Abode's new Cento bathroom taps have bold, sharp styling

Presenting Cento, with its bold, sharp styling, designed to suit those design conscious consumers who desire a more geometric look... Cento is just one of the new ranges available from Abode and is a perfect match to Abode's geometric designs of showering options, allowing the design of a completely unified bathroom style.
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Effortless retro style with the new Forest

Evocative of olive groves and the Tuscan landscape, Forest is the gorgeous new tone from Lustrolite which will have your kitchen or bathroom swinging in the '60s like Twiggy and Babycham.

New York Fashion Week 2015 was awash with this retro hue*, and it couldn't be easier to introduce the colour into your home.
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Retailers and merchants: on your marks...

In 2013 it was announced by the European Commission that all bathroom products covered by Harmonised European Standards are to have the CE mark attached to the product or its packaging.
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Aga Rangemaster sold to US kitchen products specialist Middleby for £129.2m

Yet another iconic British brand is to come under to US ownership, with Aga Rangemaster being sold to US commercial foodservice, food processing and residential kitchen equipment giant the Middleby Corporation for £129.2m.
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Blanco cooker hood makes a bold statement

The inspiring Gutmann Arte hood from Blanco Germany makes a dramatic addition to contemporary kitchen design. This powerful extractor combines a futuristic design with advanced technology for unrivalled performance.
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New products bring a design classic bang up to date

Ensuring it continues to cater for the demands of modern bathroom design while remaining true to its classical routes, the iconic IlBagnoAlessi One collection from Laufen has been expanded for 2014.
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Introducing SensioSound: an LED Bluetooth speaker light

Add this dual-purpose, under-cabinet light with Bluetooth speaker to your next kitchen refurbishment to add cool yet practical (and surprisingly inexpensive) technology and tidiness to your own or your client's sociable kitchen space.
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Comprehensive and affordable shower floors: Kaldewei now offers solutions for every project

With the expansion of Scona, Kaldewei has grown its shower programme to include almost any size requirement, installation type and the lowest price point than ever before for modern, low level showering. Scona and Superplan, especially, offer outstanding designs and are stars of affordability within the Kaldewei portfolio.
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Designer radiator brand Bisque introduce the elegant and simple Trubi

With a modern, minimalist design, the Trubi radiator is the perfect heating solution for contemporary kitchens and bathrooms this Summer. Its slender, vertical tubes give the Trubi a light and subtle appearance, while it can be positioned either vertically or horizontally to suit the space available; tall models provide a practical solution for narrow wall spaces, while the low version fits effortlessly under windows.
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Stronger together: GDHA and Britannia form range division

Glen Dimplex Home Appliances and Britannia Living have announced the launch of a unified range cooking division to be headed by Britannia managing director, Chris Honer.

GDHA acquired the Britannia Living business in 2013 and has successfully returned the brand to profitability. With a significant share of the range cooking sector, the integrated division, to be known as Glen Dimplex Home Appliances: Range Cooking, will provide customers with a single point of contact and access to an expanded product range encompassing the Stoves, Belling, New World and Britannia brands. The new division will also retain the exclusive UK distribution rights to Bertazzoni and designer cooker hood brand, Best.
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Bid Management... or bid mismanagement?

Although this article is aimed primarily at companies that handle large construction projects, the lessons it brings apply to anyone providing building and refurbishment services.

Here, Andy Monteith, Baker Tilly's head of construction, asks you to consider whether you're adept at bid management, or guilty of bid mismanagement. And if it's the latter, he has some tips for you.
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Abacus Manufacturing Group provides durable and sleek solutions for department store washrooms

Heavy use meant that both the male and female public toilets within York's Browns department store were in urgent need of refurbishment. Bathroom expert, Abacus Manufacturing Group, was asked to provide a durable and functional solution while creating modern facilities that would remain fresh and clean for years despite the high footfall.

The Abacus team worked with Browns, a long-established family business, to create designs and selected the most appropriate products from the innovative Abacus ranges.
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100+ attend national conference helping specialist contractors get better deal

If you've made a profit of £1 then you made more money than Balfour Beatty, Vinci and a number of other main contractors did last year! That was one of the messages delivered to over 100 specialist contractors at their exclusive 'Win Work-Get Paid-Make Money' Conference in Nottingham this month.

Several industry experts provided advice about how to overcome the payment problems that are still widespread in the industry, and how to 'get paid' was one of the key topics for discussion.
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Independent Hotel Show announces a large increase in exhibitors and visitor registrations for 2015

The Independent Hotel Show has seen a 20% increase in exhibitor bookings and a 25% increase in visitor registrations for 2015 compared with the same stage last year.

Now in its fourth year, the show, which takes place at Olympia West on 20th and 21st October, brings together a diverse selection of premium exhibitors from across the hotel supply chain and as well as the exhibition, promises two days packed full of inspirational speakers, industry insight and topical debate.
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Victoria + Albert Baths appoints general manager of MENAT, Caspian and India

Victoria + Albert Baths, a British brand with a worldwide reputation for creating beautiful freestanding contemporary and traditional Quarrycast baths and basins, has announced the appointment of Ross Jackson as general manager of MENAT (Middle East, North Africa & Turkey), Caspian and India.

Ross brings over 15 years' experience in the industry, working with brands such as Kohler Mira in the UK, Kohler Middle East in the UAE and Delta Faucet Company in the MENA Region.
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Schmidt combines classic and contemporary style with its new handless Arcos collection

In line with the ongoing trend for clean lines in the kitchen, Schmidt has introduced a handless range to the popular Arcos collection. Available in 16 matt colours, 12 wood effects and six high gloss finishes, this versatile range is the perfect choice for both traditional and modern schemes.
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A pearl of an idea...

Glass-inspiration Austria is now offering a lustrous Mother of Pearl finish, sandwiched between laminated safety glass, as an alternative to tiles and splashbacks.
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BBC DIY SOS donation makes life a little easier for a growing family

For children, gaining their independence when using the bathroom is an important part of growing up, which is why Geberit was keen to come to the aid of young twins Katie and Emilia Corns when the BBC DIY SOS team put out a call for help.

Supplying a Geberit AquaClean 8000plus Care to the latest Big Build project undertaken by the popular TV show, the manufacturer played a small part in making things easier for the Corns family, from Loughborough.
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Improving resources for bathroom retailers: Duravit UK signs-up to EQ Software

The Duravit catalogue, containing complete collections of living bathrooms, is now available in a digital format via EQ Software. With over 6,000 users worldwide, EQ Software now features what is believed to be the largest selection of product brochures for the KBB industry - making it a popular choice for UK bathroom retailers.

Duravit UK managing director, Martin Carroll, comments: "A very high number of bathroom retailers are now using EQ Software and the links it provides to visualisation systems like Compusoft and Virtual World.
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Laufen and Ripples join forces for training days

Last week Laufen and Ripples joined forces for two Laufen training days. The idea came from Jamie Welch - regional sales manager for Laufen and Nicola Crow - sales manager of Ripples.
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Franke sponsors specialist clothing for injured soldiers suffering gruelling Yukon kayaking expedition in Canadian Alaska

Franke Sissons, Chesterfield, has sponsored the specialist clothing for four severely injured soldiers to kayak 465 miles down the Yukon River in Canadian Alaska, during September 2015, with the Pilgrim Bandits Charity.

Pilgrim Bandits' extreme expeditions are designed to push men and women from the Army, Navy, RAF, Police, Ambulance and Fire services to the absolute limit. For those having sustained horrendous injuries either in the line of duty or during the time of their service in some other capacity, these challenges rebuild confidence and self-esteem, by requiring participants to use a huge range of professional skills gained in service.
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Two companies fined for safety failings

Two companies have been fined for dangerously installing and operating gas fired tumble driers at a student hall of residence, while not Gas Safe Registered.

York Magistrates' Court heard how in 2012, Direct Laundry Installations of Halifax, West Yorkshire, was contracted by Circuit Laundrette Services to install gas laundry equipment as part of a coin operated laundry, but was not at the time registered with Gas Safe Register. The installation was not completed correctly, as the flues were not in a safe position.
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iKBBI unveils new major sponsor

The Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installers has today unveiled Currys PC World as its latest sponsor, adding to an impressive portfolio of Great British and international brands supporting the aims and objectives of the government sanctioned organisation.
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May Design Series cancelled

UBM has announced the closure of the May Design Series, saying it will instead concentrate its KBB and design sector efforts on the highly popular kbb Birmingham and kbb London, Sleep, Decorex and Ecobuild events.
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The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association announces designer awards shortlists

Following a meeting of the judges for the 2015 KBSA Designer Awards, the finalists have been named for all categories as follows:
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Has there ever been a better time to be an independent kitchen specialist?

asks Bill Miller, managing director of the Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group, the UK arm of Der Kreis buying group
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