Fri 7 Mar 2008
March
The new Gusto Range Cooker, from home appliance manufacturer Electrolux, features three changeable cooktops to suit the most creative chefs.The 100cm-wide professional-look range cooker is ergonomically designed and comes with a wok top, a griddle and a fry top that can be switched depending on the dish being created. For ease of use, its metal knobs have easy grip surfaces and the cook tops are dishwasher safe. When not in use, the tops can be stored in a handy drawer at the base of the appliance.
The Gusto also comes with two A-rated ovens - a large 61-litre family-sized oven with eight functions plus a grill, as well as a smaller 36-litre conventional oven with grill. Both are controlled by a digital touch panel.
www.electrolux.co.uk
Door manufacturer JELD-WEN has launched the Mackintosh range of exterior doors, made from FSC-certified timber.
Veneered in cherry, the doors have five-inch stile and rail construction for strength and stability and so can be fitted with a wide range of hardware. The Mackintosh doors are supplied factory finished, double-glazed and ready to hang for convenience on site. A range of complementary interior doors is soon to be launched.
"Mackintosh has an enduring style that is still reflected in many contemporary furniture designs and decorations in the home," says JELD-WEN's product manager, Mark Roberts. "This range adds a stylish twist to some of the most popular classic styles for external timber doors."
www.jeld-wen.co.uk.
Eco-friendly design company EDWARD BULMER has launched its new Pots of Paint range of 50 colours made from entirely natural ingredients.
Totally free from synthetic solvents, the paints have no dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which means they do not give off harmful emissions or contribute to environmental pollution.
With names including Pots of Heaven (blues), Pots of Love (pinks and purples) and Pots of Cream (whites), the natural paints are available in a variety of finishes including natural matt emulsion, natural flat oil, natural oil eggshell and natural oil gloss.
"The Pots of Paint range is based on plant oils, tree resins and minerals," explains Corrabeth Bishop, Edward Bulmer's marketing manager. "These natural paints don't adversely affect people's health or endanger the plant in production, and they generate waste that can be composted. They come in a choice of beautiful colours, all of which are durable and breathable on the wall."
www.potsofpaint.com
Luxury bath company TEUCO has unveiled its new Feel bathtub, appropriately named as it is made from a revolutionary material that mimics the warmth and comfort of natural stone.
Duralight R is a solid surface material that is designed not to discolour over time and remains heat-resistant and durable as well as easy to clean, maintain and repair. It is also fairly lightweight, so the generous proportions of this oval tub do not make it onerous to install.
www.teuco.co.uk
Scandinavian design company VARIER FURNITURE has added the VariŽr Eight chair to its collection.
Named after its shape, but also with a nod to the time at which many people sit down to enjoy both their breakfast and their evening meal, the chair is ergonomically designed and suitable for breakfast bars as well as tables.
Its unique tilting mechanism moves with its occupant to keep the body relaxed and the height can be adjusted for maximum comfort. The chair also swivels and has a footrest, which its manufacturers claim can be stood on by an 18-stone person without breaking.
VariŽr Eight has a steel base and is available in leather as well as fabrics and in more than 200 colours to suit all interior design schemes.
VARIER www.varier.co.uk
KNAUF DRYWALL has launched a new spray-on plaster.
MPFinish is a multi-finish gypsum plaster that has been developed in conjunction with leading spray machine manufacturers to give economical coverage and a durable finish to walls and ceilings as an alternative to taped and jointed drywall finishes.
Knauf MPFinish is supplied in 25kg bags, which each contain enough product to cover 16 to 18 square metres of wall or ceiling with 2-3mm of plaster. The dry plaster is mixed with water in an easy to operate and readily portable machine, which delivers the correct mix under pressure to the spray nozzle. The wet plaster is applied at the rate of one square metre every 11 seconds on vertical or horizontal surfaces and is immediately trowelled flat. After 45 minutes it is dry-trowelled, and after another 30 minutes it is trowelled again with a little water if necessary. A final dry trowelling - and optional polishing - follows 30 minutes later.
Specially designed spray machines have been manufactured to take the product and, according to its manufacturer, MPFinish can reduce plastering time by up to 50 per cent.
"The plasterer doesn't have to physically mix or lift the product on to the wall," explains Bob Stark, Knauf Drywall marketing manager, "and ceilings can be plastered without the need for scaffolding or stilts."
www.knaufdrywall.co.uk
Specialist Italian furniture company SIMPLY ITALIAN is introducing Oikos Cucine kitchens to the UK.
Already well known in Italy, Oikos is developing a strong export market for its affordably priced, contemporary styled kitchens, which are manufactured in the company's highly automated Italian factory.
Oikos Cucine offers a range of unique and versatile kitchen designs, which can be modified to suit kitchens of all types, from open-plan to those with limited space or a traditional layout.
"In a competitive market place, quality build, fixtures and fittings are key, yet increased land values are forcing developers to look for as many ways to reduce costs as possible," said Birte Nielsen, managing director of Simply Italian UK. "Many end up cutting back on kitchens and bathrooms, which is a huge mistake when quality is becoming the determining factor in differentiating from the competition. Oikos produces quality kitchens with exceptional contemporary style at significantly lower prices, providing today's developers with a cost effective solution."
www.oikoscucine.it
L.B. PLASTICS' new Sheerframe bi-fold door offers a contemporary alternative to conventional sliding or patio doors.
Engineered using ball-bearing raced roller mechanisms to give smooth and easy operation, the doors are available in a range of configurations and can span up to six metres. The frame sections feature slim sightlines and incorporate a specially designed frame interlock to optimise weather performance.
The bi-fold doors come as inward opening and sliding at the bottom as standard, although other options - such as outward opening and hung at the top - are available.
All products manufactured by L.B. Plastics are free from heavy metals following the company's decision to switch to calcium organic stabilisers.
www.sheerframe.co.uk.
AEON RADIATOR HEAVEN, the designer radiator brand of discrete domestic towel rail and radiator manufacturer Ultraheat, is unveiling a range of new designs this month.
Created for maximum energy efficiency and heat output, the contemporary styles are available in brushed satin as well as a polished stainless steel finish and come in various shapes and sizes, including Coffer (pictured), which resembles a decorative ceiling panel and can be hung vertically for use as a bathroom towel rail and radiator, or horizontally like a piece of modern art.
The bold Bamboo radiator takes its inspiration from bamboo shoots and is the first in its sector to have an integral humidifier. Water is poured into a stylish brushed stainless steel reservoir at the base of the radiator and evaporates inside the Bamboo's stainless steel tubes before being released through vents to create a healthy, non-drying atmosphere. Aromatherapy oils can also be added to the water.
The new Marbella design features four 60cm x 40cm sections of polished natural stone held in place by three polished stainless steel belts, which can be extended to become towel rails. Six stone types are available from stock, although Aeon's design team also offer a bespoke service to source and match natural stone to client's specifications.
www.pitacs.com
TAYLOR'S ETC has added the Venetian Iridescent Mosaic tile collection to its line-up of luxury bathrooms, tiles and interior furnishings.
Although green at first glance, the glass Venetian Iridescent Mosaics turn to hues of gold, purple and blue when viewed from different angles and bring a touch of glamour to any room in the house.
The Mosaics are available in 30cm x 30cm sheets and are particularly suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, steam rooms, swimming pools and leisure areas.
www.taylorsetc.co.uk.
VILLEROY & BOCH has launched its new Lifetime collection of bathroom furniture and sanitaryware designed specifically to meet the mobility needs of more mature homeowners.
The sanitaryware range includes a level-access shower enclosure, a bath made from anti-slip Quaryl with built-in grips and a slimline basin with room to pull up a wheelchair. Lifetime basins have recessed handgrips and anti-splash rims for ease of use.
Lifetime furniture is available with front and cover panels in white or red with wood dŽcor in either acacia or walnut and features pull-out storage to ensure that the contents are accessible from either a sitting or standing position.
"When developing the new Lifetime collection, we wanted to create a range of products which would offer customers comfort, functionality and user-friendliness, without compromising on aesthetics and style," said Michael Swan, Villeroy & Boch's UK managing director. "The furniture has been designed to allow the user to move around the bathroom without difficulty and access items in the bathroom with ease."
www.villeroy-boch.co.uk
Design company HEDGERLEY LANE has launched the intriguing new Dreamspiral garden ornament.
A spinning spiral surrounding a flawless crystal ball, the Dreamspiral creates an eye-catching optical illusion - as the spiral rotates in the wind, the ball appears to rise and fall without ever reaching the end.
Made from high-quality brushed stainless steel, the Dreamspiral will not rust or pit even if left outside all year round and the ball is made from optical quality crystal.
The Dreamspiral is hung on a nylon wire, which can be attached to a hook on any suitable structure, such as the branch of a tree, a garden arch or a pergola. It is also suitable for indoor use as a decoration for a window or door frame and comes in three sizes - 35cm, 55cm and 75cm.
"So many garden ornaments just sit there to be looked at, but the Dreamspiral works to enhance its environment," said Jessica Tres, director of Hedgerley Lane. "The views around the Dreamspiral are reflected in the crystal ball to make you more aware of the beauty of your surroundings."
www.hedgerleylane.com
First published in Show House Magazine March 2008.
The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy but some information contained within this article may have changed since it was first published.
Posted by Nicky Adams
in Edward Bulmer, Electrolux, Hedgerley Lane, Jeld-Wen, Knauf Drywall, L B Plastics, Oikos, Product News, Taylor's Etc, Teuco, Ultraheat, Varier Furniture, Villeroy & Boch on Fri 7 Mar 2008
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