The KBzine

KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
19th October 2018

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International News
Products

Solid Core Zenith makes a style statement

Sleek cream furniture combined with a super slimline worktop in an inspiring natural finish give this kitchen designed and supplied by retailer Hitchings & Thomas a timeless, yet forward-thinking look.
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Be bold with blush: Meet the new Illusion from British Ceramic Tile

Blush is back and is set to make a big impact in the kitchen and bathroom market. While rose gold and fuchsia have had their time to shine, British Ceramic Tile is embracing the return of the muted millennial pink hue, adding a playful, feminine vibe to homes with the launch of the new Illusion feature tile.
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Danby launches in the UK as first part of European expansion project

Danby Appliances, the leading Canadian manufacturer/distributor, has announced its expansion to Europe commencing with the UK market.
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Making waves in kitchen design with new granite sinks

A bold design statement for the contemporary kitchen, Londa is just one of a complete new collection of beautiful granite sinks now available from Abode.
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Steel screens for stylish interior spaces

While steel doors and windows are synonymous with rugged performance and slim sightlines, the distinctive frames offered by members of the Steel Window Association are also increasingly being chosen to help create stylish interior spaces for locations such as restaurants, hotels and residential properties.
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Can designer bathroom pieces increase in value?

With the current market for refurbished Victorian and Edwardian sanitaryware, the answer is yes. A restored Victorian console basin on a stand can sell for up to £3000 while a refinished cast iron roll top will be well over £1000.
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Abacus Elements relaunches ultimate Tile Backer Board

Abacus Elements has relaunched its range of ultimate Tile Backer Board, which is hailed as the most comprehensive range of quality and cost-effective tile backer boards on the market.

The company is well known as the 'go-to' brand for waterproofing and wetroom solutions in the bathroom, creating innovative and flexible designs coupled with ultimate build quality.
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Toto's Washlet certified as world's No.1 brand when it comes to shower toilets

Research published by Euromonitor International has revealed that Japanese bathroom manufacturer Toto is the number one brand globally in terms of sales in the shower toilet market (toilets with bidet functions) with its Washlet shower-toilet.
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Welcome to the
KBzine

Since I first tried out a microfibre cleaning cloth in the 90s I've used nothing else. The idea that the cloth can eliminate the need for cleaning chemicals and still present an acceptable finish on the surface being cleaned really appealed to me. It was only during a conversation with a cloth manufacturer earlier this year that I became aware that the fibres do their own damage to the environment - just in a different way.

I had no idea until then that the fleeces and throws that have become so popular in recent years were made of similar fibres and that these leech into our waterways every time we wear/use them - as well as while they're in the wash. Today an industry colleague forwarded me an article from the Daily Mail headed up: "We're all eating our own washing! How 'fast fashion' clothes made from polyester are polluting the seas with tiny plastic fibres that are shed from washing machines... and ending up back in the food chain."

The article goes on to discuss how Richard Thompson, professor of Marine Biology at Plymouth University, led a study with the International Marine Litter Research Unit in which a washing machine was filled with separate loads of jumpers made from three different synthetic fabrics, and used a micro-sieve attached to the drain hose to catch the fibres released during the washes.

The researchers found that a washload of 13lb can release into the wastewater systems, some 140,000 fibres from polyester/cotton blend, nearly half a million fibres from polyester and more than 700,000 fibres from acrylic. And while some of these fibres will be intercepted during the wastewater treatment process, others - due to their small size - will escape into the environment, ready for us to consume in some fashion or other!

Vacuum cleaners can be fitted with HEPA filters to prevent collected dust from escaping from the machine and I'm wondering how long it will be before an astute washing machine manufacturer will devise a filter to prevent microfibres from escaping into our waterways. There will of course need to be an easy way of emptying the filter so that the fibres don't waft around in the air, but it shouldn't be too difficult and the manufacturer will end up with a unique selling point that will appeal to those of us who are environmentally aware.

A challenge then!

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Yours,

Jan Hobbs

This Week's News

ICE Interior showroom shows off Blanco products

Design specialist, ICE Interior, has launched a new showroom in the New Forest at Angel Courtyard, Lymington, featuring Blanco sinks and taps. The award-winning kitchen and interior design business has relocated, having spent the last 10 years on Berkhamsted's High Street in Hertfordshire.

ICE Interior prides itself on delivering innovative, creative kitchen and interior design solutions tailored to meet the client's desire and home. The service starts with expert design and a complete packed of high end products is offered, backed up with excellent customer service.
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BiKBBI members to receive waste collection credit thanks to new sponsorship deal

The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation has announced that Clearabee, the on-demand rubbish removal business, has pledged itself to the Institute by becoming a sponsor for the next three years. Further, Clearabee is offering £75 in waste collection credit to BiKBBI members that sign up for its Beeloyal scheme.

Based in Birmingham and offering its services across the UK, Clearabee operates exclusively through its own fully trained and vetted employees. It provides affordable, on-demand rubbish removal services designed to meet the precise needs of kitchen, bedroom and bathroom installers. These include same day 'man and van' style waste collection and a large range of skip bags.
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Special display offer for Evolve retailers

Buying a kitchen is a big decision for most customers - and nothing works quite so well in driving that decision as seeing products in an appealing display - which is why Bushboard is offering retailers an unmissable opportunity to show off new Evolve solid core worksurfaces at their best.

"At Bushboard, we know displays increase sales revenue," notes UK marketing communications manager Ruby Larvin. "Putting an Evolve worksurface on display in your showroom will showcase the versatility of the material and design benefits of this innovative, on trend product.
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Terramix recreates exposed brickwork with ease

Inspired by the wave of industrial trends that have captured the interiors world in the past couple of years, the Terramix collection from Gemini Tiles recreates exposed brickwork with ease.

From stylish loft apartments to classic period properties, the architectural trend is perfect for introducing urban character to the home. Natural variations in colour and texture are present across the three options of the Terramix collection, creating a realistic, practical alternative to exposed brick walls.
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Create the Scandinavian style with the GL5100 from Keller Kitchens

Keller Kitchens' latest model, GL5100, embraces the Scandinavian style. The simplicity of the style provides a blank palette for homeowners to add the colour scheme of their choice, whether that's cool pastels or bold hues on the walls or the cabinets.

The sleek GL5100 handleless units come in both a silk gloss lacquer and a structured lacquer. Each cabinet is available in muted tones such as Ice, White, Blossom, Magnolia, Loam, Shell, Clay, Mocha and Basalt from the Master Collection; bold colours from the Trend Collection, including Yellow Gold, Powder Pink, Ruby Blush, Botanic Green and Midnight Blue; and 1,950 NCS colours from the Comfort Collection.
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Developers building in style with Ultra-Thin Worksurfaces

Housebuilders are the largest growth area for sales of Zenith solid-core laminate worksurface. Nick Jones, sales & marketing director for Wilsonart UK explains: "The demand for Zenith has been remarkable since its launch in 2016. We were the first to market with a slim solid core product range of its kind. We knew it would appeal to kitchen and bathroom designers but the success of Zenith with builders and contractors has been a fantastic bonus.

"Zenith is 100% solid and waterproof which means it can be stored on site. It's adaptable and easy to handle on site too, so can be cut as it is required for kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and WCs with no need for off-site templating."
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Hotpoint launches £50 cashback laundry promotion

In support of its recent introduction of the new ActiveCare range of washing machines, Hotpoint has launched a £50 cashback promotion.

The promotion applies to purchases made until 9th November 2018, where consumers will receive up to £50 cashback on selected Hotpoint washing machines from the recently launched ActiveCare range. Retailers have access to a raft of point of sale material to support and alert consumers, when in-store, to the promotion. The point of sale material is available via their Hotpoint account manager.
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British Ceramic Tile and Laura Ashley launch charming new collections for every corner of the home

British Ceramic Tile and Laura Ashley have once again demonstrated their expert design skills launching a stunning new collection of wall and floor tiles for the retail market. The latest collection has drawn inspiration from the latest colour and tile trends to create a series of new ranges that bring an effortless sense of style to living spaces.

Crafted with expert attention to detail, each range has been designed to coordinate beautifully with the Laura Ashley paint, wallpaper and Kitchen Collection as well as the brand's home accessories.
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Steve Scogings takes over CIH chair from Robin Millwood

Combined Independents (Holdings) has announced that Steve Scogings is to take over as chairman from Robin Millwood, who has chaired the Group for 12 years. Steve has been deputy chairman for the last two years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of the independent electrical retail channel, having spent 28 years with the electrical retail chain, Stellisons Electrical.

Steve says he continually innovates to ensure that Stellisons is at the forefront of the retail industry; for example, Stellisons was the first UK retailer to introduce electronic shelf labelling technology to streamline the pricing process, and to relieve staff to focus on the company's core value, customer service.
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Fit and Forget delivers

VitrA reports that its innovative Fit and Forget campaign designed to highlight the design features of VitrA's concealed cistern frames has seen sales double year on year. VitrA is a major supplier of wall-hung sanitaryware and of the frames that make installation fast and straightforward.
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Sometimes we use machinery... and sometimes we just use our hands

So says Imperial Bathrooms whose beautifully hand-crafted range brings together the Radcliffe vanity basin with wall-mounted or free standing units in solid wood.
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KBSA member celebrates Bucks New University success

The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association member Mascari is celebrating the success of staff member Samantha Mascari who has graduated from Bucks New University with the KBSA Kitchen Design degree. Samantha undertook the three-year part time course whilst working in the family business and is one of the first students to graduate from this new course.
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Designer Colin Wong donates KBB Birmingham proceeds to earthquake charity

Multi-award-winning kitchen and bathroom designer Colin Wong is using his success to help those less fortunate, with the latest donation from his Edinburgh-based design studio Development Direct going directly to help those affected by devastating earthquake in Indonesia.

Colin had been using his holiday breaks to travel far afield, to gain design inspiration for his projects. While he discovered an abundance of design inspiration, his eyes were also opened to another world of unjust poverty and neglect, which had an abject effect on him.
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How to contact us at The KBzine:

Jan Hobbs
Publishing Editor
Email:[email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)1372 811 307
Mobile: 07980 288 373

John Austen
Publishing Director
Email:[email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)1580 755 863
Mobile: 07766 707 888

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