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As a professional interior designer, you need to do everything possible to ensure your clients can trust you to deliver their project. While a good reputation and word of mouth can certainly help you with this, it’s also good idea to join a professional association or society that is well respected. The Society of British International Interior Design is one of these organisations that can support your career and give you a boost to achieve success.

While there is no legal obligation to join a body or receive accreditation to practice interior design, there are certainly good reasons to become accredited by the SBID.

Showcase Your Expertise

Having accreditation is a great way to show that you are an expert in your field. Since entry to the SBID is limited and determined by strict professional criteria, clients will understand that you’re very good at what you do when you showcase your accredited status. It indicates that you have reached the pinnacle of assessed knowledge in the UK and that you are among the best in your career for providing quality interior design services.

SBID measures your education, training, and experience, as well as your competence and skill as a designer before you can be accredited. You will also need to show that you are continuing to improve your skills in the profession each year that you are a member with an annual CPD commitment. The SBID Accreditation framework is internationally recognised for design standards, so this endorsement of your services can really help to boost your credibility and reputation in the industry.

 

Reach More Clients

Clients tend to trust recommendations that come from recognised organisations like the SBID. Anyone who is looking for an interior designer can search the list of registered professionals in the SBID Designer Directory. This immediately opens your business up to reach more potential clients with increased online visibility so they can not only discover your practice, but also contact you about jobs more often. SBID also support in the promotion of your news, expertise and projects, which can help to enhance your media coverage and increase brand awareness.

 

Receive More Opportunities

Interior design isn’t only about working with clients and finding them. You’ll also need to stay on top of the latest products, innovations, trends and industry regulations. Being a part of the SBID provides you with the opportunity to learn more about the products and services that are available to you as an interior designer.

You’ll be introduced to new products, industry updates and CPD learning. This can help you create even more impressive interiors for your clients. As you learn more, you advance your skills and offerings, which ensures you continue to grow as an interior designer. For example, gaining a better understanding of a material’s use, customisation capabilities and application can help you improve your designs and product specification.

Are you interested in becoming part of the Society of British International Interior Design? Take a look at the website to learn more about the process.

While the name may seem like interior designers are restricted to indoor spaces, they can actually be used for outdoor spaces as well. While some aspects of interior design only apply to indoors, a lot of design elements are just as easily applied to outdoor spaces.

For more about what an interior designer can bring to an outdoor space, read on to find out.

Patio

A patio is commonly seen as an extension of the home, so should be designed in collaboration with an interior. This is where an interior designer can bring their skills to an outside space, creating a unified look and feel to the space. Elements such as furniture and flooring are essential to a patio, so an interior designer can help pick items ideal for your vision that will match up with the rest of your house.

Just like they do with interiors, an interior designer can design a patio that maintains a great flow. This is great if you intend to use your patio to socialise regularly. An interior designer’s eye for creation will have to be slightly different when working outside, especially in terms of furniture. They’ll have to make sure they think about elements such as the weather, picking items that are durable in the case of high winds and also weather-resistant in the case of rain.

Lighting is another important aspect a designer can help with. Outside spaces are constantly dependent on the weather, with certain parts of it only in sunshine at certain hours of the day. A designer must consider how to light a space so it can be used all day/night and in all weather conditions.

 

Plants

Plants and wildlife have become an essential element of interior design over the years, as many seek to bring the outside inside with plants and other wildlife. This is why a talented interior designer should have the skills to expertly design a space incorporating plants, including outside spaces.

 

Focal Point

Many gardens are constructed around a focal point, a technique also commonly used in inside spaces. An interior designer can help you enhance your garden by making a focal point. This could be an outdoor pool, a pizza oven or a BBQ.

Find Interior Design Experts

If you’re looking for an interior designer for your indoor or outdoor project, The Society of British & International Interior Design can help. Our members have the training, experience and expertise to deliver a project brief to the highest professional standards. You can use our Designer Directory to browse an extensive database of accredited interior designers for your needs. You can search by location, keyword and specialism to find a designer near you that you can collaborate with to achieve your vision.

To find out more about SBID and how an interior designer can help with your design project, visit our website today.

Cover image credits: Fenton Whelan – Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill

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:

  • the materials used and how they were sourced
  • the manufacturing processes and waste
  • energy, water use and local social issues
  • the toxicity impact where you apply the paint
  • and the way the materials ‘die out’, at end of life

 

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’.

So, what is in your paint?

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.

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.

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.

Interior design is a booming profession. But not too long ago, it was hard to regulate. Influencers and hobbyists who did not have the appropriate professional qualifications or experience could get away with misleading clients into working with them instead of trained professionals. That’s why in recent years it has become more and more important to regulate the interior design industry, and one way of doing that is to become an accredited member of an interior design institute.

Read on to find out more about SBID Interior Design Accreditation, who can join and how to achieve it.

Who are The Society of British & International Interior Design?

The Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID) was founded in 2009 and helped to lead the way to create a benchmark for trading standards and best practice in the profession of interior design. Consumers could easily be misadvised so needed a way to identify and distinguish between a qualified interior designer and an untrained practitioner. This is why SBID’s founder, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, accepted the challenge with her ambitious vision to professionalise the industry – serving, protecting and promoting interior design in the UK and abroad.

In 2009 the SBID developed an accreditation scheme for designers that required minimum years’ experience and a BA Hons degree to define criteria for professional competence, and created course modules to prepare students for professional application. This helped establish rigorous conditions for training and knowledge to measure and maintain a standard of acumen for practicing professionals across the industry. All of our accredited members gain access to exclusive resources, events and join a network of experts, while having opportunities to nurture their professional development through CPD training and specialist advice. By being accredited, you or your business are shown to abide by a universally recognised code of practise and your clients will know you offer the highest assessed level of design service.

Professional Society Membership

SBID offers a selection of membership levels and categories depending on you or your business. Anyone can join from freelance designers, SME’s and large A&D (architecture & design) firms, to university students and recent graduates. All of our members have access to:

  • Tailored business engagements with a network of professional industry experts
  • Promote design services through our online directory and editorial blog articles
  • 1 x free entry into the SBID International Design Awards
  • Special offers and complimentary tickets to key trade shows
  • Exclusive regional / online events and professional resources
  • An SBID Accredited CPD (continued professional development) program
  • Opportunities to feature with press and media partners

But who can join our organisation? Here are the four types of membership we offer across the industry sectors.

Interior Designers

To qualify for SBID Design Professional accreditation you must have 3 years of education, 3 and a half years of practice, 24 annual CPD points and hold valid professional indemnity insurance. We provide individual accreditation, as well as business accreditation for design studios. By becoming an SBID Accredited Interior Designer you’ll have access to a range of benefits, such as:

  • Public Listing in the official SBID Designer DirectoryOur designer directory features over 600 pre-qualified and accredited design professionals. By having yourself listed in there, a client will know that you are an expert in the design industry with a commitment to professional standards, offering a quality design services and operating at the highest standards of practice. Clients can find interior designers by their design specialism or by searching for you via location or keywords.
  • Access to SBIDProSBIDPro is our exclusive member-only portal to explore SBID approved trade suppliers with our network of industry partners and service providers. You can also access live and on demand CPD training and a variety of professional resources.
  • Partner Exclusive Benefits – receive email updates on exclusive member offers, benefits and opportunities from trade discounts and event invites to national press and media requests.
  • SBID Awards Entry – SBID further champion the importance of professional standards, excellence and innovation in interior design through its annual International Design Awards. Offering our community 1 x free entry (worth £275) for the opportunity to showcase their work and achievements on our globally respected stage.

If you do not meet all the criteria to become an accredited designer, we also offer associate level memberships.

In terms of pricing, becoming a UK Interior Design Associate or an International Design Associate costs £325 + VAT per annum. If you are becoming a fully Accredited UK Interior Design Professional or International Design Professional, the cost is £395 + VAT per year. We regard international as an individual who is not working in the UK. We also offer discounted rates for design studios that employ more than three interior designers.

Interior Fit-Out Specialists

By becoming an SBID Contract Partner, you can showcase that your business offers professionalism and specialist expertise, meaning your clientele are safe from the inevitable problems that arise when using unregulated providers. By using an approved specialist, a client knows that they are getting a professional and efficient service that can work well with an SBID interior designer to create a natural synergy during a project’s procurement through to final installation.

For this form of membership, you must have 1-year of company accounts, appropriate business insurance and meet the SBID 5 points of compliance. These are:

  • Training – SBID supports the development of our members through training and an Accredited CPD program. Our partners must show a commitment to developing and training to reflect us.
  • Health & Safety- You must make sure you are adhering to the appropriate health and safety regulations and can demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience to go with this.
  • Green Practise – SBID promotes sustainability, so all our partners must be open to committing to sustainability and greener practices.
  • Projects – Our partners must showcase their ability to deliver an interior concept that is up to SBID’s professional standards.
  • Inclusiveness – We strive to nurture inclusivity so all partners must play by the same ethical rules.

The price to become an accredited SBID Interior Fit-Out Specialist can vary depending on your specialism. The fee for interior and exterior/structure contractors begins at £1,000, while building experts and consultants starts from £800.

    Product Providers

    SBID Industry Partners are trusted businesses that demonstrate expertise in the products they supply. That means not just their design aesthetic should be considered, but performance, service, functionality, quality of materials and their impact on the planet. Our network of product providers for interior design solutions are reliable experts in providing exactly what a client needs.

    To become an SBID Industry Partner you need business insurance, 1 year of company accounts and must meet the SBID five points of compliance. These are:

    • Intellectual Property – SBID does not tolerate piracy and copyright theft, working to combat IP theft and bad practice
    • Corporate Social Responsibility – You should demonstrate how you agree with our support of ethical manufacturing processes to ensure people and the environment are not harmed in the production process.
    • Service – You must supply after-sales care to your clients and long-term quality service
    • Sustainability – The products you supply must be sustainable
    • Value for Money – Your products and services must be a good value for money

    Annual fees begin at £600 + VAT for a Professional Industry Partner and at £3,200 + VAT to become a Premium Professional Partner.

    Students

      For students who are still studying but want to get a head start in their professional development, we offer an SBID Student Membership. SBID aims to nurture and support emerging design talent, so it is committed to helping the next generation of trained designers reach the next stage of their careers following graduation.

      SBID offer this membership free throughout the course and for one year after as a post-graduate at Associate level if studying at approved institutions. After completing a third year in practice, the designer will be eligible to secure full SBID Accreditation. By this time they would have gained the required level of knowledge, experience and practical training to be a great addition to the SBID professional network.

      You are eligible for the free membership if you are currently enrolled on an interior design degree course from a University that has either:

      • University Recognition – SBID Recognised universities whose course module structures meet SBID’s standards for appropriate interior design training.
      • Course Accreditation – This means that universities have had their course content measured and officially accredited to make sure it reaches SBID’s highest education standards and relates to the practising profession of interior design. Before SBID was founded, not a single university in the UK connected with a professional interior design organisation, meaning that university graduates didn’t possess the skills expected of them at this level.
      • Centre of Excellence – These are educational centres that SBID has established to meet our values, vision and commitment to improving professionalism in the interior design industry. To become a Centre of Excellence, an establishment must’ve already received recognition and accreditation for its courses. There are currently four Centres of Excellence in the UK, based at Coventry University, Southampton Solent University, Arts University College Bournemouth and Teesside University.

      If your university does not belong to one of these institutions, there is still the option of a discounted student membership for £45 + VAT per annum. Apply now for a student membership, all you need is your name, university, course, year of study and tutor name to get started.

      How to Join

      You can become accredited and join SBID in three quick and easy steps:

      1. Category – First read through the accreditation requirements and membership fees to see if you meet them and are comfortable with the cost – you can pay annually or monthly by direct debit. Make sure you’re applying to the right category and then complete the enquiry form. This will ask for your details, name or company and qualifications.
      2. Checks – Your application will then be reviewed by our membership team. They will carry out the necessary checks to make sure you meet the requirements and are eligible for membership status. Due diligence checks will verify your credentials are accurate and that you are applying for the appropriate levels of accreditation.
      3. Acknowledgement – Once the application is processed you will receive acknowledgement of the review. If successful, you will be added to the relevant SBID members Directory and your membership certificate, any accreditation materials and access to the SBIDPro platform will be issued.

      SBID: The Leading Interior Design Body

      So visit the SBID website or get in touch now to start your accreditation process today. Alternatively, call us on 027 738 9383 to find out more about what being a member can do for you.

      Lorenzo Tondelli Collection is pleased to announce the release of the new Hyperborea series. A family of furniture, containers, seating, objects and lighting with a common philosophy: elegant and refined sobriety, high technology combined with the excellence of the finest Italian craftsmanship, clean lines and a contemporary touch.

      The name Hyperborea draws its inspiration from legendary territories where the terrestrial and celestial met, sparking the beginning of civilization. As was the first home of Apollo, so those territories were blessed with days of endless light and an eternal spring. The series recalls the spirit of such mythic places, featuring both eastern and nordic undertones. The elements seem to come from a midway land where indoor and outdoor landscapes overlap, creating dynamism and intimacy through a silent yet engaging dialogue with the inhabitants. They couple magnificent minimalism with the in-depth technical know-how of how things work. Each piece comes with an unerring sense of measure and proportion. Each piece knows how to live and breathe in urban extensions. In its dedicated space, it finds meaning and prominence — a perfect joy.

      The series is composed of completely unseen pieces such as the Dune armchair, the Drop and Levare low tables, and the Aura lamp, as well as reinterpreted and innovative Lorenzo Tondelli bestselling classics. The limited edition Atlante cabinet, a finalist in the Product Design category at the SBID Awards 2021, is also part of the selection.

      Hyperborea Series

      DUNE

      Dune’s strangely beautiful silhouette looks straight to a sci-fi visual narrative. Its sleek, untouched curves interplay like sandy waves to recall fantasies of moonlit trips to a dream planet we might call “home”. Dune Armchair has ultra ergonomic lines and a cleanest design ensured by almost non-existent seams. The armchair belongs to a series that acknowledges material matching: customize it with leathers in different colours or combine leather with wood or metal.

      DUNE - Hyperborea Series
      DUNE - Hyperborea Series

      AURA

      Aura is all about soft magnetism finding freedom through a cage. The wall becomes the sky as light leaks, spreading symmetrically across it, catching the eye through a sought-after movement of shades. Aura Lamp celebrates the utmost pleasure of skywatching: it conveys the aesthetic of northern lights through a stern yet appealing reproduction of an ancient Chinese cricket cage. Filtering the light through a unique screen surrounded by tiny bars, it reverberates an alluring game of shadows in the room.

      AURA - Hyperborea Series
      AURA - Hyperborea Series
      Lorenzo Tondelli and DUNE - Hyperborea Series

      DROP

      Drop captures stillness and change at the same time. There’s a quiet, flat pond, and then some tiny raindrops falling: the exact moment when they become water happens and freezes right before us. Drop has a fluid identity lying in its shapes and attitude. It has a unifying presence, with its flat and large plateau creating harmonious combinations with different pieces from the collection.

      DROP - Hyperborea Series

      LEVARE

      Levare was born to be as necessary and daily as the flavor of salt. And yet, it’s shaped and named after Michelangelo’s sculptural manner of taking away, instead of adding, to reach the peak of essential artfulness. Levare is a leather and metal low table with a soothing feel deriving from its blatant efficiency and plain essentiality. Geometries and volumes are subtracted, reduced to a minimum — just enough to serve intelligently, clearing the space for anything else.

      LEVARE - Hyperborea Series

      About Lorenzo Tondelli

      Since the early fifties, Lorenzo Tondelli have been makers at work. They adorn places where meeting, talking, learning, playing, working, and relaxing feels just sublime. At Lorenzo Tondelli they love to gather their fabrics, fantasy, and experience, and then let the inspiration lead them somewhere new. Every element they design has a unique storyline, combining culture, art, and tradition to create comfortable yet inspiring spaces.

      Sourcing for your next project? Explore the SBID Supplier Directory in SBIDPro to help solve your interior specification needs and source trusted suppliers for your projects! Sign in to discover more.

      If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more.

      To become an accredited member of the SBID, click here

      Designed as a subtle gesture, at home or anywhere. SBID member and provider of furnishing solutions for community spaces, work and home, Arper explores its expanded collection of Aston Club Low Back chairs, designed by Jean-Marie Massaud.

      04_Arper_ASTON-CLUB-LOW-BACK_ph-credits@Salva-Lopez

      Continuing the original shape of Aston launched in 2006, the Aston Club Low Back expands the earliest collection to offer generous, ergonomic comfort in a minimal form. With open arms, the Aston Club Low Back invites repose, rest, and shelter in any environment—a quiet space all your own. When paired together or placed in group settings, its clean form supports ease in conversation and exchange. A cocoon of comfort in a contemporary, pure silhouette.

      Five chairs of different designs and earthy colours on the backgrounds

      The Aston Club Low Back is as thoughtful on the inside as it appears on the outside. The modern lounge chair continues the collection’s commitment to sustainability with internal components made from post-industrial recycled plastic. In a design that’s truly timeless, each component piece can be disassembled and reupholstered as needed to ensure the longevity of the piece and reduce its environmental impact. All materials can be recycled or upcycled and incorporated into the life cycle of other products, reducing overall waste.

      Aston Club is produced without any glue in order to reduce the emissions and allowing for the responsible disposal of all component parts. Aston Club uses powder-based coat that is free of VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions.

      011_Arper_Aston-Club-Low-Back_beauty-image_photo-credits-@Salva-Lopez

      All elements have been designed for superlative ergonomic comfort – a considered approach to near scientific craftsmanship contained in a clean and minimal silhouette. The Aston Club Low Back lounge chair fits well into both residential and corporate lounge contexts and is available in a four-star polished aluminium or painted base and can be customised in a wide range of finishes making it a versatile piece that will last a lifetime.

      Sourcing for your next project? Explore the SBID Supplier Directory in SBIDPro to help solve your interior specification needs and source trusted suppliers for your projects! Sign in to discover more.

      If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more.

      To become an accredited member of the SBID, click here

      This month’s product news highights from SBID members explores the latest luxurious textures and captivating prints, with new smart technologies for the bathroom and functional design solutions for the workspace; from ergonomic office chairs to intelligent toilet technology.

      Discover Arper’s new office chair design by Lievore Altherr Molina

      New for 2021, Kinesit Met is a sophisticated evolution of the Kinesit office chair, now available in a refreshed palette. Created as Arper’s first regulatory-compliant office chair, Kinesit Met is available with metallic finished armrests and in new, rich and nuanced materials, colors, and textures. Inspired by the contemporary moment and the evolution in our workplaces and spaces, Kinesit Met is designed for how (and where) we work today – softer, adaptable, and from anywhere. This new palette selection adds refinement and style to imbedded soft technology, marrying performance and style in a sleek silhouette. Design has come home.

      Light and minimal in design, Kinesit Met features built-in mechanisms hidden discreetly under the seat. An invisible, adjustable lumbar support is concealed within the backrest’s thin frame to give additional flexibility and comfort. Kinesit Met is available in a low or medium back option customisable in a range of textured and shaded fabric options. Aluminum armrests and base are available in metallic finish options of copper, light grey and anthracite.

      Click to shop

      The intelligent toilet technology for ultimate hygiene at home

      The rimless, wall hung Veil WC by international bathroom brand, Kohler integrates motion-activated hands free opening, closing and flushing for a complete sanitary experience. For a personalised user experience, a stainless steel cleansing wand adjusts the water spray temperature, shape and position; whilst a UV light and electrolysed water sanitises the wand’s surfaces providing a fully-integrated self-clean system.

      The intelligent Veil toilet incorporates a warm glow nightlight and a heated seat that is made from antibacterial materials. Front and rear wash modes and a warm air-drying system also benefit from adjustable temperature settings to ensure a comfortable experience. With an ergonomic seat design to ensure complete comfort, Veil’s seamless finish offers a luxurious yet practical addition to any high-end bathroom.

      Click to shop

      Explore new biophilic woodgrain inspired wallcoverings by TEKTURA

      Sleek woodgrains are combined with a subtle overprint. LACEWOOD takes inspiration from classic oak, ash or cedar. Smooth and unadorned Lacewood provides a seamless pared-down backdrop, while LACEWOOD GEO features geometric lines in matt and burnished metallic inks to give a contemporary twist with biophilic pattern.

      Driftwood white and the warmth of oak are offered alongside the rich, intense hues of mahogany and ebony. Combined with classic woodgrain and a simple structured overprint, Tektura creates a visual connection to the patterns, colours and textures found in nature.

      Click to shop

      Introducing Linwood’s new luxury velvet collection, Velvet Wonderland

      A deep viscose pile, super soft feel and vivid colours elevates these printed velvets to the pinnacle of luxury. The nine designs, which celebrate fantastical dreamscapes, are enlivened with a bold, contemporary colour palette with the occasional glint of glamorous metallic. This is Linwood’s premium printed velvet collection… not only is it sumptuous in look and feel, it’s also durable and water repellent.

      From capturing the serene beauty of an ornamental garden which are perfectly expressed in scenic designs, to recreating the charm of the 1920s with whimsical printed velvet fabrics to celebrate the mystery and magic of the Orient; this exuberant collection of patterns offers a versatile choice for any kinf of upholstery.

      Click to shop

      Sourcing for your next project? Explore the SBID Supplier Directory in SBIDPro to help solve your interior specification needs and source trusted suppliers for your projects! Sign in to discover more.

      If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more.

      To become an accredited member of the SBID, click here

      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.

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      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.

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      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.

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      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. 

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      Sustainability has become an increasingly important consideration when it comes to most sectors, and interior design is most definitely one of them. Consumers now more than ever want to know they are making the best decisions when it comes to environmental impact.

      SBID Accredited outdoor furniture specialist Oxley’s Furniture, have been sustainably making their outdoor furniture from recycled aluminium for 30 years. This recycled aluminium comes from old alloy wheels, disused airplane parts and hundreds of thousands of drinks cans.

      Why Aluminium?

      Aluminium is an amazing metal; it is 100% recyclable and will lose no quality during this process. Nearly 75% of all aluminium ever produced still being in use today. Recycling aluminium uses just 5% of the energy required to produce new aluminium and it can be recycled over and over again.

      A Business Model Ahead of Its Time…

      Using recycled aluminium creates a virtuous cycle that allows Oxley’s to manufacture luxury outdoor furniture as sustainably as possible. When Oxley’s started 30 years ago, most outdoor furniture was made of rain forest teak, now most outdoor furniture is made from woven plastic. Simon Hudson, managing director of Oxley’s Furniture says; “When we started the business we wanted to make wonderful furniture that lasted generations. At the time we loved the idea that we could do this using a recycled product. This just seemed a good practical thing to do – now this is called sustainability.”

      Built To Last

      When processed properly aluminium does not rot or rust, meaning it can be left outside all year every year. The recycled aluminium Oxley’s use is smelted and carefully graded to their particular manufacturing requirement. Oxley’s go to extreme lengths in their Cotswold factory to process their furniture in the most thorough way possible, so it is unaffected by weather, wherever in the World it is located. So not only are the materials sourced sustainably, but Oxley’s furniture will last for generations.

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