KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
4th November 2016
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International News
Products Introducing the Esteem monobloc kitchen tap
One of the latest products to be launched is the contemporary styled Esteem monobloc. Neolith Polished - a real winner!
New and improved spec for Prima Brand
Franke's Cristallo tap features a distinctive angular design
The Cristallo features upright paddle levers and the popular U-shaped spout. The spout sits flush with its striking cylindrical body to give it a distinctively angular, yet streamlined, design. Scona and KA 90: luxurious, seamless and contemporary
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First, please accept my apologies for the late arrival of this issue of KBzine. Unfortunately I’ve been grappling with that hazard of modern living – running water! Living at the foot of Epsom Downs means my water is incredibly chalky. I get through a kettle a year (goodness knows what’s happening to my insides!) and any clothes I iron invariably end up with limescale streaks which need rinsing off. I’m about to choose a new bathroom but refused to do so until I’d had some sort of limescale inhibitor installed and although one went in a couple of months ago it sprang a leak last week and flooded the room. My (ex) plumber installed a replacement, which he didn’t fit correctly and it leaked. In so doing, he also damaged the stopcock (causing it to leak) and an elbow joint which also started leaking. Although he’s been back most afternoons, each visit he’s made things worse and I’ve spent a great deal of time mopping up and emptying bowls I’d managed to squeeze under the low pipes. Having awoken to a flooded room yet again this morning, I called a different plumber who sorted the worsening leak this afternoon. Trying to eradicate limescale has proved an expensive exercise but I can’t live with scummy tea and will be trying another solution… As you may imagine, I’ve been rather stressed – so much so, that last evening (when I’d realised that whether my stopcock was open or not, I couldn’t stop the system leaking) I decided I may as well do some washing and found myself sat on a footstool in front of the machine, simply watching the washing churn. I was so tired, it didn’t seem to be an odd thing to be doing and it was quite therapeutic. As I sat there, I started thinking… I’m so busy writing about wonderful innovations in these machines… the myriad of programmes offered, their ability to adjust the volume of water/detergent according to the load’s weight/soiling, eco functions, wool/hand washes, ‘smart’ functions which mean we can turn them on when leaving work so they’re ready to unload when we arrive home… that I forget what a wonderful invention they were. Even without all these functions, they perfectly replicate the hundreds-of-years-old practice of bashing and kneading cloth on the rocks in rivers and lakes, to clean it. That, in itself, is really clever, isn’t it?
 This Week's News
KBSA facilitates free members' seminar next month
Designed to be informative and interactive, to help delegates tackle the day-to-day challenges that employing people brings, the seminar will cover the following subjects: Triton shows support for AMDEA 'Register My Appliance' initiative
The new AMDEA scheme aims to capture a list of domestic appliances installed throughout the UK from more than 60 leading brands and allow manufacturers quick access to the owner's details should remedial action be required. New freestanding bath offered in several finishes
Named after the Spanish city province of Barcelona, the Terrassa features a synonymous rimless design taking many of its design cues from the Barcelona bath, one of the company's most popular designs found in hotels worldwide. The contours of the bath are highlighted by smart, sculpted 'swage' details on the inside, creating unique shadows to emphasise the Terrassa's distinctive shape. Comprehensive grab rail range can't be beaten
The grab rails include fixed and fold-up steel and plastic versions, some fluted for additional grip and others with a smooth grip. 'Spa-luxe' bathroom heating by Vogue (UK)
Stendy, (pictured) is a subtler version of the contemporary Stendy Quad, offering a softer mix of large 41mm gauge D shape tubes and 23mm round hanging bars for a more delicate aesthetic. Building Adhesives appoints David Hackett as GM
New head of channel, kitchen appointed for Whirlpool UK Appliances
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clicking the link above. Recent News
Now officially the best of British: iKBBI The Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installers announced yesterday that it had been granted permission, by The Secretary of State, to change its name with immediate effect. The organisation is now to be known as The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation.  British Ceramic Tile represents manufacturing alongside Philip Hammond in The Parliamentary Review
Self-build consumer confidence high at London Homebuilding & Renovating Show The capital city's largest self-build event, The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show, sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements, (23-25 September, ExCeL, London) experienced a 11% year-on-year increase in visitors and those questioned stated that they were prepared to spend up to £123,000 on their property plans despite the prediction that Brexit would cause uncertainty and slow down the market - a 2% increase in spend from 2015. People
InSinkErator appoints new marketing manager, Europe and Russia
Marketing
Virtual worlds advises on how to leverage the bathroom boom
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