Interiors Monthly April 2015

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April 2015

Interiors first for flooring, furniture and accessories

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Andrew Kidd EDITOR

Spending signs Consumers have certainly been spending – at the multiples at least – with retailers posting impressive sales performances The past few weeks have brought a flurry of sales figures from major interiors retailers (see page 6) and with them confirmation of encouraging performances.

DFS continues to increase its market share, ScS has sold more sofas, Next’s home stores are outperforming clothing and furniture was the best home sector for John Lewis.

For flooring, ScS has enjoyed a doubledigit rise in carpet sales, flooring has done well at John Lewis, and Topps Tiles has lifted turnover again.

Among flooring suppliers, Headlam has boosted profits and sales, with 2014’s growth continuing into 2015 (see page 8).

Of course, there are always things that can be improved – DFS’s sales mix was lower, ScS saw half-year losses increase and for Next

monthly

Editor: Andrew Kidd T: 01273 930 029 E: akidd@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

April 2015

Interiors

£2.4m of profit disappeared because of breakages – but it does seem the sector is enjoying its best health for quite a while.

General elections are traditionally thought to cause a wobble as consumers think about what a new government will do, but this month’s freeing up of pension pots is bound to see some of that cash make its way into shop tills to compensate for any pre-election caution.

One thing that isn’t showing any caution is the number of iSalone and Fuorisalone invites that have been filling my inbox, as the number of city-centre events continues to increase. We’ll be bringing you the best from Milan in next month’s issue but you can whet your appetite with highlights on pages 78-79 of this issue.

We’ve also previewed the Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show (see pages 73-76) as it cements its place as the UK’s second retail flooring event after The Flooring Show, and May Design Series (see pages 80-81), which has boosted its number of overseas exhibitors.

Once you’ve enjoyed those, remember to cast your votes in the Interiors Monthly 2015 Awards (see page 16).

first for flooring, furniture and accessories

Furniture advertising (South): Tim Boden T: 01732 441 130 E: tboden@interiorsmonthly.co.uk Register for the Buying Groups' National Flooring Show at: www.bgnfs.co.uk

Furniture advertising (North): Jarrod Bird T: 01565 631 397 E: jbird@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Carpet, flooring, lighting and accessories advertising: Joanne Paull T: 01732 441 130 E: jpaull@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Rugs Golden times

Upholstery On the up

THE PLACE TO BE THIS MAY! SO MUCH TO SEE...

Visit www.bgnfs.co.uk to register

FURNITURE

FLOORING

BEDS

CARPET

RUGS

ACCESSORIES

Published by Interiors Media Limited Minerva House, Kinnings Row, Bordyke, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1NP T: 01732 441 130 F: 01732 362 919 E: enquiries@interiorsmonthly.co.uk Registered in England no. 6397722 Print: Knockout Print Design by TSS DIGITAL © Interiors Media Limited ISSN 1756-2236

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CONTENTS

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“A Whole Quarter of Annual Turnover in 3 Weekends!”

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“4 Months Business in 17 Days Has to be Seen to be Believed!”

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“A Staggering 118% of last year’s Turnover in 3 weeks.”

John Davis, M.D. The Bedroom Centre, Malvern & Worcester

“If You Embace the ‘GREENWOOD WAY’, You Get the Results.”

James Pike, M.D. Cookes of Erdington & Christchurch

“It’s a No-Brainer. Our 5th Greenwood Sale Smashed the Last One!”

INTERIORS MONTHLY APRIL 2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6

Good times for retailers

8

Retailer blames delivery firm for collapse

12

‘Open season for design theft’

FEATURES 16

Awards Cast your votes in the Interiors Monthly 2015 Awards

24

Rugs

David Carroll, M.D. Abey Furnishing Co. Grimsby

Kilims reinvented, golden touch, rate of knots and

“We Surpassed Our Last Big Sale with 3 Months Business in Just 2 Weeks!”

the latest designs

David Morrison, Planet Furniture, Glenrothes.

“Don’t Hire a Sales Company Until You Have Spoken to Greenwood” Allow us the opportunity to explain how Greenwood is your number one choice to optimise your next big sales event. Learn why Greenwood has for years, worked with more quality Uk & Irish retailers just like you, on more sales events, than any other company of its kind, in the world.

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Royal Warrants How the royal seal of approval helps business

41

Wood and laminate Glamour and urban cool: the latest styles

42

Upholstery Increasing sales, fabric first and details matter

48

LVT Series Three for LooseLay and rooms for all

52

Protection Ensuring the best customer service

60

Beds and bedroom Which? approval, next generation and reinvention

68

Software Making life easier

73

Preview Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show, May Design Series and iSalone/Fuorisalone

REGULARS 17

Warranties

18

New Products

NEXT ISSUE iSalone review Carpet

GREENWOOD RETAIL LTD

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NEWS

Good times for retailers Interiors retailers, including DFS, ScS, John Lewis and Next, have enjoyed strong sales growth in recent months.

DFS saw total sales jump by 10.5% to £431.2m in the six months to 31 January. Of this DFS accounted for 9.1% of the rise with Sofa Workshop and Dwell increasing sales by £5.46m. Online sales were up from 9.7% of sales to 10.9%.

Underlying profits lifted by 16.5% to £27.6m, in what is the quieter and less profitable of the two halves for the group. Gross margin on sales decreased slightly compared to last year, reflecting price points and product sales mix effects, but overall gross profits rose by 16.5% to £45.9m.

The 13 stores covered by its Scottish consumer distributions centre will be fitted out shortly and leases have been signed on units in the North East and Central Southern England.

Upholstery and flooring chain ScS had its highest level of orders for this time of year but losses have risen. Like for like orders climbed by 7.5% in the 33 weeks to 14 March after a first half rise of 7.8%.

Operating losses, excluding the cost of its stock market flotation, rose from £3.4m to £5.2m as it spent more on advertising, online, promotions and its 30 House of Fraser concessions.

Flooring sales were up by 12.7% (£1.6m), upholstery sales by 5.1% (£5m), three new stores had sales of £2m, online sales increased by 27.6% (£1m) and the House of Fraser concessions from £1.5m to £8.8m as it was rolled out.

Promotions, such as the ‘free carpet’ during the winder sale, saw gross margins fall 0.5% to 43.5%.

Home continued to perform for Next, with the chain able to boost margins while outperforming clothing.

A planned hike on the margin on furniture sales increased its overall margin by 0.3% to 16.3% in the year to the end of January. But this was offset by £2.4m of stock damage,

DFS is among the retailers enjoying growth

particularly flatpack furniture including items returned to stores and a £900,000 sofa recall.

Home stores opened in the past year delivered sales 13% higher than targets compared with 9% for clothing, with a 20% margin and 21-month capital payback. Total sales rose by 7.2% to £4.02bn with underlying pre-tax profits up 12.5% to £782.2m.

At John Lewis, furniture was the best performing home category in the past year, with a 12.8% increase in the 53 weeks to 31 January. Flooring was up by 6.1% as home sales increased by 7.2%. Its House range grew by 24.2%.

Total sales were up 9.2% to £4.43bn (7.5% on a 52-week basis) combined with growth in operating profit, up 10.8% to £250.5m (10.4% on a 52-week basis).

Despite the John Lewis performance, the staff ‘s Partnership bonus will fall from 15% to 11% as Waitrose’s profits suffered in the supermarket price wars.

Flooring and tile retailer Topps Tiles said it expected sales will be about £104m for the six-month period ending 28 March, compared with £97.7m last year, a rise of 6.4%. Like for like sales will be 5.2% higher at the 339 store chain. Like for like growth in the past two years is more than 15%.

Consumer Superbrand status for interiors firms

Napoli 1200 was named a Which? Best Buy

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

Bed company Sealy’s Napoli 1200 has secured the Which?

Best Buy accolade in the pocket spring mattress category for the third consecutive year (see p60) while the brand has been recognised as one of the UK’s 21 interiors consumer Superbrands.

Sister brand Silentnight Beds won the Superbrands Household – Beds and Bedroom Furniture category for the 10th consecutive time.

B&Q won the Retail – DIY, Gardens and Homes sector;

John Lewis was the winner of Retail – Department Stores and General Retailers, as well as being the sixth strongest overall brand behind British Airways, Rolex, BBC, Microsoft and Nike.

The other interiors Superbrands were Argos, Debenhams, Dulux, Habitat, Homebase, House of Fraser, Ikea, Lakeland, Marks & Spencer, Pyrex, Royal Doulton, Royal Worcester, Screwfix, Slumberland, Tempur, Waterford, Wedgwood and Wickes.

We have enhanced the Diamond collection with the introduction of a premium 4000 pocket sprung memory wool mattress for superior style and comfort.

To ďŹ nd out more about the Diamond Collection please contact your local area manager or our dedicated customer contact centre on 01282 851111 or visit www.silentnight.co.uk/diamond

NEWS

Monsterbeds vows to fulfil all orders Online bed retailer Monsterbeds has promised to fulfil outstanding orders or refund customers after blaming the collapse of City Link for its closure.

It has stopped taking orders saying the demise of the delivery company ruined its cashflow.

Daniel King, Monsterbeds md, says the administration of City Link on Christmas Eve meant it was unable to fulfil orders so customers claimed their money back through their bank.

This led to it being unable to process orders and suppliers then withdrew their support.

‘Because chargeback levels went above 1% our merchant service terminated our account, saying it would be 118 days before we could access our funds,’ says King.

‘When I heard the news about City Link on Christmas Day, I thought it would be all right, we thought there would be a way around it. But it is

Headlam sees winter growth Flooring group Headlam is to reward shareholders with a double-digit boost to its dividend after strong performance, which has continued into 2015.

Operating profits climbed by 13.7% to £31.5m in 2014 as sales rose by 5.3% to £635.2m. Dividends for the period will rise 14.4% to 17.5p. The group says it continued to grow UK market share with UK like for like sales up 5.9% in a market it estimates grew by 2.4%.

‘The momentum created in the UK through the final quarter has continued into January and February,’ says Tony Brewer, Headlam chief executive, ‘with 3.1% like for like growth over the two month period. As we enter March, our UK businesses are well placed to take advantage of improving market conditions with a comprehensive array of product launches and marketing initiatives.’

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

very hard finding people to deliver beds these days. It took us two months to set up an arrangement with a different courier, and then, after all the deliveries had been labelled up, they said they no longer delivered beds. You would have thought the clue was in our name.’

Eleven staff have lost their jobs as a result.

‘I’m doing all I can to save the company, but I don’t know whether we will be able to get through this,’ he says.

As recently as 5 March the company was advertising discounted beds after running a clearance sale in January.

Rates to be reviewed The Government has launched a review into business rates, following its announcement last December.

Retailers have long called for changes to the system that can be traced back to 1601, which bases the cost on the rental value of the property.

Companies are still being charged on the value of properties in 2008 and were told by the Chancellor in December that any changes to the system would be fiscally neutral.

‘The time has come for a radical review of this important tax. We want to ensure the business rates system is fair, efficient and effective,’ says Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the treasury.

John Cridland, CBI director-general, has stated that the present system is ‘outmoded, clunky and regressive and holding back the high street.’

‘We’ll be making the case for removing the smallest firms from paying business rates completely and introducing more frequent valuations,’ he says.

The review is due to be completed in time for next year’s budget.

Heal’s swaps King’s for Queens Heal’s has closed it King’s Road, London store and will open a branch at The Queens Building in Westbourne Grove three miles away.

The King’s Road store closed last month, while the new branch will open in the former art deco cinema in the summer.

The retailer is also is investing in a website launching this month, and its flagship Tottenham Court Road store is being redeveloped.

Recent improvements include the introduction of a Designer Floor on level two which is now home to seven international brands, including Cassina, Ligne Roset, Vitra, Riva and Philippe Starck’s new collection TOG, which is exclusive to Heal’s.

‘We are two years into a programme of change to ensure Heal’s remains at the forefront of British design, and more importantly, to put the customer at the centre of all we do. Shopping habits have

Heal’s new home in Westbourne Grove

changed beyond recognition in the past 10 years and we needed to respond to the new consumer digital age and how customers research and shop,’ says Will Hobhouse, Heal’s chairman.

‘Service, whether online or in-store, is paramount and we know that the changes we are making will ensure we’re at the top of our game. Our design advisers and store staff at King’s Road will be absorbed into the business wherever possible.’

With their award winning designled ethos, Gallery has always looked forward to the future, predicting trends and continuing to stay ahead of up-and-coming interior styles.

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Gallery has grown since 1973 to become a leading British-based GHVLJQHU PDQXIDFWXUHU DQG ZRUOGZLGH GLVWULEXWRU RI KRPH GĂƒFRU and furniture. With over 40 years of manufacturing expertise, Gallery has extensive knowledge and experience putting quality central, every time. Couple this with the wealth of expertise brought to the company by the Frank Hudson acquisition, it is easy to see how Gallery now offers such an outstanding range of high quality, yet value focused products.

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Look for the Buttery

Unstoppable StainAway First of the 2015 new product launches For the New Year Associated Weavers promised you product launches with flair and imagination and we’ve opened our account with the new trendy Studio Twist – a smart 1,150 gram polypropylene carpet that’s tipped to be a best seller this season. Studio Twist is an attractive addition to our hugely successful StainAway Collection and gives retailers a carpet that will be at home in any room of the house, produced

in 4m and 5m money saving widths, incorporating a 15 year StainAway Guarantee and a 15 year wear warranty. Look out for more new StainAway products in 2015 and plenty of new colours in existing top selling ranges. Ask your Associated Weavers area sales manager to show you Studio Twist as soon as possible, and there are more StainAway POS and warranty brochures available.

Park Lane – posh and profitable

Associated Weavers Sales: 01422 431100 Email: salesuk@awe.be

If you take a stroll down fashionable Park Lane this spring you’re in for a pleasant surprise! Our flagship 80/20 wool twist range has enjoyed a colour makeover including five additions to create an on-trend palette of 23 options. Also Park Lane’s 50oz Elegance and 40oz Classic weights are now available in multiwidth, 2m, 2.5m, 3m, 4m and 5m to deliver a carpet that’s both posh and profitable buy saving less waste and increasing affordability.

StainAway warranties Don’t forget to utilise the StainAway warranties available to you. These warranties offer peace of mind to the consumer and are a useful selling tool to the store to help the retailer up-sell.

We have three warranties available, 20 year, 15 year and 10 year, these are used on all of the vast array of Associated Weavers StainAway products.

Studio Twist

“

A fabulous new range for any room in the home,

a great addition to our StainAway brand.

Simon Lewyckyj Commercial Manager Associated Weavers

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NEWS

Court fee rise means ‘open season for design theft’ Companies face a major increase in the cost of protecting their intellectual property, which could mean ‘open season for design theft’.

The Government has introduced percentage issue fees for claims over £10,000, calculated as 5% of the value of the claim, up to a maximum of £10,000. Previously the maximum issue fee was £1,920 for claims of more than £300,000.

‘What this means for IP claims is stark. When an IP claim is issued there are two court fees that must be paid. The first is for the injunction – to stop the infringer, and the second is the claim for damages that follows, if infringement is found.

As a defendant is not bound to tell a claimant what they have been doing until after infringement is proven, calculating accurately what a claim is worth is nigh on impossible, so in order not to be limited in the amount of

damages which can be claimed the issue fee has always been in the unspecified bracket,’ says Dids Macdonald, Anti Copying in Design ceo.

‘For IP infringement in plain terms this now means the court fees are going up from £2,200 or £2,400 to £10,280 or £10,480 depending on the court (Intellectual Property Enterprise Court or High Court respectively). This is disastrous for small businesses and designers who are the subject of design theft. Small businesses will need help to pay for any claims they want to bring because the effect of the increase in court fees is, in reality, open season for design theft.

‘After such strides have been made to improve UK design law in recent times, it seems ludicrous that many in the creative industries may now be precluded from taking action on infringement because of exorbitant court fees.’

Market leader hoping for profit Late shift for NIFS

people

Ireland’s largest furniture retailer has cut its losses by almost €4m and could make its first profit next year.

Harvey Norman saw sales rise by 4% to €149.2m in the year to the end of June 2014, with like for like sales up 8%. The chain has two stores in Northern Ireland and a dozen in the Republic of Ireland, and cut losses from €11m to €7.4m.

Its Australian parent says losses halved in the second half of last year, suggesting it could be on course to make its first

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Interfloor has strengthened its management with the recruitment of John Cooper as md. He joins from leading barbecue brand Weber, having previously worked at Hozelock, AAH, and ABF. ‘I’m delighted to be joining the company at this time of exciting development. The existing management team has done a great job steering the business with amazing success through some very challenging market conditions since

profit since entering the market more than a decade ago during which time it has lost €106m.

‘The Irish economy is showing signs of stability and growth. The tough austerity measures, which have impacted the retail sector negatively, have improved the fiscal position. Now that these measures are coming to an end we anticipate that consumer sentiment will continue to improve,’ says the company accounts.

The Northern Ireland Flooring Show is to switch to a late afternoon and evening format, to attract retailers after work.

Organised by distributor PFL, it will take place from 3pm-9pm at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Belfast on 16 April. More than 20 companies are taking part including Ardex, Cormar, Desso, F Ball, Floorwise, Forbo, Polyflor and Rhinofloor.

‘We appreciate that everyone is busy so we’ve reinvented the exhibition format,’ says Sean Haugh, PFL md.

2008, and we are now poised to embrace the opportunities that the improving market conditions give us by focusing even more on exceptional service and strong brand support,’ says Cooper. ‘We have robust processes, great products, great brands, great people, and a strong financial backbone. We are well placed to help our customers take advantage of the significant growth opportunity that stems from rising consumer confidence in the home improvement market,’ he says.

Cooper will report to chairman Phil Reeder.

chairman of tiles and flooring retailer Topps Tiles. Shapland succeeded Michael Jack last month, who stepped down after three and a half years as chairman and more than a decade as a director. Shapland is currently chairman of Poundland and Maplin and a director at Ladbrokes and Wolseley.

Former Carpetright chief executive Darren Shapland has become

Smallbone of Devizes and Mark Wilkinson owner Canburg has

Interiors Monthly April 2015

Nick Gigg, Swanglen national sales manager, has taken responsibility for customer accounts and sales at the headboard and beds company.

This follows the retirement of md Martin Allen at the end of March.

recruited Iain O’Mahony from Linley, where he built up its fitted furniture division. O’Mahony returns to the group as director for prime developments for London, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Velda has named Simon Rexworthy as agent for the South West and Richard Piercey as agent for East Anglia.

Serene Living has named Graham Morley (left) as sales representative for the North of England.

The Urban Collection. For enquiries, please contact barry.webb@furnitureorigins.co.uk or call: 07702 603971

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AWARDS

Pick your favourites RETAILERS TO COMPLETE ONLY Best Customer Service (Furniture)

Best Vinyl Manufacturer Best Luxury Vinyl Supplier

Best UK Furniture Manufacturer Best Flooring Exhibition Best Overseas Furniture Manufacturer Best Flooring Website Best Furniture Buying Group Best Flooring Wholesaler Best Accessory Supplier Best Software Supplier Best Bed Manufacturer Best Finance Provider Best Bedroom Manufacturer Best Supply Chain/Logistics Company Best Dining Room Manufacturer Best Business Support (Flooring) Best Living Room Manufacturer Best Business Support (Furniture) Best Children’s Furniture Manufacturer Best Marketing Support Best Fabric Upholstery Manufacturer Best New Exhibition Best Leather Upholstery Manufacturer Innovation of the Year Best Furniture Wholesaler Best Mattress Manufacturer Best Fabric/Soft Furnishings Manufacturer Best Recliner Manufacturer Best Furniture Exhibition Best Home Entertainment Supplier Best Furniture Website Best New Supplier Best Customer Service (Flooring) Product of the Year Best UK Flooring Manufacturer Best Overseas Flooring Manufacturer

SUPPLIERS TO COMPLETE ONLY Best Flooring Retailer (1-2 stores)

Best Flooring Buying Group

Best Flooring Retailer (3+ stores)

Best Carpet Manufacturer

Best Furniture Retailer (1-2 stores)

Best Rug Supplier

Best Furniture Retailer (3+ stores)

Best Laminate Manufacturer

Best Online Retailer

Best Solid/Engineered Wood Manufacturer

Please fax your completed form to 01732 362 919 or email your nominations to: akidd@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Best Underlay Manufacturer

Name Company

Best Flooring Accessory Supplier

Position Tel

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

Email

WARRANTIES

Your questions answered Helen Kershaw, Guardsman head of marketing, answers your questions on product protection

Q

We’ve had a couple of potential customers ask us about warranties and we weren’t sure how to answer them. The first is replacing her dining table and she mentioned that she has two large dogs that sometimes jump on to the table. She asked if she bought a warranty with the table, whether she would be covered if the dogs scratched it.

The second customer wondered if they would be covered if while redecorating (they are about to move house) paint was spilled on their new furniture?

A protection plan is an insurance policy that provides cover against accidental damage, accidental staining and structural faults. As the normal use of a table is not intended to be suitable for dogs jumping on it, then the first incident would be considered an accident and therefore be covered.

However, as with all insurance policies, there are certain principals that apply, one of which is the fact that you cannot insure yourself against something that you know is going to happen. Subsequent occurrences would be considered neglect, and any claim declined because you knew it would happen and failed to take adequate precautions to prevent the dog from damaging the table.

Your second customer should rest assured that a Guardsman protection plan would provide cover for a spillage of paint on to the furniture while decorating. However, as with the previous example, there is the expectation that the householder takes adequate precautions to protect their furniture. In this case, if the furniture is staying in the room while decorating was being carried out, it should be well covered with dustsheets. If, in spite of the precautions, a spillage still occurred then this would certainly be covered.

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Copyright 2014 Lynch Brothers Licensing Corporation

NEW PRODUCTS

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1 Comfort Zone’s Renaissance combines comfort and durability, featuring a heattreated spring unit composed of two parts.

The base of the unit has cone-shaped coils supporting a sprung pad designed for upholstery. On top, a seat cushion features Reflex foam for support and resilience.

Tel: 01282 452 188 2 Lano Carpets has added Granada, a saxony in 15 natural and on-trend colours, to its Premium Easy Care Collection. Using 100% heatset polypropylene for durability and a more wool-like appearance and spun in a

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

two-ply yarn for better resilience, Granada promises great everyday performance.

Tel: 00 800 5266 5266 3 Sweet Dreams’ California is available in three-seater, two-seater and chair options all with scatter cushions. It is available in three colourways.

Tel: 01282 830 033 4 Already featuring herringbone of Toulouse, Leoline’s Woodmark collection has been updated for 2015 with the bleached look of Azur and the stripped pine of Cardassian

(pictured), bringing a cushion floor collection packed full of on-trend looks, available in 2m, 3m and 4m widths.

Tel: 0800 032 3970 5 Lothian Wool Berber & Stripes from Balta Broadloom, brings the popularity of coordinated styles in the appeal, luxury and resilience of 100% British wool. The 4m and 5m carpet is available in eight natural Berber colourways and four coordinating stripes that have a 2.5cm repeat ideal for stairs, hallways and landings.

Tel: 00 32 5662 2211

Perfect performers and famous for bringing pure luxury, warmth and comfort to the home, Tredaire underlays are designed to keep carpets looking good and feeling fabulous for longer.

The Tredaire range features outstanding levels of comfort and performance so every carpet gives that ‘on air’ feeling. That’s why Tredaire is the UK’s biggest selling underlay brand - the market leader!

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NEW PRODUCTS

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6 The Bo Bohemian collection from Louis de Poortere features two designs in Flowers and Tribal. The worn vintage feel of Flowers comes in four neutral shades with Bourges Brown, Glastonbury Grey, Paleo Persian and Woodstock White, as well as the impactful Roskil Red. The patchwork nomadic rework of Tribal comes in seven bold hues.

Visit: www.louisdepoortere.com 7 The Quick-Step website received 24,000 requests through its Find an Installer page in 2014, all of which go straight to Quick-Step Master Installers across the UK. Qualified at the Academy for Excellence in Flooring, the Master Installers are recognised by consumers as the best tradesmen to install their new Quick-Step floor, whether wood, laminate or LVT. Visit: www.quick-step-academy.co.uk 8 The made in the UK Optima underlay from Floorwise delivers commercial environments ultra durable underfoot comfort and carpet protection, helping to extend the life of carpets in busy areas such

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

as hotel receptions, corridors and bar areas.

Thanks to its dense rubber crumb construction, Optima is the benchmark in high performance underlay for the most demanding of environments.

Tel: 01509 673 974 9 Polyflor’s Polysafe Wood fx PUR decorative safety vinyl flooring was installed in the reception area, dining room and hair salon of the Winchcombe Place care home in Newbury, Berkshire, which won a SBID International Design Award for New Build and Development. European Oak 3347 shade was chosen to create a welcoming, inspirational and comfortable atmosphere.

Tel: 0161 767 1111 10 Breaking with the convention that tombolas all have to look the same, this new tubular construction with swappable full height graphics is created to maximise the strong appeal of Crown Floors within stores. It can hold 74 carpet samples (14in x 18in), and being on wheels is mobile.

Tel: 0800 077 3301

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PREFACE Collection

FRENCH MANUFACTURER

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PARIS

DELHI

GENEVA

MOSCOW

LONDON

TORONTO

RIYADH

CASABLANCA

NEW PRODUCTS

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12 11 Himalaya has introduced a tombola showcasing its range of natural yarn carpets, including Apollo and Ares featuring yak hair that offers excellent thermal insulation, humidity regulation, softness, resilience and durability. A myriad of styles await retailers, from beautiful

Sun 9.30am-5pm Mon 9am-5pm Tue 9am-5pm

chunky and multi-level loops to luxurious Saxony styles.

Tel: 07976 607 657

that is housed in a former power station (see Interiors Monthly, January 2015).

Visit: www.kare-design.com

12 Architecture is Kare Design’s latest collection, inspired by the 1970s and the interior of its flagship Munich store

13 Riva 1920’s Infinity table has a two-step extension system that can extend by 60cm or 120cm as it combines 2.7cm walnut

NEW PRODUCTS

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boards with aluminium U-shaped legs.

Visit: www.riva1920.it 14 Meritalia’s Opera, to be launched at iSalone this month, asks ‘Who said that a table is a flat surface with four legs, that a table can’t make you think, that a table can’t

15

have a double life: above and below the flat surface and that by now all tables have already been invented?’

Visit: www.meritalia.it 15 The sculptural back of Cane-line’s Amaze bench is a minor work of art, while at the

same time ensuring excellent comfort through its curved shape. The chairs and bench’s wide armrests add to the comfort and also accommodate cups. Specially designed cushions are available for both bench and chairs.

Visit: www.cane-line.com

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RUGS

Geometric medley A different take on kilims from Nani Marquina The Mélange collection by fashion and homeware designer Sybilla for Nani Marquina sets out to reinterpret the kilim, with 20 contradictory rugs that complement each other.

Due to be launched at iSalone in Milan this month, Mélange has four designs: Zoom and Stripes toy with the extreme amplification of graphics; Color is a study of proportions among coloured surfaces; and Pattern features geometric prints in white, black and

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

red. The collection has coordinated ottomans and a giant patchwork effect is achieved by overlaying the rugs.

Thanks to the simplification of classic motifs such as geometric patterns and a pared colour palette, Mélange is a contemporary version of the kilim. The rugs are hand woven with 100% hand-spun Afghan wool with 156,000 knots per sqm and a weight of 1.4kg per sqm.

Visit: www.nanimarquina.com

Zoom: a patchwork effect is achieved by overlaying the rugs

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RUGS

Piles of gold Aulana uses gold to create colour Italian carpet and textile company SoFarSoNear, Wools of New Zealand, and Noble Bond, have teamed up to produce Midas, the first rug with Noble Bond’s Aulana technology that uses gold to create colours.

Noble Bond founders, Professor Jim Johnston and Dr Kerstin Lucas, Victoria University of Wellington and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology New Zealand, created the Aulana technology, which stems from 1,700 years ago and uses gold to create colours (see box).

SoFarSoNear designed the rug, which is on display by appointment at its London showroom. It is expected to retail at about £12,000.

‘Aulana is about creating an heirloom. Its products won’t be gold in colour, but gold is in there creating the elegant, soft hues that are visible. And because it is gold particles it is permanent so, like cathedral windows, Aulana colours will never fade, and our ancestors can inherit an Aulana rug centuries from now and the colour will be just as rich,’ says Steven Parsons, WoNZ innovations manager.

Visit: www.sofarsonear.com www.wools-nz.co.uk www.aulana.co.uk Midas contains gold to create its colour

The science The fourth century Roman Lycurgus cup, housed at the British Museum, uses colloidal gold and silver dispersed in the glass to create the unique effect where the cup appears green in reflected light and red in transmitted light.

Much later, colloidal gold and silver were used to provide the red and yellow colours in the glass of gothic cathedrals, although at this time the science was not understood.

In 1856 Michael Faraday gave a public lecture with Prince Albert as the

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

honoured guest, where he explained and demonstrated how colloidal particles of gold generated a purple colour in a gel matrix.

With the birth of the quantum mechanical era and the development of the understanding of how light interacts with materials, in 1908 Gustav Mie applied James Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory for light scattering to small spherical gold particles, providing a theoretical treatment for the localised surface plasmon resonance absorption of gold

colloids, to explain how different colours can be generated.

Research in the past two decades demonstrated how the colours depend on the size and shape of the colloidal gold particles.

Johnson and Lucas developed the science further and applied it to wool, creating Aulana: pure New Zealand wool coloured with pure gold.

WoNZ is a cornerstone shareholder in Noble Bond and has global partners in SoFarSoNear, mill Grentex, and manufacturer Obeetee.

The New Leader in Today’s Flooring

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RUGS

Behindsurfaces

Cross (Me) Knot A

Rate of knots CC-Tapis’ latest designs

Dipped Ribbon

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

Since its foundation in 2011, CC-Tapis has combined Tibetan artistry with contemporary design and its 2015 collection continues that ethos.

Its Dipped range has been expanded with the Ribbon, Origami, Cut and Frame designs.

In Ribbon an undyed mix of aloe, pure silk and Himalayan wool act as a background for an abstract silk and wool ribbon with tonalshadow cuts to give depth and threedimensionality.

Classic and contemporary meet with Stencil, where bold triangles appear to have been stencilled on to the rug where the decorative design delicately shines through thanks to the addition of pure silk.

Described as a work in progress, Federico Delrosso is developing a collection called Behindsurfaces as he investigates the

CARPET

VINYL

WOOD

RUGS

LVT

UNDERLAY

THE PLACE TO BE THIS MAY! Tuesday 12 May, 9:00 - 17:30 Wednesday 13th May, 9:00 - 17:00

“The Buying Group Show is second only to Domotex Hannover and is most certainly the best UK flooring show a must to visit for all retailers” Peter Pithie, Godiva Carpet.

Cranmore Park, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 4LF

“Location, Location, Location... Professional show with the right suppliers, we look forward to this show every year” Simon Manley, Michael John Flooring.

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“The Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show held at Cranmore Park in Solihull, is the ideal opportunity for Buying Group Members to meet all their approved suppliers mid-way through the year and get up to date with all the new carpet collections and in-store displays.” David Cormack, Cormar Carpets

To register visit www.bgnfs.co.uk

RUGS

Above: Pepe 1 Above right: Casellario Monocromo in teal Right: Stencil in sage with coloured highlights

unseen, the surfaces behind surfaces in our everyday lives: something that only becomes visible through the removal or decay of another surface.

Aldo Parisotto and Massimo Formenton’s Casellario Monocromo may look like a simple patchwork of silk and Himalayan wool made from two different finishing techniques, but every knot has its place and spaces between the panels show the nude dyed cotton warp.

Pepe, by Federico Pepe, has three geometric designs combining green, black, red and white.

Cross (Me) Knot by Studio Ctrlzak combines traditional Tibetan and Nepalese designs with typical European motifs.

The rugs will be introduced at its Milan showroom during Fuorisalone.

Visit: www.cc-tapis.com

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

Introducing 12 NEW colours to our Simply Natural range.

Simply Natural Stunning textured carpets produced using our unique cabled yarn to produce hard wearing carpets that retain all the luxury of pure new wool.

NEW COLOURS available now

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made in GREAT BRITAIN

To see the full range or request a free sample please visit: www.axminster-carpets.co.uk or call us: 01297 33533 / 32244

www.axminster-carpets.co.uk

RUGS

1

2

3

4

5 1 Each exclusive design from Crucial Trading not only makes a stylish wall to wall flooring solution, it can also be translated into a beautiful bespoke rug and runner at the click of a button at www.crucial-trading.com.

Tel: 01562 743 747 2 Scrubbable, bleachable and UV-treated for outdoor use, Dash & Albert’s polypropylene Lucy rug can stand up to all that you dish out: terrific for hightraffic areas and muddy paws.

Visit: www.dashandalberteurope.com 3 The continuing expansion of Riviere’s rug collection has seen it look to Persia for most of its new designs. Arcadia

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

(pictured) is a modern interpretation of an antique Sultanabad Persian rug using the signature Riviere silvers and greys.

Visit: www.riviererugs.com 4 Rug Couture’s Excelsior rug is handknotted with pure silk and is also available in hand-tufted wool, handknotted wool, art silk, silk and as a mixture of any of these materials.

Vist: www.rugcouture.com 5 The busy, colourful pattern of squares on Artisanti’s hand-tufted MultiColoured Cube rug is enhanced by the contrasting stitching between the tiles in colours from the same palette.

Visit: www.artisanti.com

ROYAL WARRANTS

Mark of excellence Endorsement by the Royal family benefits Hypnos

Hypnos has more than 100 years of experience in hand-crafting bespoke mattresses and beds for the finest homes and hotels around the world. Voted NBF Bed Manufacturer of the Year twice, holding a Royal Warrant and being a carbon neutral company are all defining factors that set Hypnos apart from many other bed makers.

Hypnos is a proud holder of a Royal Warrant, first granted to the Keen family

by George V in 1929 and renewed by Queen Elizabeth II. Peter Keen, Hypnos chairman, and his family remain behind the wheel of the business, personally overseeing the ‘royal requests’, organising the manufacture of beds and mattresses for the Royal Households, family and palaces. The Royal Warrant is a mark of excellence that helps distinguish Hypnos as a business with a reputation for outstanding craftsmanship, service and for the best in British quality.

‘There aren’t many businesses which can claim to know the Royal family well, but as their trusted bed provider, Hypnos can. Indeed, we are considered their sleep and bed experts, having made bespoke beds specifically for visiting dignitaries and presenting to the Royal Households at Buckingham Palace, to teach the importance of sleep and its impact on health and wellbeing,’ says Chris Ward, Hypnos marketing director.

Being a trusted supplier to the Royal family has boosted Hypnos: it now has a

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

Above: Sovereign Above right: Hypnos uses natural breathable fibres Right: Prince Charles visited the Hypnos stand during 2013’s Coronation Festival

global reach that caters to royals and dignitaries across the world, both in retail and hospitality.

‘We are a brand that’s recognised as a symbol of excellence supported by our royal association and our company profile has grown through a reputation for outstanding quality so we are loved and trusted by retailers at home and overseas. The Royal Warrant has been fundamental to this development and become part of who we are as a company and helps to guide us in our constant innovation and pursuit of perfection within our craft,’ he explains.

The warrant also underlines its ethical stance and it has synergy with the Royal family on its commitment to the environment. All its beds are made using

environmentally-friendly and sustainable materials: FSC or PEFC certified divan timbers that have been sourced from managed forests, and its mattresses are made using layers of natural breathable fibres such as wool, cashmere and silk.

‘Our responsible approach has led to us becoming the first carbon neutral bed maker in the country, with all beds 100% recyclable – we even provide all our retailers and hoteliers with a disposal service for old beds which creates recycled raw materials for re-use in other industries. Therefore it goes without saying our Royal Warrant isn’t just an accomplishment, for Hypnos it’s a way of life and a core value to our business,’ adds Ward.

Visit: www.hypnosbeds.com

Best of British The pursuit of perfection – beautiful handcrafted pocket spring beds, with a Royal Seal of Approval and an unrivalled 10 year guarantee. Hypnos provides retailers with exquisitely tailored beds; sublime comfort; a choice of design options; a commitment to sustainability; a strong consumer brand and excellent support.

Don’t miss out try the gorgeous new Regency and Pillow Top Collections today!

T: +44 (0) 1844 348200 | E: sleep@hypnosbeds.com | www.hypnosbeds.com Hypnos is proud to be Carbon Neutral, complying with BS PAS 2060 Standard.

ROYAL WARRANTS

Sensoria

Driving force Sleepeezee continues to thrive ‘I am proud to work for a Royal Warrant holder and this is reflected in every product we produce in the Sleepeezee factory,’ says Michael Mattacks, Sleepeezee production manager.

Its Rochester, Kent, factory has always been highly regarded for its craftsmanship, design and innovation, and has built and maintained an enviable reputation for exceptional British-made quality and value for money.

This was reinforced a little over 30 years ago when Sleepeezee received the highest honour of a Royal Warrant from Prince Charles for its mattresses and divans.

‘Holding a Royal Warrant underpins our drive and determination to remain as one of the leading bed manufacturers in the UK,’ says Howard Wilson, Sleepeezee md.

Sleepeezee’s hard work and commitment was clearly demonstrated at last year’s Bed Show, which saw the launch of a collection of beds which included Aqua3 and Sensoria.

Sleepeezee, tel: 01634 729 443 Aqua3

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

ROYAL WARRANTS

Bespoke centenary Staples is celebrating 100 years since first supplying King George V Staples is celebrating the centenary of first supplying King George V with a bed to rest his broken pelvis, the result of an accident while visiting British troops in France.

A keen supporter of British trade, the king granted a Royal Warrant to Staples in 1923. The Royal Warrant has been graciously re-granted by each successive monarch to this day.

Staples has a long and respected history of making luxury beds in the UK since 1895, combining craftsmanship with the best natural fillings to enable it to hand-craft each unique customer

order to the highest manufacturing standard; embodying the meticulous attention to detail that its hand-made quality beds are synonymous with.

Over the past year, Staples has continued to invest in technology, production machinery and its distribution fleet to enable it to further improve the quality of its beds, mattresses, delivery and service; in addition to continued improvements to both new product ranges and its current products.

Staples will be the only bed manufacturer exhibiting at this year’s Staples’ beds are handmade with natural fillings

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

Royal Windsor Horse Show between 13-17 May along with other fellow Royal Warrant holders in the Royal Warrant Holders Association Pavilion, united by a commitment to the highest standards of service, quality and excellence.

Visit: www.staplesbeds.co.uk

Staples are proud to be celebrating their centenary year of supply to the Royal household.

Visit us on Stand 12 13th - 17th May 2015 Staples are the only bed manufacturer to be exhibiting at this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show between 13th17th May 2015 along with other fellow Royal Warrant holders, united by a commitment to the highest standards of service, quality and excellence. Visit us on stand 12 in the Royal Warrant Holders Association Pavilion.

Staples remain a leading bed manufacturer using traditional methods of crafting handmade, quality beds and mattresses; and have stayed true to their heritage for over 100 years.

ROYAL WARRANTS

Carpet on sea The sexiest underlay you will never see

Sonic Gold Excel wood and laminate floor underlay

EXCEPTIONAL SOUND REDUCTION EXCELLENT IMPACT RESISTANCE EVENS OUT UNEVEN FLOORS

Brintons has supplied more than 21,000sqm of carpet for P&O’s new Britannia cruise ship Britain’s biggest ever cruise ship, the £473m P&O Britannia, which was officially named by the Queen last month, features more than 21,000sqm of custom Axminster carpet from Royal Warrant holder Brintons.

The 3,600 passenger vessel is the largest cruise ship designed for the British holiday market. Weighing 141,000tons and stretching longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall (1,082ft), it boasts 15 passenger decks, 26 places to eat and drink and four swimming pools. It also features a three-tier atrium and a 936-seater theatre.

Hospitality designers Richmond International, a company renowned across the globe for its work on luxury hotels, specified Brintons as part of its brief to create a ship that combined the excitement of cruising with the sophistication of a five-star hotel.

‘This is an extremely prestigious and exciting project and one that we are really proud to have been involved with. Designing the right carpets for the public spaces was obviously a critical part in delivering the overall vision of what Richmond wanted to achieve and ensure a successful solution for P&O,’ says Lois Norman, Brintons senior designer.

‘Working in partnership with Richmond, our design team came up with a number of bespoke carpet designs for all the public areas of the ship, including the atrium, theatre, restaurant and bars, casino, library and wedding chapel.

‘A fresh and neutral colour palette was used throughout the main areas, with subtle highlights of stronger colours like teal. Many areas featured contemporary geometrics and clean lines to create a sophisticated hospitality look. Each of the themed restaurants also had unique concepts including natural forms and oriental geometric designs,’ Norman adds.

Visit: www.brintons.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPH: AMES D.MORGAN/REX FEATURES

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The Queen admires the atrium of the ship

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

WOOD AND LAMINATE Balterio’s Urban collection has four oak wood-mix decors, four pine decors and four concrete tile decors (including Ivory Terra), all of which go together if used in the same room. This collection is Balterio’s response to the contemporary trend for converting properties such as old factory buildings into housing.

Visit: www.balterio.com

Lamett’s Atlanta engineered wood collection has 19cm x 186cm planks in four matt colours: the light Pure and Smoked White (pictured) and the darker Fleur de Sel and Smoked Biscuit.

Visit: www.lamett.com

Floor plans Add style with the latest wood and laminate floors Kährs’ Bloc Collection uses individual 18mm thick oak staves, in three sizes (300mm x 300mm, 300mm x 600mm and 300mm x 900mm) and three shades (Natural with a clear, satin lacquer pre-finish, White and Grey which have a stained lacquer finish creating a washed hue). Sections are easily joined using an oak tongue to create unlimited geometric designs – from traditional herringbone to modern brick – in single or multi-colours. Staves can also be used to create borders.

Tel: 023 9245 3045 Give a room some historical glamour with Meister’s Sheringham Smoked Oak as today’s contemporary styles flirt with the enchanting romance and opulence of the past. Meister’s engineered wood collection has a 35-year warranty and the Masterclic Plus system on the ends and Uniclic on the sides.

Tel: 01706 238 810

Quick-Step’s Impressive range features HydroSeal technology – the layer on the joints ensures water or liquid on the planks stays where it is and doesn’t penetrate through the joints – means it can be used in kitchens, bathrooms and halls.

Pictured is 1860 Natural Pine.

Visit: www.quick-step.co.uk

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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UPHOLSTERY

Moving up More retailers are stocking Sitting Pretty Sitting Pretty has seen the number of its stockists double in the past 18 months and now has more than 400 retailers selling its upholstery in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

‘Our brand will be as popular as the more established recliner manufacturers in time, no doubt, as our growth figures suggest we are heading in the right direction and we are delighted how far Sitting Pretty has come in just 13 years,’ says Jim Henderson, Sitting Pretty md.

‘With our new 2015 products now available for shopfloor stock, we are really excited about the new launches and there is a real buzz around the factory and sales team.’

He says it can offer retailers something a little different to what they have probably been displaying, from memory function handsets to super-petite lift chairs with seat heights of just 16in. The Super Grande lift chairs have a 24in wide seat and can be fitted on lift mechanisms that carry up to 35 stone.

‘It has been a slow process winning shopfloor space but we’ve believed in our brand and it is now starting to pick up pace with retailers believing we have

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

Above: Aspley Right: Farndon Below: Newark

something different and giving us a go.

Those who have given Sitting Pretty a chance haven’t looked back,’ he says.

The manufacturer has enjoyed increased sales every year and has confirmed its presence at The January Furniture Show for 2016.

It has also made some staff appointments. Martin Henry has become

agent for West Yorkshire and the North East, alongside Keith Measor (South East and West), Des Gwilliam (West Midlands, Central and Southern Wales) and Alan Hignett (North West England and North Wales) while it is recruiting for agents in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Sitting Pretty, tel: 01773 811 610

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UPHOLSTERY

Branching out

Left: Glen Lyon Centre: Glen Clova Bottom: Glen Coe

Aristarchus has launched its first soft cover upholstery range Aristarchus has widened its product offer with the Bruach Collection, its first fabric upholstery range.

Bruach showcases high quality upholstered wing chairs, tub chairs and dining chairs. The fabrics are sourced from mills in Scotland and are 100% pure new wool with a Teflon coating. The Crib 5-graded fabrics are sent to the company’s factories in Asia where they are manufactured on to the contract quality frames. All removable cushions are manufactured in the UK with a feather and fibre core, and are available in a variety of colours and patterns.

‘This summer we will also be launching another range of chairs, upholstered in the UK, with fabrics sourced directly from mills in Belgium and Germany. This will give our customers the flexibility to order chairs, either individually or in larger quantities, from a choice of fabrics, at competitive prices, and receive delivery within four to six weeks,’ says Nick Barclay, Aristarchus md.

He set up Aristarchus in Perth seven years ago and takes pride in its diversified range of products and services.

‘Over the years, we have forged strong partnerships with our factories, who fully understand the quality and value that our customers expect from our furniture. We carefully maintain these

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

important relationships so that we are not regularly switching suppliers and compromising the quality of our products,’ he explains.

With a stockholding of more than £1m ready to ship from warehouses in Scotland and China, it offers both wholesale and direct container service.

To achieve the biggest savings containers can be mixed from the China warehouse and sent direct to the customer. It also supplies products for bespoke projects.

‘Our customers range from small, family-run companies to large multinational organisations and can choose from 15 ranges of dining, occasional and bedroom furniture in oak or pine finishes. We are proud to cater for the diverse needs of these differing businesses and unlike many other wholesale companies there is no minimum order requirement; we are happy to supply individual pieces as and when needed,’ adds Barclay.

Aristarchus has its own haulage fleet, so has full control of the location of its products and when deliveries will be made, eliminating problems such as damage or delayed orders held in depots when non-specialist carriers are used.

All of its products can be seen, by appointment, at its Perth showroom.

Visit: www.aristarchus.co.uk

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If you would like any further information, please contact our office by calling 01738 629734 or by emailing info@aristarchus.co.uk. We have a show room in Perth, Scotland, where all of our products can be viewed by appointment. Alternatively, you can contact one of our sales representatives or agents; Scotland, North West England & Ireland : David Green : 07769 792 954 North East & Yorkshire : Tom Holmes : 07850 447 004 Midlands & North Wales : Andrew Lees : 07793 209 334 South West & South Wales : John Pilling : 07771 573 964 East of England : Clive Scofield : 07853 375 869 London & South East : Colin Brett : 07818 694 247

UPHOLSTERY

It’s all in the detail Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make designs stand out

Bretz’s Ohlinda features buttoned seat cushions and optional scatter cushions while the rear cushions can be removed, changing the corner unit into a long sofa or double daybed.

Visit: www.bretz.com

Arketipo’s Sin Seat, by Giuseppe Viganò, has a quilted panel in aniline leather while the rest of the chair can be upholstered in any leather or fabric in the company’s collection. It will be debuted at iSalone.

Visit: www.arketipo.com

&tradition’s Mayor sofa was designed by Arne Jacobsen for the town hall of Sollerod, Copenhagen built from 1939-1942 and designed by Jacobsen and Flemming Lassen.

Visit: www.andtradition.com

Baxter uses quilting to delineate the back and arms on the Tactile chair, sofa and coffee table.

Visit: www.baxter.it

Tommy M’s Wrangler uses large stitching for the sofa to create its jeans inspired look.

Visit: www.tommym.com

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

LVT

Above: Karndean LooseLay Series Three Boston LLP111 Below: Karndean LooseLay Series Three Hartford LLP112 Karndean LooseLay Series Three Stamford LLP109

Deeper into the woods Karndean Designflooring is expanding its LooseLay range Karndean Designflooring is introducing Series Three to its LooseLay collection supported with a new POS unit.

The six latest wood designs tap into the trend for popular oak tones, fashionable rustics and deep greys. With a 15-year residential guarantee, the full Karndean LooseLay collection will now feature 19 wood designs and eight intricate stone tiles.

Inspired by nature, the collection features a wide range of tones from the light, blonde hues of Cambridge LLP113 to the striking, warm ginger tones of Burlington LLP110.

Karndean LooseLay’s friction grip backing and increased dimensional

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

stability secures the floor firmly in place.

It can be installed over most hard floors as long as they are dry, smooth, sound and dust-free.

The collection’s large scale 1,050mm x 250mm planks and 610mm x 500mm tiles combined with the fact that it’s quick and easy to fit, means reduced downtime, mess and installation costs.

‘Homeowners are seeing the benefits of Karndean LooseLay in place of traditional carpet and laminate, and it’s continuing to grow from strength to strength in the marketplace,’ says Paul Barratt, Karndean Designflooring md.

‘The collection is not only design-led but it’s also compatible with underfloor

heating and the individual planks allow easy access at all times. Our newest wood designs are a welcome addition and reflect the trends we’re seeing within interior design.’

The LooseLay POS unit holds all three series, showcasing the colour bank with a mixture of sample boards and product.

With its interactive design, customers can arrange the samples on the viewing platform. ‘We have worked with retailers to create a POS unit that works for both the customer and the store, reducing the stand’s footprint while increasing the visibility and prominence of the designs,’ adds Barratt.

Visit: www.karndean.com

LVT

Work, rest and play The flooring is making itself at home in a variety of rooms LVT continues to show its suitability for different rooms, from kitchens to living rooms, to company reception areas.

Consumers are turning to LVT to make bold statement designs in the kitchen and bathroom to create a wow factor that will increase the value of their homes, according to David Bigland, Moduleo UK and Eire md.

‘In the past six months, we’ve seen a marked increase in the number of consumers looking to make real investments in their kitchens and bathrooms, to increase their return on investment later down the line. We’re confident this correlates with the housing market, where homeowner confidence is growing and more people are looking to sell. This means investing in those key rooms and the best products, which is reflected in our sales,’ he says. ‘Together with our full range of design floors and the long-lasting guarantee, kitchens and bathrooms will be stylish, durable, and most importantly a big selling point for homes.’

For one homeowner Quick-Step’s Livyn LVT was the solution for his living room.

Ruben Deschamps wanted to replace the tiled floor in his new home. Because

Moduleo’s Blackjack Oak

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

Quick-Step’s Livyn Classic Oak Light Beige ESC001

the living room adjoins the kitchen, he needed a floor that could withstand wear and tear and, above all, it had to be water-resistant. With two young children, the floor also needed to be easy to clean and handle a certain amount of rough use. Warmth and cosiness were essential.

‘The shiny, white tiled floor was too cold for our tastes and we felt that the house lacked cosiness and warmth. Our living room has been completely transformed, because we have also painted the walls and kitchen cabinets in a fresh, new colour,’ he says.

‘The floor is absolutely beautiful and has a warm feel. As soon as you come into the living room, the Livyn floor invites you to take off your shoes and socks and enjoy the floor in bare feet. We can see how much our daughters enjoy playing or crawling around on this soft floor as well.

‘It has also turned out to be really easy to maintain. Because Livyn has a sealed surface and a protective coating to prevent dirt and stains, you can wipe away coffee, fruit juice and jam without much effort. With children in the house that is a luxury you

can’t do without,’ adds Deschamps.

Polyflor’s Expona LVT was used to create an eye-catching floor for the reception of a new Cala Homes division in Welwyn Garden City recently. Dark Contour 7215 was chosen as it fitted with the brand image of the housebuilder.

Expona Design has a 3mm gauge and 0.7mm wear layer making it suitable for heavy commercial applications, such as an office reception where there is likely to be high levels of foot traffic.

Expona Commercial in Light Grey Matrix 5074, was selected for the staff kitchen and dining area. The cross-linked and UV-cured PUR polyurethane reinforcement used in Expona flooring ensures a simple cleaning and maintenance regime.

‘Polyflor Expona ranges were specified for this job at Cala Homes because of the vast range of attractive design options available to us. The Expona Design and Expona Commercial collections give a stunning, hard wearing finish which will look good for years to come,’ says Nicola Forgette, md of contractor Gifford Grant.

Visit: www.moduleo.co.uk www.polyflor.com www.quick-step.co.uk

Polyflor’s Expona Dark Contour 7215

UNDERLAY All of Carpenter’s underlay is UK produced and recyclable

Brand alert Carpenter has updated its branding and warned about the dangers of some imports Carpenter’s latest branding creates a consistent, more visually identifiable appearance across its 14 underlay ranges.

Product wraps, underlay samples, deck boards and two new lorries now feature the new ‘rainbow’ concept, designed to be eye-catching, colourful and modern.

‘The new concept incorporates a great new and much more contemporary colour palette with an instantly identifiable pattern. We underwent a rebrand over five years ago, so we felt that it was time to refresh our image and create something more visual that customers could instantly recognise,’ says Helen Rowberry, Carpenter national sales manager for underlay.

Rowberry has also warned that retailers could be selling dangerous and illegal underlay. ‘The market has become incredibly competitive with many budget end products flooding the market: a lot of them from overseas. While on the face of it some of these products may appear to be cheap, they may come with a high price to pay. Buyers need to consider a number of factors when they buy PU underlay, and will often find that only by buying British made products can they

be sure of the products’ provenance,’ she explains.

Retailers need to ask if the products have been tested to and meet the correct British Standards, have fire certificates and if the chemicals used are legal and not dangerous to the end user?

‘These are all questions that the responsible manufacturers will be able to satisfy. And they are questions that need to be asked and satisfactorily answered for anyone wishing to buy underlay with complete peace of mind,’ she says.

Carpenter is fully licensed and meets all HSE requirements for the chemicals it uses and the company is compliant with all legal standards and regulations.

‘This involves time, effort, investment and testing and is not something that less scrupulous overseas producers may take so seriously,’ Rowberry stresses. ‘For instance, when producing the foam that goes into underlay, solvents should not be used as the blowing agent. Methylene chloride is no longer used in the UK but is believed to still be widely used overseas. And buyers should consider the ethical policies of the overseas producers. Do they pay staff a fair and honest wage, offer safe and suitable

working conditions? And what about environmental responsibilities?’

Carpenter underlay is made from recyclable material and is fully recyclable at the end of its lifetime. Its underlay recycling scheme began in 2012 and encourages customers to return all Carpenter offcuts, which are then recycled into more products.

‘At a time when all businesses are looking to trim down on unnecessary expenditure we are providing a service that is really useful and cost effective – and encourages fitters to get rid of waste in a responsible manner. The Britishmade philosophy that Carpenter follows has led the company to become a reputable British manufacturer bringing responsibly produced products and peace of mind to all its customers,’ adds Rowberry.

Visit: www.carpenter.ltd.uk

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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PROTECTION

Ensuring a smooth journey Castelan continues its pursuit of customer service excellence Putting the customer at the heart of the business is the key focus at Castelan, according to Richard Gretton, Castelan commercial director.

‘The products we produce, whether a protection plan, care kit or service promise, are only of any value if they deliver when the customer needs them most. It’s not just about the products either – the customer journey has been completely reevaluated over the past three months to ensure that, at every touch point, the customer is treated fairly and professionally,’ he says.

This was recognised by Business Leader magazine’s annual awards – for the second year running, Castelan won the Customer Excellence category.

‘This demonstrates that we are

Castelan has reevaluated the customer journey

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recognised as leaders in this field by our business peers as well as customers. With service delivery as the foundation of our activity, we continue to win new business both within the independent sector and with national retailers, secure existing relationships for the long-term and develop new products for the care market. Innovation in our Care Solutions business will see exciting new care kit development – particularly as customer choice shifts towards fabric covers,’ he explains.

Castelan has expanded its offering to retailers with a home furniture assembly service, helping it to add another touch point in the customer journey.

‘Castelan continues to offer and expand an “end to end” solution to

customer service which means the customer can have a smooth journey from issue to resolution whether that be via the use of a care product, plan or repair. I believe this is where the true value lies: in giving the retailer the confidence to sell the product knowing that their customers will not be let down by service. From this, naturally, comes the commercial benefit that the retailer can enjoy, backed by the most experienced support team in the sector,’ adds Gretton.

Visit: www.castelangroup.com

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The UK’s largest directly employed team of mobile furniture care and repair technicians.

Premier Care Kits

Warranty Solutions

Claims Handling

featuring

www.castelangroup.com

Mobile Technicians

PROTECTION

Stay calm and carry on The sector is waiting on a FCA review

‘The Guardsman team is working closely with retailers to navigate a path of compliance’

Phil Griffin (left) says protection plans are important to retailers and consumers

The demise of the OFT in April 2014 saw consumer credit licensing move to the jurisdiction of the Financial Conduct Authority. During this time the FCA issued many retailers with an interim licence and announced a timetable for granting full or limited permission.

‘This has led to widespread confusion and concern about a consequential impact on the current model of furniture protection plan sales. Additionally, the sector anxiously awaits the publication of the FCA thematic review of insurance mediation in retail, with initial findings due in May,’ says Phil Griffin, Guardsman UK md.

For many retailers furniture protection plans provide an important part of their consumer proposition and profits.

Guardsman is working with its retailer partners to safeguard the sector, and make adjustments to the programme that will protect them from the scrutiny of the regulators, says Griffin.

The company is focused on retail compliance and routinely reviews its terms and conditions in line with best practice. ‘We are already implementing significant developments to our programme to sustain this important sector for the benefit of our retailers

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and their customers. Not only are we confident that these adjustments meet the latest requirements of the FCA, but we will develop them further as the FCA publishes its thematic review findings,’ he explains.

‘It seems increasingly that the regulator will leave its requirements and guidelines open to interpretation rather than being specific. With such significant and complex change ahead, the Guardsman

team is working closely with retailers to navigate a path of compliance,’ he adds.

Guardsman’s consumer research validates the value to consumers of protection plans for their furniture. Griffin says this is most evident when Guardsman’s services are called upon in the event of a spillage or accident on upholstery that could otherwise require a costly repair or replacement.

Visit: www.guardsman.co.uk

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At Guardsman we know how important it is to your customers to have peace of mind that their new furniture will look good for years to come. Our years of experience and comprehensive network of technicians are on hand to deal with the everyday spills and accidents that can occur to new furniture in the home.

For more information about how Guardsman can support your business and customers, call us on 01235 444771.

PROTECTION

When cats get their claws out…

Dealing with cat scratches on leather upholstery Dogs are likely to be seen as more of a hazard to leather upholstery, but the family feline can also cause damage.

The first type is where the cat scratches the seating cushion causing a straight line scratch.

‘If the scratches are light and have not damaged the leather itself, only lightly scratching the coating away, Leather Recolouring Balm should be sufficient to restore the colour that has been scratched away and blend the scratches in with the surrounding leather,’ says Ben Staerck, Leather Clinic md.

The second type is caused by the cat sticking its claws into the leather. When it pulls its claws out, it draws out the fibres of the leather causing significant damage and the leather becomes rough and unsightly.

If the area of damage is larger than the size of a tennis ball you will need: Leather Binder to strengthen the area; a Leather Repair Kit to fix the scratches; and a Leather Colourant Kit to restore the colour.

If the area of damage is smaller than a tennis ball, then a Leather Binder, Leather Repair Kit and Leather Repair Touch Up Kit is needed.

After cleaning the area with Leather Ultra Clean, trim any loose long fibres with sharp scissors.

Apply a small amount of Leather Binder to a sponge and rub directly into the damaged area. Coat the area and allow to dry. Apply 8-10 coats, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next.

Once the binder has been applied, the

area should be sanded down using fine sandpaper (1,200 grit is sufficient).

Ensure the area is free from any residue from sanding. Then, using the heavy filler and palette knife, spread a thin layer of filler over the scratches. Leave for 20-25 minutes to dry and apply additional layers if required: aim to have the holes, scratches and gouges filled so that they are level with the surface of the leather.

After applying the filler, it should be sanded down again.

Wipe the leather down with the alcohol cleaner to remove dirt and residue from the leather’s surface.

Once dried, apply the first coat of colourant by sponge. If this emphasises some of the scratches you thought were ‘healed’ apply more filler, sand down and re-apply the colourant.

After the first coat of colourant has been applied, build it up in a series of thin layers, leaving time for each coat to dry before applying the next. Apply as many thin layers as required to blend with the surrounding area and conceal the repair.

Once you have a good coverage of colour, apply the lacquer on to the leather to seal the colour in. Take the glossy Super Seal and apply using a sponge or airbrush, in three to four layers. This forms the basis for a flexible and robust finish. After this is done, apply the Leather Finish, using the contents provided in four to five layers. For both products, allow time for each coat to completely dry before applying the next.

Visit: www.furnitureclinic.co.uk

Dedicated care service brings rewards Staingard’s commitment to the development of its comprehensive range of furniture protection and care products has contributed to another year of growth. Paul Aiston, Staingard md, says its ‘personal, straightforward

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and flexible approach to the delivery of products and schemes to the UK’s most discerning of furniture retailers,’ has paid off.

‘Growth has been fuelled by our commitment to these basic principles

and future growth looks assured as Staingard continues to grow on the strength of the many referrals from both its retail customers and consumers,’ he says.

Visit: www.staingard.co.uk

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BUYING GROUPS

‘The interaction between members is the group’s main strength’

From left: Minerva founders Ron Rawlings; Michael Pugh; Derek Hayes; Richard Nunn and Alan Walker pictured at the group’s 20th anniversary dinner Below: The group bought its first permanent head office last year

Friends united Minerva is celebrating its 25th anniversary Next month buying group Minerva Furnishers Guild celebrates its 25th anniversary. Set up after the demise of the Green Group when several large retailers left to set up their own buying group, Minerva’s now life president Derek Hayes, owner of Bath retailer TR Hayes, was instrumental in the group’s creation.

‘I was upset at the demise of Green Group: I’d lost my group, my £3,000 bond [worth £6,515 today] and my friends,’ he says.

Determined to restore the benefits of a buying group to the former Green Group members, he invited retailers to join the group – named after the Roman god of healing – and 39 others came on board (paying a £1 bond). Today it has 130 members.

Within months it was hosting its first

exhibition at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham. Over the years the event grew and last October became The Autumn Furniture Show open to non-members and held at the Telford International Centre.

Hayes rates the success of the exhibition, the increase in membership, and the benefits they receive, as the group’s greatest success.

‘We’ve been lucky: retailers and suppliers wanted to come on board. It’s been the work of past and present board members,’ he says when asked what the biggest challenge has been. The friendship among members and the interaction between members is the group’s main strength, he says.

Hayes is also quick to thank his wife

The group’s show now takes place at the Telford International Centre

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Margaret, who was a lynchpin in the running of the group and providing support, especially in the early days.

‘She’d often ask: “Where are we off to this week?” when we went to visit potential members on what was supposed to be our afternoon off,’ he says.

Interest in the group continues to increase among suppliers and it is keen to source more exclusive products to help its members differentiate themselves from competitors and boost its membership further.

Last year it bought its first permanent head office in Corsham, Wiltshire after many years of renting various properties in Bath. In recent years it has taken on more staff so it can offer additional benefits to members, such as marketing and container breakdown services.

Did Hayes think the group would be entering its second quarter of a century when he was driving across the country recruiting members? In response, he quotes his father: ‘Work as if you are going to live forever but make sensible arrangements.’

Visit: www.minervafurnishers.co.uk

Founded in 1990, 2015 is an important year in the history of Minerva Furnishers Guild as it celebrates its 25th birthday.

1990-2015

M NERVA

FURNISHERS GUILD 2

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Benefits of joining Minerva • Low cost membership • UK & Ireland coverage • Rebate scheme negotiated with an impressive supplier base with many leading brands; national & international • You remain as an independent but with the support of a professional team • Exclusive ranges negotiated with suppliers • Own brand ranges available to members only • No compulsory purchases • Networking opportunities in a friendly non-competitive environment • We organise two shows a year at the International Centre, Telford in May & October • Monthly newsletter featuring news from the trade, product promotions and new launches The Minerva team are very approachable and we welcome enquiries from prospective new members.

The process of joining couldn’t be easier and we help you from start to finish.

Prospective new members are encouraged to contact Minerva on 01225 444 204 or alternatively email us: admin@minervafurnishers.co.uk

BEDS AND BEDROOM Left: Which?

Best Buy Napoli 1200 Below: Neil Robinson

Durable hat trick Sealy has gained the Which? Best Buy pocket sprung mattress accolade for the third year running Sealy’s Napoli 1200 is still the highest scoring product in the pocket spring mattress category in Which?’s latest review and so has retained its coveted Which? Best Buy accolade with which it was originally accredited in 2013.

In 2013 the magazine said the mattress stood out from the competition as it was the most durable of the pocket sprung mattresses it tested. It reported the Napoli 1200 wouldn’t move when people turned over in the night, and that it provided good body and back support for most sleepers. Although it wasn’t the cheapest of the beds tested, it was the most durable.

The following year Which? said the mattress still provided good support and would continue to do so after several years of use. It also commented that it wouldn’t get harder or softer over time, or sag so much compared with the other pocket sprung mattresses on test.

Overall, the review concluded it was the

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top choice for people looking for a pocket sprung mattress.

Its current conclusion is that Napoli 1200 provides good support for most, doesn’t sag and is breathable, so won’t get damp with sweat.

‘The Sealy Napoli is a great example of the company’s proactive development of the product sector. Sealy is renowned as being a leader in sleep technology so this bed is very much the modern face of pocket sprung mattresses with its zonal construction, Smart Fibres and the exhaustive testing programme for everything from flammability to pressure point management and spinal support.

After all, do you really want to sleep on a mattress made the same way as the one your grandparents slept on?’ says Neil Robinson, Sealy marketing director.

The Napoli 1200 has a micro-quilted mattress and contains seven zones of specially designed motion and weight responsive pocket springs for total spinal

alignment by differentiating the firmness of the springs along the length of the bed.

Around the perimeter and underneath, the pocket springs are surrounded by the patented Unicase system which offers EdgeGuard to ensure the sleeper receives proper support with no sagging right up to the edge of the mattress. This is topped with a deep layer of Innergenic latex for comfort and pressure relief.

The Napoli 1200 also enjoys the benefit of Sealy’s Smart Fibres, which contain Tencel and Purotex to help keep the mattress materials cool, fresh, dry and hypoallergenic and are endorsed by Allergy UK to reduce house dust mites.

The symptoms of house dust mite allergies are a major cause of disturbed sleep, especially for people with asthma, and an average mattress can contain tens of thousands of house dust mites and their waste.

Visit: www.sealy.co.uk

all over again...

It was back in 2013 that the Sealy Napoli 1200 was accredited with the Which? Best Buy for Pocket Spring Mattresses.

A lot of companies have tried to overtake us since then... and they're still trying.

The Which? accreditation is trusted by the consumer as objective, trustworthy and hugely important when it comes to making major buying decisions. So if you haven't already done so, make an astute buying decision yourself, and order some today.

www.sealy.co.uk

BEDS AND BEDROOM

Train to gain The Trailblazer initiative is helping create the industry’s next generation of staff Apprenticeships offer many advantages to employers from addressing ageing workforce issues to multiskilling employees while maintaining good labour cost control. They also provide an alternative view and approach to the way things are done and an opportunity to refresh attitudes and behaviours in the labour intensive environments most furniture businesses operate in.

Silentnight recently became involved with the Government’s Trailblazer apprenticeship scheme aimed at attracting talent and developing highlyskilled employees within UK businesses.

A Trailblazer is an employer led group to design new apprenticeship standards and assessments for their respective industries.

The furniture industry Trailblazer has representation from all sizes of furniture companies, plus training providers and industry bodies from across the country.

‘The Trailblazer’s focus is on setting out the skills, knowledge and behaviours that employers want from their apprentices. Last month, we were delighted when the new standards for the apprenticeship scheme were approved by the Government,’ says Michael Dingwall, chairman of the Furniture Making Apprenticeship

Standard of the Government’s Phase 3 Trailblazers initiative, and Silentnight manufacturing manager.

‘The main reason we at Silentnight champion apprenticeships, and indeed why we got involved in the Trailblazer initiative, is to ensure we can shape the training to suit the industry needs and ensure we get high calibre employees to secure the future of our business.’

Silentnight has offered engineering based apprentices for many years, but since 2011 it has expanded to other parts of the business. Manufacturing apprenticeships, delivered with Burnley College’s furniture department, account

Tom Firth, former apprentice and now full-time employee

Silentnight will take on four manufacturing apprentices this year

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Michael Dingwall

for the majority but there are also apprentices in supply chain management, logistics, mechanical HGV, customer service, junior management and finance.

Silentnight employs 670 people in Barnoldswick, including 16 graduates of the apprenticeship schemes now in fulltime employment along with 18 apprentices in different departments.

The company is committed to recruiting apprentices when possible and will take on four manufacturing specific apprentices this year.

All apprentices take a two-year course and are guaranteed full-time, permanent employment upon completion.

‘We fully believe in apprenticeships and therefore have committed to fulltime, permanent positions to ensure maximum benefit for both the business and apprentice. In providing our expertise for training of apprentices, we are looking to bolster our workforce in the long-term so we would always ensure a full-time role on completion of the scheme,’ explains Dingwall.

‘The main advantage of the Trailblazer initiative is that employers are setting the standards for apprentices of their particular industry. Specifically for our industry and Silentnight, this means we are at the forefront of training the next generation of furniture manufacturers and ensuring they have the skills and knowledge set we, as employers, require,’ he adds.

Visit: www.silentnight.co.uk www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

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BEDS AND BEDROOM Left: The triple wardrobe and 5ft bed in Cotton with a Chartreuse highlight emphasising its cool grey tone Below: The new Annecy bedstead feature with blanket box Bottom: Chest of drawers in Cotton with painted backdrop in Fawn

Shades of today Five years after its launch, Corndell has revamped its bestselling range Corndell has updated its bestselling Annecy painted bedroom collection which was launched in 2010.

New lifestyle imagery, brochures and POS highlight a range of products and colour introductions designed to appeal to those wanting furniture influenced by the popular grey trend with the painted finish providing an ultra-smooth, luxurious look which highlights the crisp detailing of the cabinets.

The new palette includes the current White, Buttermilk and Cotton, which is currently the most popular finish selected for displays. A pale taupe; a pale blue grey (Haze), a traditional soft, green grey (Ledum) and a deeper, warm grey (Fawn) have been added.

The range also now offers a triple wardrobe with three drawers and a mirrored central door; blanket box, cheval mirror and a bed with slatted head and footboard with cornice and pilaster effect detailing.

From its factory in Witney, Oxfordshire, Corndell is able to ensure consistent painted finish production, allowing retailers to offer their customers choice across a range of colour and product options.

Visit: www.corndell.com

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SIESTA BEDS COMFORT & QUALITY ASSURED Est 1986

BEDS AND BEDROOM

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4 5

1 Koket’s vintage inspired Orchidea bedside table has sensuous curves and subtle gold gilt with an oval top in ebony veneer and high gloss black lacquer frame. Two drawers are lined in black velvet and adorned with cast bronze orchid handles supported by a polished brass base.

Visit: www.bykoket.com 2 Melody Maison’s Rose king size bed in ivory cream features rose detailing on the fascia of the head and foot of

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its frame and the classically styled sides.

Visit: www.melodymaison.co.uk 3 An extreme softness inspired by its shape.

When you look at the headboard of the Natuzzi Piuma bed it’s easy to imagine two pillows side by side. A refined profile distinguished by an original detail: the leather and fabric ruche.

Visit: www.natuzzi.co.uk 4 Sweetpea & Willow has debuted a king

size antique white version of its Black Rococo carved bed with matching Classical White two-drawer bedside tables.

Visit: www.sweetpeaandwillow.com 5 The Pontalba chest of drawers from Oficina Inglesa is shown in cherry with an antique black finish. It features four long drawers and Louis XVI feet adorned with sabots in antique brass. It is also available in oak, walnut, mahogany or painted.

Visit: www.oficinainglesa.com

LIVING AND DINING

Anything

C-Shelf

Above and right: Framework chairs and table

Simply versatile L’Abbate has taken a less complicated approach Unlike, say its Salon sofa which combines chesterfield, Louis and 1970’s legs, L’Abbate’s latest living and dining designs aim for simplicity.

The Anything bookcase has a zigzag pattern in the side panels making it possible to place the shelves at the desired height. The back panel stabilises the bookcase rack but works as a stylistic element that accentuates the spaces between the shelves and makes them small individual rooms. Made from ash, it

is available in a variety of colours and can be freestanding.

A wood skeleton that allows different applications as regards seat and back on the chair and table top on the table, enables Framework to be customised and adapted. The framework is a support structure on which software can be organised and designed. In the same way, the Framework chair is formed by a support structure in beech on which various types of designs, materials and

upholstery can be adapted. The table is available in walnut or beech and a lacquered finish, and square or rectangular.

A high pressured laminate plate is bent to 90deg around two parallel axis to create C-Shelf. The horizontal surfaces serve as shelves, while the vertical one provides the connection to the wall.

Available in lengths up to 1.8m, C-Shelf has a black outside and white interior.

Visit: www.labbateitalia.it

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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SOFTWARE

Seeking the holy grail Software companies are making sure technology responds to users’ needs MasterPiece System continues to develop its MasterPiece package, with the latest developments including an autoplanner for retailers that gives lower wastage; support for planning and costing a wider range of LVT products, including Moduleo, Lifestyle Floors and Project Floors; and significant improvements to take-off and planning in the contracts version.

‘The MasterPiece Base version is a highly affordable and simple to use measuring and planning system. Margins are improved by tighter plans and an accurate figure for underlay. For additional time saving, you can draw straight on to the screen as you walk from room to room, using a tablet. The tablet can be operated with either a finger or a pen. A retailer with more than one site can arrange that jobs are automatically synchronised to give access to any job from any location,’ says Charles Pearson, MasterPiece System md.

Additional capabilities are available, such as accurate tile planning, including Karndean and Amtico products. Retailers with a commercial arm can benefit from tracing round PDF/CAD floorplans, speeding up the take-off of measurements. There is also a whole rolls autoplanner for minimising wastage across several whole rolls and the supplier’s ‘in stock’ lengths.

The module for automated costing, invoicing and fitting sheets is configured for the individual business, including rules for how to cost HSLs and apply minimum charges. Estimates no longer have to be written up; these and invoices

Measure Mobile 3 by RFMS speeds up accurate quotes for customers

can be emailed directly to the customer.

The information pack for the fitter can be printed in one action. Some customers purchase MasterPiece primarily to bring all information together with rapid access for all jobs, small and large, recent and historic.

Accuracy MasterPiece measuring and planning system

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

Brian Gray, RFMS director says: ‘Retailers that have made the change to

estimating software have largely overcome the single biggest obstacle most salespeople face in making a sale – accurately quantifying the project.

Finding time to quantify, together with the fear of getting it wrong, both work to slow up the sales process. For every day that goes by between completing the measure and getting the quote into the customer’s hands, the likelihood of securing the sale reduces.’

The obvious measurable benefits with the software are the speed of quantifying – up to 60% time savings over traditional methods are commonly experienced – and accuracy. But Gray says there several other less obvious benefits: upskilling existing salespeople; being able to focus on sales skills not flooring skills when employing new salespeople; getting new salespeople to achieve sales targets more quickly; taking the drudgery out of the sales process; processing more quotes and using the time saved to follow up on leads.

‘The functionality available to a user in software is improving as each year goes by. Measure by RFMS has regular releases incorporating enhancements that have come about as a result of

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SOFTWARE and all the details of each product across all applications.

‘This makes life so much easier and much more controllable, because you can either see the whole picture of live stock levels at a glance, for example, or focus on specific stores, specific ranges or even specific customer demographics to provide you with a choice of analyses at any time and in real time,’ he explains.

Leading website platforms, such as Magento and Opencart, can be integrated with Retailsystem’s software for the management of the other aspects of a retailer’s business.

‘That means you can very easily set up your website for online trading in the way you like to do business and the way your customers like to shop,’ he adds.

Make sure your website works across all devices

Tablets and mobiles

suggestions from users. If you last looked at estimating software some years ago then it is time to look again because the goal posts have been moved,’ he explains.

‘The other thing that has changed is technology. Measure Mobile 3 was released last month; a completely new build of the very successful app for tablet and smartphones. The free app will put in your hands all the tools necessary to measure, quantify and quote in the home. The holy grail of selling floorcoverings has been to have the ability to close the sale in the home or to at least leave the customer with a quote.

Measure Mobile 3 has all the tools to do this simply, easily and accurately,’ adds Gray.

All together According to Retailsystem Furniture Software, retailers need to merge their websites.

‘As the recovery takes hold, we’re noticing retailers are growing quite fast at the moment. These businesses are finding the Internet a very useful tool for sales and for generating enquiries, but many have different systems for displaying their ranges, updating details, products, colours, materials and so on and actually making sales and collecting payments through their websites. It’s all getting very complicated,’ says Stephen Smith, Retailsystem md.

The answer, he says, is website integration, which put simply is a way of using just one database for all ranges

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

Mayne’s estimate/order screen for mobiles and tablets has been designed to look like an order pad

Mayne has introduced a version of its Mayne Mosaic software to run on tablets, iPads and iPhones.

Mayne Mosaic is a cloud-based system for flooring and furniture retailers. The point of sale module enables entering enquiries and orders quickly and efficiently, checking and allocating stock, or raising a purchase order to the supplier for non-stock and direct delivery orders.

For flooring retailers, the system integrates with the Measure Square system for fast and accurate estimating and planning.

In the mobile version Mayne has designed the estimate/order screen to look similar to an order pad, so is easy to use with minimal training.

Both Mosaic and Measure Square can be accessed anywhere with Internet access from PC or iPad, enabling estimates and plans to be produced at the customer’s home.

The Mosaic CRM module handles the customer interface from initial enquiry to delivery and fitting, and incorporates actions, reminders and follow ups. The integrated Estimators and Fitters diaries can also be linked to Google Calendar.

As the system is modular, it allows users to choose the modules they require, both initially and in the future as the requirements of the business change.

Visit: www.masterpiece-system.com www.maynetechnology.co.uk www.measuremobile3.com www.retailsystem.com

SOFTWARE Kristian Bailey, Computers for Flooring md (left) and Ray de Bolla, sales director (right) were joined by winners Paul Williams and Richie Sissons from Laywell Flooring

Pole position The winner of Computers for Flooring’s TFS draw enjoyed a day at Silverstone Laywell Flooring won Computers for Flooring’s prize draw at The Flooring Show last year for a Porsche track day at Silverstone. But the company went one better by arranging for the winner to attend the Porsche Carrera Cup GB media day when the cars involved in the 16-round championship were unveiled.

Computers for Flooring is sponsoring Paul Rees, who races for Parr Motorsport and took third place in the 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup GB in his rookie year.

The sponsorship meant Paul Williams and Richie Sissons from Laywell Flooring in Sheerness and Sittingbourne, Kent, visited the British Racing Drivers’ Club clubhouse at Silverstone, where they enjoyed hospitality before driving a Porsche 911 GTS, Porsche Panamera and Boxster GTS round the track.

‘The event was a great success with Paul referring to the experience as “literally the best day ever”,’ says Kristian Bailey, Computers for Flooring md.

‘We will return to the The Flooring Show this year to showcase our management software designed

specifically for the flooring industry, and also give the opportunity for a similar experience to another lucky winner,’ he adds.

Visit: www.computersforflooring.com

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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New London Fabric London

REVIEW

Exceeding goals The combination of two shows brought a more diverse visitor mix This year’s New London Fabric show saw the merger of the London Fabric and Sofitel Textile Show events with 21 exhibitors showing in executive boxes at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge stadium.

DFS, John Lewis, Next, Shop Direct and Steinhoff were among the retailers present.

Tina Evans, Shop Direct senior product designer, praised the show’s ability to allow visitors to meet so many international fabric companies in one day, which ‘would normally take weeks to visit’.

Alstons, Buoyant Upholstery, Collins & Hayes, David Linley, Duresta, Henderson Russell, John Sankey, Lebus Upholstery, Parker Knoll, QFC, Vale Bridgecraft and Wade Upholstery were among the manufacturers who visited.

‘We are delighted at the response from both visitors and

exhibitors alike. The BFM aimed to deliver a show that provided a friendly, professional environment in which to do business, combined with the choice of international fabric brands and it has passed expectations,’ says Jackie Bazeley, BFM md.

Mark Vervaeke, Fedustria director, says combining the two events helped to attract more visitors with a more diverse mix.

‘Visitors and exhibitors love the venue and we expect more exhibitors in 2016.’

Marianne Hrynchuk, Flanders Investment & Trade economic representative, says the show was a good solution for companies and provided what visitors wanted. ‘There is a good feeling here and everyone is excited about the location and the executive boxes format.’

Next year’s event will take place at the end of February.

Visit: www.bfm.org.uk/londonfabric

Visitors were impressed with the selection of exhibitors from home and overseas

Companies exhibited in executive boxes, including Vanelli which prides itself on producing quality fabric collections using an eclectic range of designs complementing each other through clever use of colour. Each range is carefully put together, considering current trends and essential classics which will suit any room, drawing on a wealth of experience to offer a complete look for the home.

Visit: www.vanelli.com.tr

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

PREVIEW

Launching pad Flooring retailers will have the chance to see the largest number of new products since Domotex

Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show Cranmore Park 12-13 May

Adam Carpets will launch its designer-led mood board POS, with samples from all of its ranges on a series of four boards.

Each board has its own interior trend and theme.

Amtico will showcase the Amtico Signature and Amtico Spacia collections.

Axminster Carpets is adding 16 contemporary colours to Simply Natural and Devonia, including cool ashes, dark greys and dusty eggshells.

Brockway Carpets is introducing five products, ranging from plain wool twists, combined wool twist and velvet designs, 100% undyed wool velvets and loops.

It will also add styles and colours to its bestselling Lakeland Herdwick and Cavendish Collection. This will be supported with display units, featuring new POS, photography and reasons to buy wool corner POS. The units, which have floor carpet to create a store-withina-store feel, are suitable for straight, L- and U-shaped displays.

Cormar Carpets will show the Bouclé Neutrals 50% New Zealand wool/50% polyester loop pile range. It comes in three designs: Texture, Level and Stripe, and six contemporary neutral shades.

Crucial Trading has seven additional colourways for its Mississippi collection, from rich red and plum tones to fresh lime and blue colourways.

Elliot Anti-Slip will display anti-slip rug underlays in rolls and pre-cut packs.

Gaskell Wool Rich’s highlight will be Faroe, the winner of the Wools of New Zealand Best Product Award at Domotex.

The three-ply 100% wool loop pile developed in association with WoNZ has three designs and nine colours per design, available in 4m and 5m widths.

From Home Foundation is US Floors’ CoreTec One and CoreTec Plus LVT. The UK range of 15 wood planks and five tiles have a 0.3mm wear layer (CoreTec One) or a 0.55mm wear layer and attached cork underlay (CoreTec Plus), supported by a deckboard display stand.

Its Sensa laminate range is updated with Cosmopolitan, which has a large toast-rack display stand, along with its Instalay self-adhesive acoustic underlay.

Kenburn will offer information on its carpet compactor that allows retailers to reduce the cost of disposing of carpet and underlay waste.

Kingsmead Carpets is adding designs across its three categories of Wool Loop, Wool Twist and Clean Easy.

Clockwise from top left: Adam Carpets’ mood board POS; Kingsmead’s Majesty; Ulster Carpets’ York Wilton in Squirrel; Parador’s Trend Time 6 Brushwood

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show Cranmore Park 12-13 May

PREVIEW

74

Berber loop offers three 100% wool styles; Roxburgh is the latest addition to the wool twist offer and recognises the move towards grey and stone shades while Majesty, Fantastic, Wonderful and Marvel Plus join the Clean Easy portfolio.

POS will be launched across the three categories, with interchangeable modular wall units and lecterns.

Mayne Computer Technology’s Mayne Mosaic Mobile software runs on tablets, iPads and iPhones, giving retailers the ability to create estimates and orders in the showroom or in the customer’s home. The estimate/order screen is designed to look like an order pad for intuitive use.

Mr Tomkinson’s Tomkinson Berber has a new construction and will be available in 40oz and 50oz weights, a dozen colours and 4m and 5m widths.

Oriental Weavers unveils the Essence range of loom-knotted New Zealand wool and viscose cream rugs with detailed hand-carving. The Conran, Serene and Evora viscose ranges will be introduced alongside a chenille patchwork range produced in its Gobelin factory. Several machine-made ranges will feature a new frisee collection with neutral colours in traditional and modern designs.

Parador has developed 10 more decors for its Trendtime 6, including the mix and match Nova and Valere, with soft shades of white, cool grey and brown combined with discreet lime-washed pores. Natural Texture gives depth to the satin matt finished planks.

Penthouse Carpets is showcasing its new branding and launching Cumbrian in 18 colours, 4m and 5m widths and 40oz and 50oz weights. As with all its wool products, it is mothproofed and backed using jute.

Cumbrian, along with Wentworth, Vermont and Stateside, make up Penthouse’s ‘one priced’ tombola concept, where retailers are offered a choice of more than 72 colour variants, in both 40oz and 50oz weights.

Phoenox Textiles debuts the Origins collection of modern and traditional designs alongside the latest New Zealand wool rugs from its Rug Guru brand, and Hug Rug and Muddle Mat doormats.

RFMS-UK will use the show to launch the latest version of its free measuring and estimating app Measure Mobile 3,

Interiors Monthly April 2015

Clockwise from top left: Wools of New Zealand’s cleaning kit can be used on Aulana’s Midas; Mayne Mosaic’s Mobile; Rug Guru’s Check; Ryalux’s Period Velvet Jasper; Ultimate’s Persian collection

PREVIEW

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show Cranmore Park 12-13 May

Clockwise from top: Gaskell’s Faroe; Crucial’s Mississippi; Axminster’s Devonia; RFMS-UK’s Measure Mobile 3 app; Home Foundation’s CoreTec

suitable for iPad and Android tablets. It also allows the person measuring to present and email a quote, take a signed acceptance and receive a payment. In the coming months further functionality will be added to enable Measure Mobile 3 to integrate remotely with RFMS at the office, enabling salespeople to access customer, product and inventory information and to update quote and order records in real time from the customer’s home.

Ryalux is relaunching four collections and adding one. Desert Tones has been expanded from 10 to 12 colours, with six new shades. It now has Ryaguard stain protection and Ryaprotect anti-moth treatment. It is introducing the coordinating 50oz Natural Tones twist.

Ultimate Twist has been updated with a 104-colour offer and Ryaguard and Ryaprotect.

Twelve contemporary colours have been added to Ryasilk bringing the total to 21, while Period Velvet now has 30 colours. Ryafine Velvet will be added to the Velvet display units.

Ulster Carpets has expanded its York Wilton range with six greige, neutral and earthy tones. The addition of Squirrel, Flannel, Gainsborough, Pavilion, Cuckoo and Cotswold takes the total of colourways to 44. Braeburn is a traditional plaid design with a contemporary feel using plum purples, petrol blues, mossy greens and shimmering greys with accented pastel shades with five colourways of Tayberry, Estuary, Seaholly, Petrel and Myrtle.

Hamilton has been added to Ulster’s Boho Collection while the Monaco, Panama and Capri additions to the Open Spaces Collection will be on display.

The show will be the UK launch of Ultimate Rug Co’s Persian collection in tie-dyed cotton chenille flat weaves in contemporary colours and a vintage worn look. Unity has been updated and Keshen Supreme will be relaunched with different designs and improved quality.

Wools of New Zealand is relaunching the WoolSafe approved Woolclean cleaning kit. All the products are suitable for natural and synthetic carpets, contain no solvents, alcohol, phosphates, bleaching or optical brighteners, and are not tested on animals. The kit is recommended for use with Laneve branded carpets.

Visit: www.bgnfs.co.uk

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Buying Groups’ National Flooring Show Cranmore Park 12-13 May

PREVIEW

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Top: Meister Oak engineered wood Above: Meister Opaque White Oak engineered wood Left: the cover of the brochure features Meister Mocha Thermal Larch engineered wood

Triple play Highlights of Interfloor’s latest offerings Interfloor will show its latest engineered wood, laminate and underlay products.

It will showcase its Meister engineered wood floors, a premium range of German floors for independent retailers featuring 30 colours and a 35-year residential warranty. All the floors and matching accessories are held in stock and available on a three to five day delivery.

Interfloor provides a modular POS system with a 64-page brochure to inspire the consumer and drive demand.

‘The response to the Meister laminate range has been outstanding. Retailers and consumers alike love the brand. We believe our new range of Meister

Interiors Monthly April 2015

engineered wood will offer a unique solution that will be equally popular,’ says Steve Woodhead, Interfloor marketing director.

The Meister laminate and Nadura flooring range has 42 decors, an expanded selection of colour matched accessories backed by POS, a 64-page brochure and a consumer sampling service.

Six Tredaire underlays have been upgraded and relaunched: Sensation, Dreamwalk, Softwalk, Cosywalk, Ambience and Revive. These products now have stronger and more vibrant colours, stronger backing with bolder

branding, improved POS and brighter and tougher packaging.

‘The Seventh Heaven range is our biggest selling Tredaire collection.

Although it has been very successful we felt now was a good time to move the range forward. This upgrade has been designed to produce a better performing product that looks better and is easier for retailers to sell. We’ve invested significantly in the range without changing our prices. Feedback from customers has been extremely positive and we’re seeing a significant growth in demand,’ says Woodhead.

Visit: www.interfloor.com

Introducing 5 NEW colours to our Devonia range.

Devonia Collection A collection of opulently rich high-wool-content carpets available in an extensive range of solid colours that enhances any interior.

NEW COLOURS available now

Devonia Eggshell Blue 1306/76000

made in GREAT BRITAIN

To see the full range or request a free sample please visit: www.axminster-carpets.co.uk or call us: 01297 33533 / 32244

The finest wool blends from around the world.

Beautiful and exclusive wool and wool-blend carpets without the price tag.

NEW TOMBOLAS & MERCHANDISING

NOW AVAILABLE

CALL GORDON HUGO

07976 607657 Gordon Hugo T: 07976 607657 gordonvhugo@googlemail.com

www.axminster-carpets.co.uk

iSalone/Fuorisalone Milan 14-19 April

PREVIEW Henge has looked to the past for its burnished brass Esagono coffee tables with hexagonal tops reminiscent of a tray.

Contact Visit: www.salonemilano.it www.superstudiogroup.com www.venturaprojects.com www.fuorisalone.it www.milandesignagenda.com

Think porcupine quills and bridges for the inspiration for Cattelan Italia’s glass-topped Hystrix coffee table. It is available in six sizes from 240cm x 100cm to 360cm x 130cm.

The enveloping and seductive lines of Softhouse’s Tobia sofa, dressed in chilli pepper velvet with a shaped back to increase the feeling of welcome.

City with no limits Laminam and Toto have combined to create two collections of large ceramic surfaces using Hydrotect technology, with surfaces inspired by oxidised metals, unpolished cement and smudgy watercolour paper.

The furnishing world will once again decamp to Milan for iSalone at Rho and the mass of events throughout the city centre. Here are some highlights

Targeted at consumers who have never bought Flexform’s upholstery before, the modular Lario has optional cashmere cushions.

Marcel Wanders has created a concept of two opposite worlds – rational and emotional – using LG Hausys’ HI-MACS material.

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

PREVIEW

Varaschin’s modular storage system Fruits, by Daniele Lo Scalzo Moscheri, takes its inspiration from fruit boxes and can be used indoors or out.

The fabric Deliziosa is one of three new chairs in Calia Italia’s Urbana range, alongside Delizia (leather with chesterfield centre) and Deliziante (full leather chesterfield).

iSalone/Fuorisalone Milan 14-19 April

Comfortable, light and versatile, Baleri Italia by Hub Design’s ISI adapts to any setting with its painted metal frame and plastic body.

The triangular profile moka finished solid ash wood four poster structure of Poltrona Frau’s Volare gradually thins and lightens at it tapers towards the top. It is upholstered in leather with two cushions attached by leather belt to break up the austere look.

Casamania’s Summit is a modular sofa that can be used as three interlocking chairs.

Porro’s Ellipse table, by Front, combines two ellipses and seats six to eight people.

Capdell will introduce six table collections, including Gazelle, with a choice of round, rectangular and oval shapes and several materials for the table top.

Bentley Home’s Lancaster is designed to make an impact while being an island of both acoustic and visual intimacy. It has a briar root plinth.

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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May Design Series ExCel London 17-19 May

PREVIEW

Creative centre

Five design sectors in one place

May Design Series is again divided into five areas: furniture; kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms; lighting; decor and DX with new materials and technology, but this year promises a record number of overseas exhibitors.

The New Design Britain Awards will display the work of 30 finalists across six categories: furniture; fabrics; surfaces; accessories; interior design and architecture; with the winners revealed

on 18 May. A selection of New Design Britain alumni will also be exhibiting as part of the feature. Forty of the UK’s top designer makers will be showcasing bespoke product designs ready to buy or commission The Fabric Pavilion returns while other highlights include a selection of products from shows in Stockholm, Frankfurt and Copenhagen curated by Katie Treggiden, Fiera Magazine editor; a new partnership

with Bucks New University which will see a collection of students’ work that has been influenced, inspired by or designed in collaboration with the industry.

Birmingham City University has again teamed up with Global Color Research and digital wallcovering brand Tektura to bring students from the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design to the show and explore 2015/16 trend predictions from Mix Publications.

This page clockwise from top: Calia Italia; SMA; RAK Ceramics’ Gems; Alhambra Opposite page clockwise from top left: Rug-Maker; Dall’Agnese; Egoitaliano; Swaffer Habitech; Chad Lighting

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Interiors Monthly April 2015

PREVIEW

Adventures in Wonderland. Granted an exclusive licence to reproduce John Tenniel’s artwork from the British Library’s original collections, they present two distinctive designs: The White Rabbit, and Alice Drink Me, while Morris Mirrors will show its latest mirrors.

Aran Cucine, Leicht, Compac UK, Doca UK and Artinox are taking part in the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom section.

RAK Ceramics is launching the Gems

collection including four polished porcelain designs in three sizes and four colours: ivory, lemon, light grey and dark grey. Other surfaces on show will include new large-format metallic porcelain, Platinum Black, and bestselling woodeffect tile, Hemlock.

Visit: www.maydesignseries.com

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

May Design Series ExCel London 17-19 May

Included in the overseas furniture exhibitors will be Egoitaliano, Calia Italia, Alma de Luce, Dall’Agnese and SMA. Swaffer Fabrics will be among the fabric firms taking part, with its own designs and those of Alhambra International.

Clifton Lighting, Habitech iD and Chad Lighting are exhibiting in lighting.

Decor features Rug-Maker celebrating 150 years of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s

81

PARFLOORS.CO.UK

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A rare opportunity to join in the CLOUD 9 success story Ball & Young Limited, A Vita Group Company Due to Retirement We are Looking to Recruit an

AREA MANAGER

(West Midlands, Gloucestershire, Hereford & Worcester, Northamptonshire, Oxford and Warwickshire)

Tuesday / Wednesday 19th / 20th May 2015 Kidderminster Golf Club - one of the best courses in the Midlands and host for the past 58 years!

Stay overnight and play golf on the second day All newcomers welcome Closing date for entries May 2nd 2015

FORMAT FOR 2015 DAY ONE Four Ball Team Event DAY TWO Two Ball Team Event

As an ambitious professional, you will welcome this outstanding opportunity to further your career with a high profile company.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS s Bacon roll and coffee courtesy of the Committee s Prizes for Top 3 teams on both days s Nearest the Pin s Longest Drive s Tombola s Secret Auction

This challenging position offers a good basic salary, commission, company car and a range of other benefits.

Largest carpet manufacturing / retailer golf tournament in the UK. Over £1,000,000 has been raised for charity.

Experience in the Floorcovering Trade is preferable.

If you feel you are able to meet the drive and ambition required to be successful, please write in the first instance, enclosing a full C.V. a resume of your sales experience and current salary to: Design: kingsfordcreative.co.uk

Email: t.jones@brockway.co.uk Tel: 01562 824737 Fax: 01562 752010

A leading manufacturer of a wide range of carpet and wood floor underlays and accessories, including CLOUD 9, the Brand Leader.

Ann Shaw, Sales & Marketing Director, Ball & Young Limited, Causeway Road, Earlstrees, CORBY, Northants, NN17 4DU Closing Date for Applications is 20th April 2015

Luvanto Click Luxury Vinyl Flooring

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www.underlay.com

t: 01536 200502