With environmental concerns becoming increasingly important within specifications, designers need to make sure that every aspect of a building is carefully considered and adheres to a project’s sustainability goals. Dulux Decorator Centre is committed to upholding sustainable standards and supporting its partners to reduce environmental impact. In this article, its commercial sustainability manager, Duncan Lochhead, discusses how sustainability can be achieved with the right paints and coatings.
The built environment is responsible for more than a quarter of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and this must be reduced if the UK is to reach net zero by 2050. To do this, low-carbon building materials must be selected across every aspect of a building, right down to the paint used on the walls.
One of the biggest environmental concerns in the paint industry is the use of solvents and the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemical vapours that are greenhouse gases – and therefore contribute to global warming, as well as impacting ground level pollution.
While emissions from VOCs in decorative paint represents a small percentage of the UK’s overall pollutants (1% in the UK), they still increase environmental impact and negatively affect indoor air quality. To avoid this, it is recommended that water-based paints and coatings are used- such as the beautifully aesthetic Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood for wood and metal surfaces and ultra-low VOC content paint for walls and ceilings – to achieve a professional finish and improve sustainability.
Recent innovations like the reformulated Dulux Trade Diamond Matt are a perfect example. This product provides the industry with a durable solution that is also 99.9% VOC free (based on in-can VOC content, measured in accordance with ISO 11890-2:2013). It therefore has lower impact on indoor air quality and the overall carbon footprint of a project when compared with the previous formulation. For added reassurance that it delivers sustainability benefits, Dulux Trade Diamond Matt is compliant with green building accreditations BREEAM and LEED.
Paints and coatings play a vital role in cutting carbon emissions over a building’s lifetime thanks to their ability to preserve buildings and prevent the need for regular redecoration work. Opting for durable products like Dulux Trade Diamond Matt and Dulux Trade Scuffshield Matt will therefore extend maintenance cycles thanks to their ability to withstand daily wear and tear.
Dulux Trade Scuffshield Matt is a tough, water-based matt emulsion paint that contains ultimate scuff resistant technology. It is perfect for use in high traffic areas such as corridors, stairwells and hallways, and busy commercial spaces and is designed to protect walls against scuff marks left behind from items such as shoes and bags, to help keep surfaces looking good for longer. It is also cleanable and offers good stain resistance.
In addition, Dulux Trade Diamond Matt is compliant with BS EN ISO 11998 Class 1 and BS 7719 Class C and can withstand 10,000 scrubs (the equivalent of five hours non-stop scrubbing). It also resists water-based stains like red wine and coffee, as well as oil-based stains such as food or cosmetics. It can be repeatedly cleaned and scrubbed, ensuring that unwanted stains can be easily removed without damaging the paint film on the wall, making the professional finish last even longer.
Products like Dulux Trade Evolve Matt that are made using recycled content are also worth considering. Dulux Trade Evolve Matt contains 35% recycled content and does not compromise on coverage or finish. It is available in white, making it the ideal choice for ceilings or to create neutral backdrops.
In addition to product, designers should also think about the additional benefits offered by a supplier. Partnering with Dulux Decorator Centre, for example, will ensure a dedicated team is assigned to provide expert advice from the specification stage. They are also able to look at the carbon footprint of a painting project or programme over its lifecycle and provide insight on alternative options to support more sustainable decisions. In addition, the Dulux Decorator Centre team will work closely with the Dulux Trade Colour Consultants who can provide bespoke palettes that meet the needs of building occupants.
To help with the sustainable disposal of empty paint cans at the end of a project, Dulux Decorator Centre offers a can recycling scheme. It can also help to facilitate the donation of leftover paint to good causes like Community RePaint, so nothing goes to waste.
To find out more about how Dulux Decorator Centre can support on your next project, click here.
About Dulux Trade
Dulux is the UK’s leading paint brand, with a wealth of products and services designed to help you find the colours that will suit your project, and give you the expert knowledge you’ll need to achieve great results.
If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more.
If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.
Dulux has announced its Colour of the Year for 2024, Sweet Embrace. In this article, Dawn Scott, Senior Colour Designer at Dulux explains more about the research behind the colour, introduces its complementary colour palettes and explains how to use the shades across different sectors.
For the last 21 years, Dulux has been using trend forecasting to identify a Colour of the Year that reflects the current state of the world and needs of building occupants. Every year, Dulux colour experts and international design professionals come together for a Trend Forecast brainstorm and share insights about where the world is heading.
This year’s discussions found that although we’re better informed than ever before, we’re still searching for peace of mind, clarity and moments of joy. In a world that feels fragile and complicated, people are seeking a space where they belong.
The Colour of the Year 2024, Sweet Embrace, is a reflection of this insight. Named by Dulux for its ‘arm around the shoulder’ quality, it can be used for projects across all sectors to create a sense of belonging for building occupants.
In addition to Sweet Embrace, interior designers can also draw inspiration from the three complementary colour palettes: Warm, Calm and Uplifting. Each palette can be used alongside Sweet Embrace to support the end use of a space and evoke emotion in building occupants.
Sweet Embrace and its complementary colour palettes are incredibly versatile and can be used across any sector:
The key to designing education settings is making students, staff and visitors feel welcomed and motivated. Whilst Sweet Embrace provides a neutral backdrop that is perfect for the main walls of a classroom, the more saturated tones in the Uplifting palette like High Summer can be used to draw pupils’ attention to the teaching wall.
These bolder tones and the soft pastels such as Fragrant Peony can also be used to bring joy to education spaces, without being too overstimulating. This is key for supporting neurodiversity and making the environment comfortable for everyone.
For areas such as libraries or time-out spaces, the Calm palette is recommended. The sage greens and sea blues, which provide that subtle link to nature, will help students to unwind and feel at ease.
Across the healthcare sector, designs are moving away from industrial, sterile aesthetics. To support the softer and more comforting designs that are now becoming the norm in hospital settings, the Calm palette is recommended. Its links to nature make the colours feel restorative and soothing, which is ideal for creating positive environments for staff, patients and visitors.
For care homes, one of the top priorities is ensuring designs aid wayfinding and help residents maintain their independence. To do this, it is recommended to use softer hues like Sweet Embrace on the main walls and more saturated tones from the Warm palette, like Peanut Butter or Winter Pumpkin, for doorways and feature walls to make these elements stand out.
To create spaces that improve focus and boost productivity – whilst also offsetting high-intensity and stress – use the Calm palette. These colours bring the outdoors in and help people to relax, improving wellbeing in the work area.
However, to boost people’s mood and provide an upbeat welcome to those entering the building we suggest the Uplifting palette’s brighter yellows like High Summer and Ochre Sands for lobbies and entrance ways.
Hotels and restaurants can really benefit from the tones in the Warm palette, as they can be used to create a home-from-home feeling and make people comfortable. On the contrary, to encourage playfulness in leisure spaces, use the Uplifting palette.
For social housing, it is important to make residents feel at home as soon as they enter the building. The Warm palette is ideal for this, as the tones can create a sense of belonging and connectedness. The colours chosen for communal spaces are also incredibly important and should bring joy and imply friendliness – which can be achieved with the Uplifting palette.
Sweet Embrace and the Colour Futures palettes can be selected across a wide range of Dulux Trade products. For education environments, we recommend highly durably paints like Dulux Trade Scuffshield Matt. This tough, water-based emulsion contains ultimate scuff resistant technology that is designed to protect walls against scuff marks being left behind from items such as shoes and bags, to help keep walls looking good for longer.
To further support hospital specifications, a tough, scrubbable anti-bacterial paint like Dulux Trade Sterishield is an ideal hygeine solution as it inhibits bacterial growth, preventing the spread of germs.
Finally, for busy hospitality, commercial and housing projects we suggest using durable paints that can be easily cleaned. For example, Dulux Trade Diamond Matt can withstand 10,000 scrubs (which is the equivalent of five hours non-stop scrubbing) so it can be repeatedly cleaned, ensuring that unwanted stains are easily removed without damaging the paint film on the wall – making the professional finish last even longer. This product also supports sustainability goals as it is 99.9% VOC free.
Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2024, Sweet Embrace, and the palettes are available to specify from 12 September 2023. For additional guidance on the use of these colours refer to the Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2024 Specifier Brochure here.
Dulux is celebrating two decades of Colour of the Year and has just launched its colour for 2023: Wild WonderTM – and four complementary, versatile colour palettes that can be used to create stunning spaces across all sectors.
Wild WonderTM – a soft gold with hints of green inspired by fresh seed pods and harvest grain – is Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2023. Its upbeat glow connects us with nature, creating a sense of energy and positivity.
As people search for support, connection, inspiration and balance in the world today, they’re diving into the wonders of the natural world to find it. Extensive research conducted by Dulux colour experts and international design professionals found that even with so many challenges ahead, there was hope at the heart of global social, design and consumer trends.
Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director of Dulux UK, says: “Our relationship with the natural world feels more precious and precarious than ever. As well as understanding the value of nature more keenly, with climate change becoming a reality for all of us, we also feel the urgency of reconnecting with nature and the necessity of working with rather than against it.
“The earth and its materials have been inspiring humanity for centuries. Now is the time to put them centre stage and bring the outside, in.
“We’re re-evaluating our relationship with nature and sensing the importance of learning from it not just about it. We’re understanding afresh that nature is the source of everything, bringing us solace, inspiration, materials and a myriad of blueprints for living. That’s why, this year, we’ve put the wonder of nature at the heart of our colour story.”
“Wild WonderTM speaks to us in a language we instinctively understand,” says Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Centre, which chooses the colour. “Nature is what inspires us and makes us feel better in our lives and in our homes. That’s why, for the first time in 20 years, our entire colour palette is inspired by the rhythms of nature.”
The name Wild WonderTM was created on the basis that ‘wild’ conjures up the freedom of nature and ‘wonder’ conveys the natural magic we see all around us. Wild WonderTM is a positive, natural tone that, by connecting us with the natural world, can help us feel better in our homes.
Four decorative paint colour palettes have been designed around Wild WonderTM:
Lisa Pilley, Dulux Trade Commercial Colour Consultant, adds: “Wild WonderTM and its four versatile colour palettes reflect the natural world and intuitively connect with nature’s supply of substrates and materials – whether structural or aesthetic. As the world strives to re-use, rescue and build sustainably within commercial design programmes, placing humanity and environment at the heart of design is becoming increasingly essential.
“Colour can be transformational and guide occupants’ feelings and emotions. This year’s Colour of the Year and associated palettes open opportunities to connect the natural world with our everyday lives in the built environment.”
The year 2023 brings two major milestones to the Global Aesthetic Centre. Its ColourFuturesTM trend forecast will celebrate its 20th anniversary, while the team also reaches three decades of trend analysis, colour research, colour design and art direction at AkzoNobel.
The launch of Wild WonderTM is supported by the Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2023 Specifier brochure, designed to inspire commercial design professionals working in all sectors, from hospitality to healthcare.
This brochure is part of Dulux Trade’s ongoing dedication to supporting specifiers with their latest projects, and is part of a wider package of ColourFuturesTM content. The package includes design mood boards and advice videos that can be harnessed by professionals looking to create the perfect space – in any setting – using Wild WonderTM.
To download the Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2023 Specifier Brochure and for more information visit www.duluxtrade.co.uk/COTY23 and follow #CF23 on social media.
About AkzoNobel
We supply the sustainable and innovative paints and coatings that our customers, communities – and the environment – are increasingly relying on. That’s why everything we do starts with People. Planet. Paint. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and have set our sights on becoming the global industry leader. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering paints company that’s committed to science-based targets and is taking genuine action to address globally relevant challenges and protect future generations.
If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more.
The team at Graphenstone encourage designers to re-consider the process by which you specify paint for your projects. It’s more important than ever to consider both the environment and human health when it comes to making responsible design decisions for clients and end-users. So how can your decisions on paint make an impact?
Most paint brands focus your attention on one overriding priority – colour. No one doubts that this is a very important element to deliver on both design and mood. But let’s be honest, these days all the recognised brands have a fantastic range of colours, regardless of the fancy names and the marketing spiel.
In this time of overwhelming need for ecological change, we need to consider characteristics of the paint, well beyond just colour. We should seek information to evaluate:
These crucial factors can no longer be ignored or simply brushed over!
180,000 tonnes of plastic micro-beads are reportedly washed into rivers and oceans from the paints industry annually, six times the volume of micro-plastics emitted by the cosmetics industry – where they’re already banned. A day of reckoning awaits the paints industry, and you can help lead the charge.
The microscopic pieces of plastic now pour down globally in ‘plastic rain’, seeping widely into agriculture and our precious food chain, and according to the journal ‘Environmental Intentional’, in late 2020, even into the foetuses of unborn babies.
Indoor Air Quality in areas where high VOC paints are applied can be highly detrimental to the health of inhabitants, as toxic chemicals off-gas into the space, for years after application. 30 tonnes of toxic waste according to the WHO is produced for every ton of paint manufactured. And the chemical blend cannot break down at end of life, turning into plastic dust and spreading far and wide. These are just a very few examples on the long list of egregious risks and damage from a paints industry, which continues largely unchecked.
Check out the report ‘The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet’ here from CIEL.
It’s time to change, ‘Beyond Colour’.
Usually, you won’t see any declaration of ingredients. Neither will you find any trusted alternative to the declared list, such as a recognised ‘harm-free’ product evaluation certification, from the likes of Cradle to Cradle Institute, or Eurofins. These all require a careful and detailed inspection of all the contents, conducted on behalf of the consumer as solid verification of an ecological, or genuinely sustainable claim. So, all the usual paint additives could still be present, from solvents, de-foamers, driers, preservatives, additives, heavy metals and other harmful chemicals.
With ‘estimates of nearly 55% of raw material used by paint companies being crude oil derivatives’, the impact ecologically on our planet and the damage caused is becoming more widely known and repudiated.
“Paints, lacquers, and varnishes are among the chemical everyday products that have a particularly distinct effect on environment and health (chemicals in conventional paints can include glycols, toluene, and xylene).
Acrylic paints typically include a range of biocides to protect the latex, which can include arsenic disulphide, phenol, copper. Just because a paint says it has low VOCs does not mean it does not give off hazardous vapours.” – Architectural Digest Australia/Daniel Wurm, Greenpainters.
Mineral based paint systems are all automatically water based, since they don’t require solvents, using water as the base.
So don’t be misled by the apparent innocence of the “Water Based” paints label. It can disguise a toxic mix of polluting oil and plastic based ingredients, both highly damaging in production and no less toxic at point of use!
About Graphenstone
Graphenstone is the brainchild of a chemical engineer Antonio León Jiménez who dedicated himself to the idea of developing a natural, ecological and health conscious coating for the 21st century. Since the production of their initial range of paints and coatings, they have continued to work diligently creating ever more healthy and sustainable coatings for all manner of buildings.
Want to feature your industry expertise? Explore our membership options here or subscribe for updates in our newsletter.
SBID member Kay Hare Art creates unique art pieces by mixing different eco-friendly materials and using unusual techniques. Her art brings liveliness and positivity to the overall ambience of interiors, inspiring the clients and shaping their awareness to make more environmentally conscious choices. The oil on linen paintings reflect dream landscapes with natural gemstone diamonds and gold leaf.
The paintings are not so much a brand as each one is quite different and as I work to the specification they do change. However, the roots lie in nature. I am inspired by trees and especially enjoy long walks getting lost in the woods. I love all the seasons and find beauty in the cold, wet weather of winter with frosty mornings. All my time spent outdoors is absorbed on a subconscious level and then translated into oil paintings. I work quietly alone in my studio with the paintings almost meditations in themselves often detached from reality.
I work on commission and enjoy the challenge of turning abstract ideas into a plan I can discuss clearly with clients. I enjoy offering paintings I already created. If these are not quite to the style ie. the right colours or often the right size, I will go to length to sketch out what I think the client wants, sometimes it being watercolour on paper. Once the client is happy we decide on a deadline and I make sure to stay in touch throughout the working period. Providing weekly and sometimes daily updates.
I think I bring much more than just the painting. I often suggest ideas that the client has not thought about. I am keen on working with local materials and can often suggest more environmentally conscious ways of doing things. Working with nature and natural colours can really enhance an environment as well as remind people that the natural world is precious and something we have to take care of. I like my paintings to radiate positivity and I like to bring my own enthusiasm to the project, hopefully uplifting others and providing inspiration.
I am quite direct when I am working with clients as I find this approach saves time and money. I also like to recommend other services or sometimes artists that perhaps may work better or as well as my own work. I am disciplined enough to know right from the start if the project is something realistic or not. I can bring to the table many past projects and the experience of thirty years of working on commission. My outlook generally is a Pollyanna mindset that anything is possible, however, we do have a responsibility to be aware of our carbon footprints and find economical, non-polluting, and eco-friendly ways of working that can still be luxurious and comforting.
I think the trend is very much in the natural world and it should be. We all have to monitor our consumption habits, choose biodegradable products, be accountable for our travel habits and conscious of our environments. How can we work harder to sustain an organic world? We can use more organic products and this can be hinted at through fabrics, prints, and décor generally. Encouraging eco-friendly environments through the way buildings are designed and then running this theme through to the interiors can influence and shape an individual’s awareness and an entire community. Making natural product-based materials and overall styles that hint at the salvaged, second-hand market is important to influence and support the younger generation who will have to embrace more sustainable ways of living without giving up on beautiful interiors.
If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here to find out more.
Identifying genuinely sustainable and ecological paint brands requires some careful research and checking. But it’s worth it! At stake is both the health of our planet and those that inhabit your space. Here Graphenstone presents a few key pointers:
Do they claim ‘Low VOC’ levels or ‘Ultra-Low’? Low VOC can be as high at 30-50 grams per litre! Low VOC is a misnomer, it’s nothing like low enough. Even low or Ultra Low VOC products can contain other harmful additives and chemicals.
What evidence does the brand offer to validate their sustainability claims? Check to see if they provide Toxicological or Ecological data, or does it simply say ’No data available’ or not reference it?
Window-dressing; does the brand highlight positives like planting trees, or removing plastic from oceans, while explicitly avoiding any reference to their manufacturing process, the paints products themselves or their carbon footprint? Some brand use these distractions to window dress to shift your attention from other more damaging, un-ecological aspects of their offering.
Are there Independent certifications available from recognised ‘harm-free’ product evaluation agencies? These are essential to verify claims. ’Trust but Verify’ as Ronald Reagan, US President, once famously stated.
Are the paints genuinely petro-chemical, micro-bead and plastic free? Micro-beads are so damaging to the global ecology of rivers and oceans and the scientific evidence is now clear that these tiny plastic particles are now falling globally, onto land, via ‘plastic rain’.
Do they list ingredients with no verification from recognised, respected third party product evaluation agencies? How can you know if those really are the only ingredients? Check their certifications for independent evidence to confirm that all ingredients are ‘harm-free’ and healthy.
The paint industry is one of the most polluting globally. Billions of Kilo’s of VOC’s released annually into our precious atmosphere. For every ton of paint manufactured, the WHO claim that there’s 30 tons of waste water requiring processing. Only 30% of global paints are manufactured with a water base and even these can contain plastic and petrol-chemical based ingredients.
Graphenstone is certified by the most rigorous of all the ‘harm-free’ evaluation agencies including the most widely respected and holistic agencies such as Cradle to Cradle Institute, Eurofins, Green Tag and many others. No global paints brand has more certifications in the ecological and sustainable space.
Architectural and interior designer, antiques dealer and furniture designer Rose Uniacke is pleased to present Rose Uniacke Paint, a debut paint collection that was launched this month.
Taking Rose Uniacke’s renowned fabric collection as inspiration, the range comprises 14 colours that offer a refined backdrop to the timeless decorative style that the designer is celebrated for. The debut paint range will be 100% natural and chemical-free and is suited to both traditional and modern interiors.
An effortless versatility underpins the palette of carefully considered neutral colours which range from the gently green-hued ‘Apple Mint’ to the softly pink-toned ‘Bloom’. Made using the highest quality natural and sustainable materials, the ecologically accountable paint range offers exceptional performance, durability and coverage while being preservative and plastic-free.
“I have long mixed my own bespoke paints for the projects I design and so it made sense to share some of these colours. I wanted to do this in an environmentally conscious way, and so creating a range that’s 100% natural and chemical-free was a priority from the outset.” says Rose Uniacke.
After a long search for the perfect partner, Rose Uniacke chose Norfolk-based Graphenstone to develop the range of 100% natural and chemical-free paints.
A world-class innovator when it comes to sustainability, Graphenstone paints contain Graphene, a nontoxic pure carbon that is the strongest material known to science. Packaged using 100% recycled materials, the natural mineral base paints require some dilution before use, helping to reduce the CO2 emissions by not transporting water around the world.
The range is available in three finishes suited to both internal and external applications. Grafclean and Grafclean Midsheen are composed of vegetable resins and ecological materials, while half of the range is available in Ecosphere, a paint based on pure lime which helps purify the air by absorbing CO2. So pure is the Ecosphere paint that 15L will absorb nearly 5.0kg of CO2.
“It was an absolute must that we developed our debut paint collection in partnership with a brand which has the environment at its core” added Uniacke.
Rose Uniacke Paints are sold exclusively in the new Rose Uniacke Fabric Shop at 103 Pimlico Road, SW1, and online.
About Rose Uniacke
Rose Uniacke is an interior designer, a designer of furniture and lighting – for individual clients as well as for her shop – and a dealer in both antiques and pieces by other, usually well known, designers.
This July SBID members showcase their latest product news with flexible bathroom interior solutions, exclusive trade offers for interior designers and unique, halo-inspired architectural luminaires. Featuring innovative solid surfaces, stylish matt-black finishes and digitally-enhanced taps.
Creativity comes out on top with RAK-Plano
RAK-Plano countertop surfaces from RAK Ceramics combine elegance, durability and practicality, transforming the RAK-Joy or RAK-Joy Uno vanity unit into a versatile piece of bathroom furniture. Available in three different TECHWOOD finishes and in the manufacturer’s innovative matt white RAKSOLID material, RAK-Plano is a one-piece vanity top, without joints that can be drilled and cut (if necessary) directly on site. This gives designers complete freedom in positioning the washbasin and mixer. Available in a range of colours, the countertop combines easily with any décor, responding to trends in bathroom design; from Matt White, Grey Elm, Scandinavian Oak and Mokka Walnut.
RAK-SOLID is an incredibly durable solid surface material, composed of a mixture of natural minerals and resins, exuding consistent quality and performance. Just as hardwearing and simple to care for, TECHWOOD is a wood effect material that gives the tactile impression of real timber, produced from polypropylene recyclable material.
Click to shop
Powell & Bonnell introduce the halo-inspired luminaire, Celeste Sconce
The iconic depiction of the halo in Romanesque art served as the visual origin point for the Celeste Sconce. Designer, Jake Oliveira set out to create a luminaire that would honour a mother’s protective, enveloping embrace of her child. This imagery was interpreted as a marriage between two pure and simple silhouettes which draw attention to the interplay of light and shadow. The first stand-out feature of the piece is it’s composition, which consists of an ethereal resin bulb that floats effortlessly within the shade. The immaculate fusion of both elements was the result of endless hours of engineering and iteration, utilizing 3D printed and polyurethane tools to stablish an angled shade with architectural overhang.
Since contrast was such an essential ingredient in the Celeste Sconce’s makeup, careful material selection and the union between the chosen materials was paramount. The shade is fabricated from porous sand-cast metal, specifically brass, bronze, or aluminum. Sand-casting is a forgery technique that has been used since 704 BC. With an organic nature and human aesthetic, the artful finish carries the story of the hands that made it. This is paired with a sleek resin bulb which is poured via the modern technique of silicone slip-casting. A highly refined, polished lip on the shade’s edge helps to coalesce the pitted nature of the metal with the sculptural smooth bulb. The bulb can be cast in any of Powell & Bonnell’s resin colours, allowing for a dynamic pop of colour.
GROHE supports energy and water saving with first digitally-enhanced tap, GROHE Plus
With its brand new GROHE Plus basin taps, global bathroom and kitchen fittings brand GROHE now offers users the possibility to accurately control the water temperature of their basin tap using the innovations of digitally-enhanced design. The digital upgrade within the existing GROHE Plus collection not only enables safe water enjoyment, but also supports users’ increasing desire for sustainable living. Using the principle of “nudging”, a concept from behavioral economics, users are made aware through a visual colour change displayed on the spout of the tap when hot water is flowing – often unnecessarily – in order to encourage users to avoid wasting energy. This design approach promotes responsible use of the valuable resource of water and saves energy at the same time.
The eco-friendly functionality of GROHE Plus is reinforced by its accessible Eco Spray setting. To switch from the standard spray to the more refined Eco Spray of just four litres per minute, which reduces water consumption without compromising on user comfort or experience, users can simply swipe their hand over the lit icon on top of the spout to activate the sensor-controlled system which will change the water flow. The GROHE Plus collection is also future-oriented in its hybrid design language, which skillfully combines cubic and organic shapes. This makes the range a real statement for every modern bathroom, both in terms of sustainability and progressive design elements. At the same time, the design supports ergonomic comfort and invites interaction with a 90-degree swivel spout to increase functionality and user-friendliness.
KEUCO Black Concept collection adds an elegant touch in a modern bathroom
When it comes to modern furnishing, black surfaces and finishes catch the eye, offering a luxurious and stylish appearance. If black is destined to be a key colour in your bathroom designs; KEUCO has an extensive range of products within their Black Concept collection.
KEUCO’s EDITION 11 bathroom furniture is available with a stylish black metallic-pigmented lacquer finish. The vanity units, sideboards, storage units are all designed handle-free with a soft-touch closing system. This noble matt-black look exudes an air of elegance and extravagance, yet the velvet matt quality of the bathroom furniture ensures the room maintains cosy in atmosphere. The modern yet honest design elements of EDITION 11 shower heads, fittings and accessories in brushed black chrome create a minimalistic look with an elegant contrast when combined with white ceramic washbasins. The Black Concept collection offers a range of interior solutions for any darkly accentuated, colour coordinated bathroom design with matt-black surfaces and metallic optics which results in a sleek and sophisticated space.
John lewis & Partners Business support designers with exclusive trade discount
John Lewis & Partners Business support Interior Designers, Architects and Home Stagers to procure items for your projects. The supply chain has presented many with challenges over the past year and John Lewis & Partners Business have also had to navigate through this turbulent time. Their priority is helping design professionals access John Lewis & Partners home collections, whether that be dining chairs, mattresses, wallpaper or tea towels! Offering immediate visibility of what is available, if it’s in stock on johnlewis.com then a dedicated trade team at John Lewis & Partners Business can hand hold your purchase. In addition for 2021, they are exclusively offering interior designers an increased trade discount of 20% when ordering full price pieces from the Home assortment*.
*Discount not applied to reduced or special buy prices and excludes electrical, technology and bespoke orders.
Email [email protected]
Sourcing for your next project? Explore the exclusive SBID Directories in SBIDPro to help solve your interior specification needs! Sign in to discover more.
This month’s product roundup features the latest news and collections from SBID’s network of Accredited suppliers; from aesthetic designs for sanitiser dispensers to a range of sustainably-made lounge chairs, the June edition showcases unique designer collaborations for signature furniture collections and hand-tufted rugs, as well as highlights new certifications for embedded carbon footprints of ecological paints!
KEUCO introduces additional colours and branding options for sanitiser dispenser
KEUCO’s sanitiser dispensers go above expectations, bold and bright or subtle chic, suitable for an extensive variety of areas, locations and situations: homes to hotels, supermarkets to shopping malls, airports to Aston Martin’s! These new dispensers meet the highest hygiene requirements, whilst combining functionality with a distinguished design.
Since the middle of 2020 hand sanitisers have become a must for every property. KEUCO’S dispenser has an elegant yet straightforward, linear design, along with superior technical features that have been invisibly integrated in the design. The KEUCO dispensers make a stylish addition in any location where hand sanitisers are required.
Arper presents its first sustainable lounge chair in solid wood with Kata
Lightweight in form and environmental footprint, Kata is designed with circular sustainability at its core. Arper’s first solid wood lounge chair, Kata takes inspiration from artisan-made wood and woven straw chairs and reimagines the near universal typology using contemporary, sustainable solutions in an expression that’s both graphic and warm. Kata finds form in juxtaposition – an evocative gesture in the movement between material presence and minimal silhouette, softness and strength, tradition and technology.
The Kata lounge chair is a union of traditional craftsmanship and soft technology. An oak and black locust FSC certified wooden frame supports a tailor-made 3D knit textile. The knit cover is created from recycled polyester made from post-consumer plastic that is converted into durable and lightweight fibers – roughly 1 kilo of waste – or about 48 half PET bottles – is used to produce 1 kilo of yarn. The knit technology is also formed to fit the frame, avoiding leftover material waste found in traditional manufacturing, with unified seat and back structure available in lightweight stripe or graphic-patterned 3D knit with internal micro-padding – all suitable for outdoor use. Additional loose seat and back cushions finishes can be customized in both Arper’s complete fabric catalogue.
TSAR Carpets introduces latest hand-tufted rug collection, Tæpper
A global industry leader in luxury custom-made carpets and rugs, Melbourne-based TSAR Carpets is pleased to introduce the new Tæpper Collection, a series of hand-tufted rug designs made in collaboration with designer Michelle Macarounas of Infinite Design Studio. The collection will be sold exclusively at TSAR’s studios in Melbourne, Sydney, New York, London, and Shanghai with each luxurious rug hand-tufted from the finest grade of New Zealand wool and shiny Tencel fibre, offering incredible durability and softness.
Featuring abstract designs inspired by the art and design of mid-20th century modernism – in particular, the object-mobile artwork of Alexander Calder – the collection’s sculptural graphics are enhanced by colorful dimension, adding a design-forward focal point for any room. “The goal was to create stylish area rugs that felt more like pieces of art and infuse an eclectic sensibility to any interior space,” says Macarounas. “My aim was for each design to be simple, yet strong enough to breathe on its own or sit in harmony with other interior design elements.”
Lalique launches Signature Collection in collaboration with interior designer, Pierre-Yves Rochon
The Signature Collection combines Lalique’s extraodinary skills in the art of glassmarking with Pierre-Yves Rochon’s outstanding expertise in designing interior solutions for luxury hotels around the world. The collection embodies the brand’s timeless elegance as an enduring symbol of French luxury.
Pierre-Yves Rochon comments: “Crystal is a noble material that beautifully serves all forms of art: from architecture or sculpture to tableware or jewelry… As an Interior Designer, it is an inexhaustible source of inspiration and creativity. With this Signature collection of furniture, I wanted to write a new story in which metal sublimates the transparency, purity and brilliance of crystal. The Perles, Coutard, Vibration, Causeuses, Roses or Soudan pieces were born from the quest for the most beautiful aesthetic effect, the search for perfect proportions and the attention to every detail. Marked by the precision and the elegance of metal, the designs give crystal the freedom to blend in interior architecture and furniture design in a new manner. I am honoured to perpetuate René Lalique’s work, associating crystal and metal in my own turn.”
Graphenstone conclude certification for its embedded carbon footprint
The construction sector consumes 50% of all raw materials, produces 39% of all carbon emissions, causes 36% of all waste and 49% of total carbon emissions over the life of a building (source – WasteBuild). Architects, interior designers, manufacturers and contractors can all make significant contributions in protecting our fragile climate through choice of materials. For example in paints, one of the most polluting industries in the world, selecting and specifying newly developed ‘harm-free’ products using advanced technologies, as opposed to the same toxic options used over recent decades, can make a huge difference.
Graphenstone have now concluded the certification of its embedded carbon footprint. Its level is about one-fifth of the few other paints companies who have conducted the same research. The entire carbon footprint (complete raw material extraction to end of manufacture) presents the value 0.5kg / litre. BREEAM, LEED & WELL complaint, Graphenstone is certified for health and sustainability by the world’s most recognised product evaluation agencies (Cradle to Cradle Institute, Eurofins, Green Tag). They examine all aspects of a product’s sourcing, development, energy, water and social impact, as well as how cleanly it dies off at end of life.
Mineral and graphene technology paints company Graphenstone, are reporting unprecedented demand for its’ sustainable range of air-purifying, CO2 absorbing, VOC free hygienic paints. Patrick Folkes, CEO & Founder of The Graphene Company – Sole Distributor of Graphenstone, UK shares insight behind the increasing desire for more purposeful paint specification.
The health impact from toxic petro-chemical, plastic-based paints is now more widely recognised. Historically, the area of key interest for consumers was just colour. However, most didn’t appreciate the costs to both people and planet, of this simple selection criteria.
Heavily polluting paint production processes, as well as the highly negative impact in homes and offices of toxic fumes on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), from solvents and VOC’s (for many months after application), went largely unrecognized. Did you know that after painting, the VOC levels in your room can increase by hundreds of times?
Manufacturers responded to some of the most egregious issues of the past decades, by removing lead content and some of the worst offending VOC heavy products, as regulations tightened.
Recently however, times have changed. The ecological crisis, so effectively documented by David Attenborough and others, boosted by the recent Covid pandemic, are now forcing real evolution… at a much faster pace.
Prior to recent scientific developments, there was typically a compromise on performance in the selection of more ecological products. Furthermore, many manufacturers climbed aboard the ‘eco-friendly’ marketing bandwagon, often with no genuine, independently verified certifications to support their claims. This resulted in an inevitable ‘green-washing’ backlash. Who can we trust?
Graphenstone has now secured over 20 of the most recognised ‘harm-free’ certifications from the best known product evaluation specialists globally, including Cradle to Cradle (certified Gold and Silver). Cradle to Cradle Institute look at all aspects of your product, down to 100 parts per million of ingredients; how the materials were sourced; water and energy use in production; local social responsibility, as well as how the products die out; all in all a thorough and demanding process. In addition, Graphenstone’s paints are BREEAM, WELL, and LEED compliant and benefit from Ecolabel and EPDs (European Product Declarations).
Graphenstone has a totally unique profile in the paints market. Our range has no toxicity. In fact these products actively CLEAN and PURIFY the air, our pure lime based ranges removing CO2, SOx, NOx and other pollutants.
Highly breathable, anti-bacterial (inhibiting all micro-organisms), Fire-proof (A1 EU, Class ‘0’ UK), Vegan, VOC free, Class 1 strength and in a range of over 1000 colours, we’ve created a beautiful matt paint reinforced by graphene technology, a form of carbon which is the strongest material on earth. Odour free and super quick drying, with no preservatives, chemicals, plastic or microbeads, our products contain no MIT or BIT. That’s a lot of valuable features in a single product range!
Strength is a fundamentally important asset in more ways than one. To make the sustainable, environmental claim, the regularity of painting is crucial. Mineral products would normally not compete in terms of durability and life-cycle with synthetic-binder based paints (such as vinyl or acrylic), thus creating a negative footprint ecologically, given the requirement for more regular repainting. By introducing graphene technology, which provides structural support to the minerals at the molecular level, Graphenstone’s range offer Class 1 strength like an acrylic, yet with none of the negatives in production or use, in homes and offices. Once applied, our paints could stay on your wall in a healthy and sustainable condition, for decades!
The Graphenstone pure limes can absorb up to 5.5Kg’s of CO2 per 15 litre pot! Imagine converting your walls into an air-purification system, as opposed to a constant emitter of toxic fumes, impacting on the health and respiratory systems of your friends, family or work colleagues. It’s like painting trees into your house or office.
In conclusion, our message to designers in this challenging era, is to carefully evaluate what product they specify, to ensure that it’s in the interests of the people who’s lives will be impacted by that selection. Do ensure too that the claims made by brands can be independently verified and the impact on people and the environment is truly ‘harm-free’.
The future of clean, durable paints is in fact available today.
Click here to explore the range.
About the Author
Patrick Folkes is the CEO & Founder of The Graphene Company – Sole Distributor of Graphenstone, UK. An independent entrepreneur since 1990 with a background in finance, Patrick founded PJ’s in 1995, the UK’s first fruit smoothie business, which sold to PepsiCo in 2005. Patrick was intrigued by the potential of Graphenstone. Natural, highly sustainable, air-purifying paints reinforced by graphene, a 21st Century Nobel prize winning carbon technology, offered the perfect product at a time of urgent need.
Join SBID
Find out more about our flexible membership structure.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
By subscribing, you agree to be added to SBID’s mailing list. As an industry’s standard bearer organisation, we strive to bring you the most up to date news and access to exclusive industry content through our various newsletters.