Sponsor news

PRACTICAL, ADAPTABLE EVOLVE IS CHOSEN FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT

Good habits start young, which is why top-rated Bramhope primary school in Bramhope, Leeds is introducing hands on cooking lessons for its pupils. When they heard of the project, Harrogate based Nest Kitchens who specialise in bespoke furniture decided they would like to be involved. “Every year the team here at Nest Kitchens like to get involved in a community project, giving a chance for a local charity to undertake a task that they would not necessarily have the time or budget to complete themselves. An opportunity arose earlier this year to support our local primary school who are striving to bring back hands on cooking lessons for their children,” says Nest founder Holly Simpson. “Having taken a brief from the school, we have designed a fully functional kitchen that can be easily and safely be used by the children. The kitchen will allow the school to regularly provide cookery lessons to the children empowering them to cook and create. The lessons will help to promote healthy eating, measuring ingredients will provide a fun maths lesson and mixing and cooking ingredients will show science in action! Thanks to the additional support of many of our suppliers, we are able to provide this to the school free of charge.” Bushboard was delighted to become involved when Nest chose recently launched Evolve solid core worksurfaces for the scheme. Practical, hard wearing, easy to clean and available in a good choice of designs including the Urban Concrete selected by Nest, Evolve has been widely praised by installers and end users. It is easy to install – there is no need for fabrication. An excellent lower cost alternative to quartz tops, Evolve is just 12.5mm thick, giving a sleek, low profile look and is completely waterproof. Matching splashbacks make a practical, labour and cost saving alternative to tiles. www.bushboard.co.uk

WILSONART TAKES TO TWITTER FOR #WILSONARTQUESTIONHOUR

Laminate work surface manufacturer and distributor Wilsonart UK, has launched a new question and answers hour on Twitter. The new #wilsonartquestionhour encourages customers, retailers, installers and housebuilders to send their questions to the company, as well as “tips and tricks, hacks and hints”. Wilsonart’s product experts will be on hand every Thursday at 3pm on Twitter to answer any technical, design, installation, specification, project or maintenance queries. “Twitter is a quick and easy place for everyone to interact,” said Wilsonart marketing manager Caroline Elliott, “Many of our customers are contacting us via all social media platforms so we felt taking it one step further to develop a fun and informative hour would be fitting.”

NEW VALARTE MAKES CLASSIC CURRENT

VitrA has announced details of a new bathroom range joining its Signature Collection in March. A perfect complement to the contemporary designs associated with VitrA, Valarte embraces Shaker style which combines simplicity with fine craftsmanship and functionality. Valarte is a modern take on a proven classic style that can be used in a traditional or a modern interior. The design, produced by VitrA’s in-house team, takes its inspiration from Shaker and is available in three soft, nostalgic and on trend shades with circular metal ring handles. The comprehensive furniture range includes vanities, a statement towel cupboard and variety of dresser pieces. The washbasin is also available with chrome legs bringing it bang up to date for today’s bathroom styles. “Valarte is a characteristically classic design, but is so well suited to modern, functional needs,” says VitrA’s marketing manager Margaret Talbot. “There is a mix of open and closed storage options with single and double door bases. Units of different sizes can be mixed and matched to suit the style and shape of the bathroom. Mid height and tall cabinets provide useful extra storage space. Both countertop and vanity basins are available. The vanity basins come in 65, 80 and 100cm sizes and the countertop in 60cm. “ The vanity basins have an attractive double rim design with an upstand at the back and are available in one and three tap hole formats. The range also includes mirrors and illuminated mirror cabinets. The back-to-wall, wall-hung, and close-coupled WC pans complete the range. “Consumers are looking for timeless designs and for products that combine value for money without compromising on good looks,” says Margaret Talbot. “This is exactly what Valarte offers. The choice of furniture styles and sizes and the complementary sanitaryware means that the range can be used for an en-suite, family bathrooms, cloakrooms or guest bathrooms.” www.VitrA.co.uk

BATHROOM INDUSTRY EXPERT RETURNS TO VITRA

International bathroom manufacturer VitrA has expanded its UK sales team with the appointment of Paul Cook as Contract Sales Manager for the South, he will be working primarily with housebuilders as well as government property developers. Paul has enjoyed a long career in our industry working for several leading bathroom manufacturers including VitrA in his earlier career. VitrA is enjoying huge growth in the contract sector thanks to exposure at leading industry events like designjunction, Sleep + Eat and the high-profile RIBA + VitrA Talks Series. Paul commented, “It’s great to be back at VitrA. The company has really set its focus on this sector and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth.” Darren Paxford, national sales manager for VitrA, said “Paul is very well known and respected in the sector and we are all delighted to welcome him back. He will be a strategic part of VitrA’s excellent customer service in this growing part of our business.” www.VitrA.co.uk

MINIMALIST VANITY BASIN, WC & ELECTRONIC-FLUSH URINAL FOR ISTANBUL.

The Istanbul collection designed for VitrA by Ross Lovegrove has been an international success since it was first launched in 2004. The sanitaryware and furniture collection draws its inspiration from the organic shapes found in nature and the fluidity of water. The latest addition to this design classic is a minimalist vanity basin which reflects the curved theme that runs through the range. The ceramic vanity basin incorporates an elegant shallow inset bowl with a curved upstand edge. The basin is supported by a chrome frame featuring Istanbul’s characteristic curved lines at its joints. Also new is a wall hung WC and a urinal with electronic flush. “The vanity unit is a beautiful addition to the Istanbul collection, “comments VitrA marketing manager Margaret Talbot. “The top is extremely difficult to manufacturer as it is all made from one single piece of ceramic so all credit to our highly skilled team for turning Ross Lovegrove’s creation into reality.” The new vanity basin which measures 100 x 600cm was revealed at Sleep+Eat 2018. It includes a slimline tap and pebble shape basin mixer and was paired with the illuminated mirror. The urinal (shown in black) has the same curved tear drop shape as wall hung pans and bidets within the Istanbul collection and the accessories, which include a WC brush holder, roll holder and towel ring which all reflect the smooth, curved lines that define the range. www.VitrA.co.uk

WINTER PROMOTIONS FOR BUSHBOARD EVOLVE

Love To Shop on Every Evolve Surface + Free Evolve Displays To celebrate the success of Evolve solid core surfaces, Bushboard is extending its £20 Love to Shop promotion until the end of April 2019. The promotion awards a voucher for every worktop sold. This is for every surface, not every order, so if a retailer sells three worksurfaces to one customer or an installer purchases three - £60 worth of vouchers will be awarded. Further good news is that Evolve displays will be 100 percent free of charge, encouraging retailers to market this innovative and very successful product to consumers who appreciate the slim lines, heat resistance, easy cleaning and straightforward fitting offered by this unique material. Evolve comes in finishes to suit every kitchen – including marble and natural stone effects – and it can be installed on site by any good kitchen fitter so there is no need for specialised trades. Hannah Abbott, PR and Graphics Manager for Bushboard explains “Evolve is such a adaptable and versatile product, we want our retailer partners to have the best chance to display the product as cost effectively as possible. There is no off site templating required and it can be used to create drainer grooves and open shelving.” www.bushboard.co.uk Bushboard Invest £1m in Wellingborough Nuance Plant! Visually striking, faster to install and more economical than traditional ceramic tiling, Bushboard’s 100% waterproof Nuance bathroom panels have been a massive success in the domestic and commercial bathroom markets both here and now in mainland Europe. In anticipation of continued growth, the company has completed a £1million investment increasing its state-of-the-art manufacturing capacity at its factory in Wellingborough, Northants.

Neil Horton, Western Europe Sales Director for Panel Systems spearheads the development of the Nuance concept across all markets and explains “Nuance bathroom panels are a real success story in the UK, where the range of decors, the speed of installation and easy aftercare are major selling features. Specialist retailers, designers and contractors have welcomed the great looks, durability and time and labour savings of Nuance over ceramic tiling which has all contributed to significant, record growth year on year.” The new robotic production line manufactures, finishes and packs the Nuance panels, cutting out manual lifting and speeding the production process by approximately 30% and increasing the overall productivity gain for the line by around 400%. “Investing in manufacturing here in the UK is a terrific acknowledgement of the potential of the range. Our customers know we control all elements, produce every component and manage quality stringently. We are confident that the markets will continue to grow, and this new production line will allow us to meet both the current and future demand and allow us respond and create exciting new trends.” says Neil. Bushboard Nuance bathroom panels can be tailored and installed in a matter of hours. In Bushboard’s time trials, Nuance was up to six times faster to install than traditional tiles. For a project, Nuance is perfect to cut down the disruption. www.bushboard.co.uk