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.
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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.
When it comes to choosing a durable, hardwearing, easy-clean, low-maintenance flooring solution for a large family home, Dekton® is the ideal solution. For Michael Stephenson and the team at HG Design Solutions, who were tasked with designing the interior of this large Northumberland family home, Dekton® Soke 8mm x 1420mm x 1420mm floor tiles were the perfect choice for the entire downstairs layout, including the open-plan kitchen-living area, dining room, utility and grand entrance hall.
Created in collaboration with Shaun Ramsey Construction, the project involved applying Dekton® Soke flooring throughout the downstairs of the property and out into the garden area, creating a seamless finish and flow throughout the entire house and garden. Part of the Dekton® Industrial Collection, the Soke tiles are inspired by classic cement floors with realistic veining and a statement grey finish that beautifully complements the traditional style of this home’s interior décor.
Highly resistant to UV rays, scratches, stains and thermal shock, Dekton® is the ideal choice for homeowners looking for a durable, hardwearing solution for floors, worksurfaces and wall cladding both indoors and out. What's more, carbon neutrality has been achieved for the entire life cycle of Dekton, so homeowners can rest assured that their surface of choice is sustainable and helps build a better future.
Dekton® was also selected for the kitchen worksurfaces as well as for the table in the dining area that flows effortlessly from the open-plan kitchen-living space. Dekton® in Olimpo was specified from PWS Worksurfaces and as part of the Stonika Xgloss Collection, it offers a luxurious Carrara marble look and feel with grey veining on top of a cool white background.
Michael Stephenson, Director and Founder of HG Design Solutions, explains the process behind the design, “We introduced the client to Dekton and it was after he and his wife came to the Darlington centre to view the materials that they agreed on Soke for the flooring and Olimpo for the worksurfaces and table top, as these were the perfect choice in terms of durability and style.”
The marble look of the Dekton® worksurfaces create wonderful contrast against the burnt orange banquette seating and wall colour within the dining area, which provide a pop of colour and add further personality to the design. It also looks stunning in the utility room with its rich, dark navy painted timber cabinetry and white wall units for a nautical look.
Dekton® by Cosentino is available in a range of designs, from industrial inspired to marble look.
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. Dekton is Cosentino's innovative, ultra-compact and high-performance surface that offers endless design possibilities for outdoor and indoor spaces.
Canadian luxury handmade furniture and lighting brand Gabriel Scott has launched the LUNA KALEIDO collection, the second chapter in the brand’s best-selling Luna lighting range.
The customisable modular series includes two stackable glass lighting fixtures: a horizontal chandelier and a vertical pendant. The mouth-blown glass beads can be ‘strung’ together in any order to create a bespoke glowing piece of jewellery for residential, hospitality and commercial projects.
The lights are available in seven new shapes, all named after constellations (Dorado, Lyra, Aras, Cygnus, Orion and Carina). The collection is inspired by a kaleidoscope, which comes from the Greek words for kalos (beautiful), eidos (form), and skopeo (to look at). Like a kaleidoscope, the glass shapes have been designed to offer infinite interpretations of tone, shape and refracted light. When stacked, the lights become a glass mosaic with varying tones and patterns. Each colour and texture distorts light in a different way. When looking through the glass, the distortion creates magical optical illusions. Soft iridescent colours, including pinks, blues and greens, are fused with clear glass to create a sophisticated colour spectrum. The lights are available with six different surface textures including Smooth, Gridded, Regadines, Bubbles, Lines and Dots.
Founder and Creative Director Scott Richler comments, “We are delighted to be extending our existing LUNA series, which was launched in 2019 and is already popular with architects and interior designers alike. We work very closely with our makers at our Montreal production studio to ensure that each mouth-blown pendant and chandelier is made to the highest standards. Each piece will add a sense of enchantment to any interior design scheme.”
The LUNA series is inspired by a lunar halo and is a glamourous reference to the moon’s diffused light and soft glow. The LUNA series is currently available in satin brass, satin nickel, satin copper, satin bronze and black steel. Existing glass options include blue, California pink, yellow, smoked amethyst, smoked bronze and smoked grey.
The KALEIDO collection is available to purchase online and at Gabriel Scott’s New York and London showrooms.
About Gabriel Scott
Gabriel Scott was founded in Montreal, Canada, in 2012. Scott Richler was working as an architect and was often tasked with specifying high-end custom furniture for clients. He realised there was a market for bespoke, contemporary and customisable furniture and lighting fixtures crafted using a holistic approach that would be specifically aimed at designers and architects who need control over every detail of a building’s design.
Silvio Denz, Chairman and CEO of Lalique SA: "Our collaboration with Zaha Hadid began a little more than two years ago with the creation of the Visio and Manifesto vases, two outstanding works of art which marked the inception of the Crystal Architecture collection. This collection was born of a passion for beauty, a quest for excellence, and the will to combine the expertise of our master-glassmakers with the creativity and rare talent of an architect and designer of world renown.
Today we are proud to present the latest addition to the collection: the Fontana bowl, a superb piece with the fluid and mineral lines, the sense of constant movement, that are so expressive of the style of Zaha Hadid and enhanced by the contrasting satin and polished finishes characteristic of Lalique. The thought of Zaha Hadid designing this project is a particularly moving one for me, and I would like to pay homage to her memory.
She was a pioneering figure in the world of architecture, the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The death of Dame Zaha Hadid on 31 March 2016 was a cause of immense sadness. Regarded as one of the great architects of her day, she created works that shaped and transformed spaces and landscapes the world over. Zaha Hadid and her architectural heritage will continue to inspire generations to come. Lalique is truly honoured to have had the opportunity to work with this outstanding artist."
Fontana expresses the powerful dynamism of water. Informed by the continuity and rhythms of waves in motion, delicate undulations envelop the surface. The design’s formal composition conveys a purposeful solidity, whilst the vase’s materiality embeds lightness and refraction within the complexity of a fluid dynamic. Fontana translates the intrinsic beauty of natural systems by continuing a narrative defined by their unrivalled logic and coherence.
The FONTANA bowl is presented in plain crystal, black and midnight blue. All these pieces are available numbered and signed and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
A sensory and tactile experience through sensual curves, the particular velvety touch of a satin finish, and a design both contemporary and timeless. This Midnight Blue colour was close to the heart of Zaha Hadid. It suffuses the Visio and Manifesto vases, which complete the Crystal Architecture by Zaha Hadid collection.
The SBID Awards is open for entries - it's time to submit your designs to be evaluated by the this year's distinguished experts on the judging panel. Read the SBID Awards' entry checklist to prepare your submissions and get key tips to ensure your entry is ready to impress!
Save money and submit by Wednesday 31 May to avoid late entry fees!
The SBID Awards comprises 28 different entry categories across Interior Design, Product Design and Fit Out. These categories cover projects and products for commercial and residential interiors, giving all sectors the chance to showcase their best work and gain recognition within their field.
You can submit the same design into more than one category (if applicable), so make sure you've checked the full list of entry categories that could apply to your submission, and consider entering multiple to increase your chances of being shortlisted!
ENTRY TIP: The new clone feature allows you to easily duplicate your entries!
Be prepared! Review the entry guidelines to make sure you're eligible to enter, ensure you can provide all the information and imagery required to meet the entry conditions, and that you clearly understand the submission process. Here, you'll find all the vital information about the tiered entry system and a breakdown of the entry fees, along with key deadlines and advice on entering!
ENTRY TIP: Provide a link to supporting video content when prompted - video footage can be a powerful medium to better showcase your projects or products to the judges!
The SBID Awards new entry portal makes it easy to manage, edit and submit your entries into this year's SBID Awards. Following the simple, step-by-step entry form, you can upload the required information or imagery and save your progress for later.
ENTRY TIP: With new flexible submissions, you can edit your entry even after submitting (until the final entry deadline) so if you're running out of time for the next entry rate, why not submit and continue editing later?
Have you provided all the details for your entry? You are now ready to submit! Before you do, we recommend you review last year's shortlisted entries to compare how your entry measures up, and ensure you are using the best imagery and descriptions to showcase your designs to the judging panel (and the public)!
SBID MEMBERS: To redeem your free submission and discounted rates provide your membership number when prompted!
Entries for the SBID International Design Awards 2022 are open!
View this year's SBID Awards judging panel for 2022 here.
To find out more about entering, visit www.sbidawards.com
Abode, award-winning designer and distributor of market leading kitchen taps, sinks, bathroom taps & showering solutions anticipate the latest 2022 market trends for kitchen sinks and taps, as they continue to play a leading role in the modern home.
Following extensive market research and trends monitoring, Abode can reveal the following trends are set to influence kitchen design in 2022.
Leanne Adamson, Marketing Manager at Abode says, “The need for 24/7 convenience that empowers both home and lifestyle is inspiring new levels of design in the kitchen, utility room and hybrid wash zones like the home bar and boot room. Accordingly, end users young and old have become part of the now generation where time is of the essence and well-considered functionality that improves health and wellbeing is top priority. This has led to a rise in high performance kitchen taps, which add value and maintain their design integrity without compromising on style or user safety. Naturally, the trend for steaming hot water and filtered water on tap is set to reach new heights in 2022, with 3 IN 1 and 4 IN 1 taps becoming a staple of the traditional and contemporary kitchen whilst helping us all save energy, reduce our use of plastic bottles and lead healthier lives.”
As more of us are living in a multi-generational household, home ergonomics is a point for discussion with an emphasis on ease of use and product safety. Trends are therefore identifying water safety as a number one priority with taps that are designed to be used by people of all ages, including those with limited mobility, outperforming other inclusive-style taps that forego style over substance. Having a kitchen that can grow with you is going to impact how we design the kitchen wash zone next year with young families, downsizers and the newly retired alike seeking future-proof taps that are easy reach, hygienic and distinct by design.
PRODUCT - We recommend the Abode Agilis Single Lever kitchen tap, which is ergonomically designed. Featuring a sweeping L shape body with knurled aerator collar, the handle is located on the front of the tap body to reduce reach. Providing agile movement via a single lever, just a flick of a wrist will operate the water flow: great if you have dirty hands!
As climate change intensifies, the need to source only the most ethical products on the market is becoming a criterion when planning a kitchen space. Managing water and energy use will continue to remain on trend next year with multi-functional taps taking centre stage in the battle to save the planet. Enjoying the idea of chilled filtered water on tap is now easier than ever, not only cutting down on the use of plastic bottles but the rise in hot water taps has made the kettle redundant – freeing up space and time while reducing water consumption and energy in high usage households.
PRODUCT – Discover Abode Swich, a revolutionary design solution that will transform a new or existing kitchen tap in to a filtered water tap that delivers a constant supply of crystal clear filtered water! The exclusive and patented Swich water filter system is a discreet yet ultra-luxe device, which is easy to use and install, either retro-fit in an existing kitchen or add to a new kitchen design.
Popular with interior designers and homeowners alike, industrial-style kitchens stand to remain a firm favourite next year, with trends reporting a new appreciation for sinks and taps that help define a scheme. Practicality and luxury will therefore go hand-in-hand, with contemporary matt black and delicately distinct brass finishes in high demand. Complementing big ticket items like your appliances and designer fixtures, black will bring extra refinement to next year’s industrial-style kitchen and welcome an eclectic mix of materials and finishes that see the sink and tap area stand up and be counted.
PRODUCT – Answering growing demand for 24/7 convenience that is practical and beautiful, the Pronteau 4 IN 1 Propure Monobloc Quad is seen here in an industrial-style Matt Black finish. Available in five on trend finishes and two spout designs, this 4 IN 1 kitchen tap is a must for the design and time conscious. The steaming hot water is delivered via a two-stage safety handle and with cold filtered drinking water on tap as well as the domestic hot and cold supply you truly have everything you need packaged up in a sleek design that sits proudly in an array of kitchen styles.
About Abode
Established in 2002, Abode has a team with extensive knowledge of sinks, taps and the kitchen & bathroom industry. They are renowned for award winning product design and have been recognised by various industry awards. Over 15 years on their thirst for innovation, design, quality and service remains just as strong as it was on day one. Abode is part of the Norcros plc group of companies, a leading supplier of high quality and innovative kitchen and bathroom products.
Launched globally in January 2022, the Statement showering collection brings a range of unique shapes and an array of sizes to the shower, breathing new life into well-loved standards and marrying the latest in technology with enduring craftsmanship. Innovative sprays elevate the showering experience, and universal compatibility means the system works wherever in the world it is installed. Inspired by iconic furniture and home goods, and defined by soft, approachable designs, the collection carries an underlying familiarity while creating striking aesthetics within the space.
This is showering re-envisioned at the most basic level. An oblong showerhead results in more enveloping water coverage for the whole body, and seven immersive spray experiences offered within the collection include a Deep Massage spray composed of twisting jets that knead sore muscles and a Cloud spray that swathes the body in a warm mist. Other spray options include a Full Coverage Rain, a dense, wide Sweep, and Ribbon Massage that cascades in an angled stream. Additionally, the collection offers an Infinity spray – interlaced water streams create three experience zones in a single spray – the droplets closest to the nozzle rinse, while the middle zone massages, and the farthest stream provides coverage. Many components also make use of the game-changing KOHLER Katalyst technology, which enhances every droplet with air for a warm, luxurious cloak of water.
“Showering is so much more than just getting clean. It is a chance to feel rejuvenated, a moment to focus on self-care,” says Lun Cheak Tan, Kohler VP of Industrial Design. “A shower should provide a rich experience – through design-forward craftsmanship, meaningful functionality and uncompromised focus on the user.”
The global Statement Collection includes a showerhead, four styles of handshowers, four unique rainheads, and two bodysprays, all available in a range of sizes and shapes to best suit the décor and design environment.
The Anthem controls take their design cues from high-end home furnishings and have a minimalist, sophisticated, and warmly tactile vibe. Like so many familiar electronic products, the digital valve control’s touch-sensitive surface is intuitive and easy to use. Every aspect of the new Anthem valves and controls from Kohler have been thoughtfully designed to give users a truly immersive showering experience, tailored to their exact specifications and altered according to their needs. With two valve platforms to choose from – mechanical and digital – and meticulously engineered to fit global plumbing standards, these precision systems elevate the showering routine to a next level sensory event, further expanding Kohler’s industry-leading approach to digital showering.
The valves can control up to six outlets, allowing the user personalization over any combination of shower sprays, rainheads, showerheads, handshowers and body sprays. Each outlet can be independently adjusted to suit the user’s specific temperature and flow desires, such as a soft, warm spray from the overhead rainhead along with strong, hot massage from the hand shower. Users can mix and match to their heart’s content and then program up to 10 favourite presets to revisit anytime.
“A really great shower is based highly on personal preference and should be completely within the control of the user,” says Lun Cheak Tan, Kohler VP of Industrial Design. “We have developed the Anthem valves and controls to empower bathers with the ability to manipulate flow, temperature and sprays to achieve a personalized wellbeing experience.”
Because the digital Anthem controls are integrated with the KOHLER Konnect app, users have power over nearly every facet of their showering experience via their smart phone. They can also set default or max temperatures and monitor shower duration and water usage to maximize water conservation. Users can pair the controls up with voice assistants (pairings vary by region) to allow for voice operation, and there’s even a “warm-up mode” that purges cold water from the pipes and puts a hold on the hot water for up to two minutes until users are ready to get in the shower. Anthem digital control offers independent access to every spray and up to two temperature zones, making it easy to change settings with precision and choose individual levels of warmth for different areas of the body.
The Anthem mechanical controls have their own sophisticated look and feel. Buttons for each outlet pop open when pushed, converting into dials that allow users to set and adjust flow volume. Clear, commonly understood iconography takes any guesswork out of the process, paving the way to a personalized sensory experience that can be universally enjoyed.
To add to Statement & Anthem's overall ease of use and provide peace of mind to designers and specifiers, the components are designed to be universally compatible. The collection is designed – from thread size to flow rate – to work globally, no matter how different the local codes and standards may be.
Finishes for both products include polished chrome, brushed nickel, matte black, and brushed moderne brass (finish options may vary by region); all are aesthetically arresting and created to yield a natural interplay with other accessories and design elements.
The collections represent an evolution in showering, one that engages all the senses and elevates the everyday, transforming the daily routine of showering into a customized corporeal event with the power to instil a sense of well-being. The handsome forms are matched by exceptional function that results in an indulgent, customised showering experience.
About Kohler Co.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of nearly 38,000 associates. With more than 50 manufacturing locations worldwide, Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products; engines and power systems; premier cabinetry, tile and lighting; and owner/operator of two of the world’s finest five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, Wisconsin, and St. Andrews, Scotland.
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