Interiors Monthly March 2014

Interiors monthly

March 2014

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first for flooring, furniture and accessories

Best of British Local heroes

Belgium Flooring state

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YOUR SOFA YOUR WAY CREATE A SUITE THAT IS AS INDIVIDUAL AS YOU.

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Andrew Kidd EDITOR

Reasons to be happy While cracking open the champagne may be premature, there are clear signs that the interiors market is rediscovering some of its old vigour Results and reports from many companies over the past few months, particulary since November, have given reason to cheer, providing evidence that consumers are once again returning to stores.

No-one is suggesting that the sector is out of the woods entirely yet, nor that performance has returned to the heady days of six or seven years ago.

But there are definite indications that all the elements are coming together to make 2014 the best for many a year: the housing market is demonstrating indications that its recent health is neither short-term nor creating a housing bubble; employment figures are encouraging and

monthly

Editor: Andrew Kidd March 2014

Interiors

consumers are more confident to spend.

As ever, performance will vary across the country and from market sector to sector, but the key has to be to encourage consumers with products they haven’t seen before and extolling their features and benefits, rather than focusing on price. I think many consumers are ready to buy new products for the home and while price is always a consideration, it’s not the be all and end all.

Well done to Mike Dobson, Mr Tomkinson general manager, for sponsoring the Kidderminster Carpet Manufacturers National Golf Tournament, as you will have read online or in the newsletter. The 20-21 May event is an important fundraiser for FIT and Macmillan, so it is good to see its future secured once again. It isn’t just for those in the flooring industry, so if you play golf, put it in your diary. You’ll enjoy yourself and help two very worthwhile causes.

Finally, because of the pre-Christmas flooding which left our office several inches deep in water from the River Medway (our old address of Riverlawn Road was a bit of a clue of what might happen), we’ve moved to a hopefully drier home. The new contact details are below.

first for flooring, furniture and accessories

Best of British Local heroes

Belgium

Flooring state

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

Furniture advertising (South): Tim Boden T: 01732 441 130 E: tboden@interiorsmonthly.co.uk The Sensuality collection: Everyone Furniture advertising (North): Jarrod Bird T: 01565 631 397 E: jbird@interiorsmonthly.co.uk has a soft side Visit: www.carpetyourlife.com Carpet, flooring, lighting and accessories advertising:

Joanne Paull

T: 01732 441 130 E: jpaull@interiorsmonthly.co.uk

China sales agent: Jane Dai T: 00 86 755 8292 5229 E: jane@newbuddy.net Published by Interiors Media Limited Minerva House, Bordkye, 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

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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NEW E! G N RA

Beautiful Personalised Rugs From Axminster Carpets™

Become A Stockist Today Introducing our new range of rug designs, many of which can be personalised with a name or special date. With 12 designs to choose from we have something your customers will cherish.

For more information, contact your Axminster Carpets™ Account Manager or call us: 01297 630630 email us: custom@axminster-carpets.co.uk

www.axminster-carpets.co.uk

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CONTENTS

ale-Bridgecraft

Be part of our Success!

INTERIORS MONTHLY MARCH 2014

INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS 6

JFS already more than half-full

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United Carpets sees like for like growth

12

Winter success for Betta Living

FEATURES 20

Carpet Super-soft becomes the new must-have

Sponsors of Channel 4’s

and WOW continues to grow

C O U N T D O W N

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Regional R i l Support S Centres C National Advertising Show centre order referrals Stock Display Discounts Strong Brand Appeal Furniture Built to Last!

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Capital investment

Best of British Made in the UK

37

Belgium Flooring supplement

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Beds and bedroom Hybrid success, Easy sell, Expanded choice, Making a statement, Focus on growth, Ongoing benefits, Improving sleep, Core values and the latest products

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Vale-Bridgecraft Show Centres at: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, 01422 885000 Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, 0191 4883682 Warrington, Cheshire, 01925 571982 Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 01142 618952 Loughborough, Leicestershire, 01509 218647 Draycott, Gloucestershire, 01386 700458 Nutfield, Surrey, 01737 822027 Hedge End, Hampshire, 01489 796479 Bristol, Almondbury Business Centre, 01454 614650 Felsted Nr. Chelmsford, Essex. 01371 821851

Wood and laminate

Review Interiors UK part two

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Review Home

88

Preview iSalone

REGULARS 15

Opinion

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New products

NEXT ISSUE Buying Groups National Flooring Show preview HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT PATRON HRH The Duke of York KG KCVO CHAIRMAN OF THE TRUSTEES The Outward Bound Trust

Upholstery Living and dining focus www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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NEWS

Firm support for shows Almost 200 companies have signed up for next year’s January Furniture Show, just a month after the event was launched. Meanwhile, Adam Carpets has been confirmed as the latest company to commit to The Flooring Show and the organiser of the Spring Floorcoverings Show has asked retailers which companies they want to see at the event.

Parker Knoll, Duresta, G Plan Upholstery, Westbridge, Baker, Lebus, Ercol, Furniture Origins, Sherborne, Alstons, Mark Webster, Breasley, and Vogue are among the companies committed to the January Furniture Show, due to take place from 13-15 January at the NEC and organised

by Furniture & Gift Fairs.

More than half of the available space has already been booked.

‘We’re delighted with the way in which the industry has so quickly shown its support for the January Furniture Show.

We’ve listened to what exhibitors want, altered the dates to accommodate other international trade events and revisited the way in which we use the halls at the NEC. It is clear that the industry wants a January event to showcase its products to retailers who are looking to buy at that time of the year in order to see new product being delivered into stores for the spring,’ says co-organiser Laraine Janes.

The BFM has also given the show its support. ‘We are very happy with the outcome of the recent meeting with the new organiser of the January Furniture Show. The recent exhibition under the auspices of UBM [Interiors UK] was highly successful for many members and many were keen to retain a January show at the NEC. The working relationship between the January Furniture Show and BFM will be mutually beneficial to both organisations and provide ongoing benefits for BFM members,’ says Jackie Bazeley, BFM md.

Adam Carpets has become the 78th company to commit to The Flooring Show, due to be held in Harrogate from 21-23 September. Other exhibitors include Abingdon, ACG, Ball & Young, Beaulieu International Group, Carpet 1st, Cavalier, Condor, Cormar, Crown, Furlong, Gaskell, Hadfields, Interfloor, Interiors Monthly, Kersaint Cobb, Kingsmead, Lano, Manx, Mercado, Mr Tomkinson, Novostrat,

Adam Carpets will be at The Flooring Show

Plantation Rugs, Stroolmount and Wilkies Carpets.

Meanwhile, retailers are being asked which companies they would like to see at the Spring Floorcoverings Show in Brighton from 3-5 March 2015 via www.shape-thefuture.com/floorcoverings.

‘Following discussions with some of the industry’s key players, we took the decision not to allow exhibitors to book large stands, meaning that all exhibitors have a more level playing field. This strategy will allow exhibitors the opportunity of supporting their customers in the south, while keeping costs under control, resulting in a more profitable, valuable and altogether worthwhile sales and marketing exercise. The other equally important advantage of this strategy is that an affordable Brighton will attract more exhibitors and therefore more visitors, so the industry as whole will benefit,’ says Stewart Crofts, Norcro Exhibitions director.

Retailers in administration must still pay rent Retailers will no longer be able to avoid paying rent while in administration, after a test case at the Court of Appeal.

Under existing law, rent due during an administration is payable as an expense if the business continues to use the property.

But, if a company files for administration just before quarterly rent day and administrators are appointed within 10 days, the rent could legally go unpaid.

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

Property companies British Land, Hammerson, Land Securities and Intu argued this is what software chain Game did when it filed for administration just before quarter day in March 2012, saving it an estimated £3m in rent.

The ruling means rent will now be charged on a pay-as-you-go basis, ending tactical administrations that enable retailers to operate for free if they file for

administration just after quarter day.

Game says it may appeal to the Supreme Court.

Ian Fletcher, British Property Federation director of policy, says: ‘This is the fairest outcome for all, as it means that landlords get paid and that insolvency practitioners can trade over the best timeframe for the rescue of the business.’

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PREVIEW A stunning range of bedroom and dining furniture.

Made from solid Oak and Oak veneers, Preview offers a fresh approach to contemporary living.

Preview represents, STYLE, QUALITY AND FANTASTIC VALUE to the retailer and is available from UK stock for immediate delivery.

IMMEDIATE DELIVERY From UK stocks

Call us today to ďŹ nd out more about this and our other beautiful collections and how we can help improve your margins!

STYLE Q QUALITY & FANTASTIC VALUE

W

East West 0333 344 2140 email sales@eastwestuk.co.uk 7 Highlands Court, Cranmore Avenue, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4LE

Look for the Buttery

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Impressive Imperial Twist Due for launch in March 2014 Imperial Twist is a new range for modern living.

Incorporating 12 new stylish clean colours Imperial Twist will make a statement in any room in the home.

Do not be fooled by its good looks and luxury finish. Imperial Twist will hit the spot with the most price conscious of

consumers. Available in 4m and 5m widths and 100% polypropylene Imperial Twist comes with our 10 year Stainaway warranty and wear guarantee. For all our roll stockists and our exclusive cut length retailers Imperial Twist is a range that is sure to impress. Your Associated Weavers representative will be showing this range on his next visit.

Harvest Heathers Exciting New colours.

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

Associated Weavers is always following new fashion colour trends. Even the strongest collections need to be added to in-between sampling updates. Ask your Associated Weavers representative to show you the two new fashion conscious grey tones Pearl Ashes and Charcoal. Harvest Heathers is available in money saving 2m, 2.5m, 3m, 4m and 5m plus three different weights to suit every customer.

New Super Soft Fibre Fibre used in carpets is becoming softer and softer to meet consumer demands. Within the next few weeks your Associated Weavers representative will be presenting to you our new iSense Super Soft Fibre. Marketed under ‘The Sensuality Collection’ iSense is a fibre that not only feels good it also looks good and its performance is exceptional. iSense will recover faster and quicker from traffic wear than any other carpet. Super softness and high performance in one carpet.

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Imperial Twist

“

Imperial Twist hits all the spots. Great looking, fabulous colours, competitive price.

The perfect package.

Jonathan Davies Sales Manager Associated Weavers

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NEWS

United Carpets enjoys like for like sales boost United Carpets has seen ‘better than expected’ trading, with like for like sales at the country’s second largest specialist flooring retailer up 5.4% in the 21 weeks to 24 February.

The chain says that while encouraging, the trading improvement should be viewed in the context of a weaker trading period last year, which was affected by heavy snowfall. Notwithstanding this, the positive trading performance shows the benefits of the actions taken to restructure the business from 85 stores to 59.

A company statement says: ‘The core store network has responded well to the changes and is showing the benefits of the restructuring, particularly in the past few months. The board also believes there has been a slight improvement in confidence among consumers,

however, the overall market still remains very challenging.

‘Our core combination of providing high quality and good value flooring ranges together with a continued focus on improving the in-store customer experience is producing positive results.’

As a result United expects full year results to 31 March to be ‘materially better than market expectations’.

‘We have been encouraged with trading in the early part of this calendar year which will flow through to better than expected year end numbers. The changes we have made have transformed our business and with the economy as a whole appearing to move in the right direction, I am increasingly optimistic about the future,’ says Paul Eyre, United chief executive.

Drive to cut CO2

Poltrona Frau’s DU55

Poltrona Frau sold US office furniture group Hawarth is to buy Poltrona Frau, in a deal worth €339m (£281m). As well as the Poltrona Frau brand, the group also owns the iconic Cassina, Cappellini and Thoner brands.

Hawarth is buying a 51% stake from Charme Investments – an investment firm set up by Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo – and 7% from the founding Moschini family.

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Hawarth is paying a 20% premium to Poltrona Frau’s current share price and hopes to buy the remaining shares before delisting the group.

Franco Moschini, Poltrona Frau president for the past 50 years, says the deal was ‘the realisation of a big dream’ as the company joins a larger global enterprise.

Hawarth, which makes flexible workplaces including movable walls, chairs and floating floors, had sales of £860m last year.

Interiors Monthly March 2014

Silentnight has invested in a fleet of 16 state of the art Scania G-Series vehicles to help it continue its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

The fleet of CG19 highline cabs are designed to produce a lower carbon footprint and increase fuel efficiency. They feature an Opticruise Gearbox to lower driver fatigue, so improving safety. Vehicles have been installed with live tracking and fleet management devices, which enable up to the minute vehicle positioning, measure miles per gallon and carbon dioxide emissions produced.

New rear-steer axle city trailers will reduce mileage by enhancing overall vehicle manoeuvrability for double trailered vehicles enabling them to reach difficult locations. This will lessen the need for a drop-off point where the trailers have to be left behind while the goods are delivered by a second smaller vehicle.

Silentnight has also made a

significant investment into the company’s onsite servicing facilities at its premises in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, in an effort to reduce vehicle down time.

‘At Silentnight we understand the impact of our business and our responsibility to ensure that our energy consumption and carbon emissions are reduced to an absolute minimum – and in-keeping with the UK Government’s national target, reducing carbon emissions by 60% by 2020. The new fleet is part of Silentnight’s long-term sustainability strategy, running an increasingly efficient service with minimal impact to the environment,’ says Dave Chapman, Silentnight distribution manager.

The new fleet has been given a personal touch by bringing to life Silentnight’s Hippo and Duck brand ambassadors. Each vehicle has a Hippo or Duck name accompanied by an image of a Hippo or Duck on the cab.

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Reassuringly resilient and famous for being the hardest-wearing, Duralay underlays are engineered to be tough in every flooring situation.

The Duralay range features our renowned recycled crumb rubber plus specialist solutions for wood, laminate, underfloor heating and contract applications so every floor can be protected by Duralay.

love your floor ™ UK Sales: 01706 238 810

www.interfloor.com

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NEWS

Winter proves a Betta season Fitted bedroom, kitchen and bathroom chain Betta Living, has reported a major increase in year-onyear sales during the Boxing Day and January trading period.

Sales jumped by 61% over the period. The results come on the back of a 23% jump in sales in the year to the end of November, with turnover reaching £39m.

The chain now has 33 branches across the country, after opening two last year – Bristol and Lakeside, Essex – which have produced record figures for the company.

Investment in Betta Living’s online presence has proved to be another success story, with online sales up 26% in the past 12 months. Becoming partner supplier with Next on fitted

kitchens further boosted sales in 2013 and saw Betta Living install more than 85 kitchen displays in Next stores.

‘We’ve invested heavily again this year, from new stores and store refurbishments to introducing a whole new bathroom product offer. It’s been supported by a myriad of marketing activity throughout the year that has helped to increase the all-important leads into the business,’ says Noel dean, chairman of parent Dean House.

He says the bricks and clicks model is working well and the company plans to continue to invest in both channels.

The group is due to open a national training centre in May.

Meister Majestic in Boathouse Oak

Interfloor joins laminate arena with John Lewis deal Underlay firm Interfloor has entered the hard flooring market by supplying John Lewis with a laminate range from Meister.

‘The combination of Meister’s product pedigree and our nationwide service capability in the UK provides a highly competitive proposition,’ says Steve Woodhead, Interfloor marketing director.

Ian Powers, John Lewis assistant buyer floorcoverings, says: ‘We chose Meister as our laminate flooring brand due to its excellent range of contemporary designs, reputation for innovation and

commitment to the highest levels of quality.’

It is the only large multiple retailer launching the Meister range in the UK. Interfloor is supplying John Lewis with 30 laminate decors across six Meister products.

The offer includes the patented MasterClic Plus fitting system, and products with 2m long planks, narrower 140mm planks and Meister’s top of the range non-repeat decor Sovereign.

The German company also makes engineered wood, cork and linoleum flooring.

John Lewis will sell the ranges from £13 to £39 per sqm.

PPI payments benefit interiors

Betta Living’s Isabella bedroom

The interiors sector has received a £1.7bn boost from Payment Protection Insurance mis-selling payouts.

The £13.3bn handed to shoppers by banks has provided an extra 1% of GDP to the economy, with only

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

12% of consumers saving the money they have received.

A VoucherCodesPro.co.uk survey found 13% of people spent their payments on home furnishings, the fifth most popular use, with holidays being the first.

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After a great performance it's nice to sink into something soft.

Encore with feathers.

Customers, young and old, know that feathers can give an exceptional performance. That is why Fibreline has Custome developed ENCORE - FEATHER, a feather version of their award winning ENCORE cushion.

The new cushion has a feather-soft feel and looks similar to a feather cushion but has much greater recovery and durability. In fact it comes with a 4 year guarantee against flattening. The secret, as with ENCORE, is in its unique construction.

ENCORE - FEATHER is constructed using foam and feather rather than foam and fibre. This makes the cushion light and easy to pick up and turn. And that's all that is needed to maintain a great performance.

Now you can sink into something soft again and again and again.

feather

See our new website & video at:

TEL: 01535 606846.

www.encorecushion.co.uk

IT JUST KEEPS ON PERFORMING

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OPINION

Andrew Stanbridge Carpet Foundation chief executive

Retailers need a click and brick approach There are a few topics that provoke an instant response from retailers – and one is the Internet. Some are incandescent with rage at the attempts by fellow retailers to sell online; some bury their head in the sand and claim that the majority of their business is repeat business so they are fine; others think because they have a website they have ‘ticked that box’ and can move on. Some are embracing the digital age.

There is no escaping the fact that more and more of us do our due diligence online before we purchase. We, as consumers, want a 24/7 service mentality. That is all the more true of the younger generation – the customers of tomorrow. What is more, they are doing it from phones and tablets.

A good website is a must in today’s world and it is a tool that should help your business, not merely be an online brochure or presence. Retailers regularly move products around in their shops to freshen things up, so why leave your biggest shop window, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, static for the year?

There are 3m searches every month for ‘carpet’ on the Internet in the UK and nearly 200,000 for ‘carpet shops’. It is quite a large window of opportunity to turn one’s back on. For many, it is the lack of expertise and knowledge that frightens them. And there is no doubt that a multi-million pound business has been built out of the black art of optimisation and building websites.

A click and brick strategy to retailing has to be the way forward. Too many retailers continue to manage their digital and non-digital channels separately.

The Carpet Foundation has just launched the ‘Be Seen. Be Found. Be Visited’ initiative in which we actively encourage independent retailers to give some thought to an online presence and how it can benefit their business without selling online.

Some still persist in burying their heads in the sand and decline the opportunity but some, including top retailers such as Tim Clarke of Clarke’s of Romford and Malcolm Dyson at M&M Carpets in London, have actually joined the Carpet Foundation when presented with our initiative. The CF may not be for everyone but I would confidently predict that you can’t swim against the tide for ever.

Too many retailers continue to manage their digital and non-digital channels separately

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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Corona 5’ Dining Set with 4’ Bench & 2 Chairs

Cairo 4’6” Bed & Bedroom Furniture Also Shown with Chester Sleigh Bed

Monroe 4’6” Bed Shown with Charles Bedroom Range COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCT RANGE - FIRST CLASS SERVICE - OUTSTANDING VALUE Seconique S i Plc, Pl Glendale Gl d l House, H Woden W d Road R d West, W t Wednesbury, W d b West W t Midlands, Midl d WS10 7SF Tel: 0121 506 4888 Email: sales@seconique.co.uk

Fax: 0121 506 4889 Website: www.seconique.co.uk

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NEW PRODUCTS

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1 The latest ranges from the MiChair, MiBed and Hestia brands were on view on the Furmanac stand at Interiors UK, with the stars of the show being the new upholstered range of bed frames and matching occasional furniture.

All three Furmanac brands are proudly hand-made in the UK and conform to UK flammability regulations.

Tel: 01384 408 844 2 Osmo’s eco-friendly interior wood finishes have been used to protect a unique kit-of-parts system that turned a garden room into an elegant and practical library and comfortable reading space.

Polyx-Oil white tint (3040) was used internally on the birch plywood walls and ceilings.

Polyx-Oil Tints ensure the wood remains microporous and can be touched up to cover any abrasions.

Tel: 01296 481 220 3 Offering a range of fully customisable mattress, headboard and base options, the luxurious Savile Bed collection from Hyder Living offers opulent comfort uniquely

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

tailored to individual preference. Fashioned by hand, Hyder takes pride in selecting only the best superbly soft, natural materials including cashmere and silk as fabric coverings for the Savile bed collection.

Tel: 01484 531 000 4 Schnepel is now selling its products direct online and passing on 20% commission to its authorised dealer partners as a loyalty commission. The Brick & Click Partnership aims to heighten the awareness and value of its independent retailers. If the consumer buys online the retailer receives the payment without being involved in the delivery.

Tel: 01270 586 236 5 Crown Floors has updated its wall units and lecterns, with Penrose (pictured) and Roseland displayed on the wall unit for the first time.

Retailers will now also be able to choose from six qualities for display on the lectern, including Penrose and Roseland, and Alderley Edge, updated in a 5m width.

Tel: 0800 077 3301

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“I can demonstrate beyond any doubt the fact that my

promotions

have a WLYTHULU[ HUK SHZ[PUN ILULÄ[ and act as a general stimulant for months to come.” c. 1914 - Joseph P. Lynch, Founder, Joseph P. Lynch Sales Company

Why should you care what our founder, Joseph P. Lynch said nearly 100 years ago? Because now, as then, the Lynch family is committed to delivering results that not only deliver cash today, but can even provide a solid foundation for the future – whatever you decide that future should look like.

Contact us for details and receive a special, limited edition 100th anniversary commemorative as our gift. Plus, retailers who hold a Lynch ‘Sale of the Century’ during 2014 automatically become eligible for our Grand Prize of a trip for two to Ireland!

Serving the U.S., Canada and the U.K. • 29 Warblington Road, Emsworth, Hampshire PO10 7HE • Tel: +44 (0) 1243 378369 www.LynchSales.co.uk Copyright 2014 Lynch Brothers Licensing Corporation

S1 MK 2SK White with Pasadena front doors Schnepel furniture is recognised as a hand made, German furniture collection with versatility and value. There are 4 ranges to choose from, many finishes and multiple options to ensure the furniture is suited to your clients’ needs.

We have introduced Brick and Click Partnership alongside the brand, and in simple terms we sell product on your behalf, and then we pay you for each sale in your area.

Our new web store is a result of considerable investment, ensuring we get the maximum exposure for our brands, and in turn increase the sales opportunities for you.

We deliver direct to the client’s home, so taking all the hassle away from you. We will offer an after care service whereby the client has full support where needed, and most of all, we pay you for every sale we make in your area if you are a Partner.

The Brick and Click Partnership is growing, so don’t miss out on an opportunity to join a scheme where there are no catches, only advantages.

AV Furniture Ltd E Mail: info@demagio.com • Tel: 01270 586 236 • www.demagio.com • www.schnepel.co.uk

S1 MK Sound Plenty of room for a soundbar up to 1.57 wide

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NEW PRODUCTS

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6 With the softness and dense texture of innovative Sensit fibres, plush Sensit Glenmore Wilton is the latest quality developed exclusively by Balta Broadloom. Immediately distinctive thanks to its appealing soft and silky texture, walking across Sensit Glenmore is a luxurious experience.

Tel: 00 32 5662 2211 7 The Quick-Step Academy has reduced the cost of the QuickStep Foundation laminate course from £329 to £249 and the Master Installer course in laminate and wood from £529 to £399 when booked before Easter. ‘These discounted rates offer fantastic savings that are being rapidly snapped up, so prompt booking is advised,’ says Darren Robinson, QSA training and development manager.

Visit: www.quick-stepacademy.co.uk 8 Designed to offer a comprehensive range of looks inspired by nature, the new Luxury Woods collection brings an assortment of beautiful wood species and colours to the Leoline vinyl flooring product portfolio alongside underfoot comfort and long-lasting wear.

Tel: 0800 032 3970

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

9 UK Flooring Direct has restructured its pricing tiers, with increased trade discounts on orders in excess of 41sqm. UK Flooring Direct has an exclusive range of benefits for the trade, with 48-hour delivery free on orders over £199 (including VAT), free samples, and 24/7 ordering online.

Visit: www. ukflooringdirect.co.uk 10 Retailers are beginning to receive their Floorwise Aware marketing packs as interest in the pink underlay in support of Breast Cancer Care continues to grow. ‘We are enjoying excellent sign-up to the campaign from retailers keen to become part of this charitable incentive,’ says Richard Bailey, Floorwise md.

Tel: 01509 673 974 11 Kersaint Cobb’s striking Beach Hut Stripe offers nine striped designs with a palette ranging from bright, contemporary colours to more subtle, earthy tones. These statement stripes provide an attractive focal point all over the house while the bold linear lines help make the room look bigger.

Tel: 01675 430 430

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Stand out from the crowd

To help your business stand out.

You need outstanding solutions.

Furlong Flooring offer market leading products, at competitive prices with excellent service levels – add to that most orders are delivered next working day through our national distribution network and you’ve got a compelling proposition.

Quality runs deep whether it’s our high-impact display systems or our extensive portfolio of polypropylene carpet, wool carpet, vinyl & wood flooring.

For outstanding solutions that get results contact Furlong Flooring today.

www.furlongflooring.co.uk

T H E F U R LO N G F LO O R I N G P O R T F O L I O

Wool Collection

www.furlongflooring.co.uk

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Sales: Preston - 01772 696 787

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Dartford - 01322 628 707

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Newport - 01633 283 959

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CARPET

Revealing a soft side Associated Weavers’ latest collection targets the super soft sector Sensuality is Associated Weavers’ latest collection of super soft carpet using the exclusive iSense yarn.

A typical feature of the Sensuality collection is its extremely soft polyamide yarn that allows the carpet to be strong, resilient and soft at the same time, says Steve Elliott, Associated Weavers UK md. ‘Fibre used in carpets is becoming softer and softer to meet consumer demands and iSense will recover faster and quicker from traffic wear than any other carpet.’

There are six ranges in the Sensuality collection. ‘Seduction has everything to seduce, with irresistible softness in combination with a strong resilience. Splendour is a light fries yarn and Serenity is pure luxury for all the senses allowing consumers to surround themselves in high performance luxury.

L’Amour’s silky shades offer sheer tactile delight, while Illusions is frivolous and graceful at the same time. Adoration is full of softness, comfort and luxury and is a magnificently versatile carpet. Sensuality adds another dimension to broadloom carpet,’ he explains.

All come in 14 colours, apart from L’Amour which has 12. The Sensuality iSense branded carpets come in 4m and 5m widths with the new Fusion Bac backing. This is easy to fit, keeps in the heat better than other backings and is compatible with underfloor heating.

Sensuality iSense display stands are being introduced to retailers and a video promoting the range is available online.

Visit: www.carpetyourlife.com

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

Top: Seduction Right: Serenity Below: POS is being introduced

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£2,159,851.15 Total Sales Generated

by Five UK & Irish Greenwood Clients during February 2014 RECORD BREAKING SALES STRATEGIES FOR:

• STORE LAUNCH •

• STORE REFURBISHMENT • • RE-MERCHANDISING • • STOCK CLEARANCE • • REBRANDING • • STORE RELOCATION • • RETIREMENT • • STORE CLOSING • February can be a tough month for retail.

However, the five retailers who choose to employ Greenwood during this February have generated tremendous sales.

Find out how Greenwood can help you optimise your next big sales event.

Learn why more UK & Irish retailers choose Greenwood, rather than any other sales company.

Call us directly on 01625 521010 to request your free information pack.

GREENWOOD RETAIL LTD Britain’s Leading Experts in Retail Sales Promotion 1 Wilmslow House, Grove Way, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AG sales@greenwoodretail.com www.greenwoodretail.com

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CARPET

Boost for wool More retailers are joining WOW The number of retailers supporting the Wool Owners Warranty (WOW) scheme continues to grow since its launch in January.

WOW is intended to highlight to consumers that wool and wool-rich carpets can be cleaned.

Under the initiative, consumers receive a 12-month warranty against staining for their new wool carpet. At the time of purchase, or later, they can register their details at www.wowwarranty.com and they or the retailer select a Woolsafe accredited carpet cleaner. The Woolsafe registered carpet cleaners have at least five years of experience and are fully insured.

Once the carpet has been fitted, the cleaner visits and gives the consumer a stain removing spray and advice. If the carpet becomes stained, consumers are advised how to deal with it, but if they cannot remove it, the carpet cleaner will do so without charge. If after 12 months the carpet is professionally cleaned, the warranty will be extended for another year.

No guarantee is given to remove all stains and the WOW warranty is not a

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stainproof carpet guarantee.

If the cleaner cannot remove the stain because it is permanent, for example it has been bleached, damaged or permanently dyed, an offer to repair the carpet may be made.

The scheme hopes that it removes an obstacle to selling wool carpets, giving retailers an opportunity to sell more profitable carpets. Consumers benefit from a free personal adviser and spot removal service, while the cleaners have a low cost opportunity to expand their customer base.

For the suppliers behind the scheme – Clarendon, Crucial Trading, Gaskell Wool Rich, Georgian Carpets, Kersaint Cobb, Kingsmead, Manx and Mr Tomkinson – it offers higher sales with a self-financing aftercare service. As well as the suppliers, the scheme is backed by British Wool, Woolsafe and Wools of New Zealand.

‘WOW is very different from warranties on “stain-proof” carpets. Consumers have a personal carpet care adviser instead of advice from the retailer; they receive a free home visit; do not have to buy the spot remover and do not have to pay for the stain to be removed,’ says a WOW spokesman. ‘All of this adds up to be a great aftersales care package that should allow retailers to promote wool and wool-rich carpets and generate more profits.’

The WOW website has cleaning advice and videos of how wool carpets can be cleaned.

Visit: www.wowwarranty.com

POS including posters, window stickers, mugs and swing tickets are available

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READYtoWEAVE

Carpet designed to meet your customer’s needs z

Cost effective

z

Wide portfolio of designs to choose from

z

32 different colours available

z

Fast track service

z

Dedicated project manager

TO FIND OUT MORE Made in Axminster Devon

Call us on: 01297 630630 email us at: custom@axminster-carpets.co.uk or go to: www.axminster-carpets.co.uk/ commercial/carpet-design-facility

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WOOD AND LAMINATE

Capital connection Kährs’ Capital collection reflects the even grain trend Kährs has launched the Capital collection of wood floors, which in contrast to the enduring rustic look, reflects an alternate and growing trend for natural purity across the six designs.

Each floor is crafted in Sweden from sustainable European oak and features a wide-board one-strip format. A combination of handcrafted finishing treatments, including brushing and bevelled edges, define the look and reinforce the tactile appearance.

The new floors are defined by their clean, even grain. Kährs’ Oak Dublin has a natural, light honey tone and is offered with a satin lacquer, matt lacquer or oil pre-finish. White-toned Oak Paris has a luminous appearance and a matt lacquer or oil prefinish, while Oak Berlin has a subtle grey oiled finish.

Each of the six floors measure 187mm x 2,420mm. Kährs’ multi-layered construction uses hardwood down to the glueless Woodloc joint only, with a combination of fast-growing spruce, pine and poplar below. As well as providing eco-benefits, Kährs’ award-winning construction method provides greater stability and enables installation over underfloor heating.

Kährs, tel: 023 9245 3045

Oak Berlin

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

Oak Dublin

Oak Paris

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Best of British

Adam Carpets Catherine Lace in Powder Blue

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BEST OF BRITISH

Proud of its UK heritage UK manufacturing is at the heart of Silentnight Silentnight has more than 60 years of experience in providing sleep solutions and is renowned for producing a wide range of products to help people get a great night’s sleep.

Some 36% of consumers choose to purchase from British brands when they are supported in doing so and a third would do so more often if they could clearly differentiate between UK-made and imported products, according to a survey for cooker manufacturer Stoves.

Silentnight knows the importance of its British heritage and is committed to maintaining its position as a trusted brand for both consumers and retail partners. With this in mind, Silentnight continuously invests in product testing and development to ensure consumers receive quality UK products.

The Silentnight factory holds the largest and most advanced onsite testing laboratory in the UK, which has been established for more than 30 years. Each Silentnight mattress range is put through stringent testing to ensure it exceeds British standards. From testing and manufacture, to delivery and recycling, Silentnight puts exceptional British craftsmanship at the heart of all its products.

‘The Geltex collection, developed to offer the ultimate sleep experience, results from more than half a century of research and development to create Silentnight’s most advanced Mirapocket sprung mattress collection. The new

range incorporates the world’s most cutting edge mattress technology, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of mattress development around the world’, says Nick Booth, Silentnight marketing director.

In the collection is a range of Mirapocket mattresses with Silentnight has been making beds in the UK for more than 60 years advanced spring system technology, incorporating a choice of contemporary divan bases and unique Geltex comfort layer to offer headboards in a selection of upholstered triple benefits: breathability, pressure fabrics to give customers choice and relief and body support. comfort.

The unique open cell structure allows ‘Silentnight is incredibly proud of its air to pass through easily, preventing the British heritage, having been a trusted body from overheating in the summer, UK brand for more than 60 years. The while keeping warm in the winter. A ongoing commitment to product fusion of gel molecules, foam crystals development ensures Silentnight and air cells makes Geltex extremely provides the highest quality products flexible and adaptable. and support to retailers,’ says Booth.

These advanced properties distribute ‘Each bed and mattress is put body weight evenly, preventing pressure through rigorous testing to ensure points from building up and relieving the brand consistently exceeds British pressure where it is needed most. manufacturing standards, affirming Innovative elasticity inside Geltex that customers receive the assurance provides optimal body support, ensuring of quality and firmly place Silentnight immediate spring-back for ultimate as the UK manufacturer of choice,’ he support and comfort, explains Booth. adds.

The collection is available with a Visit: www.silentnight.co.uk

Geltex is Silentnight’s most advanced Mirapocket sprung mattress collection

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Silentnight has the largest onsite testing laboratory in the UK

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GELTEX ULTIMATE COLLECTION

Introducing the stunning NEW Geltex mattress collection from Silentnight. With its exclusive technology, Geltex delivers triple benefits and the ultimate in support and comfort for a great night’s sleep.

To find out more about the NEW Geltex Ultimate Collection please contact your local area manager or our dedicated customer contact centre on 01282 851111 or visit www.silentnight.co.uk/Geltex

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BEST OF BRITISH

All made in the UK Cormar Carpets is committed to manufacturing in the UK

Cormar Carpets continues to pioneer British-made products as it celebrates another successful year supplying tufted carpets.

Based at two sites at Holme Mill and Brookhouse Mill in Bury, Lancashire, Cormar is one of the few carpet companies still manufacturing all of its products in the UK and is proud to say it also uses British Wool in more than half of its wool ranges. The company actively promotes its home grown heritage with a British Made by Cormar logo which was launched in 2009.

‘We are proud to be one of the few remaining British-made manufacturers, that can honestly say all its ranges are made here in the UK,’ says David Cormack, Cormar Carpets marketing director.

‘It is very important to us to be seen to be delivering British-made, high quality, affordable carpets.

‘We also believe that our retail and contract customers see the value in Cormar taking ownership of the manufacturing and distribution process both from a quality and service viewpoint. This is demonstrated every year by investment in our production and warehousing facilities and through our recent distribution fleet expansion and an increase in our Express Collection centres.’

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Above: Shearing at Cormar’s backing line at Brookhouse Mill Above right: Cormar’s latest Sensation Twist using soft Luxelle polypropylene Right: Cormar Carpets’ fleet

The number of Express Collect centres throughout England and Scotland has increased from 16 to 23 in the past two years, meaning the majority of retailers are now within a 30-minute drive of one of the centres where they can arrange next day pick-up of orders placed by 2pm.

‘Along with quality and reliability, providing top customer service is, and always will be, a priority for us and an area we heavily invest in. Retailers know they can rely on a good backup service and in a competitive marketplace that is a vital reason for choosing to buy,’ adds Cormack.

Cormar’s 2014 portfolio consists of 19 product lines: a mix of 50%, 80% or 100% wool ranges as well as a wide choice of Easy Clean polypropylene qualities –

including the Sensation Original and New Feeling ranges and new Sensation Heathers and Sensation Twist. Launches for spring 2014 include the recoloured Home Counties Plains and a Home Counties Heathers range – both available in 42oz and 50oz pile weights.

Established in 1956, Cormar has become one of the most respected carpet manufacturers in the UK. Its British-made philosophy has served the company well over the years and has contributed to a catalogue of award wins including the Metro Group’s Supplier of The Year award for 14 consecutive years, nine times Flooring One’s Supplier of The Year and Best Customer Service award as voted for by Interiors Monthly readers for three years running.

Visit: www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

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WHEN WE SAY IT’S

RELY ON IT

100%

CORMAR CARPETS AREN’T JUST BRITISH-BASED, EVERY CARPET IS 100% BRITISH MADE AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, USING MATERIALS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY FOR LASTING GOOD LOOKS AND HARD-WEARING CAPABILITIES. CORMAR CARPETS’ AWARD-WINNING SERVICE STARTS THE MINUTE THE YARN IS PUT ON THE TUFTING MACHINES AT HOLME MILL, LANCASHIRE AND CARRIES RIGHT THROUGH TO FAST DELIVERY BY CORMAR’S OWN DEDICATED TRANSPORT FLEET. YOU CAN ALWAYS RELY ON CORMAR TO CONTINUE TO SET THE BENCHMARK FOR QUALITY, VALUE AND SERVICE THAT IS GENUINELY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT

www.cormarcarpets.co.uk

W W W. C O R M A R C A R P E T S . C O . U K

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BEST OF BRITISH

The Carnaby living and dining collection features retro handles

The modular Eclipse 400 bedroom collection

Triple promise The Essentials bedroom range is available in four finishes

Heritage living and dining collection

Quality, delivery and support remain at the heart of WBH’s operations ‘In a particularly hard hit sector, it’s good to see that British-made furniture is still going strong and that furniture retailers still recognise the main factors that make British furniture “great” in the eyes of the consumer – reliable quality and design, delivery and support,’ says Russell Jones, WBH sales and account manager.

After 60 years in the business Jones reckons there’s no-one better placed to offer UK furniture retailers and consumers what they want with a choice of attractive, practical and affordable options all around the house.

‘We now offer our widest choice of collections, from the traditional to the contemporary and everything in between, and for every age and stage of customer. But most important, with cost being the big issue these days, they have all been created to represent the best value for money around,’ he says.

Designed with price in mind, the entrylevel Essentials and modular Eclipse 400 bedroom collections demonstrate the

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choice on offer. In finishes – from white, grey, black and aubergine to mid and light oak – with up-to-the-minute styling for wardrobe, chest of drawers and bedside units, the ranges offer price and quality for cost conscious buyers.

Finding a balance between rustic charm and soft femininity, the understated matt painted finish of the new Chantilly Oak offers a practical choice of wardrobes and chests of drawers, cheval mirror, bed and console dressing table that proves classic elegance and traditional styling never goes out of fashion.

Sharing the same period features, recessed round wooden handles and tapered legs, the two retro collections, Carnaby living and dining and Hepworth bedroom, reflect a move back to the more elegant design influences of the 1960s while embracing all the practical requirements of today’s lifestyles.

In the same vein, the Heritage living and dining collection combines

contemporary design and warm mid-oak finish with retro style moulded metal handles, while its robust cabinetry style and wide choice of display, storage and dining pieces are reassurance enough that Heritage suits today’s demands.

‘As well as having a great product we’re very conscious that the other major benefit of buying British is that supply and aftersales service is more reliable and more efficient. Like many other British companies we’ve built a reputation for not only providing the best furniture but also the best service to our customers.

And we’re working hard to keep it that way,’ explains Jones.

‘We’re now able to offer more and more, in terms of product range, commercial pricing and a flexible service.

It is really good to see a genuine understanding among public and trade alike of the economic, environmental and competitive benefits of buying British furniture,’ he adds.

Visit: www.caxtonfurnitureonline.com

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British Heritage.

Cleverly combining contemporary design with a warm mid oak finish and retro style handles the Heritage living & dining collection sums up all that’s best about buying British.

Designed and manufactured in the UK specifically for the home market, Heritage provides that classic, robust cabinetry style that is so evocative and also perfectly in tune with today’s lifestyles and taste.

To find out more, call 08700 600 555 today.

The H O M E of G R E AT B R I T I S H FURNITURE

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BEST OF BRITISH

Trooping its colours Adam Carpets is continuing with its triple strategy During 2014, Adam Carpets plans to carry on from where it left off last year by continued investment in new ranges, marketing and in-store sales aids.

The new Revelation range not only coordinates plain carpet with stripes, but now has a tonal. Mood boards can be made up by the company for retailers or customers to use with their own fabrics.

‘The use of mood boards brings an Below: Revelation Bottom: The 2014 Farrow & Ball poster Bottom right: The Fine Worcester Twist guide

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

extra dimension to selling carpet,’ says Eamonn Prescott, Adam Carpets sales director. ‘We want more customers to be looking towards the high quality end of the market. By doing some of the interior work for them, for example paint coordination and fabric suggestions, we are offering a service above what others may be able to.’

Revelation is available in seven colour schemes, each comprising two plain colours, a stripe and a tonal making a total of 28 items.

‘The tonal in particular is striking as it combines two velvet colours to

make the ground shade, adding two planted accent colours in a twist yarn.

This creates a texture and colour combination unrivalled in the market.

The idea of the planted colours is to pick up on the most fashionable fabric and paint colours used today. The carpet can become part of the conversation at the start of the interior design process, rather than at the end,’ says Prescott.

Last year saw Adam add a colour scheme guide to coordinate its Fine Worcester Twist with Farrow & Ball paints for retailers to use as a sales tool. It is continuing to promote paint and carpet with a new roomset image in poster form that will soon be available for use in-store. The Fine Worcester Twist guide is being reprinted due to its popularity.

Visit: www.adamcarpets.com

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Explore 5 sectors at the UK’s definitive international furnishings fair: The Furniture Show Kitchen + Bathroom Lighting Decor DX

Be inspired by 400 new and established brands from residential, commercial and hospitality interiors at this year’s May Design Series.

Hear forward-thinking speakers cover the hot topics in our unrivalled Conversation Series and source from an extensive range of architectural lighting, bathrooms, materials and furniture from companies including: ARREDO3 | Artistic Upholstery | Ashwood Designs | Coleccion Alexandra | Collins and Hayes Furniture | Deirdre Dyson | Doca UK | Dune UK | Gascoigne Designs | Grestec Tiles | Henderson Russell | Hitch Mylius | John Sankey | KKDC | Morris Furniture | PD Global | Santa Margherita | Sits.

Register now at www.maydesignseries.com quoting MDS113

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BEST OF BRITISH

Star of the show Sweet Dreams’ British-manufactured offer took centre stage at Interiors UK

Sweet Dreams’ Nancy

Sweet Dreams saw sales at Interiors UK jump by 25%. While bad weather during 2012’s show accounts for part of the rise, Jackie McGarvey, Sweet Dreams general manager, says that showing its extensive bed range for the first time at the NEC (after being launched at The Bed Show) attracted lots of positive attention.

Beds and mattresses from all the divan collections including Pocket Spring and Sleepzone were on display. Francesca, a Sleepzone bed, with pillow top and contrasting charcoal divan base was the bestselling divan for the Burnley company. It is available in four sizes with

Comfort Zone Sofas’ Knightsbridge

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

various storage options including ottoman.

‘The fabric upholstered hybrid divans also performed well at Interiors UK and continue to show strong sales on both the TV and non-TV versions. The debut of the ready-assembled Dorothea and Nancy bedroom cabinet from a new Lancashire supplier also attracted attention for us, with their simple, fresh looks and grooved panels in an extensive range of pieces,’ says McGarvey.

Sweet Dreams’ new sister company, Comfort Zone Sofas, launched to acclaim at the event, opening accounts and

Sweet Dreams’ Francesca

taking good sales. All the upholstery is manufactured at the Primrose Mill premises in Burnley.

Comfort Zone Sofas’ upholstery is premium quality; ranging from models such as Chelsea, featuring foam-covered, boarded sides, fibre-wrap seat cushions and carded fibre back cushions to cottage suites; recliners with matching fixed chairs and two-seater sofas to tub chairs, including the wide Fountains.

Elegant Knightsbridge is the top of the range model featuring carded fibre to seat and back cushions and front castors.

Sweet Dreams, tel: 01282 830 033

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BEST OF BRITISH

Ulster Velvet Imperial Red Open Spaces Wellington Stripe Reed

Generations of dedication Ulster Carpets is celebrating a landmark

Glenmoy Beige Chisholm

Open Spaces Wellington Stripe Quay

Ulster Carpets is proud to be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The landmark year provides cause to reflect on the company’s achievements while also looking to ensure success long into the future.

Since its foundation Ulster Carpets has been dedicated to quality, service and the pursuit of excellence.

Three generations of the Wilson family have worked to ensure only the highest quality carpets bear the Ulster name and to achieve this all wilton and axminster manufacturing remains in the UK, right down to sourcing and processing the wool. Not only does this level of quality control guarantee an end product to be proud of, it also provides a logistical advantage for UK retailers and consumers. This is backed by an award winning customer service team that aims to make the quality of service as high as the carpets themselves.

It is not just high quality manufacturing that has been fundamental to Ulster Carpets’ success, but also quality of design and range of colours.

From the traditional heavily patterned Glenavy range to the luxurious Ulster Velvet, there is an Ulster carpet to suit most homes and tastes.

This spring, two plaids will be added to the longstanding Glenmoy range: the traditional Scottish tartans Douglas and Robertson. Recognising the increasing trend for plaids, this spring/summer will also see the launch of Braeburn, a collection of tartans that have been given a contemporary makeover. The five colourways range from subtle tones of lilac and grey to more striking mulberry, thistle greens and petrol blues.

It will be joined by the tufted Monaco and Panama ranges, which will form part of the bestselling Open Spaces collection. The textural stripes of Monaco coordinate with the soft beige, neutral and grey tones of Panama, enabling the consumer to create a flowing interior scheme. The different loop levels of Monaco create an unique offering within the marketplace and make a style statement in the home.

Ulster Carpets, tel: 028 3833 4433

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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BEST OF BRITISH

Marque of quality Axminster Carpets supports UK manufacturing Axminster Carpets has a rich heritage in manufacturing exceptional woven and tufted carpets and its name is synonymous throughout the world as a

marque of quality in British design.

Axminster Carpets has made a commitment to supporting British manufacturing, using predominantly British wool from British sheep, spinning and dying the wool in Britain and then manufacturing its whole range either at the main site in Axminster or its other UK sites.

The Imagination Rugs collection of children’s rugs, which was launched last month, is made using the same techniques that produce full size carpets.

Designs are inspired by childhood playtime and feature very British images such as bunting and beach huts, helping the company appeal to a new generation. It is also possible to personalise many of the rugs with names or a special date.

Axminster Carpets is committed to maintaining its core values of design, quality and innovation and relishes the strong relationships it has cultivated with like-minded British retailers and suppliers. Having been awarded the Royal Warrant in 2012, Axminster Carpets is one of an elite group of about 800 companies supplying Royal households.

Its carpets are also in celebrated British institutions such as the Barbican Centre, London, and Ashridge House, the Grade I listed 19th century neo-gothic mansion in Hertfordshire with a 700 year-old history.

Axminster Carpets, tel: 01297 33533

Above: Simply Natural Stripe in Vogue Above left: Many of the Imagination Rugs can be personalised Left: The Wyatt room at Ashridge House

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Belgium

The reclaimed look from Livyn

BALTA BROADLOOM BALTERIO BEAUFLOR CROWN FLOORS IDEAL IVC LANO MODULEO QUICK-STEP STORACON

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BELGIUM

Going with the grain Quick-Step’s engineered wood collections embrace nature It is impossible to imagine everyday life without wood: an iPhone cover in woodprint, a wood design Vespa, or handbags and shoes in a wood look … wood is sexy.

Quick-Step’s engineered wood floors reflect the very latest developments in the world of floorings, fashion and home interior design.

With Quick-Step’s Imperio collection the planks are even longer and wider, even more authentic and more innovative with the Variano collection and even more romantic and elegant with the updated pattern of the Villa collection.

Oak continues to reign supreme as the most popular wood.

Oak can be machined into a time-aged, rustic floor to act as the perfect complement to a classic home interior. But it can just as easily be light and trendy to give a modern or country-style home interior a timeless look.

The success of the reclaimed look is part of modern-day longing for authenticity and natural warmth. Small cracks, deep grains, worn knots and filled cracks convey a sense of reliability and honesty, while saw cuts are tangible evidence of artisanal craftsmanship.

Imperio’s 220cm x 22cm size lends rooms a sense of depth while the width offers an exclusive look, highlighting the feel and craftsmanship of real wood. It is as if authentic vintage planks from the townhouses of the past are now gracing the living room, kitchen or bedroom.

The Imperio Natural Heritage Oak Oiled uses European white

Imperio Natural Heritage Oak Oiled

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

Imperio Rough Grey Oak Oiled

oak as its base but has been finished with a natural oil. The combination of large knots and flowers with a gentle brushing and subtle joints around the planks vouch for this floor doing an excellent job for interiors.

Saw cuts continue to be on-trend and in keeping with the weathered look. In old homes, time-aged engineered wood floors are often given a white coat of paint. This enables the authentic texture to stand out to great effect while imbuing

Imperio Rough White Oak Oiled

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BELGIUM

Variano Espresso Blend Oak Oiled

your home interior with a sense of character as well as a contemporary touch. The gently brushed Rough White Oak Oiled with saw cuts is inspired by this. The saw cuts vary in depth, width and interspace, which makes every plank unique.

Engineered wood planks are polished to remove all rough sections to produce a floor with a clear wood grain, which gives a soft underfoot experience.

The pattern of the saw cuts goes back to time-aged planks

Variano Painted White Oak Oiled

that are cut using a chainsaw where the random effect of the cuts creates a balance without being overwhelming. White oil softens the weathered look of the greyed floor, offering a romantic look. Grey is neutral, and anything but boring. Grey floors combine with all wood varieties, trendy colours and warm tints, leaving all options open in deciding how to decorate.

Variano uses offcuts to create a floor made up of a multiplicity of small planks with differing lengths, widths and finishes – long and short, wide and narrow, rough and even, having large and small knots, one slightly straighter than the next, perfectly even or with a saw cut – machined into an eye-catcher with a distinct reclaimed look. In places, knots have been filled, but left unsanded to retain the texture. Small planks are straight, which acts to produce small splits and chinks, the same as you would find in a weathered timber floor.

The painted, worn look is increasingly making its presence felt in home interiors. Time-aged planks were often given a coat of paint to give them a new lease of life. Over the years however, the paint starts to flake and peel. Combined with the white paint, the wood grain is subtly exposed and as a result produces an authentic reclaimed feel. The surface of the Variano Painted White Oak was given a gentle sanding with the higher pieces slightly toned down, giving a ‘worn underfoot’ impression. The result is a unique combination of structure and colour shades.

The various finishes, lengths and widths of the wooden plank offer a natural, authentic look and the dark shades of the warm, dark brown Variano Espresso give oak oiled floor full justice with the oiled finish creating a cosy atmosphere.

Villa has been updated with the number of strips per plank reduced from 24 to a maximum of nine. This makes for longer strips, which means they are softer and less marked.

Visit: www.quick-step.co.uk

Villa

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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BELGIUM

Balta in numbers 3,367 Employees £467m Balta Group turnover in 2013 £107m Balta Group’s UK sales 50 Years since its launch 27% The UK and Republic of Ireland is the largest single market ahead of Germany (21%) and Central and Eastern Europe (15.6%) 10 The number of sites worldwide, including seven in Belgium, two in Turkey and a US distribution centre 4 Years since the introduction of Crown Floors 4 Divisions: • Balta Rugs • Residential Broadloom: Balta Broadloom, ITC and Crown Floors • Contract Broadloom and Tiles: Arc Edition and Modulyss • Technical non-wovens: Captiqs

Hendrik Deruyck

Philippe Hamers

Building on reliability The Balta Group has one focus: carpet Hendrik Deruyck, Balta Group ceo, is a softly spoken man, but having spent his career in the flooring industry, his words carry strength.

‘Our strategy is we want to be the most reliable manufacturer, not the biggest one. When you are the most reliable you can work up towards being the best and most profitable one,’ he says.

Philippe Hamers, Balta residential broadloom division general manager, says: ‘In the UK we want 10% sales growth this year. For 2014 we will widen our product range at both ends of the market. We want to grow and be stronger in the middle market, including

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

upgrading products. To achieve the sales target we need to widen the offer and bring more products to the market and look at different distribution, both large and small.

‘We have speeded up product development and are introducing 20-25 products to the market. A third of sales came from new products in 2013 so we need to keep offering innovations to achieve growth. If we do not, we’ll go backwards.’

The importance of the UK and the Republic of Ireland market to Balta cannot be under-estimated. It is Balta’s largest market with 27% of total sales, worth £107m. The UK accounts for 46%

of residential sales and 70% of polypropylene sales.

Group sales were £467m last year, residential making up 46%, rugs 36%, 14% contract and technical 4%. Profits saw a double digit increase, mainly achieved through cost-cutting. Asked if he would like to put a figure on the profits, Deruyck pauses for a moment and smiles before saying: ‘I know the number.’

Part of the 10% UK target is from rugs.

Balta has two plants in Usak, Turkey.

Operating in Turkey is vital if the group is to be able to supply major retailers in Europe and the USA. Whereas in Belgium workers will earn £22-£26 an hour, in

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BELGIUM

New products accounted for a third of sales in 2013

Balta Group wants UK sales to rise by 10% this year

Turkey the figure falls to £4.90. Both Deruyck and Hamers are quick to stress that there is no suggestion of moving carpet production away from Belgium.

Growth is also expected from its Crown Floors brand. ‘Crown allows us to create a service platform in the UK offering cut lengths. I don’t believe in doing cut lengths from Belgium.

‘If you want to give proper service and be there for your customer with reliable delivery times you have to have our stock in the UK. It’s still small but we will make it grow. It gives us the opportunity to approach an extra customer base of 700 retailers we wouldn’t have,’ explains Hamers.

‘We also want to have access to the buying groups in the UK. Yes, we will try to grow with the big boys but the independent wholesalers are very important to us as well. ‘ We have specific product

development for each sector but obviously trying to protect the interests of each individual customer,’ he says.

‘We have invested over the years in the success of Balta in the UK. This is an essential part of our commitment to the market. Yes, someone can easily buy one of our ranges and go to Turkey and buy it 20% cheaper. That is not a challenge.

‘The challenge is branding the product, working with XTron yarn and Sensit soft yarn, bringing new concepts and brands to the market, giving the best marketing support on sampling, POS and warranties on quality and being reliable on service. Would you get this from a Turkish producer?

‘The challenge is trying to explain to the retailer what we are giving them, it’s not just a piece of carpet.

‘They know Balta in the UK is like the Bank of England, it’s security. They know the products, quality, reliability and

people who stand for the product – they know if they need to buy products of that quality they have to source it from Balta.’

Last year the group had a more defensive approach in cutting costs and holding its market share. This year it will be more on the offensive, with everything based on vertical integration.

Deruyck says: ‘We have become a textile floorcovering company following the sale of Balterio [to IVC].

‘We are not getting into vinyl, wood or LVT. We have one focus. We are looking to invest in our customers with more sales staff to help them and more POS material.’

Deruyck first joined the group in 1976 as ITC financial and administrative director, becoming ITC ceo in 1984. In 1997 he set up IVC before leaving in 2001 when he bought into bedding firm Jaritex, selling his holding in the company after turning around its fortunes.

He rejoined the group in October 2012. His return, according to Hamers, has brought a greater understanding to majority shareholder Doughty Hanson of the dynamics of the carpet market, including working capital and stock, and a simplified management structure.

‘There are two things not on the balance sheet: the reputation of Balta and the value of the team,’ Deruyck adds.

‘Hard flooring is our major competitor,’ he says, knocking on the table, ‘not Associated Weavers or Beaulieu, therefore we have to take care of our product.’

And this will continue in the face of huge overcapacity in the market.

Across Europe overcapacity has doubled in the past five years, with demand dropping by 50% but capacity falling by only 10%-15%, Hamers adds.

‘Most of the large players have survived because most of them were doing big business in the UK. As long as the UK remains fit not a lot of extra capacity will disappear, but I am realistically optimistic for the future,’ Deruyck says.

‘I think everybody is aware now that we cannot carry on like this. Sometimes I had the impression that customers were buying rebates instead of carpets. Fifteen years ago a lot of people made rubbish and consumers went to hard flooring.

Now the market can go up.’

Visit: www.baltagroup.com

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BELGIUM

Sensit Glenmore Wilton Abstract

Sensit Glenmore Wilton Cumulus

In the

fibre Sensit and X-Tron target the super-soft sector Balta Broadloom reckons its new X-Tron and existing Sensit fibres will prove to be a highlight in 2014 as the manufacturer looks to provide consumers with the latest advancements in fibre technology for improved feel and performance in the home.

Increased demand for super-soft carpet with low maintenance has seen focus on Sensit, which packs in 200% more filaments per yarn than standard easy care qualities. Carpets bearing the Sensit name are soft to the touch and retain the performance and bleach clean liveability demanded by homeowners.

Among other Sensit introductions for 2014, the properties of the fibre are showcased particularly well on Glenmore Wilton. With a silky softness, Glenmore Wilton has a deep pile height of 17mm to give a feeling of luxury.

Available in two designs – the salt and pepper of Cumulus and the blurred

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Grand National

linear pattern of Abstract – the carpet is a contemporary take on wilton qualities, shaking off the traditional image of pattern carpet. A contemporary palette of cool neutrals, ranging from magnolia through to smoky black, complements both designs and the carpet is covered by 15-year wear and 20-year stain warranties.

Developed to provide increased strength and extra high performance, X-Tron fibres create carpets with superior resilience against everyday wear. The two-ply construction ensures extra

protection against stains and crushing for peace of mind, making carpets bearing the X-Tron brand ideal for busy homes.

Among the first carpets to bear the X-Tron name, Grand National joins the Balta Broadloom portfolio for 2014.

Showcasing a dense and silky texture, Grand National offers 12 softly shimmering neutral shades. From cream through to fawn, the carpet has an understated elegance, with a heavy pile weight of 2,000g per sqm for a quality feel and additional wear resistance.

Balta, tel: 00 32 5662 2211

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For extreme use!

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44crown_IMmar14_Interior Monthly Template 25/02/2014 16:42 Page 44

BELGIUM

Parkland Moonlight

Brand development

Wilton House Crescent Evening Gown

Crown Floors is introducing five ranges A strengthening brand in the domestic carpet scene since its launch four years ago, Crown Floors has given flooring retailers a unique opportunity to capitalise on the consumer’s love of brands, while retaining the benefits of great value and service of one of Belgium’s largest manufacturers.

Supplying cut-lengths from UK-held stock for cut and wrap distribution right across the UK, and with a dedicated telesales line, Crown Floors provides a UK-centric approach to supply that has contributed to its success and that reinforces its position as a UK brand in carpet.

As part of its ethos to keep its collection in line with the latest interiors trends, 2014 sees the introduction of two collections on the main wall unit, as well as a further three ranges available on a dedicated lectern. With a small footprint, this new lectern is for retailers wanting to benefit from the Crown Floors brand, but without the room for the full unit, or existing Crown Floors retailers looking to expand their collections.

For the wall unit, Penrose brings the appeal of three different stripe

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colourways, combining them with 13 coordinated plain shades. This coordinated approach to carpet is proving popular, as consumers look to avoid risk, while adding a touch of colour and pattern to the floor.

Achieving a five-star Crown Floors graded quality, even the stripe designs of Penrose can be cleaned with bleach and the range benefits from 15-year stain and wear warranties.

The second new collection to adorn the wall unit this year, two-ply heather of Roseland, has a 15mm pile height that reflects an increasing trend for deep pile carpets that add a feel of luxury to the home. Roseland comes in 12 earth-inspired tones such as mushroom and mink and is backed by 15-year stain and wear guarantees.

Featuring on the new lectern will be three introductions; the 4m width Easy Clean Parkland saxony in 10 shades, the wool-look twist of Sheringham with the benefits of Easy Clean and Wilton House, a woven quality using the Satin Soft yarn in an on-trend colour palette.

Crown Floors, tel: 0800 077 3301

Sheringham London Fog

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BELGIUM

Sweet sixteen Moduleo has new finishes for its Transform range Luxury vinyl flooring manufacturer Moduleo has added 16 finishes to its Transform range, including a selection of new styles reflecting the latest interior trends. The expansion offers six new wood finishes and 10 stone products.

‘Our new products comprise a range of additional colours as well as some completely new finishes. This includes a collection of Jura Stone tiles that offer even more detailed stone patterns and textures, as well as our Azuriet collection.

Azuriet has metallic hues suspended within the stone to make the floor sparkle and create a real wow factor in any room,’ says David Bigland, Moduleo UK and Republic of Ireland md.

The company hopes the products will boost retailers and installers, who will be able to offer an even wider range of products.

‘The new additions to the Transform range confirm our position as a flooring manufacturer that can respond to meet the changing demands of our retailers

and consumers while reflecting our commitment to bringing the most authentic-looking products to the market,’ he says.

Transform is available in both a traditional LVT construction as well as a simple-to-install Click system.

Visit: www.moduleo.co.uk

Top: Jura Stone Right: Eden Walnut Inset: Ocean Slate

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IDEAL for Families (L) Charisma Range (R) Embrace Range IDEAL for Landings Moods Range

With the demands of busy lives floor coverings need to fit in with all lifestyles. The new Ideal ranges provide just that – modern, hardwearing, yet affordable.

Charisma and Embrace are high-end ranges in high-quality man-made fibres. Moods offers a combination of contemporary stripe designs with matching plains in a wool look.

Display units available from your local carpet distributor.

Created with your life in mind www.ideal-bintg.com/en www.beaulieuflooringsolutions.com IDEAL Showroom Boffonstraat 3, B-8710 Wielsbeke - Belgium

BIG Floorcoverings Rijksweg 442, B-8710 Wielsbeke - Belgium

T +32 (0)56 67 66 11 F +32 (0)56 67 48 30

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BELGIUM

Embrace from Ideal for Families

Moods from Ideal for Landings

Time for more growth After a successful 2013, Ideal and Orotex are aiming for increased sales this year Ideal enjoyed growth in the UK in 2013 and Bart De Bruycker, Ideal marketing manager, is looking to build on that success this year.

‘We introduced more saxonies and twists in 2013 and this year we will add to Ideal for Families. We will have more than 400 displays in UK stores for Ideal for Families and will now roll out the Moods range under Ideal for Landings,’ he says.

The Dublin Twist is being recoloured and given an upgraded backing while the Zorba loop pile is being relaunched with a new colour bank.

Domotex also saw the introduction of Metropole, building on the Rockefeller collection. Inspired by city life at night it has four themes: District Luna, District Mercury, District Twilight and District Saturn. The solution-dyed nylon collection has 36 references over eight designs and is available in a 4m width on Weaveback.

Within BeauIieu Flooring Solutions,

Oryzon Deluxe

Ideal’s sister brand Orotex is focusing on a new generation of artificial grass.

Investment in yarn research has seen the development of new shapes that provide the grass blades with softness and resilience. Oryzon Deluxe has 50% more

grass blades per sqm, is available in 30m and 40mm pile heights and comes with a colour fastness warranty. A website for the brand is due to be launched this month.

Visit: www.beaulieuflooringsolutions.com

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BELGIUM Supreme Country Pine is available in a 5m width

Think

big Beauflor is the only company to offer vinyl in 5m widths Beauflor is the only producer of 5m vinyl. When large space demands something different, Beauflor’s renewed Supreme, Penta, Fortuna and Pietro ranges can offer the answer.

‘Supreme offers 23 designs, Penta 10, Fortuna 15 and Pietro 21, so the world can look so much better when you think big,’ says Michèle Bruynseels, Beauflor vinyl marketing manager.

Blacktex is Beauflor’s next generation of ready to install flooring. ‘With a strong polyester fibre backing it is extra stable and comfortable to walk on. The new trendy black textile backing is environmentally friendly as all raw materials are recyclable. Being covered with a PU lacquer results in a hygienic and anti-allergenic floor that makes it suitable for people with allergies or families owning pets,’ she says.

‘Blacktex’s 24 designs in a 1.5m plank offer many advantages that exceed the eye. The backing smoothes irregularities in the subfloor offering fantastic underfoot comfort, making the floor soundproof. It also isolates noise, perfect for flats or levelled floors. Being suitable for heavy usage and the fact that no preparatory work is needed also makes Blacktex the ideal floor for retail and hospitality,’ Bruynseels adds.

With the purchase of Juteks last year, Beauflor’s parent company Beaulieu International Group became the third largest company in the residential vinyl market.

Visit: www.beauflor.be

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Blacktex White Oak

Blacktex Pamplona

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The world looks so much better when you think big

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Covering most options Beauflor offers five LVT collections When it comes to LVT, Beauflor, part of Beaulieu International Group, offers everything from dryback LVT and extra large planks to click vinyl for ease of fitting.

Podium Click comes in 13 decors, has a

Beauflor offers a click range and three dryback ranges

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micro V bevel, a matt look, 4mm thickness and a 0.3mm wear layer. The planks are 1,213mm x 171mm with 603mm x 298mm tiles.

There are four dryback LVT collections.

Podium 30 is rated class 31, has a 0.3mm wear layer, is 2mm thick with 32 designs and five different plank and tile sizes.

Podium Pro 55 is class 33/42, with a 0.55mm wear layer, is 2.5mm thick with 21 designs and five plank and tile sizes.

Podium XXL and Podium XXL Xtra offer extra long and wide planks for a luxurious look. Both are rated 33/42, with a 0.55mm wear layer and 3mm thickness.

Podium XXL has 1,828.8mm x 228.6mm planks in a dozen designs while Podium XXL Xtra has nine designs in 2,200mm x 280mm planks and 1,000mm x 600mm tiles.

All the collections come with a lifetime residential warranty, a range of accessories and are 100% recyclable.

Visit: www.beauflor.be

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BELGIUM

Hanging tall

Storacon is looking to bring its display equipment to the UK Flooring display company Storacon had 55 exhibitors at Domotex using its display equipment and it is now targeting the UK, where its carpet displays are already used by John Lewis.

‘We may not be the cheapest but we are the best quality,’ says Filip van Acker, Storacon md. ‘The quality is the best so customers get better value as they are not having to replace the displays. We are constantly optimising the designs.

For example we recently widened the range with cooperation with Turkish carpet producers to cover a wider part of the market and at Domotex we launched a display for childrens’ rugs with the rugs underneath so the parents can buy them there and then.’

Storacon is looking to expand its displays into LVT, wood and laminate and can create displays for individual retailers, wholesalers and suppliers.

Founded in 1986, Storacon has been part of the French display and storage group Provost since 2002.

The company also plans to rent out displays at The Flooring Show in September.

Its single rug rail system can hold up to 35 rugs of sizes of 1.4m x 2m, 1.7m x 2.4m, 2m x 3m, 2.5m x 3.5m and 3m x 4m. The double rug display, with three bays, can hold up to 70 rugs. Accessories include a handgrip, grid panel and a choice of lighting.

It offers two book system displays, one for corners and one for walls. Both hold up to 50 rugs, with the wall display suitable for rugs of 60cm x 90cm, 1.2m x 1.8m and 1.7m x 2.4m, while the corner display can also accommodate rugs that are 2m x 3m and 2.5m x 3.5m. A ceiling system is also available in two sizes.

Storacon provides roll displays in 1m, 2m, 3m and 4m widths, hanging displays and racking systems for carpets and rugs.

Visit: www.carpetdisplays.com

Top: Corner book display Centre: Three bay rug display Bottom: Storacon has updated its logo

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BELGIUM

Scoring a

century Quattro Vintage Macadamia Oak

Impressio Sierra Nevada Oak

Balterio has launched more than 100 decors Balterio introduced more than 100 decors at Domotex across 20 collections in a variety of plank formats and thicknesses.

Among them, Tradition Quattro saw six more decors, increasing it to 14, while seven decors were added to the existing six Impressio designs, complete with knots and cracks. The latest decors have Panoramic Design, ensuring the design flows smoothly from plank to plank to create the appearance of planks that are endless.

Quattro Vintage is a new collection with a standard plank size and 8mm thickness in 11 vintage-style decors.

The floors look even more natural thanks to Balterio’s True to Nature technology, in which the structure follows the underlying design.

Franky Terrijn, Balterio marketing director, says: ‘The 3D Wood Effect takes it a step further, not only ensuring that the structure follows the underlying

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

Three families are profiled in the brochure

design but also giving the decor a sense of depth thanks to varying degrees of gloss. 3D Wood in combination with a V-groove ensures that the laminate is virtually indistinguishable from wooden flooring.’

The company’s 2014 brochure profiles three families and looks at why they bought Balterio flooring, along with lifestyle images and product information.

This has also been added to the updated website.

Balterio is investing £16.5m in building a digital surface printing plant to bring products to market much quicker.

Construction will begin next month and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Visit: www.balterio.com

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EW

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Quattro Vintage creates atmosphere in a home. Striking knots and small imperfections give the laminate an aged vintage look. The gentle tones and ever-changing play of light and shade make your home feel totally retro. Installation is a breeze with PressXpress®.

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54ivc_IMmar14_Interior Monthly Template 25/02/2014 17:27 Page 54

BELGIUM

Avenue’s Ultimate Timber Calais

Leoline’s Supercomforts Bellaggio

Get the

look

Leoline and Avenue have updated their offers Leoline is expanding its Privilege Collection with 16 Supercomforts decors replicating stone and tile looks and 18 decors in Luxury Woods.

Designed to bring premium levels of underfoot comfort and noise reduction, achieving up to 21dB, Supercomforts can bring heightened comfort to areas more associated with hard flooring, such as kitchens and conservatories. From the contemporary grey of Quartz and dark stone of Indian Slate through to the limestone of Bellaggio, the collection achieves R10 slip resistance.

Luxury Woods comprises both popular and off-beat styles. Stand out decors include the bamboo effect of Bolivia and Marbella, while those wanting the latest wood looks will delight in the light and mid-greys of Camargue. The richness of

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

Leoline’s Luxury Woods Chianti

walnut is represented in Pecan, while Memphis creates an upcycled look with a print similar to worn wooden fruit crates and wine boxes.

Replacing the Ultimate Oak collection, sister brand Avenue Floor’s Ultimate Timber uses the same Touch of Class family performance, but offers a more diverse collection of wood styles.

‘Rather than just opt for the right shade of oak, consumers are now considering how the width and length of the plank can impact their room, how the depth and character of the grain can play their part, and even how layouts such as herringbone can add extra character to the home,’ says Victoria Hemelaer, Avenue product manager.

Ultimate Timber now includes the herringbone of Louvre as well as the wide and dark Fair Oaks. With greys in Calais and limed looks in Camargue and Chaparral Oak, the collection captures the depth and creativity of wood flooring.

Ultimate Timber is backed by a 15-year wear warranty, has SuperGuard PUR to reduce maintenance and resist scuffing and dirt, features R10 slip resistance and has a noise reduction of 17dB. Leoline and Avenue are part of the £450m turnover IVC Group, which also includes Moduleo, Balterio and Itec.

Leoline/Avenue, tel: 0800 032 3970

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Wood that loves water...

With the brand new Luxury Woods cushion ooring collection from Leoline, you can bring the beauty of wood to the bathroom with 18 on-trend wood decors. Comfortable underfoot and with the security of R10 slip restraint, Luxury Woods brings a new way to welcome wood to the home.

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www.leoline.co.uk

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BELGIUM

Revelation Lano’s latest developments are firmly with the UK in mind Key highlights of 2014 for Lano Carpets will be the launch of its Fascination carpet collection, as well as the introduction of the SmartStrand Revelations display, continuing the close relationship with leading American flooring brand, Mohawk, as its exclusive European distribution partner.

Made from 100% Eccelena yarn, an innovation that capitalises on the demand for super-soft low maintenance carpets, the Fascination collection will be available from May. As the first collection to feature Eccelena yarn, Fascination responds to trends in the market with a luxurious look that retains its appearance over time, resists staining and is bleach cleanable. Promoted under the tagline ‘Softness by Excellence’, the carpet is set to propel Lano Carpets into

Heathertwist Supreme

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

a new and growing sales area.

As another part of the 2014 development programme, the longestablished and successful Heathertwist collection will be revamped with on-trend shades that reflect the changing attitudes of the UK carpet market, as consumers look towards stronger neutral shades at either end of the spectrum such as lighter hues of beige or contemporary greys. Being part of the stain resistant Easy Care collection, these light shades hold particular appeal and give consumers the confidence to choose them without worry.

Emphasising that SmartStrand carpet heralds a new generation of carpeting, for which the consumer must be educated about its benefits, Lano Carpets will introduce a UK-specific SmartStrand stand in the shape of

Fascination

Revelations. Replacing the existing UScentric displays and more in-keeping with UK tastes and display requirements, the Revelations stand is based on the existing Ultimo luxury display. The stand will offer a smaller footprint and better levels of display for SmartStrand carpeting.

Lano Carpets, tel: 00 800 5266 5266

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Beds and bedroom

Staying cool – Sealy’s Hybrid collection

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BEDS AND BEDROOM

Into the

deep Sealy’s Hybrid range is gaining consumer praise for its looks and sleeping comfort

The Hybrid range combines gel, memory foam and springs

‘Sealy is on a mission to make everyone a deeper sleeper,’ says Neil Robinson, Sealy UK marketing director, ‘and our new, amazing Hybrid bed range is taking the country by storm.

‘Everywhere from the north of Scotland down to the Channel Islands, feedback from retailers is that customers are coming in to sample the beds in their local furniture store or Sealy Sleep Studio, and are being bowled over by their different look as well as the amazing comfort and support. And no wonder, they truly are the ultimate sleep solution,’ he says.

The addition of revolutionary Adaptive fibres in the new type of flexible, stretchy soft mattress wrap, means these beds are leading the way in sleep technology of the future, reckons Robinson.

Bedrooms are no longer the preserve for just sleeping, as they used to be.

People spend more and more time there and do everything in or on the bed that used to be done in the sitting room on the sofa: eating, working and reading, watching TV and gaming, or checking social media on phones and laptops. So as well as the bedroom decor, this means people are more interested in the comfort and quality of their bed or mattress.

The Hybrid range, a fusion of a new, highly elasticised gel and breathable foam, merged with the latest, specially designed springs, ticks everyone’s box for what they may require in a new bed, says Sealy. Unlike older fashioned memory

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foam, which some people find makes them hot and sweaty during the night, the deep Geltex layer offers breathability, pressure relief and the optimal body support.

‘However, the innovative elasticity of Geltex ensures immediate springback for ultimate support and comfort – so important to ensure a good night of truly deeper sleeping. And all this is based on top of the most famous and reliable bed spring system in the world: Posturepedic Springs, there is no better,’ claims Robinson.

The addition of Adaptive also brings a new dimension. Adaptive is a treatment The bedroom has become an extension of the living room

that changes passive textiles to textiles that respond dynamically to temperature changes. On a treated mattress, the Adaptive polymer changes shape and boosts humidity evaporation and improves cooling. Adaptive helps the mattress to make sweat evaporate efficiently, even through bed sheets. It works for both sleepers in a bed – keeping them individually cool and dry in summer and warm in winter, ensuring the ideal sleeping climate for every season, and therefore improving the quality of sleep. When sleepers are cool and dry the bed stays hygienic and extends the life of the mattress.

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BEDS AND BEDROOM Adaptive helps regulate temperatures

‘With Sealy investing in an aggressive promotional campaign to raise consumer awareness of these new beds with the benefit of Adaptive and Geltex, retailers can happily expect to see even more customers coming through their doors, wanting to experience the new, bouncy memory foam for themselves,’ he says.

‘Sealy is going from strength to strength in the UK bed market. We have such a great range of beds, there truly is something for everyone, and we are leading the way with bringing 21st century sleep technology to the nation’s bedrooms,’ adds Robinson.

Visit: www.sealy.co.uk

Restless nights Do you suffer from restless nights? Those long dark hours, tossing and turning, alternately throwing off the sheets and duvet, only to pull them back on because you’re hot and sweaty one minute, then chilly the next?

Do you wake up tired, perhaps with neck or back ache? Do you then struggle through the day, as if running on a flat battery and yearn to fall asleep in the afternoon?

Do you wish there was a way to sleep cool and dry, the perfect temperature all night and then wake refreshed, recharged and raring to go?

These are just some of many sleep problems that people complain of. For instance, research by Sealy and the British Chiropractic Association reveals that 61% of people say they didn’t realise their mattress was a possible cause of neck or back pain and 35% of them didn’t consider this an issue when they last bought a new mattress.

Neil Robinson

Robinson expects the range to deliver footfall

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All Sealy Hybrid beds contain Geltex, a unique, gel infused foam that is quite simply the most advanced sleeping material available. It has all the pressure relieving properties of traditional memory foam but provides a level of "push back" body support that memory foam lacks. It also has an open cell structure that allows for far greater breathability for the sleeper, allowing body temperature to dissipate quickly and effectively.

All Hybrid models also feature Adaptive technology - a ‘dynamic response’ textile that reacts to temperature and moisture. Hydro-functional polymers change shape, boosting evaporation and helping to maintain a constant temperature throughout the night.

Which is pretty cool. Cooler than a curling stone in Sochi.

Call our Sales Hotline on 016973 24403 to discuss or request a sales visit.

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BEDS AND BEDROOM

Above: Paparo from Dialog Left: Lumos from Dialog Below: X-tend from Dialog

Talking point Dialog, one of Rauch’s four brands, is designed to be easy to sell Thanks to Rauch’s four brands – Steffen, Dialog, Select and Pack’s – stockists can offer shoppers bedroom furniture at almost every price point, with the convenience of dealing with one supplier.

‘Our flexibility on style and design, but also on price, is one of our most important unique selling points. We can satisfy every price point,’ says Joachim Salomon, Rauch UK export manager. ‘We offer full bedroom set-ups comprising of a wardrobe, chests of drawers and a bed.

We also offer standalone wardrobes.’

Dialog sits between the contemporary Pack’s and Select collections and the upper-middle market Steffen. Being ‘easy to sell’ is a priority for Dialog with its contemporary style, new colours and a new system of planable wardrobes.

The X-tend range within Dialog has a modern, contemporary feel to its design and 14 colours.

‘It is a universal range that shows

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Rauch and especially Dialog at its best.

We looked at every market separately, what their current trends and finishes are and brought it into the X-tend range.

X-tend, with its three design features, frame, stripe and line, is a very modern range of sliders available with a huge number of different front colours and possible designs. The system is easy to understand and – even more important – easy to sell for the sales person on the shopfloor,’ explains Salomon.

Folding doors are at the centre of the Paparo range, available in seven widths, with four carcase colours, and three high polish fronts, which can be combined with a crystal mirror.

‘The decision to lay it out as folding doors was a mixture of space saving and aesthetic. Space saving because you can fold away two doors to one side, aesthetic because the long unique handle only develops its beauty on a folding door,’ he says.

Lumos is a range of sliding door wardrobes available from 225cm to 360cm. ‘With its round shaped mirrors, it is a design unseen before. The combination of a white or graphite carcase, which is repeated in the front, plus basalt glass and a mirror on the front, gives it a special look,’ he adds.

Colette, is a contemporary range introducing two colours: graphite and Sanremo oak light. ‘We have developed a range of hinged door wardrobes as well as folding door wardrobes from 200cm to 300cm and sliding door models from 180cm to 315cm. All the wardrobes are available with an optional passe-partout frame with and without lights. We will have a range of bed frames available in king and queen sizes with a uniquely designed fire retardant leather headboard,’ Salomon says.

Rauch’s 2014 catalogue will be launched early next month.

Visit: www.rauchmoebel.com

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NEW! “X-TEND”

D COMMERCIAL. TRENDY. MODERN. AN , WHICH APPEAL. SINGLE WARDROBES

Innovative products. Quality and reliability. Excellent competence.

That’s the added value of Rauch, you can benefit from!

Through our agency we are close to your markets and thus always close to you: U.K. Agents · Easterhill Furniture · 86, High Street · Evesham, Worcs. WR 11 4 EU Telephone 01386 41333 · Fax 01386 765065 · www.rauchmoebel.com

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BEDS AND BEDROOM

Spoilt for choice Serene Furnishings has continued to expand its offer Serene Furnishings prides itself on offering bedroom furniture for every taste, budget and home in a choice of wood, metal, faux leather and fabric, all backed by high levels of stock to ensure quick turnaround on orders.

The company’s understanding of modern living inspired an extended faux leather collection for 2014. Its latest faux leather designs were on show at Interiors UK, many displaying versatile use of room space with drawers, storage and guest beds in the base. There is also a new faux leather blanket box and faux leather bedside table with silver handles.

Anzio is one of the latest faux leather beds, incorporating two and four-drawer storage in the base. It is available in 120cm to 180cm sizes and three colours.

Carra is a single bed that includes a 90cm guest bed and is available in white, black or brown.

The Precious Metals collection featured strongly at the show, with nine bedsteads on display, presenting an eclectic revival of historic styles, with designs marrying the traditional and contemporary.

‘The development of the Precious Metals collection took considerable time and investment, which I am pleased to say has most certainly proved worthwhile. The nine individual designs received a tremendous reception at Interiors UK from furniture and bed retailers alike,’ says Tasleem Tasab, Serene founder and creative director.

Serene also introduced designs from its Hevea collection, using wood from the brasiliensis tree which is only felled for furniture production once it has reached the end of its natural rubber producing life.

Brooke is a bunk that separates to create two floor-standing single beds, along with Amelia, a simple design that embodies the Shaker design principles behind the collection. It is available in sizes from 90cm to 180cm and as with Brooke, the choice of Honey Oak and Opal White finishes.

Reflecting on a successful Interiors UK, Tasab recalls how, ‘Many visitors to our

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

Brooke

stand expressed how genuinely impressed they were with the continued growth of Serene Furnishings, now firmly established as one of the country’s premier bed suppliers.

‘Our portfolio is the largest to date, offering more choice in size, style and material combinations than ever before and for many, we provide everything that is required to bring their shopfloor to life, while providing choice and value to their customers – we pride ourselves on having something for every taste, budget and home,’ adds Tasab.

Visit: www.serenefurnishings.co.uk

Anzio

Latino

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Rest assured it’s the bed your back would choose

New from Rest Assured our new traditional pocket spring collection • it’s designed for optimum back support • it’s hand crafted in Great Britain • it’s the ultimate in affordable luxury • it’s exclusively for you For more information: Phone: 01282 851 111 Email: enquiries@rest-assured.co.uk www.rest-assured.co.uk

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BEDS AND BEDROOM

Qatar

Show off Wiemann brightens up displays

Jive in lime and white

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Creating an eye-catching display sets the scene and cheers everyone up – customers and sales staff alike.

‘The final sale might be of the safer options but you need something out of the ordinary to draw in the customer in the first place,’ says Peter Hewitt, md of Litmus Furniture, UK agent for German bedroom manufacturer Wiemann.

Bright oranges, yellows and greens are big in fashion this spring and Wiemann’s faux leather Jive headboard in lime or mango is bang on trend.

Stepping away from the cold winter season, the modern design and bold colour creates an exciting and eye-catching display designed to help draw customers in. It is complemented with the clean fresh Alpine White bed panels.

To accommodate all tastes and existing décor, it is also available in more sedate shades, Havanna and Sahara. The upholstered headboard and cushions are in the same colour options.

The headboard is part of a comprehensive bedroom range comprising hinged and sliding wardrobe door options from 50cm to 4m wide, two bedstead styles and a full range of chests and cabinet, including a new dressing bench with dropdown drawer storage.

Alternatively, Qatar offers a glitzy look, with black carcase and black glass doors, with diamanté trim.

Dress both in roomsets accordingly, says Hewitt ‘and you’ll be bound to turn heads and start up a conversation.’

Wiemann, tel: 01482 635 283

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Loft combination wardrobe with bi-fold doors and internal shelving

Loft combination wardrobe in dark rustic oak with magnolia glass doors

Beds and Bedrooms from Europe’s finest.

It’s an open and shut case.

Sleep sofa-bed and chaise longue showing full size bed when open

Stylish Sleep sofa-bed

Brought to you by

Litmus Furniture 24 Melton Road North Ferriby East Yorkshire HU14 3ET T: 01482 635283 E: sales@litmusfurniture.co.uk www.wiemannuk.co.uk www.gamamobeluk.co.uk

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BEDS AND BEDROOM

Focus on growth

Zen is GNG’s bed brand

GNG has reorganised and increased production Foam mattress producer GNG’s emphasis this year is to drive business with existing independent retailers through its updated Zen and Sleepsmart product ranges, add to the number of stockists, and develop own-label ranges with larger retailers.

The firm has recently strengthened its management. After a period as a consultant, Mike Davies, who has held senior production positions at Sealy, Silentnight and Dormeo, has become designate-md and is due to become md in June. Simon Williams, former Bensons and Dunlopillo executive, joined as business development manager for the mattress division.

Davies has reorganised production at GNG’s Wakefield, West Yorkshire factory to focus on the mattresses division, with production of its sports, safety and healthcare products concentrated at its other Leeds and Livermore plants. This has allowed production to increase to 1,500 mattresses a week with scope to double output.

Davies has also overseen the introduction of improvements to internal systems to improve customer service.

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Turnover has reached £16m, including its Memory Foam Warehouse retail operation that sells non-Zen and Sleepsmart products.

GNG is committed to Zen remaining a bricks and mortar only collection, while Sleepsmart is a simpler range aimed at etailers.

The company is investing in a trade showroom at Wakefield, which is due to open this month, its refurbished showvan will be touring the country from April and it will double the size of its stand at The Bed Show in September.

GNG, tel: 01924 950 300

The company has scope to double production while group sales have reached £16m

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BEDS AND BEDROOM

Top left: Churchill bedstead with Chartwell mattress Top right: Aphrodite bedstead with Binary 3000 mattress Left: Chesterfield bedstead Below: Ottoman storage is among Burgess’s options

Winning benefits Burgess Beds has upped turnover since scooping an award Burgess Beds is continuing its investment programme as it reaps the benefits of being named Bed Manufacturer of the Year at The Bed Show last year.

‘We are still elated at the response from winning NBF Bed Manufacturer Of The Year. The award has been wonderful for us as a company, helping us achieve an increase in turnover of 30%,’ says Jodi Schofield, Burgess Beds sales director.

‘This is enabling us to further invest in new machinery and into our internship

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

scheme. We are currently working on three large exciting export operations with trading agreements waiting to be signed.’

The company has taken on three apprentices, two in the factory and one in the head office, and has also recruited Andrea Bennison as northern sales manager.

Burgess’s latest collection is due to be launched next month and will be on display at The Minerva Furnishing Group

show in May and The Bed Show in September.

‘We continue to offer a 10-year guarantee with all of our products and are holders of The Manufacturing Guild Mark Of Excellence awarded by the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers.

Work is finished in our standard showroom and has started on our new Sanctuary bespoke showroom at Haslingdon, Lancashire,’ Schofield adds.

Burgess Beds, tel: 01706 212 731

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Knowsley Park Way, Haslingden. England.

BB4 4RS 01706 212 731 www.burgessbeds.co.uk

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INTRODUCING THE NEW

Windsor

Thornton

Salisbury

furnish your imagination. www.serenefurnishings.co.uk

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Quality design and craftsmanship are evident in each of the three models that form this stunning new collection, produced in solid American White Oak. The Salisbury, Thornton and Windsor each presents a sprung slatted base and are complemented by a range of bedside cabinets, to achieve a seamless overall look and style.

There is wide selection of sizes from which to choose: The Salisbury, with its high or low foot-end is available in 4’6”, 5’ and 6’, while both the Thornton and Windsor are available in 3’, 4’, 4’6”, 5’ & 6’ sizes.

The Windsor also presents an optional guest bed.

The new Oak Collection has been a year in the making, as you will see from the unmistakeable attention to detail.

To reserve your copy of our new Oak brochure please call our Sales Team on: es

@

se

or Email: re n

efurni

co .u k

s al

Innovative design and quality manufacturing, all at exceptional value.

0121 505 0270 g shin

s.

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BEDS AND BEDROOM

Medical grade foam is used for the mattresses

Improving sleep Being clinically proven has helped Mammoth Technologies boost sales Mammoth Technologies is the name behind the only mattress of its kind in the industry that is clinically proven to improve sleep, according to John Tuton, Mammoth Technologies founder and md.

Mammoth’s mattresses are Class 1 registered medical devices with the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority and have many testimonials and affiliations with health, educational and sporting authorities. They include the University of Northumbria Sleep Science Centre, the Newcastle University School of Bio-Sciences, the British Athletes Commission, English and Irish Rugby Players Associations and the UK Chiropractic Patients Association.

Last year, the company also joined forces with Professor Jason Ellis of the University of Northumbria Sleep Research Centre. He carried out a study that proved the sleep benefits of a Mammoth mattress.

‘Our aim is to provide solutions to get the best night’s sleep possible, whatever a person’s age or lifestyle. Our products are made with enhanced medical grade foam which offers superior temperature control, pain relieving benefits and supports movement while sleeping, making the 50 to 60 shifts that the body

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makes in the night easier and less disturbing,’ says Tuton.

Mammoth Technologies began when Tuton collaborated with The Foam Company, taking Mammoth’s original mattress – designed for athletes and people suffering from injuries – and developing it for a wider audience of people who want a quality night’s sleep as part of a healthier lifestyle.

‘From what we’ve found, more and more people are aware of and better understand the importance of a good mattress to a good night’s sleep and this is certainly reflected in the demand we’ve seen. We’ll continue developing our product lines to ensure we’re always offering the best possible solutions for a greater night’s sleep,’ he says.

Being the only clinically proven mattresses on the UK market, the business has gone from a standing start two years ago to now having its products stocked across the country in stores ranging from Selfridges to AHF and Furniture Village, as well as a number of leading independent retailers.

Turnover has almost doubled business in the past 12 months equivalent to annual sales of £2m.

Visit: www.mammothmattress.com

Below: Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford uses a Mammoth mattress Bottom: John Tuton receives the Outstanding Growth award for the Sleep Science mattress at the 2013 Biomedical Awards, hosted

by Bionow, the leading membership organisation for the biomedical and life sciences industry in the north of England

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“Probably the best bedroom furniture in the world”

HURRY!

WE WANT TO TAKE YOU TO GERMANY TO SEE THE PRODUCT FOR YOURSELF Get in touch today to reserve your place: rsvp@inhouseltd.co.uk

To become a Nolte Delbrück retailer inhouseheadqtrs@aol.com 01661 842304 www.inhouseuk.net www.inhousecaribbean.com

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BEDS AND BEDROOM

Telling the story Gainsborough is highlighting its core values in an online and POS revamp ‘Gainsborough Beds’ quality is plain to see, but we felt that there is a bigger story to tell the consumer,’ says Andrew Richards, Gainsborough sales director.

As part of a major redesign of the Gainsborough website, Richards and his team were keen to distil the brand into its core values.

‘These will be an important aspect of the website, but will also form the basis of in-store material. We are eager to get this story out and will be providing hanging signs and foot-end cards to help retailers inform their customers,’ he says.

The core values were highlighted as craft, comfort and peace of mind, values which Richards believes consumers are looking for.

The company’s latest idea is the Power Edge system, which after a trial has been incorporated into all of Gainsborough’s models.

‘Handmade pocket mattresses have many advantages, but there can be a

Mulberry

tendency towards soft edges. This can result in roll-off,’ Richards explains.

The mechanics of the mattress were closely looked at with the result being the Power Edge system. This gives a much more supportive edge without compromising on the comfort of the mattress as a whole, he says.

The Gainsborough Real Edge base will work in conjunction with the Power Edge mattress to give even greater support at the edge. And the new mattress range will incorporate Power Edge so customers will benefit from the same support even on a bedstead.

Visit: www.gainsborough-beds.co.uk

Explaining the core values Craft All of Gainsborough’s mattresses and divans are manufactured in the UK, with attention to detail paramount at every stage, from the hand-nesting of the pocketed spring units to the hand-stitching of the mattress border and hand-tufting using felt or woollen rosettes. Focus on the smallest detail ensures the mattress offers maximum comfort and longevity. The range of divan options includes sprung edge or real edge, with or without space-saving drawers, and a collection of base fabrics and exclusive headboards.

Comfort For optimum consumer choice, most of the mattresses come in three comfort levels.

Each individual spring is encased in its own fabric pocket and these pocketed springs are then hand-nested to ensure maximum support. Hand side-stitching of borders to the spring ensures complete edge-to-edge support which ensures no roll together. Gainsborough uses natural fillings such as mohair, cashmere, wool, silk, cotton felt and alpaca wool. Synthetic fillings are used to enhance the sleeping experience or where customers require a hypoallergenic mattress.

Peace of mind The mattresses and divans have a five-year guarantee and no recycled fillings are used. ‘We manufacture to the exacting standards of health and safety regulations and all raw materials comply with flammability regulations. Soon after the National Bed Federation announced the NBF Approved scheme, we were keen to be involved and are proud that we were one of the first companies to be fully accredited,’ says Richards. The selected core values will be highlighted in-store and online.

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This beautiful Bliss divan set from our

range has an

ultra soft double jersey fabric with an exceptional feel. It is made up of an open coil heat treated spring unit and 55mm high quality foam which is beautifully hand tufted with woollen rosettes, including 4 rows of hand side stitching around the mattress border.

Purchase any size Bliss divan set today and recieve free drawers.

To find out more, please email marketing@dreamlandbeds.co.uk. www.dreamlandbeds.co.uk www.healthiposture.co.uk www.dreamlandfurnishings.co.uk Terms & conditions apply, when ordering please quote ref BFD31.05.

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BEDS AND BEDROOM

1

2

5

1 Charisma is one of HealthiPosture’s premier 1,000 pocket memory foam mattress collections, with a micro-quilted soft stretch fabric available in a choice of six eye-catching colours on the base and mattress border. It features a layer of V60 75mm memory foam which is perfect for body comforting support and provides an exceptional feel.

Visit: www.healthiposture.co.uk 2 Sweet Dream’s Vision Sparkle bed combines space for a TV and 26cm Jazira mattress with ottoman storage. A choice of fabrics are available from the Exclusive collection.

Tel: 01282 830 033

3

3 Bretz’s Marilyn stands ladylike and proud with its burlesque appearance. It has a self-assured air and is richly adorned with either genuine Swarovski crystals

EXCLUSIVELY FOR BRETZ BY UDO SPREITZENBARTH

or fabric/leather-covered buttons. Whether standing on curved baroque feet or low-lying, she gently embraces the body.

Visit: www.bretz.com 4 Part of Silentnight’s innovative six-strong Geltex collection, the Geltex Ultimate 2800 features a luxurious Mirapocket pocket spring system mattress offering ultimate support. It has an 8cm Geltex comfort layer and offers a unique combination of breathability, pressure relief and body support. The

4

collection is available with a range of divan colours and a choice of bases, storage solutions and coordinating headboards.

Visit: www.silentnight.co.uk/geltex 5 With 1,400 individual pocket springs, indulgent cashmere, fine silk and a pure new wool filling, the Helmsley 1400 mattress from Rest Assured’s Heritage four-strong collection offers luxury at an affordable price. The opulent mattress has a firm feel and is tufted right through for long-lasting support. It also features vents to allow air to circulate freely, which prevents overheating at night.

Tel: 01282 851 111

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Signature 3000 After months of tireless searching for the best quality Natural Lamb's Wool, the search was concluded at the most prestigious wool farms the county has to offer. Complimented with a Layer of Pure Cotton and Silk, this bed truly pushes the boundaries of comfort. Three rows of Hand Side Stitching by highly skilled craftsmen, add to the exclusivity of the bed.

Handles Embroidered with the brand, leaves the most elegant impression.

DORLUX Elizabeth Industrial Estate Shroggs Road, Halifax HX3 5HA t: 01422 399250 • f: 01422 399251 e: dorlux@hotmail.co.uk • w: www.dorlux.co.uk

FROM PURCHASE TO DELIVERY INTO YOUR ROOM OF CHOICE

For specialist 2-Man delivery of consumer products for retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and e-commerce, look no further than DX. +. )+.! %*"+.) 0%+*č

salesenquiries@dxfreight.co.uk 0844 826 1178 thedx.co.uk/2-man-enquiry DXF/MKT/0369/13DEC13

DELIVERED EXACTLY TM

80-82interiors_IMmar14_Interior Monthly Template 27/02/2014 19:34 Page 80

Interiors UK

Birmingham

REVIEW

Limelight Beds introduced 10 bedsteads, including the Knightsbridge (pictured) and the American oak Aquarius, while a mink velvet was introduced to Orbit.

Kingstown Furniture’s Estelle, dubbed ‘The Great British Slider’ features sliding door wardrobes that are available in a variety of sizes and colours with matching chests of drawers.

Grand finale Highlights of the last Interiors UK show to be held at the NEC. Visit: www.interiorsuk.com

Above: Portuguese company Arc showed off its latest living and dining collections

Above: Louis de Poortere’s Pink Flash has a cloudy, shabby texture contrasted with vivid colour threads for a contemporary twist on a vintage classic.

Left: Traditional met contemporary in Serene Furnishings’ Roma faux leather Chesterfield scroll bed. It is available in black or white and four sizes.

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A designer floor without the designer price tag...

...must be Moduleo速 Make any floor magnificent with Moduleo速 Transform vinyl flooring, which brings warmth and character into your home via the lovingly recreated details of natural wood and stone. A wide range of styles ensures that there s a design for any space, while Transform s unique properties provide a floor that s waterproof, quiet to walk on, easy to clean and warm to the touch.

Best of all, the exceptionally hardwearing top layer means that you can enjoy the stunning good looks of Moduleo速 Transform for years to come.

www.moduleo.co.uk

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REVIEW

Interiors UK

Birmingham

Left: TCH’s launches included the painted Mam’selle dining range with oak tops (pictured) and the Lamont dining range in natural oak with rounded soft shapes.

Below left: Julia Brendel highlighted her latest fabric collections.

Below right: Libra expanded its lighting offer with Rom. Bottom: Ciambella Legnami showed its Giant 240cm x 20cm x 22mm hardwood planks in the UK for the first time.

TCS debuted the Su:Hu range of temperature control mattresses, with different layers on either side, to allow one side to keep you cooler in the spring/summer months and the reverse during the colder months. Its Ying Yang ranges are split mattresses with three available comfort levels on either side. It also showed off its latest studio designs.

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Interiors UK

Birmingham

REVIEW

Above: More Than Bags introduced a range of 10 handembroidered paper and silk shades.

Left: Christian O’Reilly Furniture Design’s Broughton Moor bench in FSC oak has a coordinating dining table.

FURNITURE Value • Quality • Style ORLANDO 4.6 black faux leather pu

bedstead – £80.00 +vat. Ottoman storage bedstead with easy action gas lift operation.

Spacious quality lined boxed storage area W138cm x L195cm x H22cm.

Exterior size W146cm x L204cm x H88cm.

Comes packaged in 3 x boxes.

YORK

4.6 double black faux leather pu bedstead low foot end – £40.00 +vat. The York bedstead has an elegant curved shaped headboard to compliment any bedroom. Exterior size W145cm x L204cm x H88cm.

Comes packaged in 2 x boxes.

WESTMINSTER 4.6 faux leather

pu bedstead finished in black with low foot end – £40.00 +vat. The bedstead has an oblong contemporary shaped headboard.

Modern and stylish, it sits well in any bedroom exterior size W145cm x L204cm x H88cm. Comes packaged in 2 x boxes.

Spring slatted bed frame base design. The centre rail is double bolted top and bottom, not clipped like some other brands.

Featured bedsteads are running lines. Collection from Birmingham and Lancashire or delivery available.

t: 01253 299114 • m: 07988 632588 e: vipbedsandfurnitureimporters@gmail.com 84

Interiors Monthly March 2014

Above: Wilkinson Furniture introduced several ranges of contemporary dining tables and chairs, including the Kalmar table and Mirage chair.

Left: Deknudt Mirrors’ introductions included the Bloom mirror from the Homka range with petal detailing on the edge.

Below: Furniture Link’s Nico stacking chair is available in five bright colours, perfect for the mismatched dining look.

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Watch your profits stack up...

...with Guardsman Mattress and Pillow Protectors

At Guardsman, we pride ourself in knowing how to care and protect furniture. To compliment our existing range of products and services, we have launched a range of 3 new high quality mattress and pillow protectors. 100% Waterproof, anti-allergen and guaranteed for 10 years, why not call us now to find out how Guardsman can help your profits stack up.

For more information about Guardsman Mattress Protectors, call 01235 444765 www.guardsman.co.uk

86-87home_IMmar14_Interior Monthly Template 25/02/2014 15:09 Page 86

Home London

REVIEW

Above: Coach House Left: G Plan

In the spotlight For the latest colours and styles Home was the place to be Interiors stylist Emilio Pimentel-Reid highlighted six main trends at Home (Earls Court 2, 12-14 January), which he says are sure to make their way on to the high street. Rich blues were prominent, while black and whites, warm metallic, floral, pastels, and sculptural utilitarian furniture were also on trend.

‘Contemporary lifestyle demands furniture that is both functional and decorative. Garden Trading’s architectural raw oak Hambledon round dining table will never need a table cloth and Lozi’s Shelf draws influence from both organic and geometric shapes to create unique shelving by carefully shaping and bending wood – reducing the need for joints while enhancing the elegance of the design,’ he says.

The third edition of Home presented more than 250 British and international brands and visitor numbers were up on 2013, including a 29% increase in the number of furniture retailers visiting.

At the show, organiser Clarion Events announced the launch of an autumn edition of the event and a new location.

Home Autumn will be at Olympia, London, alongside Top

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REVIEW

Home London

Above: International Top right: Seletti Right: Lozi

Drawer Autumn from 14-16 September. With an emphasis on comfortable design-led living, it will feature more than 150 homeware brands.

The 11-13 January 2015 show will also be held at Olympia.

‘Co-located with Top Drawer and Craft, this three-in-one collection of shows is set to be the UK’s most compelling and relevant design-led trade show; one that is meticulously curated and beautifully designed, with a unique character and appeal. The move to Olympia allows room for expansion for all shows being spread over two halls, two floors and a gallery area,’ says Neil Gaisford, Clarion retail portfolio director.

‘Over the past three years we have been positioning Top Drawer as the UK’s foremost design-led gift event. With the recent addition of new events Home and Craft, we have designed and brought to the market a new super-event, presenting buyers with more than 1,000 leading UK and international brands across multiple sectors. The change of venue and the new vision for the shows takes us forward to the next chapter of development, strengthening the show’s identity as the UK’s most inspiring and relevant buying event.’

Visitors and exhibitors praised the January event.

‘Home continues to get better every year and has now

cemented itself as a must-visit for anyone involved in design-led homewares. The end consumer’s appreciation of quality design is increasing all the time and Home is perfectly placed to capitalise on this with its edit of the best, the newest and the most beautiful home brands,’ says Chris Gardner, Selfridges buying manager.

‘I think this has been the best show yet and we have lots of new products to buy now,’ says Adam Thow, Southbank Centre, head of retail and buying.

‘Home goes from strength to strength in delivering a world class show that is attracting the top brands and more important, the top retail customers. Home is an essential start to the year for us meeting with the top stores and to launch our new products. It is the only design show of its kind in the UK for retail and one that is a must for us to exhibit at,’ says Nik Fulton, Pad Home founder.

‘We chose Home to launch our slot-together collections because of the show’s great positioning in the event calendar for buyers. We were amazed at how varied our stand guests were: from major players through to small start-ups,’ says Harris Chapman, Wayfarer Furniture founder.

Visit: www.home-london.net

www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk

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iSalone Milan 8-13 April

PREVIEW Gotha’s wooden bed from the Glamour collection features an eco-leather Capitone headboard, enriched with wrought iron details finished in antique silver and Swarovski crystals, which also decorate the frame.

Glam rocks More than 1,700 companies will be taking part in iSalone and EuroCucina along with 650 designers at SaloneSatellite.

Visit: www. cosmit.it

The Samule Mazza Timeless Interiors collection is inspired by the 1930s from architecture to the lifestyle of that era. It is almost a tribute to Scott Fitzgerald, but also to the period of the Italian Empire.

Mercedes-Benz Style’s swivel chair and stool combine a matt aluminium finish base and leather upholstery.

Altamoda Italia’s Hollywood chaise longue brings back the glamour of1950’s film sets. Bright fuchsia stitching stands out on black and white pied-de-poule fabric while the slightly flared legs are in a glossy gold finish, enriched by asymmetrical, rounded hand-carved decorations in solid wood, available in any colour.

Cantiero’s Elettra collection is inspired by the styles of the 1940s and 1950s but reworked in a modern key. Like all Cantiero’s collections, Elettra is made entirely of solid American walnut with a choice of finishes.

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

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Kelston House International, Kelston House, Whitescross Dublin 18 Tel: +353 12899441 Mob: +353 870995269 Email: kelstonhouse@gmail.com Web: www.kelstonhouse.com

344 45

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88-90salone_IMmar14_Interior Monthly Template 25/02/2014 15:13 Page 90

iSalone Milan 8-13 April

PREVIEW Left: Gherardini Home’s Duccio sectional leather sofa allows the arms to be inverted, so that each element can be right or left looking. It has a brass and veneer base, coordinating with the Niccolò sectional bookcase in veneer with brass bookends.

Below: For Interiors by Aston Martin, clean welldefined lines are central to its designs. The sofa combines pearl grey leather and Casentino wool cushions with a metal base.

Dale Italia’s minimalist walnut bed has a natural grey finish and the headboard can be simple or accompanied by a decorated cushion.

Knoll’s Washington collection, by David Adjaye, is made up of two cantilevered side chairs, a club chair, an ottoman, a side table and a bronze coffee table. The two cantilevered chairs – Washington Skeleton and Washington Skin – establish a play between propping and balancing, so that they are simultaneously functional and sculptural. The chairs are available in two materials: diecast aluminium (Washington Skeleton) and reinforced nylon (Washington Skin). Like complementary inversions of each other, the aluminium chair is reduced to a fine geometric lattice, while the nylon chair offers a colourful envelope to the same form. PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSHUA MCHUGH

Extra events As well as the main exhibition, hundreds of events will be held across the city, ranging from Superstudio’s Temporary Museum for New Design and other events around Via Tortona, Ventura Lambrate, Edit by Designjunction, several design districts such as Brera and company showrooms. Modus will be among the companies taking part at Edit with launches including the April sofa by Sir Kenneth Grange and Jack Smith (pictured).

Visit: www.superstudiogroup.com www.tortonadesignweek.com www.venturaprojects.com www.fuorisalone.it

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Interiors Monthly March 2014

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BUYING GROUPS’ NATIONAL

FLOORINGMAYSHOW 2014 13 & 14 th

th

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Stephen Pearce, Choice Homes

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Jonathan Davies, Sales Director of Associated Weavers

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Available exclusively to Members of affiliated Buying Groups.

Please visit www.bgnfs.co.uk to register!

Proudly supported by

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