Brandt Life Magazine Summer 2021

SUMMER 2021

BRANDT LIFE luxury kitchen living

BRANDT COLLABORATES WITH CYRUS TODIWALA ON COOKERY SCHOOL

WIN A STATE OF THE ART FALMEC BELLARIA INDOOR AIR PURIFIER WORTH £850!!

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Scott Davis, Managing Director, Brandt Design

Welcome to the latest issue of Brandt Life and what exciting times we are currently experiencing! An easing of the restrictions imposed by the government, helped largely by the hugely successful vaccine rollout programme, has led to a big increase in footfall In our kitchen and lifestyle showrooms.

Furthermore, you will see from the front cover and features of this magazine that we have agreed an amazing collaboration with celebrity Chef Cyrus Todiwala, a partnership that will yield benefits for Brandt Design customers and Brandt Life readers and so for those of you who haven’t already, do subscribe to get your completely free of charge issue four times a year.

We hope you enjoy this issue as it’s packed with information to help you plan your homes and as it’s summer, out for a feature from our resident Interior Design writer, Gloria Sanchez Puerta, who reveals the secrets of how you can re-shape your garden to embrace your lifestyle on pages 18-21.

Enjoy!

Shopping Gallery

page 04

Case Study Boutique En-suite

page 06

Case Study Modern Classic

page 08

Feature Kitchen-Living

page 12

Feature Turn Over A New Leaf

page 14

Interior Designer Garden Escape

page 18

Celebrity Chef Cyrus Todiwala

page 22 C page 25

ompetition

Profile Getting To Know You

page 26 N page 28 R page 30 ews

ecipe

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GALLERY

Shopping Gallery 1. When designing this bar area, we needed to consider the introduction and removal of stud walls, as well as factor in a special request for a chimney wall, which we designed to run continuously from the bar to the cinema room.

2. A natural extension to the modern kitchen, this neat and tidy utility/ boot room is designed in Brandt Heritage furniture with custom-framed bench seating area and snug area, all complemented by a fine porcelain floor.

3. The client wanted a contemporary kitchen living space that incorporated

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GALLERY

7 an open plan layout with space for kitchen island seating, separate dining, integrated bar area and matching cinema room as pictured.

4. The featured Heritage Furniture

by Brandt Design is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Off Black, a strong contrast against the elegant marble-effect quartzite surfaces which finish the integrated home bar station with custom hanging storage for glassware and spirits.

5. Check out this luxurious bathroom project with accents of wood, metal and stone, featuring Heritage Furniture

by Brandt Design, part of its Heritage Collection, along with brassware by Perrin & Rowe and sanitaryware by Bagno Design.

6. Get yourself and your home organised in 2021 with a beautiful custom storage wall by Brandt Design Image showing #Brandt Heritage furniture in on-trend blue painted finish.

7. Centred around an l-shaped cook zone with off-white Carrara quartz worktops, matching dining table and a light grey leather banquette, this open plan kitchen by Brandt Design creates ample seating and dining options for both family and friends.

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CASE STUDY

CREATING A PERFECT BOUTIQUE EN-SUITE BATHROOM Designed and installed for an executive family home in Hertfordshire, this material-rich bathroom is part of a whole house renovation, which includes an open-plan kitchen, utility room, hallway, home office, living room, as well as a modern kids’ playroom with custom fitted furniture, all planned and installed by Brandt Design.

Brandt Commercial Director, Julia Steadman explains, “The owners wanted a personal space and so creating a private, hide-away bathroom that is just off the master bedroom was an ideal solution. With an emphasis on simple luxury, this spacious bathroom has become an integral to the main bedroom area thanks to the custom walk-through dressing area complete with mirrored floor-to-ceiling wardrobes.”

The bathroom suite is designed with ‘his and hers’ basins, large semi-frameless walk-in shower and double-ended bath with high quality chrome brassware, all complemented by large tiles of White Calacatta marble with grey veining on the walls and floor, around the bathtub and across the main vanity area. Providing the perfect contrast against the rich Walnut Heritage Furniture by Brandt Design and stark white sanitaryware and industrial-style lighting, this elegant bathroom space offers both style and substance. The wall-hung pan and floating vanity unit frees up valuable floor space and also allows the homeowners to enjoy the benefits

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CASE STUDY

of the discreet, yet highly functional underfloor heating for the height of luxury.

The bathroom space has been completely reimagined in order to make the most of the natural daylight whilst retaining the homeowner’s privacy.

Clever lighting ensures the vanity area is well-illuminated and by matching the flooring to the wall tiles, it creates a seamless aesthetic that is able to reflect and bounce light around the room.

“White has always been a classic choice for the modern bathroom and marble is known for its luxurious look and feel.

Our brief was to create a contemporary interior which was practical, stylish and beautiful. By creating bespoke storage we were able to make best use of the space beneath the eaves and ensure the furniture capitalised on every inch of available storage.” Added Julia.

Boutique Bathroom project by Brandt Design: • Heritage Furniture, Walnut finish by Brandt Design - part of its Heritage Collection • Surfaces in Calacatta marble in white with grey veining, from The Brandt Collection • Deck-mounted basins by Bagno Design: X10 countertop basins x2 • Double-ended inset bath by Bagno Design: Corsair Grande Acrylic Inset Bathtub • Wall-hung WC by Bagno Design: M-Line Rimless Wall Mounted WC with Soft Close Seat • Shower mixer by Perrin & Rowe: CSSC1 Contemporary Shower Set C1 • Semi-frameless walk-in custom made shower enclosure: by Brandt Design • Brassware by Perrin & Rowe: 3321 Wall-mounted Three Hole Basin Tap Set With Lever Handles x2, Wall mounted Bath Taps, waterfall showerhead and WC Flush plate • Bathroom lighting by Jim Lawrence: Cheltenham wall light in Nickel x 3 • Fitted dressing room Heritage Furniture, painted in a custom colour with mirrored floor-to-ceiling wardrobes with handles from Armac Martin and walnut interiors

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CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY

MODERN CLASSIC Bespoke open-plan kitchen, designed in Brandt Heritage Furniture with ➝ quartz surfaces, also by Brandt Design

A luxurious rural home situated just outside of Hertford, demonstrates perfectly how to bring the best of contemporary style to a unique period dwelling. The installation of this premium painted kitchen living space, showcases the versatility of Shaker-inspired interior design.

Heritage Furniture supplied and installed

by Brandt Design is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Off Black, providing a strong contrast against the elegant marble-effect quartzite surfaces for the ultimate in durable design and beauty.

Scott Davis, Managing Director, Brandt Design explains, “Our clients wanted a statement kitchen, which was versatile enough for everyday living and entertaining at home, so we knew that bespoke storage would be key to ensuring a well-considered and practical kitchen space. By extending the tall units in to a portion of the living area meant that we created a huge amount of storage with a relatively small footprint.

Absolutely no space was wasted and by using the same colour on the feature wall as the units, we were able to seamlessly blend the run of cabinetry with the rest of the décor and elevate the original exposed rafters, which make a superb architectural ➝

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CASE STUDY

Modern Classic Kitchen project by Brandt Design: • Brandt Heritage Furniture painted in Farrow & Ball, Off Black, handles by Armac martin Sparkbrook range in Satin Brass Lacquered • Worktops: 20mm Bianco Eclipsia Quartzite • Kitchen sink by Brandt Design: Shaker 800 • Hot water by Quooker: Flex Pro 3 in Urban Brass • Range cooker by Lacanche: Classic Citeaux 1505mm • Miele G4263SCVi Fully Integrated Dishwasher • Cooling by Sub-Zero: ICBB1-36UID over and under refrigerator with freezer drawers and integrated wine cooler ICBIW-30R Utility room by Brandt Design includes: • Furniture: Brandt Design Heritage, painted in Farrow & Ball, Worsted and handles by Armac Martin Gaumont in Antique Satin Lacquer • Appliances: Miele TCR860WP Dryer & Miele WCR860WPS washer • Sink: Brandt Design Shaker 600 sink, one-bowl • Taps: Perrin & Rowe Mayan deck-mounted taps with Crosstop handles in English Bronze • Worktops: Calacatta Exotic from the Brandt Collection

CASE STUDY detail. Our brief was to bring a contemporary feel to this new build property whilst respecting the age and beauty of the original building, so our classically styled Heritage furniture was the natural choice. As was the Lacanche range cooker that we chose and supplied as it perfectly complemented the homeowners’ brief. The custom arrangement also makes ways for a bespoke mantel, which discreetly hides the essential built-in extractor.”

The bespoke cabinets are arranged to balance the scheme with tall units either side of the range, complete with pocket doors and mirrored back panels. To the left side, one unit features a home bar, including integrated hanging storage for glassware above the spirits. On the right hand side, close to the walk-in larder, a coffee station and built-in microwave takes pride of place, so family members can enjoy refreshments and have the convenience of the supersized Sub-Zero built-in fridge freezer with integrated wine cooler within easy reach.

The centre piece of the kitchen is the beautiful island unit, complete with

Practical & pleasing

a traditional, heavy duty ceramic sink, gold hot water tap and built-in dishwasher. A champagne trough with integrated chopping board storage is ideally placed for leisurely dining. A statement chandelier adds an element of grandeur and thanks to the stepdown living room, the TV screen is at a comfortable height for viewing from the kitchen, so it’s easy to stream home entertainment if required or keep in touch with rolling news from the comfort of one of four bar chairs.

Eye-catching parquet flooring echoes the pale golden tones of the oak timber frame, adding warmth and cohesion to the kitchen and acting as a subtle complementary colour.

Scott Davis, Managing Director, Brandt Design, says “Renovations and remodelling often brings design challenges and we feel that a premium kitchen needs to be personalised and relaxing so that everyone feels at home as soon as they step inside; we therefore look carefully at all the tasks which needed to be done in the space to create an easy work flow and clear sight lines.”

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FEATURE

FEATURE

KITCHEN-LIVING With the popularity of creating open plan spaces in our abodes, especially in the kitchen, it’s easy for homeowners to assume that it’s an easy to create solution for their home. However, do be aware that if the room is not planned carefully to meet with your individual lifestyle it may become a bit of a sense of frustration in the months and years ahead.

“With so much scope for personalisation and design freedom, open plan kitchens have come of age in 2021, with ‘kitchen living’ very much in-vogue this year. Creating a flexible and dynamic space for the family to enjoy together with dedicated areas for cooking, dining and relaxing has become increasingly important in light of the pandemic and we have all had to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic with new pressures like working from home and home schooling” says Mayhul Nandha, Studio Manager and Senior Designer at Brandt Design.

Considering your individual dynamics between cooking, dining and social spaces is vital so that you can work with the proportions of your space and decide if an island unit or dining area best suits you. Being honest about your preferences, leisure activities and cooking style can help you find your perfect match. Following, is a short list of six key considerations to help you decide which may be best for you: Island design: custom made arrangement of kitchen furniture in

a rectangular formation with ample worktops for food prep, drawers and cupboards for storage and space for integrated appliances. Dining areas can be included so that you can sit and chat at the island, if required with plenty of room on the working side of the island so two can cook comfortably together.

Open plan: a Shaker-style kitchen in a bold contemporary blue connects a contrasting island unit for dining and entertaining with the living area a few steps away for relaxation. Easy living is a given thanks to dedicated bespoke storage and a walk-in larder and utility room, Peninsula style: clever space planning ensures a dedicated u-shaped kitchen with bar-style seating on the outside and appliances and cabinets on the inside. Ideal for making the most of natural daylight from a garden room.

Go large: a kitchen island unit can be a welcome addition to a ground floor which is open and flexible to accommodate a busy and sociable household. Choosing bespoke kitchen

furniture ensures that you can colour match it to other elements in your ground floor scheme so that the whole kitchen living area has a cohesive feel and flows nicely..

Easy living: if you’re a sociable cook then seating for your guests is bound to be at the top of your wishlist so that you can enjoy their company while you crack on with the meal. Having an open environment with clear sight lines means that you can enjoy a conversation and others can also lend a hand with food prep.

Comfort first: a linear open-plan kitchen can complement a new extension and effortlessly bring entertainment to the kitchen with custom media units and integrated digital screens. A functional and aesthetically pleasing run of units can easily blend into a living room depending on your style. Remember that every detail counts in a kitchen/ living room so make sure that you consider how the look and feel of your kitchen brassware and appliances will work with the rest of your décor.

“With so much scope for personalisation and design freedom, open plan kitchens have come of age in 2021, with ‘kitchen living’ very much in-vogue this year. Creating a flexible and dynamic space for the family to 13 enjoy together with dedicated areas for cooking, dining and relaxing.”

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FEATURE

Turn over a new leaf Falmec With more and more of us now working from home, air purity indoors has never been more critical for our health and well-being.

But did you know that there is pollution lurking inside our homes as well as outside? Or that it is the kitchen that houses the majority of this unwanted internal pollution?

Called the ‘E.ion System’, this advanced technology is designed to bring natural air back into the home and considerably improve mood and even concentration.

Bacteria, viruses, dust, odours, spores, smoke, fumes and pollen are just a few of the negative particles silently sharing our comfortable, cosy, draught-free homes.

Amazingly, this system ensures that evidence of pollution now becomes visible - in the shape of a leaf.

What’s more, these pollutants are known to contribute to a number of allergies, as well as asthma, hay fever & other respiratory conditions, especially in children and the elderly.

The good news is that help is now at hand in the form of the humble cooker hood. And, in the aftermath of a devastating pandemic, it’s perfect timing.

From leading extraction specialist (and Brandt supplier) Falmec, comes new technology taken from sanitising hospitals and adapted for use in domestic settings.

A leaf sensor symbol appears on the outside of all Falmec’s E.ion System appliances to clearly indicate how clean or polluted the air is in your kitchen.

This sensor will gradually change colour when it detects the presence of any harmful pollutants in your kitchen. A yellow leaf denotes polluted air while a green leaf demonstrates clean air. It’s a visible and reassuring way for you to be fully aware of the purity of air in your kitchen.

In fact, this unique technology is so intuitive that when the sensor detects any deterioration in the air quality,

the hood automatically switches on to purify the air.

In addition, the patented E.ion technology removes any unwanted odours and pollutants, ensuring that an optimal ionic balance is restored. This innovative process brings tangible benefits, not just for improving our general health but also for our mental health and well-being.

Falmec’s hood collection featuring the E.ion System is comprised of elegant wall & island models to enhance the look of any new Brandt kitchen. And it will soon become a great talking point with guests when the leaf changes colour as the hood quietly & efficiently extracts away any unwanted pollutants in your new kitchen.

Choose from iconic products in unique designs, like the aptly-named ‘Marilyn’ with its corrugated ‘skirt’ (shown opposite), as well as the distinctive ‘Zephiro’ or the textured ‘Twister’, available in a subtle choice ➝

“A leaf sensor symbol appears on the outside of all Falmec’s E.ion System appliances to clearly indicate how clean or polluted the air is in your kitchen. This sensor will gradually change colour when it detects the presence of any harmful pollutants in your kitchen. This unique technology is so intuitive that when the sensor detects any deterioration in the air quality, the hood automatically switches on to purify the air.”

FEATURE

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Key benefits of Falmec E.ion hoods: Measures air quality | Air purification | Odour reduction | Neutralises pollution | Moisture reduction Visual leaf display | Auto mode for sensor | Energy efficient | Extremely quiet in operation Precision engineered | Minimal maintenance | Long life | Stunning design options Flexibility for positioning | Certified performance | Only hoods that sanitise the air

of monochrome finishes to blend in with your decor.

Included in Falmec’s exclusive E.ion System range is the Bellaria, an innovative freestanding air purifier that doubles up as a lamp for a stylish and practical interior addition to

any room of the house. The design incorporates glassblowing, an artisan method unique to the island of Murano in Venice near the Falmec factory in Italy.

The Bellaria comes in a choice of 4 colours and has been proven to

reduce bacterial charge by as much as 85%. Particularly suitable for working from home.

Ask your Brandt designer to show you the multiple stunning extractor options now available from Falmec.

To find out how to win a Bellaria air purifier by Falmec for your home or office, turn over to our exclusive competition on page 25. www.falmec.uk

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INTERIOR DESIGNER

Garden Escape If there is one thing we have learnt during the Covid-19 pandemic it’s just how much we value our homes.

And if you are fortunate enough to have a garden, you have probably spent more time in it this past year than you could have ever imagined.

When my husband and I moved into our property with our then, young child, the garden was a space that offered very little opportunity for furniture, especially a table, as it was set on a slope. The layout was impractical, rendering some areas impossible to use, mainly due to the fact that the plot had considerable height differences and the way the previous owners had tried to overcome these problems, if I’m honest, it wasn’t really conducive to our lifestyle.

My initial idea was to delegate the design of my garden as at the time we were working on a number of projects at Tailored Living which left little free time to take care of the design of my own garden. After many conversations

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with my husband and also with a few garden design professionals, we decided to finally go ahead with the garden renovation - a process that took a good few years to complete!

My own experience as an interior designer helped tremendously but if I’m honest, It was a new experience as it was a new experience to in effect, be sitting on both sides of the table. By this I mean that I was planning for myself

INTERIOR DESIGNER but with the advantage of knowing exactly what a designer appreciates from their clients. This experience served as a reminder of how my clients often have a clear and detailed brief of what they have in mind.

At Tailored Living, we study our clients’ briefs thoroughly and translate their dreams and ideas into drawings that we then present to them. Most of our clients recognise their ideas in these

drawings and they become the starting point of their project with little or no modifications at all. However, with my own garden project, and to my surprise, the drawings I was presented with by our chosen contractor didn’t appear to be a representation of my ideas. The proposed space was beautiful but I struggled to identify with it, so I finally decided to tackle the design of the garden myself, thus creating my own drawings. ➝

INTERIOR DESIGNER

The first step was to level the plot as much as possible, which literally involved removing tons of earth. The space I had designed incorporated different zones to facilitate eating, entertaining and relaxing. There was still a couple of variations in the garden’s elevation which I resolved visually with a couple of minimalistic wide stairs and the surface that I selected; stone, grass and timber. This mix of materials, along with the new two levels make the space appear larger than before and definitely more organised. These features also add dimension to the space, making it a considerably more interesting space.

Even though I had a clear idea of what plants and flowers I wanted to have in the new version of my garden, the input of the planting expert I contacted was invaluable.

He recommended the most suitable plants and flowers after taking into consideration the measurements of the planting areas and the amount of light they were likely to receive. Our plants are still growing and seeing their colours pop/change with each new season has been a feast for the eyes.

With regards to the furniture, Tailored Living has been using a fabulous Belgian brand called Cane Line

for many years to furnish our clients outdoors spaces, so when it came to find the pieces that would fill our own garden I knew it had to be supplied by them. Their furniture is elegant and incredibly resistant at the same time, and it perfectly complements the clean lines of my garden.

Once all the elements were in place, the space that originally looked tiny and unappealing had been transformed into a spacious outdoor area. It’s inviting, contemporary and harmonious design has seen us, along with some friends whenever we were allowed, enjoy happier times through the pandemic.

Furniture by Cane Line, supplied by Tailored Living | www.tailored-living.co.uk

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PROFILE - CELEBRITY CHEF

CYRUS TODIWALA Kitchen and home interior specialists Brandt Design has forged a special relationship with celebrity Chef Cyrus Todiwala. The collaboration will yield a host of exciting possibilities including events, cooking school opportunities, competitions, recipes and gourmet cooking tips- so subscribe to Brandt Life to keep yourself informed and who knows potentially win a prize.

For those who are unfamiliar, Cyrus Todiwala is a chef, restaurateur, educationalist, author and entrepreneur. He is recognised for being genial and down-to-earth and his accessible persona masks an encyclopaedic knowledge of food history and cuisine.

Together with his wife Pervin,Cyrus oversees the running of four restaurants. Café Spice Namaste,a 25-year old institution, is the world’s longest running Michelin BIB Gourmand restaurant (‘good food, good value’) and will soon reopen in Royal Albert Wharf. Two hotel restaurants bear his name: Mr Todiwala’s.

Kitchen at the deluxe Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, and Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen at the Lincoln Plaza London, part of the Hilton Curio Collection. Mr Todiwala’s Petiscos in Buckhurst Hill is a small neighbourhood restaurant located in the London-Essex border specialising on heritage Portuguese-influenced Goan cuisine.

Following a traditional boarding school education in Maharashtra, India, Cyrus decided on a road less travelled, completing four years of classical chef training in Bombay. He began his career as a hotel chef with the Taj Group, rising to Executive Chef of the sprawling Fort Aguada

Beach Resort & Taj Holiday Village in Goa. In the early 1990’s, he immigrated to London taking with him his young family. Almost immediately, his culinary gifts and boundless energy impressed the food cognoscenti and helped to reshape Britain’s then limited expectations of Indian cuisine.

He has since inspired a generation of Asian chefs, many of whom have gone on to open their own restaurants.

Cyrus is a staunch advocate of education and training; Café Spice Namaste was the first ever restaurant in the UK to win a National Training

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Award and an ‘Investors in People’ gold champion. Today, he personally mentors, chef apprentices and provides work experience training for a number of student chefs. Other issues close to his heart include social responsibility, sustainability, buying British, food, waste minimisation, and healthy eating. As an environmental pioneer, he has won several awards including the Sustainability Champion award from the London Chamber of Commerce and Corporation of London.

Cyrus has written seven cookbooks, including the best-selling ‘Simple Spice Vegetarian’ published in March 2020. His line of hand-crafted, limited-edition condiments, oils, spice blends and sauces under the Mr Todiwala’s brand are increasingly

PROFILE - CELEBRITY CHEF

coveted by professional and home cooks alike.

He appears regularly on Talk FM, BBC Radio London, BBC Saturday Kitchen and the BBC 4 Food Programme, which awarded him the Food Personality of the Year at its 2014 Food & Farming Awards.

In 2015, he formed one half of the ‘Incredible Spicemen’, appearing on a BBC TV series of the same name alongside Tony Singh MBE.

student chef competition he founded with Pervin in collaboration with the Master Chefs of Great Britain. Now on its ninth year, Zest Quest Asia aims to develop students’ skills, knowledge and understanding of classical Asian cuisine and raise its profile as a future career. In 2021, he was named Group Chef Ambassador of The Clink Charity.

Cyrus is an Ambassador of charities and in line with the Parsee ethos of philanthropy (‘Good fortune is for him who makes others happy’), Cyrus has devoted much of his time and energy to missions he believes in.

Cyrus has an MBE for his services to education and training and an OBE for services to the catering and hospitality industry. As a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London, he assists the Lord Lieutenant in the fulfilment of social and civic duties carried out on behalf of HM The Queen.

One of these is Zest Quest Asia, the

www.cafespice.co.uk

WIN ONE OF THESE STATE OF THE ART FALMEC BELLARIA INDOOR AIR PURIFIERS WORTH £850!!

Created by world-renowned designer, Marco Zito, the Bellaria removes harmful bacteria by eliminating impurities that could cause irritation and restoring the ionic balance for fresh, clean indoor air.

Now here is your chance to win a unique Falmec Bellaria indoor purifier by simply subscribing to receive Brandt Life magazine once a quarter.

The lucky winner can select from a choice of four trendy colours, red, yellow, white or grey.

To enter, click on the link below.

CLICK HERE 25 The competition will be closed and the winner announced six weeks from the date of magazine publication / distribution

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PROFILE

GETTING TO KNOW YOU Sarah Cole In this issue of Brandt Life we feature Sarah who recently joined Brandt Design as Head of Installations. We thought you might like to know about Sarah, her background and what she brings to the team and its customers.

Tell us a little about your experience Sarah?

I have some eleven years of Project Management experience behind me which began in Operations/IT and then moving into bespoke joinery for commercial fit outs.

What is your work credo?

I thrive on being organised and working in a methodical manner and so Project Management is a perfect fit for me – and my customers of course!

Wanting to get to know you better, Can you tell us a bit about your background beyond work?

I grew up on a farm and therefore have a love of animals and the countryside. So much so, that even as I got older, I would still help out around the farm in the summer holidays.

Tell us a something about yourself that may surprise those who don’t know you so well?

I was a special constable, rising to sergeant in Essex Police for over four years! I policed my local community which was very rewarding and I even made lifelong friends along the way.

Marital status?

I’ve been married for eight years. I met my husband through work when he managed a large office installation on a project I was running.

What would be an ideal holiday for you?

That’s easy, my favourite ever holiday was when we drove across Europe, through the alps down to Rome and back. The sites and views were amazing and we will definitely do it again one day.

Any personal achievements?

One of my personal achievements was completing the London Moonwalk, walking a marathon, in 2018 for Breast cancer. It was an amazing experience and I may even do it again one day. ➝

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Any other personal interests?

I am a huge car enthusiast! When it comes to vehicles, I love anything and everything from old school Ford Escorts to American hot rods but my main passion are Mini’s.

My husband and I have recently customised his R53 JCW where I have restored all the interior and upholstery.

My other passion is motorsport (cars again ha ha), especially Formula 1 and I’m a big fan of British drivers Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris (yes, I know he’s half Belgian). In the old days it was Nigel Mansell.

I have my dad to thank for having such an interest in cars as he was a big influence on me.

One final question please Sarah.

What can your customers expect from you?

I am extremely, organised, efficient

and have great empathy for my clients which I think is essential quality in being successful as a Head of Installations. Getting it right in the first place is what we all strive to achieve but installing a kitchen is a major project and on a rare occasion, little things can happen.

Understanding how these can impact a customer and dealing with it and communicating in a friendly way gets things resolved quickly and amicably.

I look forward to meeting a few of you in the future perhaps.

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WHAT’S NEW

NEWS / TESTIMONIALS New Additions to the Growing Brandt Team The Brandt Design family has two new ‘offspring’ in Sarah Cole who joined the team on 1st June as Head of Installations. Sarah has moved from a business called Edward Williams which specialises in bespoke furniture for commercial offices.

Vincent Barlow arrived just a week later on 7th June as Project Manager.

Vincent brings some twenty years of industry experience to Brandt, having previously worked with established brands including Modus, Harvey Jones, Alno, Ellis furniture and Crownwood Furniture.

We wish them both a long and fulfilling stay with the company.

Testimonials Dear Scott, We thought it important to tell you how pleased we were with our kitchen project. From the very start, Mayhul was very professional in all aspects and responsive to all our queries and issues. We really felt he cared about making us happy that we chose Brandt and Hacker.

Rob entered the scene during the installation, and again, was very professional, courteous and supportive throughout the process.

Saulius, the installer was a true gentleman and nothing was too much to ask of him.

You may know, we did have a few small issues but all were sorted with ease and we are delighted with the final result.

Many, many thanks to you and your team, and please feel free to use us as a reference.

Winter issue winner

Best to you and your family,

The lucky winner of the amazing prize in Brandt Life winter issue is Caroline Choo of Central London who says, “Thank you for the lovely Wolf Gourmet appliances, I’m delighted! We’re enjoying using them already and I have loved using the blender for smoothies in the morning.”

Caroline Choo, London WC1

Lori and Davina p.s. Davina is in the process of answering a Which survey about newly installed kitchens and her responses are only the most positive, which reflects our satisfaction.

Find us on social media

falmec.com

E.ION SYSTEM. THE ONLY HOODS THAT SANITISE THE AIR.

The hoods of the E.ion system collection release ions into the environment to neutralise odours, bacteria, pollen, viruses and other harmful pollutants in the kitchen.

By correcting the ionic balance, air purity considerably improves, as does your health & well-being.

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RECIPE

BANANA & THRICE-COOKED POTATO IN YOGURT DAHI MAY KAELA AUR TEEN BAR TALAY HUAY ALOO A simple preparation of pan-fried banana and potatoes, gently spiced and blended with yogurt. The frying and cooking of bananas or plantains is usually thought of as South Indian, but in several parts of India this practice is also common, and among us Parsees, fried, nicely caramelized plantains were a usual sight on the dining table with daal and rice. It was a cheaper option than putting meat on the table.

Serve on its own with hot chapattis or parathas or as an accompaniment.

Ingredients | Serves 4

Method

Potatoes 4 large, peeled and cubed

1 Place the potato cubes in salted boiling water for 6–8 minutes or until cooked.

Drain and leave in the colander to allow them to dry out.

Extra-virgin rapeseed oil or ghee 4–5 tablespoons Bananas 4–5 or plantains 2 large, cut into 1cm (1/2in) slices Asafoetida ¼ teaspoon (optional) Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon Red chilli powder ¾ teaspoon Fresh ginger 5cm (2in) piece, peeled, finely chopped and crushed Spring onions 2–3, thickly sliced Thick yogurt 5–6 tablespoons Water 2 tablespoons Ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon Fresh mint a few leaves Fresh coriander a few sprigs

s u o i c i l De

2 Heat the oil or ghee in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Do not overheat – heat just until you see a very light haze form on the surface. Cooking a few of the potatoes at a time, sauté until all the sides are nicely browned, about 3–4 minutes. Remove the cubes as they brown and place back in the colander, this time with a bowl underneath to collect any oil or ghee. Repeat the process with more of the cubes.

3 When they are all browned, wipe off any bits of potato sticking to the pan, pour the collected oil or ghee in the bowl back into it and reheat.

4 Once the pan is hot, repeat the process with the banana, letting the pieces caramelize well and flipping them over with a fork when one side is done. Keep an eye on them as they can quickly burn. Lift out of the pan and place on a plate lined with kitchen paper to let drain.

5 Reheat any oil or ghee left in the pan, add the asafoetida, if using, and cumin seeds and stir-fry for a minute or until the seeds splutter. Add the chilli powder, ginger and spring onion and sauté until pale, 1–2 minutes, then add the potato and banana and toss for a minute or two.

6 Gently mix the yogurt with the water and the ground cinnamon and pour over the potato mixture.

7 Mix well, add some seasoning and cover the pan. Let simmer for 3–4 minutes until the yogurt has broken down and everything is well cooked. Add the mint and coriander, mix well and serve. www.cafespice.co.uk Recipe by Cyrus Todiwala and kindly supplied by Octopus Publishing Group Ltd Photography by Matt Russell

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