Linwood Fabrics shares their top tips for working wonderful weaves into your home designs…
The true heroes of the textile industry, woven fabrics are both strong and versatile, making them highly adaptable to a vast array of purposes. From lightweight cotton fabric to durable twill weave fabrics, to elaborate designs showcasing intricate patterns and textures, woven fabrics can cater to many different needs in the realms of fashion and interiors.
Here, we delve into the world of woven fabrics to showcase the artistry and adaptability of these much-loved textiles, exploring their many colourful and textural iterations and offering advice on how to work them into interior schemes. Plus a few tips to ensure their longevity…
A woven fabric is a type of textile made by interlacing two sets of yarn or threads – known as the warp yarn and the weft yarn – at right angles to each other. The two threads create a structured, grid-like pattern that gives woven fabrics their inherent strength and durability. Unlike knit fabrics, which have a looped structure that gives them stretch, woven fabrics tend to be much more rigid, so while a knit fabric may be brilliant for clothing, it wouldn’t be as suited to, say, upholstery as woven fabrics are.
Woven fabrics are typically produced on looms and can vary in appearance depending on the choice of fibres and the weaving technique employed, meaning that there are many different types of woven fabrics. They are a staple of the fashion industry – think of the universal popularity of cotton fabric, and particularly denim fabric, for example – and woven fabrics are also used in industrial contexts, from protective equipment for firefighters to seatbelts for cars and aeroplanes. In the home, the scope of woven fabrics is vast: they are used for everything from accessories such as cushions and headboards to curtains and upholstery. Pictured here is Sashay in Teal from our new Tango Weaves II collection, a durable woven fabric that showcases a sophisticated abstract geometric pattern, perfect for a subtly contemporary window treatment, and equally fabulous for upholstery.
The beauty of monochromatic woven fabrics is that they will sit effortlessly in almost any interior, teaming just as well with a palette of neutrals as they will with a more colourful scheme. And don’t be deceived into thinking that a monochromatic woven fabric is going to be dull: the palette may be restrained but it is the nature of the weave itself that will bring character to the piece, from a nubbly tweed – ideal for upholstering a favourite armchair you want to curl up in with a book – to lightweight fabric woven to exude a sense of airiness, such as a breezy linen or an open weave cotton fabric. Shown here is Freya in Granite, a classic tweed-style fabric that brings lovely texture to the 1950s style sofa. The fabric is made from a wool blend that makes it incredibly robust, ensuring that it can withstand the wear and tear of a busy household whilst creating a smart, subtly tailored feel.
When it comes to selecting woven fabrics, your choice of colours really can affect the feel of a space, in turn influencing your mood. Vibrant hues are particularly effective: a pop of yellow, for example, can bring an uplifting feel to a room, while woven fabrics in lively green hues nod to the natural world and lend a sense of optimism to a scheme. Bold blues are good for creating energy and confidence, or, for a sense of drama, try a punchy red – it is fantastic for creating a sense of energy, making it a good choice for sociable spaces. If you are nervous about using bold colours in a scheme, start small: cushions in different types of woven fabrics in vibrant hues may be all the room needs, as well as a few choice accessories such as lampshades or plant pots in similar hues. A small piece of furniture such as an occasional chair, a bench or a footstool is another good way to introduce a punchy weave, and again you can tie it in with accessories throughout the space. Here, a neat side chair is covered in Bolero in Parakeet which, like the cushions, is from our Tango Weaves collection. Each design has a distinctively contemporary edge, perfect for bringing modern glamour and texture to a space.
Woven fabrics in earthy tones are wonderful for creating a grounded feel and a sense of calm within a home. Natural fibres are the perfect choice, complementing earthy hues whilst adding all-important texture to the space. Linen is one of the most sustainable types of woven fabrics, as it is made from the hardy flax plant which can grow in poor soil and requires little more than rainwater to thrive. Linen woven fabrics are also hardwearing, naturally breathable and entirely biodegradable, making them an ideal choice for eco-conscious homes that don’t want to compromise on style. Our Elba range in pure linen includes a palette of rich, earthy neutrals, and we also offer a number of textural woven fabrics that combine linen with manmade fibres for added strength and durability: Orta is a tumbled, heavyweight linen blend weave that comes in 16 soft, muted shades and features natural linen slubs for added character, while our Serrano collection includes a textural plain weave fabric called Collodi, a linen-blend design that comes in three versatile neutrals.
You really can’t go wrong with a woven fabric in a classic stripe. Bringing a sense of tailoring to a room, striped woven fabrics are an enduring favourite, teaming effortlessly with all manner of designs, from textural plain weave fabrics to bold prints. A tone-on-tone stripe is a particularly useful way to bring structure to a piece of upholstery without overpowering it, this Bressay Stripe in Duart being a case in point. The stripe lends a pulled-together look to the simple armchair, while the soft, neutral shades make it a highly adaptable piece. The fabric is made from pure Shetland wool, a cosy option that is also incredibly durable.
The terms checks and plaids are often interchanged but in fact they are distinctly different: checks are formed from two colours and feature the same stripe pattern in the warp and the weft threads, while plaids feature more than two colours and more variety in their layouts. Sometimes the warp and the weft threads of a plaid don’t feature the same pattern, and so they are not symmetrical. And if you are wondering where tartans come in, these are types of plaid associated with specific colourways for different Scottish clans. The appeal of both checks and plaids no doubt lies in the way in which they can bring a sense of familiarity to a scheme, making them a choice that designers return to again and again. Witness how this Beachcomber wool plaid in Stroma brings warmth to a simple armchair, with its tactile feel and palette of natural colours.
Just as herringbone is favoured by fashion designers for bringing sophistication to tailored pieces, so it is beloved in the interiors world for lending a chic touch to a room. The neat geometric zig zag pattern is highly versatile: it can be used to subtly enliven a scheme, for example, or it can serve to temper an exuberant print. The scale of the herringbone will usually inform its role in a room: a small-scale herringbone can be incredibly subtle, almost reading as a plain-woven fabric from a distance, while a large-scale version is invariably punchier. Here, the distinctive pattern of our Zeus herringbone woven fabric in Delft helps to break up the large expanse of the sofa whilst giving it a lively, dynamic touch.
A twill weave is a distinctive type of woven fabric characterised by its diagonal rib pattern, which is created by an offset in the warp threads. Twill woven fabric is renowned for its durability and it hides stains well, making it popular in both fashion – the best known twill weave being denim – and home decor. Twill woven fabric tends to be a very forgiving choice for upholstery, as it is not only incredibly durable, but it also doesn’t wrinkle or crease. This Livorno design is a robust twill weave in a linen mix, which lends itself well to upholstery or heavy curtaining. It comes in Portland, a go-with-anything neutral.
A woven fabric in a satin finish is guaranteed to bring a touch of old-school glamour to a scheme. Perhaps the most beloved of satin weaves is the damask, a symmetrical, mirror-image foliate design where the monochrome pattern is picked out with different warp and weft threads. The organic patterns reference nature while the mix of matt and shiny threads is supremely elegant. Our Miletto damask is woven from a linen and viscose yarns to create a design that is at once contemporary yet timeless. A beautiful fabric for showcasing upholstery, it also looks fabulous made into curtains and cushions – and we love to see it teamed with contrasting textures such as tactile wools or plush velvets.
Jacquard is another type of timeless weave that lends understated elegance to a room scheme. The name comes from the special loom used to create these fabrics, invented by French textile artisan Joseph-Marie Jacquard in 1804; rather like damasks, it creates raised motifs that give these textiles their inherent elegance. This glorious Pisqu design is a jacquard velvet, a rich, tactile fabric inspired by a Peruvian appliqué textile. As demonstrated here, it lends itself beautifully to upholstery and is equally wonderful for thick, indulgent curtains.
The joy of most types of woven fabrics is that they are incredibly durable, meaning that with a little care and attention, they will last for years to come. It is important to always check the care label of your woven fabric carefully: some are machine washable at a low temperature while many, such as our Hartland textural weaves pictured, are dry clean only, meaning that it is best to avoid spot cleaning as this could permanently damage the fabric. Some types of woven fabrics are inherently stain resistant or they come with a stain repellent finish, making it possible to mop up spills using a soft, lint-free cloth or paper towel. Leave it on the spot until as much liquid is absorbed as possible, but if the stain remains visible, we advise approaching an expert. As with any fabric, woven fabrics benefit from regular maintenance to avoid them becoming dull and lack-lustre: use the upholstery brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove dust from curtains as well as upholstery pieces such as sofas, armchairs and headboards, and regularly plump cushions to remove dust and redistribute the fillings. From time to time, it is advisable to undertake a professional deep clean of your woven fabrics, and when you do this, remember to have all the pieces in the same fabric cleaned in one go, to ensure a consistent colour balance.
We hope we have shown that the possibilities of woven fabrics within the home really are endless, offering the chance to bring personality and character to a scheme. From the timelessness of stripes, checks and herringbones to the elegance of complex weaves such as jacquards and satin, to the punchiness of colourful woven fabrics, the choices are vast, ensuring there is a woven fabric for every aesthetic. And not forgetting the stalwarts such as sturdy twills, versatile monochrome weaves and natural fibre weaves in earthy tones – effortless designs that are perfect for creating calming interiors or for tempering bolder choices within a dynamic scheme. Choose your woven fabrics well – and show them a little care along the way – and you will be enjoying them for years to come.
About Linwood
Our Hampshire-based family business puts excellence at the heart of everything we do. We straddle the worlds of creativity and innovation to produce distinctive collections of fabrics, wallpapers and cushions that are bursting with fresh ideas, while retaining the quality and artistry we are renowned for.
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Perfect for all those who want to bring their own ideas to life: IMO – short for “In My Opinion” – should be seen as an invitation to create an expressive and personal design for the home bathroom. The series from Dornbracht fits effortlessly into many different styles, and will be available as a refined design from April 2024. With the aid of artificial intelligence, a video piece has been created to emphasise the universal character of IMO.
The moving images translate the versatility of IMO in an eye-catching and playful way: Providing the starting point were four, newly-created bathroom architectures showing the fittings series in completely different settings – including a pink guest bathroom, an urban apartment bathroom, a family bathroom in fresh, pastel yellow, and the premium version in soft sage green. The shapes morph into one another, allowing the bathrooms to transition smoothly between each other. The forms, colours, and structures of the interior designs merge continually, and are seen caught in dynamic motion. Dornbracht uses this to provide valuable impetus for designing home bathrooms.
The reason for the artistic project is the thorough review of the IMO series. Sieger Design, a partner of the Iserlohn-based manufacturer for many years, gently changed the design of the fitting. “IMO is a fitting that works in many contexts and in many furnishing styles,” says owner Michael Sieger. “Now, after more than 13 years, we have given it a refined, lighter, and therefore contemporary appearance. It is more slender, making it seem more delicate and even more precise. But in making the refinements, we have retained the proportions and traits that distinguish IMO: These include, for instance, the striking shape of the spout, and the combination of two basic geometric forms, the circle and the rectangle,” he continues.
The water consumption of the basin fittings was also optimised as part of the refinement. The reduced flow rate achieved a saving of approximately 35%, with the spray pattern barely changed.
Lastly, Dornbracht added numerous new product types and finishes to the series, so that IMO can adapt even better to individual ideas and requirements: Just one of the many innovations is the two-hole mixer, where the handle can be positioned anywhere on the washstand. With Matte Black, Dark Chrome and Brushed Dark Platinum, there is also a far wider choice of dark finishes available.
About Dornbracht
Dornbracht, with headquarters in Iserlohn, Germany, is a leading specialist for superior designer fittings and accessories for bathrooms, spas and kitchens. The company was founded in 1950 and today is internationally renowned among architects, designers and luxury consumers for its product portfolio in more than 125 markets. As an ultra-luxury brand, Dornbracht prides itself on its innovative technology and "Made in Germany" manufacturing standards which are made possible by state-of-the-art production technologies and highly qualified employees. The brand is driven by its clearly defined Design Principles which ensure every product will remain timeless and relevant for generations to come, characteristics for which Dornbracht has achieved worldwide recognition.
Scribble Stone Inspire is a highly-skilled, time-served team specialising in public realm and art projects, producing the highest level of detail and craftsmanship. Working in collaboration with artists, architects and city planners we can create the most unique architectural installations and public realm spaces, using innovative techniques the materials shown below can be manipulated to accentuate the character of each material.
Working with Broadbent Studios, we helped create this iconic landmark which sits in the town of Peterborough. The Voice of the City sculpture stands near the site of Henry Penn's foundry (1685-1729), where bells were cast for Peterborough Cathedral and other churches. In this sculpture, the casting of molten metal into a stone mould represents the unstructured sounds being funnelled into a single note, symbolised further by the Chladni inlayed sound wave patterns.
This public realm scheme was constructed with Scoutmoor Yorkstone and Kilkenny limestone. The high performance and technical abilities of these natural stones have made them a valuable material for centuries.
Scoutmoor Yorkstone was water-jet cut and inlaid with brass to emulate sound wave-like patterns. To maintain the polished look of the lettering, we sandblasted the plinth and boarders of Kilkenny limestone.
About Scribble Stone Inspire Surfaces
Inspire Surface is a new in-house production that allows us to specialise in bespoke solid surface projects, collaborating with amazing artists to create art installations, exhibitions or interiors. Inspire starts with the concept and design development stage through to manufacturing, installation and completion. We combine traditional stonemasonry skills and expert carving with modern design technology and innovative engineering ensuring we create the best quality for our clients.
Premium bathroom retailer C.P. Hart is at the vanguard of first-to-market bathroom collections, recently introducing over 30 new luxury ranges to their expansive product portfolio.
“We are so pleased to launch such an exciting range of bathroom collections, many of which are internationally sourced and exclusively available in the UK from any of our showrooms,” says Yousef Mansuri, C.P. Hart Director of Design. “Whilst all our showrooms undergo continual upgrades to introduce the most striking product innovations, our flagship Waterloo showroom offers over 40 room set displays across almost 40,000 sq. ft – the largest premium bathroom showroom in the UK.”
“We’ve curated our latest launch to showcase the best of both classical and contemporary bathroom design, featuring new collections from world-renowned makers, including Duravit, Artelinea, AXOR, and Effe, as well as a selection of hand-picked brands, bought to the UK as C.P. Hart exclusives,” explains Yousef.
“Please click here to browse our new collections online, however, only close personal inspection through a showroom visit can convey the true quality of our products, with inspirational room set displays and extensive sample selections. As importantly, our showrooms provide personal consultations with the industry’s most knowledgeable and highly trained bathroom consultants and designers, building on over 85 years’ experience in specifying innovative, beautiful, and durable bathroom products. Here, you are able to learn more about our product offering and trade design services.”
Please find a selection of the new C.P. Hart ranges below. Should you require any further information or product specifications, please contact your nearest C.P. Hart showroom or book an appointment here.
C.P. Hart brings a distinctive collection of top-quality brassware to the UK in an exclusive partnership with expert manufacturer Franz Viegener. Each of Franz Viegener’s ranges of taps and shower fittings offers a selection of impeccably designed products with mirror-like finishes and precision engineering to ensure years of reliable performance.
All brass used is produced on-site to ensure quality and is 100% lead-free, and taps and shower fittings are available in a choice of up to 12 finishes. The collection also offers multiple handle styles and texture options.
Discover Franz Viegener here.
In another exclusive first-to-market launch, C.P. Hart introduces bathroom furniture, brassware, and baths by Italian manufacturer Park Avenue. Based in Florence, Park Avenue is best known for its classically styled and beautifully engineered products, now on display in C.P. Hart’s flagship Waterloo showroom.
Discover Park Avenue here.
In an exclusive launch, C.P. Hart introduces a range of contemporary designer baths with Italian manufacturer Relax Design. This company has more than two decades of experience in producing sculptural bathroom designs in solid surface and resin materials in an impressive palette of colours and imaginative textures and effects. Production is meticulously controlled, the entire process completed on-site in the Relax Design manufacturing facility in Naples, Italy.
Discover Relax Design here.
C.P. Hart’s new and exclusive Odyssey shower collection is made in Britain from 10mm toughened safety glass, designed to accommodate a multitude of shower configurations.
Single wetroom panels range from 700mm to 1400mm, extending to 1600mm when installed with a hinged panel door. Corner and recess options are also available, with a series of sliding and hinged door arrangements to suit bathrooms of all styles and sizes. The range’s bath screens boast a frameless, near-invisible design to help create the sense of a larger space whilst providing effective splash protection, with single, fixed, and folding options available.
Discover Odyssey here.
Continuing its commitment to offering the best in home spa products, C.P. Hart launches the new Natural sauna by Effe.
Natural is a glass-fronted home sauna composed of heat-treated Aspen exuding a warming timber essence to enhance its connection with nature, complete with chromotherapy light, reverberating off the satin glass side panel to create an immersive colour experience that aids relaxation and wellbeing.
Discover Natural here.
View all new collections 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.
The UK’s market leader in luxury vinyl flooring, Karndean Designflooring, is expanding its collection of contemporary herringbone designs, offering even more versatility to create intriguing interiors that ooze understated sophistication.
From January 2024, six oak designs from its popular Van Gogh range will be available in an additional herringbone format. The new 18” x 4.5” plank size expands design possibilities when used alongside matching full-size planks or in bespoke colour combinations.
Fleur Carson, managing director at Karndean Designflooring, said: “With design creativity high on the agenda, we are responding to the wellbeing trend for quiet luxury, soothing warm neutrals and nature inspired interiors with authentic oak designs in new styling options. Our designers have selected six beautiful designs from our Van Gogh range, all currently offered in a full-size plank, and expanded their design potential with a herringbone format.
“The smaller plank accentuates the realistic grain features and organic colours of these timeless designs. Curated to complement each other in any colour combination, this new collection brings outstanding potential for bespoke interiors that invoke the healing power of biophilic design.”
Whether used in isolation in a traditional herringbone pattern or in conjunction with the matching full-size plank for an elegant continuous flow, for example highlighting activity zones or creating directional wayfinding, Karndean’s new designs are guaranteed to introduce effortless elegance to any interior, from residential and hospitality to retail and workplaces.
Alternatively, the new herringbones offer a contemporary twist on classic style with eight different laying pattern variations to explore, from a double herringbone in a single colourway to a two-tone double herringbone and diagonal double herringbone in three contrasting colours with a coordinating border.
The new herringbone collection includes four highly desirable designs from Karndean’s Highland Oak collection; Croftmore Oak, Glenmore Oak, Hayfield Oak and Aviemore Oak. Inspired by samples of reclaimed timber found at an old railway station tucked away in the Highlands of Scotland, these designs feature well-balanced grain markings, characterful signs of wear and a registered emboss for a highly authentic effect and subtle maturity that will bring any interior to life.
Two further existing designs extend the colour range and options for interesting combinations. Canadian Nude Oak, with its neutral blond tones and gentle straight grain patterning, and the authentically replicated historic markings and tarnishing of Antique French Oak enhance the collection’s natural warmth and versatility to create a bespoke look.
Designed for reliable performance in high traffic environments, Karndean’s extensive Van Gogh collection offers specifiers unsurpassed versatility with a total of 70 wood and stone designs in a convenient choice of sizes and formats.
The Van Gogh range features a 0.55mm wear layer and 3.0mm thickness and comes with all the practical benefits of Karndean flooring, an Environmental Product Declaration and the reassurance of a 15 year guarantee for commercial settings and a lifetime guarantee in residential settings.
Designed With a commitment to developing a greener built environment, Karndean recognises the need for urgent action and is taking bold steps and a pioneering spirit to create a better tomorrow. This includes a commitment to set short and long-term company-wide emission reductions in line with science-based net-zero through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
To explore the Karndean’s new Van Gogh designs, click here.
About Karndean Designflooring
Karndean is a global supplier of commercial and residential luxury vinyl tile flooring. We’re an industry leader in flooring design, offering a wide range of colours, textures and finishes, helping you create unique looks that are both stylish and practical; guaranteed to last. We see flooring differently. We travel the world in our quest to bring you exceptional floors that inspire and delight. From the ancient forests of Europe, to the remote Australian outback, we seek out expressive and intriguing forms in the natural world to influence our unique floor designs. By combining original features with cutting edge design, we create beautiful floors that bring your vision to life and take our clients on an endless journey of design discovery.
Looking back at sofa.com's favourite projects of 2023, it’s clear that boutique hotels are no longer simple nor quaint. We’ve worked with designers who are looking to bring the boutique hotel into modernity, and this starts with a reconsideration of what it is that makes a hotel welcoming, and how hotels can keep comfort and function as a top priority yet experiment more with colour and personality, creating a home away from home for guests.
One of the largest projects our dedicated trade team have worked on has been to furnish 9 bedrooms in a new luxury hotel in Ibiza. Perfectly pitched between boutique and mid-sized, Pikes is a project which showcases personality, textural interest and great use of materials. An infusion of colour with beautifully bright upholstered beds and complementary artwork creates an ambient and welcoming environment. Lucinda Swayne, interior designer on the project, comments, “During the renovation, it was vital that the quirky elements were retained to preserve the identity of the hotel. Within the redesign we have created eclectic comfortable rooms with a unique feel, coupled with micro-attention to functionality, so that guests will never want to leave”.
This focus on functionality comes down to vital design choices: bed size and placement, extra surfaces and storage, and lighting decisions.
A perfectly placed bed should leave ample space on each side, ideally enough for the essential bedside table. While beds are ideally placed centrally within the room, this can be a struggle within smaller spaces, when it comes to allow for storage on both sides. Working with designers at Rendall & Wright on a project in Norfolk, our nifty solution was to incorporate a storage ottoman at the foot of the bed, providing both a place to perch and somewhere to stow away personal effects.
Comfort is paramount, with almost all the designers we work with opting for king size beds, as the ultimate requirement for a great overnight stay, is comfort. The main goal is to ensure each guest has the best night’s sleep. Returning customers is the greatest compliment a hotel can receive, and the comfort levels will heavily influence the reputation of a great hotel.
Lucinda comments that a bedroom should be “a comforting space that provides guests with somewhere they never want to leave. Top of the list is by far a comfortable and statement bed.” For the ultimate in indulgence, beds with velvet headboards are a winner – not only do they look luxurious, but they are also beautifully soft and tactile.
Once comfort levels have been established, lighting is the next crucial element, and should be one of the first things considered. Where is the bed going to be placed? You’ll need bedside lamps or wall lights on a separate circuit to allow for adjustable light levels, and true comfort means not leaving your bed to turn off a light switch. Although inherently practical, lighting is another aspect of the room design that can be a vehicle for introducing colour or pattern.
Very much dispelling the reputation of being twee, it’s clear that smaller hotels are going through somewhat of a design shift. A well thought through and exquisitely executed delivery on all the non-negotiables of a dream hotel stay promises a luxurious escape form day-to-day life.
About sofa.com
Passionate about outstanding interiors, sofa.com offers a diverse and design led collection of made-to-order sofas, armchairs, beds, footstools and home accessories. With an extensive range of styles and over 100 fabrics to choose from, as well as the option to upholster in your own fabric, the customisable nature of sofa.com’s products make each piece easily adaptable to any interior style – perfect for interior designers and specifiers looking for stand-out pieces for upcoming projects. sofa.com have been delivering expert project solutions for over 10 years and have experience in a variety of sectors in hospitality, residential and commercial disciplines. With a sofa.com trade account, you can enjoy benefits such as industry leading delivery times, bespoke products, furniture packages, a sampling service and a competitive tiered discount structure.
Presenting Incanto Arté, the latest innovation from leading kitchen and bathroom brassware manufacturer GRAFF, the collection enhances the bath space marrying artistic details with minimalism. The Incanto Arté is a twist on the popular Incanto range with handles that boast intricately tactile patterns representative of jewel-like texture.
Including smooth and knurled surfaces that are instantly drawn to the eye, the Incanto Arté collection features 40 luxurious products, comprising single-lever basin mixers, wall-mounted basin mixers and an accompanying accessories range.
Crafted from the highest-quality materials with precision engineering, Incanto Arté is available in 26 luxurious handcrafted finished in rich colours and textures capturing the crosshatch patterns including 24K Brushed Gold, Rose Gold PVD and Polished Chrome.
GRAFF CEO and President Ziggy Kulig states, “We’re thrilled to offer the new Incanto Arté alongside the ever-popular Incanto. We’re passionate about giving our customers the options they desire to beautifully elevate and personalise their interiors.”
Incanto Arté is available to buy in the UK with prices starting from £493 + VAT for a wash basin single lever tap in Chrome.
About GRAFF
GRAFF’s luxury taps and shower collections elevate the bath space with designs that are both timeless and cutting-edge, complementing endless architectural and interior styles. Available in 21 luxury finishes such as Brushed Brass, Polished Nickel, and 24K Gold, and with a choice of three Tuscan marble inserts, GRAFF basin mixer or shower controls offer bespoke and unique customisation possibilities. Backed by a rich heritage of European artisanship, GRAFF products transform the bath space into a masterpiece of tranquillity, wellness, and spa like experience. With a focus on design, sustainability, and high technology, GRAFF caters to the senses with features such as chromotherapy, bringing bath and shower experiences to luxurious heights.
As one of the first to feature fluted tiles, Cosentino continues to bring cutting-edge and sustainable solutions to the world of design.
Cosentino, the global leading company in the production of sustainable surfaces for architecture and design, announces Dekton® Ukiyo, a new textured collection that features linear fluting and offers livable luxury with the durability of Dekton®. Created in collaboration with the internationally recognised high-end interior and product designer, Claudia Afshar, the collection is available in ready-to-install fluted tiles, one of the first offerings of its kind in the industry. Its textures bring distinctive depth and dimension to any space, be it residential or commercial.
Dekton® Ukiyo is inspired by Japanese and contemporary design and celebrates the art of minimalism and embracing the present. Ukiyo means to "live in the moment” and the Dekton® collection is designed to awaken the senses and evoke a feeling of wellness by achieving a beautiful, calm state in the space. It embodies a rich palette of sensations, showcasing geometric yet smooth structure that creates harmonious designs both inside and outside.
“Playing with texture is timeless, and it is so important in all materials, not just fabric” said Claudia Afshar. “I have always been inspired by the materials found in nature and making the spaces I design as comfortable, warm and authentic as possible. Ukiyo is calming yet simplistic, and the colourways and fluting are romantic, but also contemporary and masculine to achieve balance.”
Especially designed for vertical cladding application, Dekton® Ukiyo will be available in matte finish and two fluting options: GV2 with groves set 25 mm apart and measure 5mm wide and 3 mm deep; and GV3 with groves set 11 mm apart and are 4mm wide and deep. Both will come in tile size 17.7 inches by 118 inches (450 mm x 3000 mm). To launch the Ukiyo offering, Afshar hand-selected five existing Dekton® colourways: Bromo, Kreta, Nacre, Umber, and Rem to provide a comprehensive colour palette to work independently and together.
Dekton® products are full life cycle carbon neutral and were selected for the collection due to their sustainable properties and high-performance capabilities. Dekton® Ukiyo is ideal for a virtually limitless range of vertical applications ranging from facades and fireplaces to custom furniture and so much more.
“Every day I strive to think outside the box in order to create something unique, yet special for each project. This collaboration offers just that and I am so thankful to the entire Cosentino team for bringing this collection to the market” said Afshar.
- Bromo offers a dark grey shade, inspired by homogeneous metamorphic rocks such as slate. Subtle, faded graphics, a carefully-created texture and a natural aesthetic define this evocative colour, perfect for any type of environment. - Kreta is inspired by classic cement floors, with calm movement. The design is even and controlled, although it provides darker or lighter areas depending on the density of the pattern. Its matte texture and grey tone combine with any type of material and make it suitable for diverse applications. - Nacre boasts movement that engages all senses - the trowel marks that bring the colour to life, the subtle interplay of light and shadow that accompanies every inch of the design. The touch delights with a silky finish as the fingers run over the different reliefs and scattered gradients. A pleasure for its high decorative and emotional value. - Umber features a timeless, rebellious colour with its own personality and a special charisma. The terracotta is warm and very attached to the Earth and closely connected to nature. - Rem provides intricate design, with brown and grey veining and hints of gold. Its fine veining under a subtle grain offers the ultimate in natural sensitivity.
About Cosentino
Cosentino Group is a global, Spanish, family-owned company that produces and distributes high value innovative surfaces for the world of design and architecture. It works together with its clients and partners to provide with solutions that offer design and value, and inspire the life of many people. This objective is possible thanks to pioneering and leading brands in their respective segments such as Silestone®, Dekton® or Sensa by Cosentino®. Technologically advanced surfaces that allow the creation of unique environments and designs for the home and public spaces.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited British luxury electrical accessories manufacturer Focus SB on Wednesday 22nd November 2023 where she formally presented the managing director Gary Stevens with The King’s Award for Enterprise crystal trophy for the company’s achievement in the international trade category.
The Princess Royal arrived at Focus SB’s main factory in St Leonards on Sea on 22nd November and was welcomed by Mr Graham Peters, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex who presented her to distinguished guests Mr Richard Bickersteth, High Sheriff of East Sussex; Councillor Peter Pragnell, Chairman of East Sussex County Council and Councillor Margi O’Callaghan, Mayor of Hastings before Mr Gary Stevens MD welcomed Her Royal Highness and invited her into the building where he presented The Princess Royal to some of Focus SB’s senior management team: Mr Roger Kemp, recently retired company chairman and owner; guest Mrs Suzi Baker, PR and social media consultant; Mr Mark Curtis, technical manager; Mr Duncan Ray, head of strategic partnerships; guest Mrs Andrea Randall-Smith, CEO of Little Gate Supported Employment and Mr Chris Turner, general manager Focus SB.
The Princess Royal was then invited on a tour of the factory by Mr Chris Turner, flanked by Mr Gary Stevens, during which she was given electrical accessories product manufacturing process demonstrations by each departmental group, introduced by Mrs Jo Cloute, HR and customer aftercare manager; Mrs Val Chandler, assembly manager; Mr Andrew Lanworn, finance manager and company secretary; Mr Steve Moss, sales and marketing Manager; Mr Rob Little, operations support manager and Mrs Terri Hoey, sales office manager. Demonstrations included both traditional and robot technology, hand finishing including spray painting and component hand assembly. Her Royal Highness greeted employees from each department, including apprentices and trainees from Little Gate Supported Employment, after which she proceeded to one end of the factory where all staff were assembled for a formal presentation of the King’s Award for Enterprise trophy to Mr Gary Stevens introduced by Mr Andrew Blackman, Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex.
The Lord-Lieutenant welcomed the attending guests and invited The Princess Royal to give a short speech of congratulations and present The King’s Award for Enterprise engraved crystal winner trophy to Mr Gary Stevens, who accepted the award on behalf of Focus SB, giving a short speech of thanks. He then invited Mrs Terri Hoey, sales office manager, to present Her Royal Highness with gifts comprising a Sussex Trug containing a beautiful floral arrangement of locally grown flowers from Sussex Cutting Garden, part of the Flowers from the Farm organisation which champions British flowers (growers in the group supplied cut flowers to the florist chosen for The King’s coronation) presented with honey from a beehive sponsored by Focus SB at SW Honey Farms and a wreath of flowers grown and handmade by the trainees at Little Gate Farm. Sussex Cutting Garden also provided an attractive floral arrangement to decorate the company’s reception area for the occasion.
Gary Stevens then invited The Princess Royal back to Focus SB’s reception to unveil a commemorative plaque manufactured in-house by the company to mark her visit. Design industry guests joining Focus SB to share in this prestigious moment for the company included Mr Grant Pierrus, Interior Style Hunter and Mrs Sophie Harper, Editor Hospitality Interiors magazine who delighted in joining Mr Stevens and Focus SB employees in celebrating this very special occasion.
Mr Stevens commented: “It was an absolute honour to host HRH The Princess Royal at our factory in Hastings yesterday and to receive our King’s Award from her. I think she spoke to virtually every member of staff and was very knowledgeable. What a year for Focus SB and me personally, getting to meet The King, a Princess and a Duchess!”
Gary Stevens continues: “We were delighted to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to Focus SB to present us with our King’s Awards for Enterprise for International Trade trophy in person. This visit rounds off one of the most exciting years in the company’s history.”
“It’s a huge honour for an SME based in Hastings to have the recognition of The King’s Awards, one of the most prestigious awards a company can be bestowed, but in addition to that, meeting The King at Buckingham Palace and then to have a visit from The Princess Royal is a huge boost and reward for every single employee at Focus SB, without whom, none of this would have been possible. I have been in manufacturing of electrical products all of my career and I started off as a 16-year-old technical apprentice and have worked my way through various businesses from technical to marketing, sales and general management and I have been an MD of two manufacturing companies, including currently with Focus SB.”
Mr Stevens concludes: “I am passionate about manufacturing and introducing more young people into manufacturing and encouraging them to take up apprenticeships, I would like to think that we are doing our bit here at Focus SB by working with local educational establishments, employment agencies and local charities to fulfil that goal, and that my own journey can act as a beacon for those young people who may be thinking about a career in manufacturing and what can be achieved. After all, manufacturing accounts for 2.6 million jobs in the UK and we are the 8th largest manufacturing country in the world!”
About Focus SB
Established for over 40 years in East Sussex, Focus SB’s award winning in-house manufacturing and metal finishing expertise presents designers with a comprehensive collection of switches, sockets and components complemented by bespoke project services. Quality faceplate styles made from the finest solid brass and durable stainless steel offer striking solutions for high-end hospitality, prime residential, heritage and commercial interiors. Working closely with design consultants, control system companies and fire and security specialists, Focus SB’s unrivalled ability to match metal finishes across its collection, coupled with custom finish options, sees the company’s products specified for world class projects internationally.
Global surface manufacturer Cosentino opens the doors of its new London City Centre showroom at 1 Hatton Gardens.
A dynamic space for designers and architects to meet, be inspired and create, the new City Centre boasts three floors and over 420 sqm of design inspiration. London’s newest creative hub for co-working, exchanging ideas and inspiring events that connect likeminded industry professionals, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the area’s luxury design legacy.
An iconic address seeped in history, Cosentino City London is the perfect setting to showcase the impressive portfolio of materials from its brands Silestone, Dekton and Sensa.
A showroom designed to inspire, it is equipped with a fully working Atelier Lab that exists to serve architects and designers, helping specifiers with interior and exterior projects. A place of learning, the Cosentino team will be on hand to help educate on the different materials available for a vast array of applications for every project, including countertops, flooring, cladding, furniture and facades.
With a fully stocked sample library, interactive digital display boards and desk or meeting spaces for hire, teams can touch, experiment and experience the beauty of Cosentino firsthand, seeing projects come to life before their eyes.
Cosentino City London will also be the brand’s UK event hub. An impressive schedule of events is in place including exhibitions, roundtables, supper clubs, CPDs, industry parties and more.
Click here for more information or to book an appointment.
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