Mereway Kitchens New English Revival Shaker Collection

A fashionable return to more traditional kitchen designs brings a brand new beginning for Mereway Kitchens this summer with the introduction of a new Revival Shaker style door for their English Revival range.
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New flooring is perfect for kitchens and bathrooms

The look of rustic stone or cool ceramic tiling remains a perennial favourite when it comes to the fitting out of new kitchens and bathrooms or the refurbishment of existing ones. Now, a new range of laminate effects - indiscernible from the original material and with significant practical advantages - has been introduced .
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Dot & Dab won't do!

Many DIYers think that a dot of adhesive on each corner of a tile and a dab in the middle is enough to stick a tile to the wall or floor. It isn't because ceramic tiles aren't strong, but that they need supporting across the whole of their surface.

What is more worrying is that some so called tile fixers also dot & dab. The British Standard for tiling, BS5385, the code of practice for fixing wall and floor tiles, makes it quite clear precisely how tiles should be fixed so if you are employing a tiler make sure that they follow this code of practice.
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Hansgrohe's iPhone/iPod Touch app aids easy planning

In tune with the very latest in modern technology, Hansgrohe presents what it believes is a first for the bathroom industry - an innovative and fun planning tool for its PuraVida bathroom collection called Hansgrohe@Home. This takes the form of a free iPhone or iPod Touch application that allows you to upload an image of the PuraVida basin mixer and see exactly how it will look on your basin at yours or your client's home.

Simply take a photograph of the wash basin in the bathroom to be upgraded, erase the existing mixer tap and watch as the new PuraVida model takes its place!
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Whirlpool's new fridge freezer extends freshness up to 50% longer

Whirlpool is passionate about food preservation. Not only is food essential to life, for consumers food is ranked as part of enjoyment as well as being key to good health. There is a major focus on diet today and the desire for healthy and fresh food to cope with the pace of modern life and keep in good shape is top of mind for most.

Research conducted by Research Plus during 2009 found that taste and quality are the top consideration when choosing foods and consumers expect food companies to be responsible for their health and well-being. Today 50% of Europeans purchase fresh food and 30% choose fewer frozen products than they used to. There is a quest for quality, freshness, flavour, nutritional value and long preservation times.
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Andrew Lillywhite, former Director of Waterline, joins BCG

Andrew Lillywhite, Waterline's former Logistics Director, has this week joined the leadership team of kitchen, bathroom and heating distributor BCG, as the new Commercial and Operations Director. Andrew's remit will include all accountability for the commercial, operations and customer service departments with responsibility for over 50 members of staff.

Andrew's role will enable BCG to further strengthen these highly critical departments within the business and will allow particular attention to be paid to improving the overall customer experience for both the Retail and Merchant accounts.
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V-Zug UK joins Johnny Grey for Decorex

Premium Swiss appliance brand V-Zug has confirmed a partnership with Johnny Grey Studios in creating a concept kitchen at next month's Decorex 2010, showcasing Johnny's new concept of the Modern Cottage Kitchen and incorporating the World renowned appliances from the V-Zug Futureline collection.

"Johnny has been at the forefront of innovation in UK kitchen design for many years, always driving new ideas and positive change within the industry," says Kevin John, Sales & Marketing Director of V-Zug UK.
"We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with Johnny at an exhibition that is now a focal point for the design industry."

Decorex 2010 is taking place from 26th through 29th Sept 2010 at Royal Hospital Chelsea.

T: 0843 289 5760
E: [email protected]
W: www.vzug.co.uk

KitchenAid's powerful hood is on an island of its own!

It might be hard to believe for those of a certain vintage, but cooker hoods are now seriously challenging other glamorous kitchen appliances for iconic status as fashion and lifestyle statements. The dowdy and noisy models of 10 or 15 years ago now seem a lifetime away as consumers are romanced by hoods with show-stopping designs and state-of-the-art technology.

Premium manufacturer KitchenAid's Architect Island Hood, the KCIP 1010, is a beautifully designed example of the exciting new genre. With an impressive wing span of 1000mm and blissfully quiet in operation, the sturdy hood is packed with typically professional KitchenAid quality and functionality including a ventilation capacity of 690 m3/h using a perimetric extraction system.
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Kaldewei UK opens its doors

On 8th July, Kaldewei, the world-renowned manufacturer of steel baths and shower trays, held an Open Day to officially mark the launch of its new UK headquarters in St. Ives, Cambridgeshire.

Around 100 guests turned out to meet the team - including senior members of the management team from the German head office -and tour the new purpose-built premises.
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Mark David Enterprises trains

Staff at Mark David Enterprises had their sales skills honed last month when Grayam Hayden held his one day sales & negotiation course at their head office premises.

Claire Ramsbotham, Operations Director, who attended the course, comments: "It was great to have a refresher on my sales techniques and I have picked up some new ideas that I will be using in the future," while Kim Rochester, area sales manager says: "I found the course to be extremely useful and I look forward to putting my new skills into practise."
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Symmetrical design at its best!

The new Alpina APX 611 sink from Franke replaces the popular GAX 611; with its perfect symmetry, it represents a complete re-design of the original.

The sink's large 390 x 445mm bowl configuration, which is ideal for large pots and pans, is popular for hardworking, stylish kitchens. The new Alpina design features a modern drainer pattern which incorporates the tap ledge within the overall design of the drainer.

Available in a stylish stainless steel silk finish, the sink is constructed from premium grade materials and is perfect for modern-day living. The finish is incredibly durable and hygienic; it is resistant to staining, chipping, rust and corrosion and is also extremely easy to keep clean so will stay looking good.

T: 0161 436 6280
F: +44 (0)161 436 2180
E: [email protected]
W: www.franke.co.uk

Kitchen Tune-Up adds recolouring and glazing services

Kitchen Tune-Up's Jill Hansen tells us that glazing and recolouring have become hot trends in the US and Canada over the past few years and that this month sees the organisation adding cabinet and door recolouring and glazing to its already wide variety of available services.

Franchise owners travelled to Aberdeen, South Dakota, at the end of July to train in the recolouring and glazing process as part of Kitchen Tune-Up's 2010 Summer Meeting.
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BMA continues rapid growth with Altecnic

Five new members in as many months is rapid growth by any standards for a trade association. But now the BMA, the Voice of the Bathroom Industry, has swelled its ranks yet again and welcomes Altecnic to its membership

"Having Altecnic on board means a lot to our Association," says Yvonne Orgill, chief executive of the BMA. "Our membership is growing well and Altecnic adds to the BMA's influence within all sectors of the industry, with government and of course with our consumers."
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