KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
4th May 2012
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International News
Products TTA Awards: a night to remember
10 kitchen and bath trends and treatments to inspire The National Kitchen & Bath Association reveals the prevailing trends seen in the 2012 NKBA Design Competition Out of the nearly 500 designs submitted to the 2012 NKBA Design Competition, rose some presiding themes. Fixtures, finishes, materials, colour palettes, technology, shapes, focal points and overall geometry are a few among the complex considerations that talented creative-thinkers factor into their plans when generating a room design. Be inspired and enjoy examples of ten trends and treatments to inspire! Rangemaster and Articad: design online for the world renowned range cookers
LDL launches new, large capacity Wesco waste system
Luxury bed-maker wins Queen's Award for Excellence
Brussels is to push for EU-wide minimum wage Yesterday, the European Commission proposed the introduction of a minimum wage in countries such as Germany - which doesn't at present have one - and raise wages where they are considered too low, according to a draft seen by EurActiv. Intelligent building technology from Hafele
This clever system consists of receivers and wireless transmitters allowing it to be retro-fitted into existing buildings with minimum fuss. Signals are transmitted via radio to each individual receiver, perfect for installing onto glass, furniture or where a lack of cabling would normally prevent the fitting of controls - such as a kitchen island for example. Gira Radio Bus is the perfect solution for any renovation and modernisation project. T: 01788 548811 Franke inspires customers with a new app
Ecobuild unites global sustainable built environment community with over 57,000 attendees
Ecobuild, the world's leading event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment, brought together more than 57,000 industry professionals last month at London's ExCeL. NKBA announces the 2011/2012 Student Design Competition winners The US National Kitchen & Bath Association has this week announced the 10 winners of the 2011/2012 NKBA Student Design Competition, which offers more than $10,000 in scholarships and prizes. The winners will be awarded at the NKBA Design Competition Awards event nextTuesday, April 24th at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) held at Chicago's McCormick Place This prominent industry event will also recognise the professional designers who created the best kitchens and baths of the past year. The event is an exclusive event available only to the press, top designers, and select industry insiders. Mike Campbell writes about the opening of Sally UK Shower Equipment's UK Office
After five years at its headquarters in Canary Wharf, London, The Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installers is moving to new offices east of the capital. Inta lobbies on behalf of the Water Label
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Welcome to the
Well, here comes another Bank Holiday and as well as further heavy rainfall and flooding, we’re being threatened with snow! The good news for our industry of course is that it will keep everyone off the beaches and hopefully encourage them to browse some showrooms and spend lots of money on home improvements instead. I need a new kitchen and bathroom but there is so much available that I love, I don’t quite know where to start when it comes to choosing what’s best for me and what will fit into the spaces I have… so much so that despite thinking, when producing my first KBzine nearly three years ago: “This job will make things much easier,” I’m still no further forward with the refurbishment. Indeed being party to so much that is new and exciting, has made making that choice so much harder for me! As you may imagine, I’m going to be registering for the 2012 Architect in the House initiative, which raises money for charity by matching a local architect up with a confused householder for an hour’s consultation, in return for a donation to Shelter, the charity that supports the homeless. It’s a great initiative for all concerned and you can read more about it below. If you’re lucky enough to be having some time off this weekend, do enjoy it and I hope you manage to keep your feet dry…
Yours,
Jan Hobbs
This Week's News
Revealed: the biggest secret In the bathroom industry
Bathroom Brands Group, in its current form, dates from 2011, when CEO Patrick Riley brought together the European Bathroom business and the Crosswater Group. Last Wednesday, in Jersey, the Channel Islands., the Group - notably the third largest selling bathroom and shower products in the UK - unveiled its newly built head office and conference facilities at the marina in St Helier and announced a new member of the team. Applications for ‘2012 Architect in the House’ initiative, now open Property owners across the UK are being invited to sign up for the 2012 Architect in the House initiative, devised by housing charity Shelter and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and sponsored by insulation specialist Rockwool. The popular UK-wide scheme provides the public with hour-long consultations with RIBA Chartered Architects who donate their time for free, in exchange for a £40 suggested donation to Shelter.  An open letter to Sir James Dyson from Yvonne Orgill, Chief executive of the Water Label 1st May 2012 Dear Sir James, I read with interest your piece in The Telegraph yesterday calling for innovative solutions for the home to reduce water consumption. You are correct that there is a large amount of plumbing in our homes that is outdated and wasteful. An analysis we undertook on CLG/BRE data shows there are 1 million toilets in the UK which pre-date 1960, so use 13 litres or more of water per flush. Power showers from the 80s and 90s were incredibly wasteful, getting through 20 or even 30 litres of water per minute. Ellis Furniture reports fantastic response to new Galaxy and Opal kitchen ranges
Galaxy, with its lustrous smooth silk finish brings sophistication to the kitchen space, whilst the eye catching Opal delivers a superb on-trend high gloss finish. Combined, the two ranges offer a total of 10 stunning finishes; from the darker tones of Anthracite, Aubergine and Mocha, and the lighter shades of Maize, Pebble and Platinum in the Galaxy range; to exquisite finishes in the Opal range, including atmospheric Gloss White, timeless Gloss Stone and Gloss Canvas, and the very latest on-trend Gloss Maize. BMA's WEPLS 'Water Label' is adopted in Europe
A single Water Label for taps, shower valves and shower heads moves a step closer. Trade Associations from a number of European countries representing the tap, shower valves and handsets industry, together with major European manufacturers, have completed the first phase in the development of a single Water Label for bathroom products. Leading UK bathroom supplier enters Forum’s late payment Hall of Shame
A leading UK producer of bathroom products has been entered in to the Forum of Private Business’s late payment ‘Hall of Shame’ after it increased its payment times from 30 to 60 days. It has also introduced an accumulation period for invoicing which can add up to another 30 days to the process – taking it to as much as 90 days for payments to suppliers to clear. CCS passes £60 million in Q1 2012 Consumer Credit Solutions the home improvement market credit broker, achieved over £60 million of approved loans during the first quarter of 2012. The spectacular figure puts the business on track to achieve a quarter of a billion pounds of approved loans in 2012. Previously CCS achieved its best ever trading quarter in Q4 2011, managing an approved lending figure of just over £51 million for homeowners. This coincided with its best ever October with £18.9 million of approved loans. In total the company managed over £200 million of approved loans during 2011. Candour – a taste of things to come…
The Abode designers have epitomised the luxury feel of the new Candour taps by creating a stylish floor mounted bath filler with shower handset, wall mounted basin and bath fillers, along with and elegant, easy-to-install thermostatic wall shower post. Candour will be available from October 2012. T: 01226 283434 F: 01226 282434 W: www.abode.eu Tile Depot has been confirmed as the newest member of The Tile Association. With TTA's membership rapidly expanding, companies operating within the wall and floor tile industry continue to see the importance of being a member of an organisation which promotes professionalism and technical standards in the tiling industry, as well as providing technical support to both members and their customers. "Tile Depot is proud to be a member of the Tile Association, as its expert advice and support to the tile industry are invaluable," says Tile Depot's Managing Director Danny Steptoe. Innovative price pledge coincides with new product book
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New homes figures reveal continuing public/private sector divide Figures released today by NHBC have shown the gap between private and public sector registrations to build new homes in the UK continues to widen, with social housing showing a 54% decrease for March 2012, compared to March last year (2,460 - 5,330). FIRA members WCFM Sustainability Award success
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