new Mini compact basins are just 400 mm wide and fitted with a modern inbuilt towel rail as standard (in a choice of polished steel or matt black).

The Mini is fabricated using the Spanish company’s patented composite material Akron which combines non-silica resin with natural mineral. The Mini benefits from having an ultra-high definition, warm-to-the-touch finish which is resistant to water damage and impact and anti-bacterial certification.

Whilst the Mini comes in one practical size – H210 x W400 x D350mm – it is available in 10 standard colours, 6 natural neutral tones and over 2200 custom colours making it possible to create a totally individual look.  The Mini’s wall-mounted design can be used in pairs where space allows. The new launch demonstrates Acquabella’s ethos that its high-quality products should offer versatility. Space may be at a premium but style should not.

www.acquabella.com/en/

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Kbsa appoints bathroom retail ambassador to the board

The Kbsa has appointed Caroline Cooper, owner at Roman Bathrooms to the board of directors, with a role to act as bathroom retail ambassador.

Caroline is an award winning designer with 30 years’ experience in the bathroom industry.   Roman Bathrooms has an enviable reputation for outstanding design and unrivalled customer service.  Caroline and her daughter, also a director, run the business which has five members of staff and five installation teams.

Caroline said, “I am delighted to be given this opportunity to work with the Kbsa board and help bathroom retailers understand that the Kbsa can bring substantial benefits to their business. 

“I want to dispel the misconception that bathroom retailers don’t have a body to support and protect them, and show that the Kbsa can represent their interests, just as it does for kitchen retailers.”

Kbsa national chair Richard Hibbert said, “Caroline will be a great asset to the board.  Her experience will help us identify the challenges and issues that are specific to bathroom retailers, helping us refine our offer and bring the benefits of Kbsa membership to a wider audience.”

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Rehau reports record demand for board matching

Rehau reports record demand

Rehau has reported record demand for zero-joint tech and online board matching initiative.

An upsurge in the usage of its industry-leading board matching guide is mirrored by a similar increase in demand for more hygienic solutions and subsequent interest in its zero-joint edgebanding technology.

REHAU has attributed the upturn to furniture design and production professionals spending more time online over the past nine months.

Recent research conducted by Ikea for its Big Home Reboot report found that the pandemic has put health and wellbeing at the front of people’s minds, and the homes of the future will need to be ready for the next health crisis. As the industry aims to digest a plethora of reports surrounding the health of the nation’s homes, REHAU’s zero-joint technology is growing in demand due to its hygienic approach. 

Eliminating the use of glue, polymer zero-joint edgebanding results in a much more hygienic, easily cleanable product. There are a number of ways in which a zero-joint finish can be achieved – via laser, hot air or near infra-red (NIR). REHAU has invested significantly to ensure its RAUKANTEX range of edge banding is compatible with all methods of application.

Scott Williams, National Sales Manager for REHAU Furniture Solutions division explains: “Zero-joint technology is not new, and it has been a popular innovation for many industry professionals for quite some time. But what we are seeing now, is more SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) joiners, interior designers, fitters and kitchen/bathroom manufacturers showing interest in this type of technology because of the jointless clean finish achieved. The absence of a glue line where the edging meets the board prevents the build-up of dirt or bacteria, creating a seamless hygienic surface.”

At KBB 2020, REHAU announced a new strategy to support SMEs across the sector with more business support online. Its successful board matching service is one such tool it has been enhancing to help businesses in this uncertain economic climate. As such, the business has seen a significant increase in usage of the online tool.

The online board matching service contains matches to all leading board manufacturer collections and is one of the most comprehensive standard stock ranges available in Europe. The collection includes solid-colour, decorative design, mirror gloss, extreme matt, real glass effect, translucent, 3D, metallic look and real wood veneer options. New additions to the range are added all the time, including an Extreme Matt collection called Noble Matt and RAUVISIO Noir, both of which have been introduced to meet the trend for ultra matt surfaces.

Having access to a wide range of materials allows for more creativity and we have noticed more daring matches being made, such as the RAUKANTEX Magic 2 which includes edgebanding with real metallic surfaces that have brass and copper effects.

Scott adds: “Tools like this are invaluable to our industry right now. We have invested heavily to consider every possibility when it comes to board matching so it’s encouraging to see that it’s helping the market. We’ve got lots more up our sleeves to help this portion of the market excel as we come out of lockdown so watch this space!”

For more information, visit: https://www.rehau.com/uk-en/interiors-edgebands

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Kaldewei supports WWF ocean conservation

WWF Ocean conservation Programme

Kaldewei has entered into a long-term partnership with the WWF in connection with an ocean conservation programme.

Kaldewei’s philosophy is centred around the belief our society must become more sustainable and environmentally aware if it wants to leave a habitable world for future generations.

For over 100 years, the family company has been using natural raw materials, transforming them into long-lasting and recyclable bathroom products, made of steel enamel. According to the manufacturer, its commitment does not end with the delivery of the finished products. Kaldewei is also a member of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) and was the first bathroom manufacturer who could offer an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) issued by the Institut Bauen und Umwelt (IBU) for its products.

“Our commitment to the environment doesn’t end at the factory gates, but goes far beyond this, which is why, since 2017, as a leading German bathroom manufacturer, we have been working as a long-term partner with the WWF; specifically supporting its ocean conservation programme in Vietnam,” says Managing Director, Franz Kaldewei.

“We’re talking here about the “Long An” model project in the Mekong Delta that is combatting the causes of plastic waste in the world’s oceans. The aim is to significantly reduce the amount of plastic that enters the ocean by separating and recycling plastic waste.”

Thanks to Kaldewei’s help, the preliminary studies and pilot measures has made this made possible and the WWF has been able to convince the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU) of the project’s potential. As a result, the BMU has granted the WWF project funding until 2023. As Bernhard Bauske from the WWF emphasises: “It is only Kaldewei’s support that has made it possible to transform a project idea into a highly promising field project to fight the causes of plastic waste in the oceans.”

Certifications and partnerships make sustainable building measurable.

“We need a shared understanding of what sustainable building means. It has to be measurable, applicable and comparable. That is something we advocate as a member of the German Sustainable Building Council,” says Franz Kaldewei. The Council’s certification system is helping to standardise quality in planning, construction and operation, and guarantees the highest possible future security of construction projects. The data contained in the EPDs, for example, form the basis of sustainability reviews for national and international building certification systems such as the DGNB’s Sustainable Building assessment system (BNB) or international standards such as LEED or BREEAM. The qualities that set Kaldewei steel enamel bathroom solutions apart from plastic products, and which contribute to the eco-friendly and climate-neutral building to DGNB standard, include their recyclability and their long useful life, which is backed up by a 30-year guarantee.

To further raise awareness of sustainable building among professionals and private builders, Kaldewei is working with various partners and architect networks, including InteriorPark., one of the leading platforms for sustainable interior architecture and eco-friendly design.

Tina Kammer, architect and co-founder of InteriorPark.says : “It’s not easy for consumers to engage intensively with alternatives every time they buy something so that they can make the right choice. All market players need to provide more information in this area.“

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Cape Cod opens up a world of design options

Duravit has introduced two new additions to its Cape Cod series designed by Philippe Starck. A smaller version of the striking freestanding bath tub is complemented by a new ceramic furniture washbasin.

In white high gloss, the 70cm-wide white ceramic furniture washbasin introduces a brand-new look to the bathroom. The floor-standing chrome frame and integrated shelf are both practical and easy to clean.The shelf areas adjoin the circular basin on the left and right. Minimalistic mirrors with all-round LED lighting add the perfect finishing touch to the washing area.

Another new element is a smaller version of the striking, freestanding bathtub in space-saving dimensions of 165 x 78cm. Like the larger variants, it is also made from the tried-and-tested, high-quality DuraSolid® material, is pleasantly warm to the touch, and has a sophisticated matt appearance. A smoothly shaped headrest set into the backrest guarantees relaxed comfort when reclining and bathing.

The series can be combined with Starck T accessories and selected toilets and bidets from the Starck 1, Starck 2, and ME by Starck ranges for a thoroughly stylish and harmonious look. The SensoWash® Starck f shower toilet offers maximum hygiene and comfort. This symbiosis of toilet and bidet provides gentle, natural cleansing with water.

The elegant bathroom opens up a whole host of design options, especially for smaller bathrooms. With its innovative design for the washing area, Starck creates elegance and a generous sense of space.

The hallmark of the Cape Cod bathroom program is the perfect fusion of material and form to satisfy even
the highest aesthetic standards. The untamed nature of New England’s Cape Cod region inspired Philippe
Starck creates a bathroom range composed of elements that rejuvenate body and soul.

Duravit cape Cod Philippe Starck

www.duravit.co.uk

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Meet The Designer: Dominik Tesseraux

Dominik Tesseraux Keuco Meet The Designer

The second interview in our Meet The Designer series is with Dominik Tesseraux, Tesseraux + Partners. As Tesseraux + Partners continues its collaboration with KEUCO, we find out design plans this year and the one thing you will never find in Dominik’s bathroom…

BR: What motivates you in your professional life?

DT: The daily experience of life is for me a good motivation. I see, feel and discover so much potential for good product development.

BR: Where do you get your inspiration from when embarking on a new bathroom design?

DT: We are in a good position because we are working on three different design areas: the bathroom, kitchen and living room. These markets influence each other. But for us, it is important to consider a common sense approach when embarking on new projects and products.

BR: What do you enjoy most about being a designer?

DT: Being a designer has so many different aspects: The brand, the concept, the design, the construction, the production, the marketing. As a designer, you are involved in every little detail of the whole process and it is up to you to moderate all aspects. For me, it is the best and one of the most ambitious professions I can imagine.

BR: What is the one thing we will never find in your bathroom?

DT: In my bathroom you will never find a TV.

BR: Can you tell us about any projects you are working on at the moment?

DT: At the moment we are working on a new bathroom concept: faucets, accessories and furniture. We are also designing a shower plate and a bathtub series. The latest washbasins are being created with a new innovative fabrication. You can expect to see a new living room furniture design concept this year too.

BR: What bathroom design trends can we expect to see next?

DT: In my opinion bathrooms are becoming smarter, but they also will be more emotional. Light, natural materials and haptic perception are important aspects.

www.tesserauxundpartner.de/

www.keuco.com/gb/

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Retrofit GROHE Bau Ceramic Manual Bidet Seat

GROHE Bau Ceramic Manual Bidet Seat

GROHE’s Bau Ceramic Manual Bidet Seat transforms existing toilets into a hygienic shower toilet for DIY installations, budget bathroom revamps and quick turnkey projects.

Turning an existing WC into a shower-toilet is a cost-efficient solution to quickly update and upgrade the bathroom. Two retractable sprays are manually operated via a lever connected to the side of the toilet seat and no electrical supply is required.

The Bau Manual Bidet Seat can be fitted quickly and easily by all bathroom fitters, plumbers, builders and installers – and with its sleek, modern styling, it complements all bathroom suites. This fuss-free upgrade makes bathrooms more hygienic and environmentally friendly thanks to its retractable spray arms that feature an antibacterial coating and a self-cleaning function. The spray function works with water pressure (1-10 bar high water pressure).

The GROHE Bau Manual Bidet Seat uses cold water as standard but offering the option and extra comfort of warm water is an ideal upsell opportunity and can be easily achieved with the additional installation of the Grohtherm Micro Thermostat.

Easy to install and use it is also practical, hygienic and stylish. Its soft-close seat and lid match perfectly with GROHE Bau Ceramic toilets as well as many other U-shaped toilets, and paper templates are available to help you check if your project is compatible.

Bau Ceramic Manual Bidet Seat
Bau Ceramic Manual Bidet Seat

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