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Charlie Smallbone’s designs can be seen throughout this Kensington home, where he and the Ledbury Studio team were tasked with creating furniture for several spaces. Harnessing a style his client coined as ‘Australian Scandi’, Charlie designed beautiful and harmonious pieces for the kitchen, dining area, TV snug, home office, utility room and hallway.

Ledbury Studio

Reoccurring themes such as the use of pale oak, fluted finishes, brass handles and marble countertops tie the rooms together. As such, far from being a collection of rooms under one roof, the spaces are united by the warmth of the materials and the pleasing lines of finely crafted bespoke furniture.

The open-plan kitchen has a dining area to one side and a TV snug to the other.
The desk has a burnt orange leather inset that mirrors the finish at the back of the cupboard.

The Kitchen-Living Space

Highlights of the kitchen include natural and painted oak cabinetry, which has been book matched on the drawers, as well as fluted on the outside of the island. All the handles are patinated brass, as are the kickplates, furniture surrounds and the sculptural brass hanging structure above the island.

In the home office, both fluted oak and walnut feature.
In the home office, both fluted oak and walnut feature.

Over in the dining area, the enviable drinks cabinet ties in with the kitchen design, featuring fluted oak and glass, along with a Statuario marble worktop and panelling. The glass cabinet is lit from within to create a display of the contents, while the open shelves have a mirrored panel behind to reflect the displayed bottles and decanters. An eye-catching wall-hung fluted TV cabinet continues the aesthetic at the other end of the room, in the TV snug.

In the home office, both fluted oak and walnut feature.
The calming aesthetic continues in the hallway.

Home Office

Stunning floor-to-ceiling cabinetry ensures the home office downstairs is kept clutter free and takes advantage of the high ceilings. The furniture, like the kitchen design, features fluted oak doors, an internally lit fluted glass cabinet and hand-made patinated brass handles. However, to create a contrast with the oak, Charlie chose walnut for the desk and lower section of the cabinetry. A lovely detail is the burnt orange leather inset on the desk, the colour of which is mirrored in the orange paint finish at the back of the fluted glass cupboard.

Hallway and Cloakroom

In the hallway on the lower ground floor, furniture has once again been used to make the most of the space available. Here, Charlie designed a boot area with racks and built-in seat, plus floor-to-ceiling wardrobes and cupboards to store all outdoor wear in one place. Once again, fluted oak and brass handles unite the design with the spaces upstairs. Meanwhile, there are pale oak cabinets in the compact utility room. These have been teamed with a rich but practoical ombre quartz and complemented by deep green tiles in the cloakroom.

The calming aesthetic continues in the cloakroom.

About Ledbury Studio

Charlie Smallbone needs little introduction. The founder of iconic brand Smallbone of Devizes, he has been pushing the boundaries of kitchen design for over 40 years. Charlie’s latest venture, Ledbury Studio, was born of his desire to harness the beauty of original materials whilst creating practical kitchens that exude style and elegance.

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Gemma Mouton, Director at Forbes & Lomax has given her insights into the industry. Forbes & Lomax has been producing elegant, innovative light switches and sockets for over thirty-five years. Renowned for launching The Invisible Lightswitch®, it has always approached lighting control from an aesthetic point of view. The Forbes & Lomax collection comprises nine carefully chosen finishes, which are suitable for traditional and contemporary interiors, making it the brand of choice for many top interior designers, architects and decorators. The range includes push buttons and dolly switches for integrating with intelligent lighting control and home automation systems. It also offers a bespoke engraving service. Visit the showroom at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour.

1 Gang Dolly Switch in Invisible with Brass Toggle

What are the origins of the business?

Founder, Serena Herbert had been working as an interior designer on a prestigious project that included specialist paint and papered walls. Around that time the elegant glass fixtures of the 1920s and 30s were no longer available and the market was dominated by bulky, plastic switch plates. As a response to this, The Invisible Lightswitch® was launched. From there, the range grew to include a variety of metal finishes suitable for both traditional and contemporary interiors.

2 Gang Rotary Dimmer in Unlacquered Brass

How do your products and services enhance interior design projects?

In the past, lighting hardware had been an afterthought, however we believe changing details like light switches, dimmers and sockets can transform an interior design project. Our collection of switches and sockets instantly smarten up a space. When using wallpaper, a fabric wallcovering or specialist paint effect The Invisible Lightswitch® and Painted socket blend seamlessly into the background.

Double 13 amp Socket with USB A&C Charge in Invisible with Brushed Brass Rockers and White Insert

What value does your specialist sector add to the industry?

Increasingly, there has been a focus on the importance of lighting in interior design projects. Over the 20 plus years I have been working at Forbes & Lomax, I have witnessed how lighting controls have evolved. Our British manufactured products offer clients complete control over their lighting at home from the most basic on/off function to pre-programmed lighting scenes. We know not everybody is in favour of the more contemporary style keypads that accompany smart light systems and with our momentary range of light switches, our customers can maintain a traditional, classic look with the technology hidden behind the scenes.

1 Gang Dolly Switch in Invisible with Brass Toggle
2 Gang Dolly Dimmer Mix Architrave Switch in Nickel Silver

How do you work with interior designers?

We work extremely closely with interior designers. They are amongst our most cherished client relationships. Our sales managers often attend site visits and are very much part of the lighting planning stage of projects. Most recently, we have welcomed groups of KLC students to our new showroom at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour for tutorials and an introduction to lighting control. We’re thrilled to be an SBID Accredited Industry Partner, as we very much look forward to connecting and building relationships with the new generation of interior designers.

3 Gang Rotary Dimmer in Invisible with Brass Dimmer Knobs

What has been your most significant company highlight or success from the past year?

Our new showroom at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour has been our most significant venture from the past year. The 70 square metre space has given us the opportunity to show our collection in full and interact with a wide customer base from both the UK and international markets. Not only do we use the space as a showroom, we also host training events, hold talks in collaboration with lighting consultants and welcome our interior design clients to have their meetings there.

2 Gang Dolly Switch in Aged Brass

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

Clients are increasingly requesting bespoke switch plates, whether it’s customised engraving or a made-to-order one off plate. These are services we provide as part of Forbes & Lomax Bespoke. With our bespoke engraving service, clients can customise their light switches to denote the function of each button or toggle, which is particularly popular when used in conjunction with a smart lighting system. Custom-made plates provide a solution where space is limited or where a particular socket and switch arrangement is required. In this instance, a client would work closely with a member of our sales team to create a bespoke plate to suit their needs.

Forbes & Lomax

How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead?

We believe there will be a continuing focus on sustainability and British manufacturing. Our processes are under constant review to ensure they align with our environmental goals. We are proud to retain our long-standing British heritage. All our manufacturing is in the UK.

Is there anything new you are excited to be working on?

We are excited to be launching our Smart Wi-Fi Rotary Dimmer this year. With the Wi-Fi rotary control, you can operate your lights using a smartphone or app, such as Alexa or Google Home. The rotary dimmer is simple to retrofit and will replace an existing dimmer switch with ease, as there is no need for additional wiring. The Forbes & Lomax Smart Wi-Fi Rotary Dimmer offers maximum convenience as you can change the mood of your lighting from multiple locations in the home. It allows you to update your home automation system with an aesthetically pleasing light switch.

2 Gang Dolly Switch in Invisible with Stainless Steel Toggles
Gemma Mouton, Director at Forbes & Lomax

What does being an SBID Accredited Industry Partner mean to you?

We are proud to be an SBID Accredited Industry Partner. It means a great deal to us to be part of the community promoting the interior design profession. Our values align strongly with SBID’s high standards for quality and professionalism and we look forward to connecting with SBID’s present and future interior designers.

About Forbes & Lomax

Forbes & Lomax has been producing elegant, innovative light switches and sockets for over thirty-five years. Renowned for launching The Invisible Lightswitch®, it has always approached lighting control from an aesthetic point of view. The Forbes & Lomax collection comprises nine carefully chosen finishes, which are suitable for traditional and contemporary interiors, making it the brand of choice for many top interior designers, architects and decorators. The range includes push buttons and dolly switches for integrating with intelligent lighting control and home automation systems. It also offers a bespoke engraving service. Visit the showroom at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour.

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Complimenting other flame-retardant velvets in the Skopos collection, Dove offers a luxurious cotton-look matt velvet with a soft handle and gentle reflection. Offered originally in trend-inspired colours, ranging from calm neutrals to bright berry tones and botanical greens and blues, this collection is perfect for elegant upholstery (passes Crib 5 tests over 50kg foam), drapery, cushions and bedding within contract interiors.

Skopos Dove

In-line with the enthusiasm already demonstrated for this timeless collection, since its’ launch in 2021, Skopos has now enlisted 22 sumptuous new colours, displayed on a new single card, which slots neatly into the current binder. Tones which embrace the trends for earthy terracotta and spice colours, sit in a cosy envelope around brave Celtic inspired greens, blues and hot pink hues. With a current choice of over 50 shades, this multi-use collection is specifier’s scheme-board ‘got to’.

Skopos Dove

100% FR Polyester, and washable to 40∘C, the collection provides a perfect solution for contract soft furnishings within hospitality, leisure and luxury care environments. As with all Skopos fabrics, Dove has been tested to ensure compliance with British Standards for contract fabrics. Visit skoposfabrics.com for free samples and to order a shade-card.

Skopos Dove

The collection meets the requirements for Flame Retardancy standards across the UK and Europe and meets IMO standards confirming suitability for marine/cruise-line interiors. Available immediately, with short lead-times for larger order quantities, Skopos are pleased to add this collection into their Accents range. For a copy of our full Dove shade card or the new insert of colours, contact our customer service team: [email protected], or for free samples of our collections, visit our website: skoposfabrics.com.

About Skopos Fabrics Ltd

Skopos has over 50 year's experience of supplying innovative statement fabrics and soft furnishings into flagship hotels, marine interiors and other commercial spaces. Working globally with designers and specifiers, the Skopos brand thrives on innovation. Skopos fabrics deliver on style but also meet the needs of customers looking for technical assurance and key attributes, such as acoustic options, impervious upholstery fabrics, antimicrobial and blackout; providing a fabric-only, or made-to-measure and installation service. Accredited as a Carbon Neutral organisation in 2023, sustainable operations go hand in hand with the development of new recycled products and the use of local suppliers.

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Vispring Opulence Mattress with Viceroy Divan and Gate Headboard

Vispring’s Gate headboard utilises comfortable soft upholstery with striking modern wooden detail. The headboard is paired with the luxurious Opulence mattress, filled with an exclusive blend of natural fillings including layered Shetland wool and cotton, Austrian hand-opened long strand Moosburger® horse tail, cashmere, alpaca bamboo and mulberry silk. The Opulence mattress also features three-layer hand-nested calico pocket spring construction, a technique that Vispring pioneered and offers weightless comfort.

Vispring

Vispring Baronet Superb Mattress De Luxe Divan with Hera Headboard

Vispring’s Hera headboard has been designed to complement a range of luxury mattresses and divan bases. The timeless, deeply upholstered headboard with vertical piping features beautifully stitched panelling and inserts for a bold statement to suit both classic and modern bedrooms. Combining Vispring’s traditional craftsmanship with a soft, contemporary aesthetic, the Hera headboard is hand finished with the softest materials and built to last, ensuring that every bed is an investment into many years of perfect sleep.

Vispring

Vispring Magnificence Mattress with Viceroy High Divan and Eccleston Headboard

Vispring’s Magnificence mattress offers unparalleled luxury with the use of the finest natural fillings, including Shetland wool, Austrian Moosburger® horsetail, cashmere, and mohair. The comfort of the bed is enhanced by fine ticking, hand-tied woollen tufts, and the robust Viceroy divan featuring dual layers of pocket springs for exceptional support.

About Vispring Ltd

Vispring is one of the world’s leading luxury bed brands, manufacturing in the UK since 1901. Based in Plymouth since 1970, Vispring sells to 59 countries globally and is the benchmark for handmade, bespoke, high-quality beds made using only the finest natural materials. With values of excellence and craftsmanship at its core, Vispring epitomises a distinctly British form of elegance. Their beds combine technical prowess with a bespoke approach worthy of the finest tailoring and are the international standard for comfort and sophistication. Vispring has graced the first-class cabins of legendary ocean liners – including Titanic – the suites of the world’s most luxurious hotels, including The Dorchester; and on board a Princess Yacht or Gulfstream Jet.

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The book “Antonio Citterio Design” looks back on the 50-year career of Antonio Citterio, one of the key players in global industrial and furniture design, who has played a crucial role in the development of Technogym.

Technogym is without doubt the only brand in the sport & fitness world that is also an integral part of the design industry. A story that goes way back: in 1986, in a sector dominated by the body building stereotype, Nerio Alessandri designed Unica, the first fitness design product for the home. Over the years, Technogym has since received many design accolades, and participated several times in the Salone del Mobile.

Italian style and design have always been two of the distinctive characteristics of Technogym globally: no other brand in the fitness sector pays this much attention to the aesthetics of its solutions, making it a defining feature alongside performance, technology, innovation and functionality.

“Technogym was the first to introduce design into the world of fitness and wellness. They understood the importance of design and decided to invest in it, making it an essential feature of the product and an integral part of the industrial process.” – Antonio Citterio

Antonio Citterio Design

In this journey that has always seen the Technogym story interwoven with design, Antonio Citterio has played a key role: from the design of the state-of-the-art Technogym Village, the company headquarters opened in 2012, to that of the unique premium products of the Personal line.

Antonio Citterio is one of the most influential figures in Italian design and created items that have made the design history (some of these can be seen at the MoMA in New York and the Pompidou in Paris) with B&B Italia, Kartell, Flexform, Arclinea, Vitra, Flos, Axor, Cassina and Knoll.

The publication celebrating the designer’s career was launched on 13 June 2023 at the Triennale Milano’s Salone d’Onore (Hall of Honour). Chapter 6, “Objects and their context”, looks at the projects developed together with Technogym, more specifically in the “Domesticating the exercise machine” section.

It is a collaboration that started over 20 years ago on the development of the Technogym Village, the world’s first wellness campus: a complex and multifaceted project that evolved from the coming together of the entrepreneurial vision of Nerio and Pierluigi Alessandri and the design of ACPV ARCHITECTS – the architecture and interior design studio that works internationally across industries – founded by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel in 2000.

Technogym

The complex – opened in 2012 by the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano and by Bill Clinton – covers an area of over 150,000 m2, of which 60,000 indoors, and is located in Cesena, just a stone’s throw from the garage where Nerio Alessandri founded Technogym in 1983, 40 years ago. Alessandri and Citterio designed the Technogym Village on the one hand to house a rapidly expanding business, and on the other to inspire the industry in the direction of innovation and design.

The Technogym Village was planned and designed by Alessandri and ACPV ARCHITECTS to create a place where innovation, sustainability, quality, design and productivity are brought together. As well as its everyday function as a unique workplace for employees (both in terms of offices and production), in over 10 years of existence, the Technogym Village has become a benchmark for the industry across the world, and every year attracts around 30,000 professionals, including industry operators, athletes and architects from all corners of the globe.

The mark of ACPV ARCHITECTS on the Technogym Village is clear in the modernity of the working and communal spaces and in their management, in the external contours of the production facility and offices, in the choice of furnishings, in the use of glass and light, as well as in the attention to detail given to the 90,000 m2 of park.

The Technogym Village was the flagship project of the collaboration between Technogym and Citterio, allowing the architect to enter the world of wellness, to gain a deep understanding of the Technogym ecosystem and build a strong relationship with its founder Nerio Alessandri. The partnership then extended to products, with the development of the Personal line by Antonio Citterio Design, the collection of premium home fitness equipment, winning several design awards over the years (Red Dot, ADI, IDEA, iF, Good Design, German Design).

Antonio Citterio
Technogym

The Personal line solutions are produced using premium materials and exquisite craftsmanship, and are designed not just as fitness equipment, but also as true works of art. The line includes 6 pieces of equipment – Run Personal, Bike Personal, Recline Personal, Cross Personal, Power Personal and Kinesis Personal – all products designed by Citterio and characterised by distinctive lines and aesthetics that enhance any space they are installed in.

Alessandri and Citterio’s intention was to give the products a visual language that reflects the energy of a modern home. As well as the aesthetics, the architect’s contribution was key to adapting the products to purely domestic spaces, in terms of both the footprint and the choice of materials never used before in fitness (such as high-pressure cast aluminium, already used with Vitra, and oak).

“What all the designs for Technogym have in common is the wellness aspect of the company, with different aims. With the Personal collection, we set ourselves the goal of implementing product design content, so that the products could become part of the interior design of residential spaces. It is a project that was achieved thanks to a shared awareness of the concept of quality of life.” – Antonio Citterio

About Technogym UK

Technogym's globally renowned products are perfect for both home and commercial gyms. They strive to create gym equipment and accessories that are not only professional and sleek but also adapt easily to every surrounding space. For more than 40 years Technogym have been helping people live healthier and happier lives with a range of products that are exceptional in both function and aesthetics. With modular collections, they offer the ultimate wellness experience anytime, anywhere, at home, in the gym, in the office, or in a hotel.

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Franklite celebrated a very prestigious milestone in 2023, its 50th year in the design, manufacture and distribution of high-quality decorative lighting. Over the years Franklite has manufactured exquisite products for the retail, commercial and hospitality markets including bespoke project designs.

The passion for lighting has been within the Lissauer family for three generations. Taking his father’s passed down knowledge and many years of experience owning a number of lighting shops in various provinces of South Africa Frank Lissauer decided to relocate to the United Kingdom and establish Franklite in 1973.

Growing and developing the business over the years took dedication and countless hours of hard work by Frank Lissauer but these responsibilities were eventually shared when his son, Mark Lissauer joined the business in 1999.

Franklite

The family owned business has achieved significant milestones over the 50 years which include moving to a much larger purpose built factory in 1990 after quickly outgrowing the previous premises, an in-house laboratory which holds state-of-the-art lighting technology which very few other lighting manufacturers within the UK possess, an expansive warehouse and assembly area where products and parts undergo stringent quality control and finally an exquisite showroom.

Franklite’s first ever catalogue included the Delft range as one of its first products. The traditional ‘flemish’ style design has made these fittings classic and timeless. 50 years later this popular range is still available in the current Catalogue 26. Many iterations have followed over the years, like the Halle and Mondrian which continue to follow the ‘flemish’ design style.

Franklite Wolverton 1978

2021 was the year Franklite received recognition for winning two awards within the hospitality industry – Best in Tech and Best Retail Decorative Lighting Manufacturer.

Franklite has a story to tell. They are far more than just a lighting manufacturer; they are creators, visionaries and craftspeople who continue to pride themselves on their manufacturing and service excellence. At the heart of Franklite is a highly-skilled team who understand the importance of good product design that will stand the test of time, both technically and aesthetically.

Over the next 50 years the hope is that Franklite continues to grow and remain a renowned family business whilst maintaining the core principle which Franklite was founded - to offer products that balance optimal performance with beautiful aesthetics.

About Franklite Limited

Founded in 1973, award winning Franklite is one of the leading innovators in high-quality decorative lighting. Working with clients, architects, lighting consultants, interior designers, M & E consultants and distributors for the residential, hospitality and commercial markets throughout the UK, Europe, Middle and Far East. Franklite has a story to tell. They are far more than just a lighting manufacturer; they are creators, visionaries and craftspeople who continue to pride themselves on their manufacturing methods and excellent service. This includes offering products that balance optimal performance with beautiful aesthetics and have successfully supplied exceptional luminaires to palaces, embassies, hotels, private residences and multi-residential projects. Franklite remains at the forefront of the lighting industry with incredible in-house technology which includes the Rigo Near-Field Goniophotometer and highly-skilled design and technic­al teams who continue to develop signature products. Our LED plates and most recently award winning tuneable light engines are manufactured in-house and compatible with many of our luminaires.

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House of Rohl is delighted to once again be part of the interiors event of the Summer, WOW!house at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour from 4th June - 4th July. For its third installation, House of Rohl has collaborated with renowned architecture and interior design practice, Michaelis Boyd, to create a primary bathroom suite that offers a space for tranquillity, relaxation and luxury escapism.

The suite features the statement Taizu circular bath from Victoria + Albert, made for the first time in a subtle Matt finish, and presented with an on-trend Olive Green exterior. This is matched with Perrin & Rowe Georgian brassware in a beautiful Satin Brass finish from the House of Rohl portfolio. The design project was led by Christina Gregoriou, a Partner at Michaelis Boyd who saw the design as “An opportunity to reframe our traditional understanding of the bathroom, elevating it from a place for private time to a luxurious experience.”

Photography: Billy Bolton
Photography: Billy Bolton

Taking place from the 4th June – 4th July, WOW!house is built within the Design Avenue and is a one-of-a-kind showhouse stretching 500 sqm2 with 19 full-size rooms and outdoor spaces to be explored. Nigel Palmer, Head of Communications Marketing for House of Rohl said, “Now in its third year, WOW!house has become one of the pre-eminent interiors events in Europe. As one of the event’s initial sponsors, House of Rohl is delighted to be involved once again. Christina and her team at Michaelis Boyd have conceived a spectacular bathroom, full of flair and imagination, wholly original and meticulously planned. It is the perfect showcase for our Perrin & Rowe and Victoria + Albert brands, and has many clever ideas for visitors to take away.”

On specifying Victoria + Albert’s Taizu bath Christina said, “The Taizu bath was the perfect ‘protagonist’ in both style and scale. Once its location was decided the remaining design and layout unfolded from there”. Surrounding the bath within an uplit dome is an ethereal woodland mural by French artist Claire Basler. Claire was commissioned for her outstanding attention to detail and an ability to encapsulate serenity, with a sense of movement within her work.

Photography: Billy Bolton
Photography: Billy Bolton

The brassware is from Perrin & Rowe’s Georgian collection in Satin Brass. Christina comments, “We love the craftsmanship of Perrin & Rowe, from the hand-poured casting to the perfectionism of the final polishing. The Georgian collection gives the bathroom a root in tradition.”

The charming feature vanity unit was designed and built by Goldfinger. Finished with a Rainforest Green marble from Diespeker, it includes two Laceno 56 basins, new this year from Victoria + Albert. They are paired with Perrin & Rowe Georgian Wall Mounted Basin Mixer taps, once again in Satin Brass. The vanity unit is wrapped in a ruffled skirt made of ‘Old Hollywood, Flame’, a linen-blend material by de Le Cuona.

Photography: Billy Bolton
Photography: Billy Bolton

The bathroom was strategically designed to include transitional areas of separation with areas to bathe, wash and rest. To achieve this, the team created a chequerboard effect by using Encaustic and Zellige tiles from the Mosaic Factory in three sizes to create a visual and whimsical transition for the occupier to navigate the space. Within the more intimate areas of the bathroom, the Koyohen Border tiles in ‘Vintage Green’ from Raven were chosen for their sleek design. The flecks of amber compliment the warm tones of the timber and marble. The team strategically positioned the tiles vertically to extenuate the curvature of the shower area, powder room and drying area. To complement the natural colour palette, the woodwork including the skirting boards and door architraves are painted in ‘Invisible Green’ by Little Greene.

Offering a place to reflect and relax, a bespoke daybed, designed and built by Goldfinger, is upholstered by Lawson Wood in a linen fabric named ‘Douce Nightscape’ from LF Trading. Above, a show-stopping Diamond Olive Chandelier (Amber) from COX London is positioned above. Michaelis Boyd’s design ethos of ‘luxurious design should tread lightly on the planet’ influenced Christina’s decision to render the bathroom’s walls and dome with Clayworks; a clay plaster made of unique blends of unfired clays mixed with minerals and pigments to provide healthy, breathable internal finishes.

Photography: Billy Bolton
Photography: Billy Bolton

Diversity and sustainability are core themes to this year’s WOW!house. Perrin & Rowe’s two UK sites in Wolverhampton and Rainham in East London reflect their diverse communities, helped by local apprenticeships. Victoria + Albert’s South African factory provides skilled manufacturing jobs in an area where there are few. Like many responsible organisations, House of Rohl has a long-term programme to enhance the sustainability of its processes, but there has always been a focus on making products that last, avoiding the need for wasteful replacement. Perrin & Rowe, for example, stock spares for almost every tap they have ever made. Their Customer Services team in Rainham take pride in helping owners make old taps work like new.

At the inaugural WOW!house, the House of Rohl bathroom was conceived by 2LG Studio, who created a ‘Cave of Wonders’ that provided an alternate reality to escape to in a Covid-affected year. In 2023, Studio Mico deftly blended influences from many cultures, choosing natural materials and textures to create a bathroom that felt entirely original, yet resonated with every visitor to the space. This year, the ‘Maximalist Whimsy’ of Michaelis Boyd’s delightful design offers their own unique take on a luxury bathroom. Christina comments, “The bathroom has an intimate, tranquil feel and sanctuary aesthetic, making it a room where you feel at peace and want to spend time.”

About Perrin & Rowe

The World's finest range of bathroom and kitchen fittings. Perrin & Rowe is a British-based brassware and sanitaryware manufacturer with an unrivaled reputation internationally – bringing together traditional craftsmanship and manufacturing methods with precision engineering. Perrin & Rowe is a distinctive member of the House of Rohl.

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RAK Ceramics, the leading brand in ceramic and porcelain products, has enhanced its popular RAK-Des and RAK-Valet sanitaryware collections with the launch of new basin frames and towel rails.

In response to the growing demand for classical, minimalist, and boutique hotel-inspired styling, the basin frames and towel rails are available in sleek matt black and elegant chrome finishes.

RAK Ceramics

The basin frames are meticulously designed to complement RAK Ceramics' wall-mount basins, offering a seamless integration that exudes modern elegance. Available in four sizes - fitting 120cm, 100cm, 80cm, and 60cm wall-mounted basins from the RAK-Valet and RAK-Des ranges - the frames ensure a perfect fit for various bathroom dimensions, leaving the floor visible and accessible.

The towel rails, available in two sizes of 76cm and 56cm, are designed to accompany the basin frames, offering convenience and style in equal measure. Whether for hand towels or bath towels, the rails provide a stylish solution for keeping essentials within easy reach while adding a touch of luxury to the bathroom space.

About RAK Ceramics Ltd

RAK Ceramics products feature in some of the most iconic buildings in the world. Known for a wide product range and the ability to produce bespoke solutions for both small and large scale projects, RAK Ceramics enable clients to bring their ideas to life. They respect, inspire, improve and deliver; today, tomorrow, no matter the ambition, no matter the challenge, RAK Ceramics take care of all the details, so you don’t have to.

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Leading bathroom retailer C.P. Hart launches its Summer Sale, with savings of up to 40% on many premium bathroom collections, including those from world-leading brands and C.P. Hart’s own exclusive ranges.

The Summer Sale presents an excellent opportunity to refresh your bathroom with beautiful, durable, and functional products, from brassware in trending finishes to innovative furniture with clever storage solutions and cocooning baths for spa-like relaxation.

C.P. Hart
C.P. Hart

How to Shop the Sale

C.P. Hart’s Summer Sale is available to shop online or in any of its 15 showrooms. To view the offers included in the Sale, C.P. Hart’s Summer Sale Guide outlines the entire Sale offering, including collections only available from their showrooms. The Guide also acts as a useful resource for specifying projects.

Summer Sale Appointments

A showroom appointment is an excellent place to start your bathroom planning journey. Here, C.P. Hart welcomes trade professionals to inspect product quality first-hand, discuss project ideas with a sales consultant, and arrange a meeting with a C.P. Hart designer. Please ask about C.P. Hart’s free-of-charge design and consultation services.

To ensure the availability of a sales consultant, please book an appointment here.

C.P. Hart
C.P. Hart

C.P. Hart’s Flagship Waterloo Showroom

C.P. Hart invites all clients and industry professionals to its flagship Waterloo bathroom showroom, renowned for its café and bar inspired by the industrial aesthetic of Waterloo’s railway arches. Here, professionals can browse the very best in bathroom design over a coffee or sit down with their clients and/or C.P. Hart’s bathroom experts to discuss their specification requirements at length.

The Waterloo showroom is a source of bathroom inspiration, home to several industry-leading design studios and displays, including:
- The UK’s only Cielo Studio
- The UK’s only Dornbracht Design Studio
- The UK’s only AXOR Design Studio
- The largest number of displays featuring the exclusive Italian furniture brands Artelinea and IdeaGroup
- The most extensive representation of Effe wellness in the UK
- First to market and exclusive brands Park Avenue and Franz Viegener
- Room set collaborations with leading designers, including Eva Sonaike, Kit Boon, Bradley Van Der Straeten, and more.

Explore C.P. Hart’s ‘Inspiration’ area here.

About C.P. Hart

C.P. Hart are an established bathroom supplier with over 80 years’ experience of specifying and sourcing the world’s most innovative and durable premium bathroom products. A successful Contracts division works for architects, interior designers and builders, often on major commercial property developments and hotels. While a highly qualified in-house design team works with individual and private clients, ensuring that each of these bespoke bathrooms is unique.

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What are the origins of the business?

For more than 100 years, La Cornue has striven for excellence, with high standards as a guide and the pleasure of the senses as its inspiration. From the vaulted oven conceived and patented in 1908 to the custom-designed ‘haute couture’ ranges of today, La Cornue has always been able to combine authenticity and modernity, tradition and innovation, in order to embody a certain idea of the art of living the French way. La Cornue’s exceptional cooking ranges are crafted by artisans, passionate women and men. They are the result of precision know-how, which combines meticulous handling, the finest materials, attention to detail and five-star service. Appreciated throughout the world, La Cornue's creations have earned it the trust and friendship of great names in gastronomy and are suitable for preparing everything from a simple cake through to a seven-hour leg of lamb. The centrepiece and true keystone of La Cornue cookers, the vaulted oven is the fruit of the abundant imagination of Albert Dupuy, a herbalist-perfumier and a renowned gourmet. His invention in 1908, just like La Cornue, was inspired by the vaulted tunnels of the Paris metro, inaugurated in 1900. Thanks to its particular shape – then unprecedented – the vaulted oven allowed air to circulate in a natural and even way, making it the first convection oven.

How do your products and services enhance interior design projects?

The product range from La Cornue is designed to be flexible and versatile. The use of colour, the wide selection of trims and the numerous size options available all make it easy for the customer to transform their home and tell a design story through its interior. As well as its iconic ranges, La Cornue also makes kitchen islands and cabinetry. In fact, we have just launched new cabinetry designs that allow for greater symmetry in kitchen design and the lining up of horizontal surfaces for a cleaner look. The breadth of La Cornue's offering means the consumer can achieve a stylishly pared-back, look or an opulent kitchen with a real sense of drama.

What value does your specialist sector add to the industry?

The kitchen is generally seen as the heart of the home and the cooker the centrepiece of that space. La Cornue is an artisan brand which, for more than a century, has offered luxury ovens that are hand-crafted, designed for performance and are utterly beautiful. Our products are investment pieces, once-in-a-generation purchases that come with a long history of French culinary savoir-faire as standard.

La Cornue

How do you work with interior designers?

La Cornue works with some of the world's most renowned interior designers and does so in a spirit of true partnership. We see ourselves as an extension of their in-house teams, working directly with them and their clients. We usually begin with a virtual consultation during which we explore every aspect of the brief, and pinpoint what is most important to the designer. We then interpret the brief to provide either a quotation or an initial design concept. The starting point can either be an interior designer's ideas and how we work within that or, more usually, we begin with the La Cornue cooker and they build around that.

What has been your most significant company highlight or success from the past year?

One of the highlights of the past year was the launch of the gorgeous Castel 60. A brilliant small space design solution, the award-winning 60cm model is our very first cooker with a touch-sensitive induction hob, offering a range of functions and it is a joy to use. It’s also been a year of hugely successful exhibitions for La Cornue, including KBIS – the largest kitchen industry show in North America – EuroCucina in Milan, and our first-ever appearance at kbb at the NEC in Birmingham. Over the past 12 months, we've also been involved in many significant and truly exciting (but sadly secret) client projects.

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

There’s a real move towards adding more personality everywhere in the home and this is particularly true in the kitchen. People are moving away from the idea that everything should be neutral and are embracing colour and pattern more and we are seeing the same thing. We’ve been able to help clients make a real statement in kitchens where budgets have been tighter. For example, we've been able to meet investment level expectations – while still achieving an ultra-high-end look – by using two 90cm Cornufé models side by side to create a dramatic statement making focal point in the kitchen. Colour, too, has become more popular with designers taking advantage of La Cornue's extensive colour palette, bespoke colours and our hugely accurate colour-matching service.

How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead?

Homes are becoming more personalised, with many of us wanting somewhere they feel at home in, more than one that is simply super-fashionable for a short time. We see people looking for buy-once investment pieces, subscribing to a more sustainable, longer-term approach based on high-quality pieces that will stay with them for a long period. It is the opposite of fast fashion.

Is there anything new you are excited to be working on?

We have been working with internationally renowned artists and designers to create stunning re-imaginings of three of our most iconic cookers. Ferris Rafauli is best known for seamlessly integrating timeless architecture and sumptuous interior designs into each project, with a masterful attention to detail. To create his exclusive reworking of the iconic Château Suprême collection for La Cornue, Rafauli considered and revised elements of the range to bring out its most quintessential qualities, taking the precision of the lines and exquisite details to a whole new level. Matthew Quinn – an international figure in design and architecture – has created the Château Moderne to offer contemporary styling and a new aesthetic symmetry. Finally, the French jeweller Tournaire has created a series of intricate bas-relief sculptures in bronze to further enhance the controls, handles, brackets and trims on the La Cornue collections. We have also launched a new range of sumptuous gold-plated and silver-plated trims, as well as Blue Velvet, a gorgeous navy blue satin finish, and two new bronze trims. Our smaller projects, too, are also very satisfying. It is so rewarding when you work directly with the client and provide something really special that makes a huge difference within a smaller kitchen project. Equally, we are seeing projects getting bigger and bigger and ever more elaborate.

What does being an SBID Accredited Industry Partner mean to you?

We love working with designers and value hugely the creative conversations that come from being a member of a body like the SBID. We are also excited to see what others are doing. Every project is so very different and, having a bespoke product range, we are always challenging ourselves to realise the look and feel interior designers are striving to achieve. It is amazing how a 360º vision can be achieved through creative partnership.

La Cornue

About Middleby Residential Luxury and Premium Brands

La Cornue is part of Middleby Residential, a collection of premier international consumer brands dedicated to manufacturing and distributing many of the best-known and loved kitchen appliances in the world. Middleby is a world leader in developing advanced innovation and solutions for commercial, residential, and industrial foodservice. The company is proud to connect with communities through philanthropic engagement, sustainable initiatives and more. Middleby’s aim is to set the standard for tomorrow, with a goal of serving excellence in everything we do.

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