Riviera Home UK are a subsidiary of Rivera Home furnishings, a world leader in the manufacture of luxury quality textiles. Specialising in broadloom carpets and rugs for the UK market, they offer a unique twist on luxury naturally sustainable and ethical floorcoverings.
Our ethos and style of the brand at Riviera is all about function, suitability, sustainability, inspiration, fashion, and exclusivity. Our products include innovative flat woven collections, tufted wool loops in solid dyed and heather blends along with blended fibres such as Tencel and Bamboo. Our carpets and rugs are textured using plain, natural colour shades to easily fit in with today’s residential environment. The styling of Riviera Home’s carpets works beautifully with many on-trend colours and interior schemes. We want to be different from the mainstream and this is one of the main reasons we work so successfully with interior designers, offering their clients something which is unique to them.
Riviera Home began as a family-run business, with the first generation of the Singla family selling cotton fabrics from their own shop in India’s historic city of Panipat. In 1984 the third generation of the Singla family members ventured into the export of handcrafted products and earned the Gold Medal award from the Handloom Export Promotion Council. The UK office opened in 2013 and we are proud to be running our UK sales and stock operation from the home of carpets in Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
The origins of the brand are embedded in design for functionality with style. At Riviera Home, we spend a great deal of time working on textured carpets in different effects, styles, options to offer something different and exciting to an interior design project.
We use soft, subtle, and natural colour shades which work fantastically well as a foundation base for a new interior design scheme along with the security of high-quality manufacturing in both handmade and machine techniques.
Relationships and developing strong trading partnerships are very important to Riviera Home, working very closely with interior designers who we encourage to work with our national network of professional flooring retailers (authorised dealerships), all of whom are highly skilled and experienced in floorcoverings and who can support them with handling and fitting of our carpets. This relationship is supported by our national network of sales professionals and our dedicated team working Riviera Home’s Head office.
We work with designers by utilising a professional display sample box which has a backup sample postage service. We also have a nationwide sales team which can connect, meet, discuss, and help where needed to maintain a constant dialogue and ensure we meet evolving project needs and requirements.
At Riviera Home, we can convert all our ranges into bespoke rugs available in the size of your choice. Utilising your choice of tape, finish, texture, colour, style, whether you’re utilising a wide border to compliment or contrast or discreet blind stitching for a unique finish. This service is hand-finished and offers endless options and flexibility. We provide the highest quality products and manufacturing processes, combined with knowledgeable sales staff.
Examples of recent installations are proudly posted on our Riviera Home Instagram page (rivierahomelondon), and we really value the support from all our partners. There is a consistent social media output to help further connect, present, and represent new design ideas and styles available.
Our products and services add huge value to an interior designer’s project by utilising carpet floor coverings and unique design solutions which are design-led, soft, hard wearing, and fashionable along with the greater exclusivity offered by the brand.
There are also a number of completely eco carpet ranges which utilise renewable materials and sustainable manufacturing techniques to create carpets which are biodegradable. We see the use of sustainable manufacturing increasing in the future as we all become more responsible towards our planet.
We see the latest trends heading towards a more natural style and look with renewable materials such as wool continuing to be important for warmth, wear, softness, and security.
We also see a return to some of the softer colours coming through in natural cream and champagne colour shades, along with some stronger sand shades to work with bronze and brass tones are becoming fashionable.
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About Riviera Home
Riviera Home is at the forefront of the design and manufacture of traditional handloom and contemporary luxury broadloom carpets and bespoke rugs, aimed at the premium end of the market. We are always looking to stand out from the crowd and to have a unique point of difference in the market. We will be showcasing all our products, including new range introductions at the very popular Design Central Luxury Interior Shows held in March and September each year.
Sans Souci, Czech designer and creator of glass lighting installations, reveals a series of custom-made installations for Claridge's hotel in London. 264 pendants were specially designed and produced to illuminate the world-famous art deco interiors.
The contemporary lighting refit was the vision of leading lighting designers L'Observatoire International with each installation designed by French architect Sylvain Dubuisson, well known for mixing classical style with cutting-edge lighting technologies. Each piece is made from opaque, sandblasted glass crafted into geometric patterns, which ensures unique light dispersion. This is further enhanced by fitting two-tone LED strips and one main light source to create a very special and sophisticated ambience.
"When I designed these pieces for Claridge's, I wanted them to be both decorative and intriguing to fit with the elegance of the art deco interior design. This was achieved by combining two contrasting patterns - rectangular and circular - similar to Chesterfield sofas. The large, complicated designs were then produced in white glass, which embodies simple sophistication. Manufacturing large installations such as these is complicated but I am thrilled with the results, which stay true to my original designs." said Sylvain Dubuisson, architect and designer.
"We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with L'Observatoire International and Sylvain Dubuisson, world leaders in lighting design. Dubuisson is always looking to work with new technologies and materials, which is something we are passionate about at Sans Souci. The development process took lots of time and resources to create these beautiful pendants in a colour that is entirely unique to this project. The final installations are elegant and one of a kind, just like Claridge’s." added Dominik Cienciala, Managing Director for Sans Souci UK.
Hervé Descottes, renowned lighting designer and Co-founder of L'Observatoire International, explains the vision behind Claridge’s new lighting: "Claridges is an iconic building, with such a rich history. When I was asked to re-design the lighting for the guest circulation at the hotel, I wanted to create a series of beautiful iconic moments for guests, to perfectly connect the special experience of dining at the ground floor or first visiting, to the luxury of staying there and the rooms."
"First, we brought an ambient layer of cove lights that accentuated the height and ornate detailing in the corridors, and introduced a system of tunable white fixtures that warm gradually from day to night. Secondly, we needed to design a light fixture that was iconic and completely unique; that fit perfectly in the design heritage of Claridges, but felt timeless. With longtime collaborator Sylvain Dubuisson, we designed a fixture that is both beautiful and functional- with many layers of light that allowed it to provide cooler, diffuse light in the day then transition to warm, more directional light at night. The realization of the design was made possible with the expertise of Sans Souci and their experience with cast glass- whose involvement throughout the process ensured that we were able to devise specific fabrication solutions for these very beautiful pendants, that transformed these spaces and became a beautiful addition to the hotel."
A total of 264 pendants and 198 wall lights were made to illuminate Claridge’s interiors. This adds to the list of Sans Souci projects London, which includes the Southbank Spa, Connaught Patisserie, The Langham Hotel, 1 Blackfriars Tower Crown Plaza hotel, Royal Lancaster hotel, and Fortnum & Mason – the Parlour & the Fountain Restaurant.
About Sans Souci
Sans Souci is a Czech designer and producer of glass lighting and architectural installations. Expert glass-makers, Sans Souci combines high-quality heritage craftsmanship with innovation, using the cutting-edge nano-technologies to realise its unique designs. With an emphasis on precision and detail, the brand specialises in creating bespoke luxury lighting pieces and decorative glass features that highlight original architectural features. Production takes place in North Bohemia, Czech Republic, a world-renowned glass-making region.
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Newmor have introduced twelve new wallcovering designs for Spring 2022. The launch is all about wellness and biophilia, creating calming spaces inspired by the natural world to increase wellbeing and productivity. From tonal organic weaves and botanical prints to large scale digital wallcoverings of landscapes and nature.
Sanctuary is a collection of custom digitally printed designs that focus on creating a calm and serene space utilising the power of the natural world on our wellbeing. If you can’t get out into the wilderness then bringing it inside with wallcoverings is the next best thing. Ethereal clouds, inspiring seas, rolling landscapes and earthy stone effects.
Bali and Hessian is a beautifully coordinated collection inspired by the biophilic trend of bringing the outside in. The soft organic hessian texture with its imperfect rustic charm pairs perfectly with the delicate Bali print and will transport you to a chic idyllic retreat. The colour palette is underpinned by naturals of taupe, stone, grey and umber with accents of sage, vermillion and ocean blue.
Bali adds a soft palm print to the Hessian plain. The delicate transparent print allows the hessian texture to show through, creating the effect of a palm tree casting a shadow onto the wall. Hessian is a rustic woven texture is enhanced by a deep emboss to create an organic tactile design for interest and depth.
Zenith II is all about raw, organic surfaces – wood, stone and textured woven effects. The soothing palette is inspired by natural landscapes. Warm greys and chalky neutrals sit harmoniously alongside biophilic accent tones of copper ore and moody sea blues.
Visit newmor.com to see all of the new designs and order samples.
Cover image: Sanctuary - Horizon
About Newmor
Newmor specialise in commercial quality wide-width fabric-backed vinyl wallcoverings, which are manufactured in their own facility in Wales. Their products can be found all over the world in hotels, bars and restaurants, healthcare, education, cruise, and leisure installations. Newmor work in collaboration with a vast array of artists and designers to promote British design to an international audience. This includes painter and fashion designer, Iona Crawford; interior design duo 2LG; weaver Ptolemy Mann; artists Stephen Walter and Lois O’Hara; and design duo The Patternistas.
In this week's interview with SBID Awards Product Design judge and Director of Design at IHG, Henry Reeve talks about the most important design and functional aspects of hotel interiors, key product specifications that influence choice and shares his personal sources of inspiration.
Good Interior Design I feel can make or break a guest experience. You need both form and function, yes of course we want to wow our guests with incredible atmospheres rich in detail and finesse but there is little point creating a spectacular environment if the space just doesn’t ‘work’. It's easy to create that spaces that impress but are poorly equipped or ill-thought through and don’t accommodate guests needs and functions. I think one of the most important aspects of hospitality interior design is to ensure our guest don’t ever feel stupid. Our guests are in an unfamiliar environment, and we want them to feel at home, to relax and unwind. Designs must be intuitive, how many times has one had to desperately search for the light switch, or struggle to find a plug socket or worse cant find the wardrobe!
Specifying product particularly recently has become even more tricky, there is a wealth of options out there but so many factors go towards influencing choice, yes of course shape and form but external factors are now more than ever influencing specification, lead times, environmental impact, over-use and of course cost are playing a huge role.
Constant innovation is mandatory in this sector, the world is moving fast and constantly looking to what’s next. Environmental factors are becoming ever more influential on both consumer choices and economic too. I feel this will become in time a far more important aspect of specification than it perhaps once was. Product life-cycle too is something I am interested to see how the wider industry addresses, how is product recycled/re-used when coming to the end of its life?
Inspiration comes from anywhere, but I must admit that Travel is certainly one source of inspiration to me that I am thrilled is now possible once again. To experience how different cultures use spaces opens ones eyes to new possibilities.
Put your best work forward, ensure photography is exemplar and try to explain your work in a succinct way. I look forward to seeing some wonderful entries!
Questions answered by Henry Reeve, Director of Design, IHG.
I’m Director of Design at InterContinental Hotels Group focusing on Kimpton and Hotel Indigo. Previously I was Associate Director at forpeople, and a Creative Director and Designer at a number of guest experience, retail, and event agencies based across London. I have worked for clients as diverse as Nike, Lotus, Peugeot, Mulberry, Bollinger, Pfizer, Coca-Cola & McDonalds. I trained as a Mechanical Engineer at Bristol University and as a Designer at Central Saint Martins, in my spare time I love to make things.
Leading supplier of solid surface materials and complementary products, CDUK, has launched sustainable material PaperStone® to the UK and Ireland markets.
PaperStone® is a new generation sustainable material, made from recycled paper with natural resin, the surface has a unique, textured effect creating an organic warmth, which can be specified in a range of natural hues and tones. Selected colours are produced from 100% FSC recycled paper and cardboard.
This environmentally friendly product is ideal for architects and designers looking for a sustainable solution and is well suited to interiors across the commercial, office, space, hospitality, residential and healthcare sectors. PaperStone® offers specifiers the opportunity to reconnect people with the natural world through design, with its tactile warmth and hint of texture this surface material is beautifully unique.
Its composition delivers high performance across a range of applications. These include but are not limited to bars and tabletops, furniture, vertical decorative wall panels, washrooms, kitchen worksurfaces and cabinet doors, and washrooms.
Andy Noble, Divisional Managing Director, CDUK, commented: “We are thrilled to be the sole supplier of PaperStone® to the UK and Ireland market. At CDUK we have seen a real shift in the market with customers becoming more environmentally conscious. PaperStone® offers our clients a sustainable solution to their design needs. At CDUK we are constantly looking at ways to innovate and expand our offer and grow with our customers. The launch of PaperStone® marks a significant stage in our development and we are excited to help our customers make the most of this unique product.”
The surface material is manufactured using FSC certified recycled paper and natural petroleum free phenolic resin with natural pigments and has obtained important environmental certifications from the Forest Stewardship Council and qualifies for bio-building use and assignment of LEED® credits.
PaperStone® is impact resistant and hard wearing, resisting temperatures up to180° without showing any superficial changes while being water and stain resistant and easy to clean. The versatile nature of the material makes it a cost-efficient solution for a range of interior applications and can be cut and engraved depending on customers’ needs.
PaperStone® colours are warm and rich, reflecting nature often with a soft and subtle variegated finish, with eleven colours across two ranges. The Solid Colour Series includes five deep, rich organic colours. Some of these colours ‘evolve’ over time mellowing and growing with their environment to become more intense and warmer. The Designer Series has more of a geological than organic finish, with 6 lighter colours.
PaperStone® is available exclusively from CDUK in the UK and Ireland from 4th October 2021. The range includes 11 colours in a range of thicknesses selected based on our understanding of our key markets and knowledge of latest colour, texture and design trends.
About CDUK
CDUK is a supplier of surface materials and complementary products to the specification market in the UK and Ireland, including architects, interiors designers, kitchen designers, fabricators and contractors. Having built a strong reputation as the exclusive distributor of Corian® Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland, CDUK now offers an extended range of services as well as products from a number of leading brands. We are a family owned business with over 40 years’ experience. We support our customers through a journey, as their design partner, from sourcing the best products and materials to helping them unlock their full potential through expert advice and technical knowledge. Our team of industry experts also provides technical advice, sampling and bespoke training courses for designers, manufacturers and fabricators.
In this week's interview with 2021 SBID Awards winners of the Flooring & Floor Coverings category, IVC Commercial, the designer shares details about the winning project, discuss the company's journey to becoming zero impact by 2040 and sheds light on the key considerations for specifying floors for different environments - commercial and residential.
SBID Awards Category: Flooring & Floor Coverings
Practice: IVC Commercial
Entry: Studio Moods
We invest heavily in design and product development and pride ourselves on creating high performance flooring for commercial interiors. Entering awards are a key part of communicating our story of innovation to the design community. SBID’s stature makes the awards a must. To be recognised gives the entire company a lift and supports conversations around new technologies to a wider audience. In short, it is testament that the solutions we produce are recognised as among the best in the industry.
Studio Moods gives designers the flexibility to achieve a truly bespoke floor, which I believe is its strongest asset. The floor is available in a variety of geometric, tessellating shapes and various wood, stone and colour effects. By choosing a personalised combination from these building blocks, designers can create a unique and exclusive design. Ultimately, Studio Moods makes bespoke flooring more accessible. The floor’s performance and recycled content also add to the many benefits of this collection.
Our Journey to 2040 is a road map to reducing our footprint with the ambition to become zero impact. It influences the actions we take not only in development and design but also in manufacturing, installation and end of life. This manifests itself in many ways: the recycled content of products and research into materials that are easier to recycle, more efficient manufacturing, loose lay installation and post-use recovery and recycling.
At IVC Commercial we specialise in flooring for commercial environments, but we are part of IVC Group – with residential brands including Moduleo and Leoline. Key is the ability of flooring to respond to the challenges of the project in question. Broadly, providing durability and remaining easy to maintain are two of the priorities. Specifically, it can be acoustics – particularly important in a growing number of environments – comfort and the ability of the floor to respond to design intentions. In the majority of the projects, it is a combination of this factors that determine the suitability of the floor for the space in question.
Based in Belgium, our research and development team is always busy working on new designs and innovations and we’ve already launched some fantastic new products to the market since we won the award for Studio Moods. Our new Imperfection carpet tile collection – inspired by the Japanese world view of wabi-sabi – is our first to be made from ECONYL®, a yarn that’s made from nylon waste including old fishing nets. It also features a 94% recycled content acoustic backing, so it’s a carpet tile that performs well for the environment, looks fabulous and improves comfort – maybe it’s even another winner! Of course, there’s plenty of exciting developments in the pipeline too.
I’d encourage young designers to be solution and client oriented and to take inspiration from lots of different sources. As an example, for our own product design we look to fashion and global trends as key sources, so it’s best to be open minded. With solutions for specific challenges you may be encountering on projects, it’s always worth talking to your flooring supplier as your default flooring option might not always be the best one for the job in question. We’re always more than happy to talk flooring at any stage of the project and might even be able to suggest a better solution to meet your needs.
Questions answered by Alison McLaughlan, UK head of marketing, IVC Commercial.
IVC Commercial is a global player in the design and manufacture of flooring solutions including Carpet Tiles, Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Heterogeneous Vinyl for use in business, public and private environments. As the commercial division of IVC Group, we’re focused on improving the productivity and wellbeing of users in spaces through innovative solutions that are easy to implement and affordable. Accountable for our actions, we design and make floors responsibly in Belgium, developing a circular approach to the future of flooring.
If you missed last week's Interview with the Interior Fittings category winner Finfort, click here to read it.
The evolution of Silestone® has inspired Ethereal, a collection of white canvas surfaces with intricate marble look patterns which recreate the natural beauty of the sky.
In addition to kitchen and bathroom applications as a worktop or splashback, Silestone® is also ideal for more ambitious interior design projects where interior cladding, furniture cladding and flooring is required. Ethereal is perfect for both commercial and residential projects where a modern yet timeless aesthetic is desired.
Silestone® Ethereal features HybriQ+® technology, meaning that in the production process 99% of reused water from the production processes is used, along with 100% renewable electric energy. What's more, a minimum of 20% recycled raw materials are used in the material composition, alongside mineral raw materials, helping to provide an eco-friendly solution for luxury architectural or interior design projects.
Silestone® by Cosentino, the leading global hybrid mineral surface for the world of architecture and design, is excited to introduce its second collection worldwide under its new corporate image. The new Silestone® emblem and character has given rise to the Ethereal collection, which is supported with a major campaign featuring entrepreneur and international fashion icon, Cindy Crawford.
Ethereal by Silestone® represents a quantum leap in terms of design, innovation and sustainability, in line with the transition that Silestone® is undergoing externally and internally with the development of the cutting-edge HybriQ® and HybriQ+® technologies. This evolution of Silestone® has inspired Ethereal, a collection of white canvas surfaces with intricate marble look patterns which recreate the natural beauty of the sky, perfect for both commercial and residential projects where a modern yet timeless aesthetic is desired.
This marble-inspired collection consists of four colours, namely Ethereal Dusk, Ethereal Haze, Ethereal Glow, and Ethereal Noctis. Each colour showcases a deep, fine veining on a white foundation and thanks to HybriQ+® technology, they have been developed with at least 20% recycled raw materials, helping to provide an eco-friendly solution for luxury architectural or interior design projects.
Ethereal Glow is simply pure, classic elegance. Its golden and grey veining merges with a tinged white foundation, with veining running through the entire design to bring an accent of colour to every corner. Inspired by the sunset and its igneous colours and glow, it is an evolution of Silestone®'s internationally acclaimed and widely popular Eternal Calacatta Gold colour.
Ethereal Dusk showcases an urban look in which the bluish tone of its veining brings a modern and avant-garde touch to any space. It symbolises a unique, unforgettable and personal sunrise, with feelings of peace, solemnity and tranquility.
Ethereal Haze includes a dynamic range of grey tones to emit plenty of personality. It takes inspiration from the way the wind moves the clouds over the mountains, with the result both calm and characterful thanks to an interplay of gradients which blend into pure neutrality.
Ethereal Noctis is synonymous with sophistication. The tinged white foundation is broken up with short grey and black veins, providing contrast, depth, simplicity and modernity, inspired by the darkness after sunset.
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. Silestone® is a hybrid surface made from premium natural minerals and recycled materials. Manufactured with the exclusive and innovative HybriQ® technology, a more sustainable approach to architectural surfaces.
Since 1922, Lalique’s creations have been produced in Wingen-sur-Moder, in the heart of the Northern Vosges, in a lush green setting beside a village of some 1600 souls. It is here that the glittering material crystallizes in a continuous ballet of fire that has been orchestrated by generations of expert hands.
René Lalique’s glassworks in Wingen became known as the "Verrerie d’Alsace" (V.D.A). His dream was to bring beauty into the home. He therefore chose to manufacture "utility glassware": dinner services, plates, bowls, etc. in series, but always to a high standard of quality, an attribute that was already part of the company’s signature style.
After a difficult period during the Second World War and the Liberation, when the glassworks was destroyed, the company took a new direction on the initiative of René’s son, Marc, with a focus on crystal and an approach inspired by a combination of innovation and tradition.
Although the factory has been constantly modernized over the years, the artisans’ techniques have remained unchanged: material is worked by hand, it is moulded, the molten crystal is "gathered" like honey, and pressed or blown. Once cooled, it is cut, sanded and polished. This is the Lalique artisans’ trademark: the famous satin-polished finish of the crystal, which generates an effect that combines light and shadow.
In 2022, Lalique crystal is sparkling in all areas, from decorative objects to interior design, perfumery, art, jewellry and the hotel and restaurant industry.
To celebrate its centenary in style, in March the Wingen-sur-Moder factory has produced an exceptional bottle containing a new Lalique fragrance, and a beautiful spirit decanter.
The bottles will be exceptional because of the number produced, with only ten signed and numbered pieces throughout the world. The Fusion flacon is also exceptional on account of its extreme virtuosity. In a centenary year which honours their craft, Lalique’s master glassmakers have pushed their expertise to its absolute limits. “Parison” is the name given by master glassmakers to the glob of glowing material they pick up with a blowpipe from a fountain of molten crystal. The Lalique Design Studio, under the direction of Marc Larminaux, worked in close collaboration with the master glassmakers to create this tribute to their expertise.
The parison bottle is elongated by a slender black satin-polished crystal stopper, evoking the blowpipe used in workshops. A clear crystal frieze recalls a mailloche, the curved piece of wood used to give the crystal a round shape.
This decorative element contains a delicate fern motif, a plant favoured by René Lalique in his designs, and a reference to the manufacture of crystal: distilled fern ashes are used to obtain potash. Potash is essential to glassmakers as it is used not only to lower the melting temperature of the crystal, but also to give it density, sonority and brilliance. In a graphic and poetic style, the fern has a polished satin finish – a signature of the Lalique crystal workshop – on a clear crystal background. The production process for this extraordinary bottle began in the hot-glass workshop, and involved seven people, the largest team ever to work on a single piece. One particularly challenging aspect was the precise coordination necessary between the artisans, as the bottle is made up of two parts: the “parison” in amber crystal and the mailloche in clear crystal.
In the cold-glass workshop, no less than 11 artisans worked to achieve perfection. The cutting and sanding operations were entrusted to one master glassmaker. A second, specialized in polishing, worked on creating the contrast between transparency and the satin finish. Each stopper was then polished and ground by a third pair of hands.
It was a considerable challenge to create ten copies of the Fusion flacon. Not least because the crystal had to be worked in different colours – clear, black and amber – all with different physical and chemical properties, making the piece extremely fragile to handle at each stage of production.
As a tribute to the history of Lalique and to mark the centenary of its Alsace factory, an original design was chosen from the company archives for a white glass decanter produced in 1922, the year in which the first furnace in René Lalique’s glassworks was lit. In 2022, one hundred years after its first edition, the Water drop decanter has been recreated in satin-polished crystal, the signature Lalique style that reflects the artisans’ unique expertise.
Designed to highlight the colour and aromas of the finest spirits, the Water drop decanter is an exceptional object that will enrich the company’s collections. The first challenge for the five Lalique artisans working together on the piece in the factory’s hot-glass workshop was to “gather” the right quantity of crystal: the decanter has a very thin neck and the drops that cascade down the sides have to be uniform. Precision and meticulous care are required during the preforming of the material, which is then blown into a steel mould.
When the piece had cooled, the artisans in Lalique’s cold-glass workshops began by cutting the decanter’s neck – another delicate technical step, as the diameter of the opening must accommodate the perpendicular stopper perfectly. The latter is formed in a steel mould into which the glassmakers press the crystal. The lightly fluted sides rise to a peak eight centimetres high. After a quick series of cuts to remove any last creases or imperfections created during the firing of the crystal, the virtuosity of Lalique’s artisans can be exercised. The Water drop decanter is entirely satin-finished, with subtle gradations in the droplets, which are polished in stages.
The realism is striking: the depth of the crystal plays with the light, and the droplets come to life. In a final display of dexterity, after three hours of cold work on this anniversary decanter, the Lalique signature and the edition number are engraved by hand on the underside.
Thanks to the play of light, the drops of water that trickle down the carafe seem both ephemeral and eternal, in an elegant design full of delicate contrasts. This collector’s model was given new life with a demonstration of the Wingen-sur-Moder artisans’ precious expertise.
About Lalique
Lalique is a French glassmaker, founded by renowned glassmaker and jeweller René Lalique in 1888. Lalique is best known for producing glass art, including perfume bottles, vases, and hood ornaments during the early twentieth century.
In this week's interview with 2021 SBID Awards winners of the Interior Fittings category, Finfort, discuss the complexity of their product, share tips on creating convenient and consumer-focused products, as well as the key considerations to have in mind when approaching the specification of security solutions.
SBID Awards Category: Interior Fittings
Practice: Finfort
Entry: FinBolt Triple Door Set
Entering the ‘SBID Awards’ was without a doubt, the best decision Finfort made in 2021! The ‘SBID Awards’ recognise and celebrate the value of design and innovation - so having launched our innovative range of elegant high security door locks with automatic deadbolts in 2020, we were naturally very keen to be part of it. The awards also provided the perfect opportunity for us to proudly showcase our exciting new designs to the interior design industry.
We were thrilled to discover our FinBolt Triple Door Lock set won the SBID Product Design Award for the interior fittings category. Not only did the award help boost our credibility as authentic and trusted innovators, but it also demonstrated the high-end quality of our products whilst providing an invaluable level of media exposure. This really helped us gain traction as an emerging brand.
The FinBolt lock is a major innovation in door security, combining ultra-safe convenience and beautiful craftsmanship. The award winning FinBolt Triple Door Set makes it possible to secure a door at multiple points, with independently operating locks which automatically deadbolt every time the door is closed. With the FinBolt lock, busy homeowners never need to worry about whether they’ve locked their doors properly again! Once the door is closed, it’s totally secure - without ever needing to turn a key! Not only is it functional, but it’s aesthetically pleasing, with the FinBolt Triple Door Set proving high security doesn’t have to mean ugly! FinBolt’s visible door furniture is boastfully sleek, elegant and complimentary of any door. We think it’s this combination of beautiful aesthetics and unparalleled functional delivery that makes this a standout product.
As with all our products, we’re proud to start with the needs of the consumer. In this case, a need for convenient high-end security was our starting point. When our co-founder (and architect) Timothy Finn couldn’t find a recessed automatic deadbolt for a client who was always too busy to lock his door properly, he engaged his passion for engineering and set about designing it himself!
Product development involved several iterations of designing, patent application, prototyping and testing to ensure the product worked flawlessly and also conformed to the rigorous British standards. We’re particularly proud that the FinBolt is manufactured in the UK, leveraging expert craftsmanship and the very best of British engineering.
We will also always be committed to refining our designs to perfection, so we sought technical feedback from 100s of locksmiths, by exhibiting prototypes at the Master Locksmith Association Expo Trade Shows in 2019, and we were both thrilled and honoured to receive their ‘Best Product Award’. We were grateful to have also collaborated with The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, who provided valuable input on the technical challenge of offering bespoke finishes!
Ultimately, key to producing an effective security mechanism is a consistently reliable automatic deadbolt – something we’ve managed to achieve through our patented ‘trigger and bolt’ balanced action, together with a high-security cylinder and key registration.
It’s simple…high-security, user convenience and an aesthetic fit.
There are several high-security door locks available on the market (look for the ‘British Standard’ certification); however, very few deliver the convenience of automatic locking whilst fitting the aesthetics of a classic British door. Think about the average homeowner for a moment – busy people with busy lifestyles. There’s little value in installing high-security manual locks which require specific effort to secure, each and every time you want to leave the house. It’s inevitable that you’ll forget at some stage, leaving your home and its contents vulnerable. Furthermore, your door can set the aesthetic tone for the rest of your home, so door furniture and finish is critically important. Even a slight mismatch of colour will ruin the overall impact and leave homeowners frustrated. This is why all six FinBolt finishes have been perfectly colour matched to the extensive M. Marcus Heritage Brass Ironmongery range for a stunning and perfectly matched finish.
Since the SBID Awards last October, we’ve been collaborating with Avocet ABS (our cylinder supplier) to increase the range of standard finishes we can offer to our customers. The FinBolt Triple Door Set with 3 star kitemarked cylinders from Avocet ABS will shortly be available in 6 finishes, which includes the very popular Antique Brass and Matt Bronze. We’re very excited to now be seeing our ethos of bringing security and style together, coming to fruition!
We also have two new product designs underway: a fire-tested automatic deadbolt lock for apartment doors, and a high security lock case that integrates the FinBolt automatic deadbolt with smart handles, combining the ease of smart keyless entry, with mechanical automatic deadbolting!
Keep the needs and wants of the ultimate end-user at the forefront of your mind, whilst aiming for that perfect balance between function and aesthetics! There will always be an appetite for convenient, beautiful designs which enhance people’s lives. Product design (especially highly technical design) can be arduous and requires tenacity to really challenge the status quo and find better, aesthetically pleasing solutions which ultimately satisfy the consumer.
Questions answered by Timothy Finn, Founder, and Hilary Duggan, Co-Founder, Finfort.
Established by Timothy Finn & Hilary Duggan, Finfort is a disruptor within the security industry and strives to design the most innovative, highest security, beautiful door locking solutions in the UK.
If you missed last week's Interview with the Fit Out Contractor of the Year – Workplace category winner Modus Workspace, click here to read it.
In the 30 years since it was founded, TSAR Carpets create holistic compositions that empower its wide range of clientele — from commercial, hospitality, and residential customers — to achieve a cohesive architectural expression from the ground up. For this reason TSAR was pleased to partner with Melbourne-based interior designers, Suede Interior Design, and Crystalbrook, one of Australia’s leading sustainable and innovative independent hospitality companies.
Located in Newcastle’s iconic Council Administration Centre, Crystalbrook Kingsley Hotel is a sophisticated 130-room five star hotel that features an energetic and considered aesthetic designed by the Suede team.
Suede Interior Design included hints and glimpses of birds, footprints, and feather motifs in the Crystalbrook Kingsley brand colours of yellow and charcoal to tell the story of Newcastle’s mining past – the canary free from its cage – immortalising the little bird in the timeless style of the hotel.
“Our aim was to create a design that not only reflected Newcastle, but something that would be culturally connected and relevant to its location. The use of curves and rhythm within the guest rooms and public interiors mimic and pay homage to the lines of the architecture of the building,” explained Clifford Rip. “The interiors, therefore, are both nostalgic and effervescent, the kind of design personality that is considered yet effortless in its sophistication.”
The design team tapped TSAR Carpets to provide luxurious, vibrant and eye-catching carpet that both matched the hotel’s yellow hue, as well as the contemporary and elegant mood within the hotel’s guest rooms, penthouse, corridors, lobby, meeting room, restaurant and lounge areas. TSAR employed the design Thirlmere with custom carving for the bedrooms; Habitat for the corridors; a custom design made in collaboration with Suede Interior Design in the Meeting Rooms; and Pinnacle for the Restaurant and Lounge areas.
“TSAR Carpets knows how to blend the story of both traditional and contemporary aesthetics, and we are impressed by their cutting-edge ability to translate a design into a high-quality textile that will stand the test of time,” says Clifford Rip, Founder and Principal at Suede Interior Design.
In total, TSAR customised more than 3,500 square metres of in-house designs applicable to individual room placement and based on each area’s needs, including performance and durability.
Given the building’s curved rooms and corridors (the building is known locally as the “Roundhouse”), aligning carpet and mirroring the Thirlmere pattern 8 different times to fit each of the 8 floors was a major objective.
Employing a carving technique to the custom, large-scale Axminster carpet for an added luxurious accent — as well as true textured feel and semblance — was also achieved, allowing a more budget-conscious, quantity-based product.
This process involves hand-shearing areas of the carpet's pile in order to create textures around design elements. This particular technique highlights and enhances areas of designs in Axminster — transforming one-dimensional perspectives to patterns that draw the eye across the carpet with ridges and valleys.
“TSAR is driven by the belief that good design goes far beyond aesthetics, which is why we have a reputation for the highest quality and outstanding performance,” says David Sharpely, TSAR Carpets CEO.
“We were pleased to partner with Clifford and his team, who we have worked with over the years. The client trusted us to know the right product to specify, ensuring quality and durability — and at a price point that was within budget. Our knowledge and understanding of carpet design and manufacturing led to a beautiful end product that we are quite proud of.”
About TSAR Carpets
Our team has over 35 years of experience designing and producing high-quality, custom-made carpets and rugs for residential, commercial and hospitality projects worldwide. A family-owned business founded by David and Kerrie Sharpley, born from a passion for textiles and enchanted by the hand-tufted technique, it is now a global company recognised for its sophistication and knowledge.
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