"kitchens"

Design and fit-out specialist, Peldon Rose, selects premium TopBrewer coffee experience for office refurbishment project.With a culture very much based on family values, Peldon Rose designed their Wimbledon office to be a welcoming, homely environment that is future-proofed to facilitate collaboration and smart working concepts.With its design-led, minimal aesthetic, the award-winning TopBrewer helps to create a streamlined look and feel to the kitchen area, leaving the worktop area clutter-free and the brewing equipment fitted in the cupboards below out of view."The quality of the coffee has encouraged staff to grab a coffee at the office rather than visiting local coffee shops, which is a great incentive for the team." - Sophie Rutter, Front of House Manager, Peldon Rose

The 65-year old Altro safety flooring that is still performing todayWhen West Bridgford Baptist Church refitted its kitchen, they wanted high quality flooring that was safe, durable and easy to maintain. They chose what was then a new product – Altro safety flooring – and hoped it would deliver. That was in 1950, and over 65 years later, after innumerable coffee mornings, christenings and other events, Altro revisited the site with the most modern testing equipment and found the original safety flooring still meets the latest HSE standards. A pendulum test achieved PTV 40, representing a one in a million risk of slipping in both wet and dry conditions.Church Secretary Carol Hodgkinson said: “Our kitchen has had much use over the years and is important to the people who attend the Church and use its facilities. We’ve run a lunch club, cooked up amazing Christmas dinners and plenty of simple lunches too. Today it’s mainly used to prepare refreshments for our own church activities and for other groups that use our building, which includes toddler groups, keep fit groups, uniformed organisations and U3A groups, amongst others.“We were amazed when we were told how old the flooring is, we had no idea! We just know that it’s easy to clean. It’s reassuring to know that it’s still helping to prevent people from slipping after all this time.”The flooring that was laid at West Bridgford Baptist Church was called ASF Classic X25 and was the first Altro safety flooring solution. Roll-on to today and Altro Classic 25 is still here, albeit with a few tweaks! It remains a popular choice, although these days you’re more likely to find it in craft, design and technology rooms plus circulation areas.

When it comes to choosing where to live during university, students expect much more than a just a room with a bed, bathroom and kitchen. Instead, now more than ever they want an accommodation that offers added comfort and includes additional facilities such as wellbeing spaces, gyms and even smart technology suites.Students are also recognising the importance of living sustainably and choosing a building that offers lower living costs and more environmentally friendly solutions, as well as having great curb appeal.So, in order to attract this new generation of students to the University of Exeter’s new East Park building, architects Stride Treglown designed the high quality student accommodation using bespoke rainscreen cladding panels from Proteus Facades as the central visual element.

Chosen in a riven textured finish and in Iceberg, Bordeaux and Basalt colours to create symmetry in the building’s decorative facade, the high quality of each Carea cladding panel creates a stylish finish which met the architect’s vision. In addition special vent tiles were specified which were used above the windows and for kitchen extracts to create an invisible way of creating ventilation for the building.Each of the riven panels were installed by OCL Facades using innovative grooves at the top and bottom edges to create a seamless finish. As well as an efficient secret fix installation process, Carea cladding panels provide several performance benefits. Offering a high degree of insulation, they will play a pivotal role in the development’s thermal efficiency, thereby lowering its heating needs and aiding sustainability. 

This high-profile London office needed a stunning re-design and high-quality finish to reflect the client’s values and surroundings. Vtec was specified to provide visually stunning acoustic ceilings. The contemporary design encompassed a modern reception area leading to a large open office floor with a staircase to breakout spaces and an attractive roof terrace. Finished to an extremely high standard throughout, the design featured Vtec MaxiBeam ceilings in white Supalami and Supacoustic panels in Oak Supalami. In the kitchen area, Supacoustic panels were specified in an oak Supalami finish and circular perforated design (SP4 with 10mm perforations) echos the circular supporting pillars and helps soften the acoustics.Explore how we ensure pinpoint accuracy in the design and production to ensure seamless integration.

Mary Weaver was the Houses Editor on Livingetc for over a decade so she knows a thing or two about design! We were delighted that she chose Clement to manufacture and install the new steel doors she required for her beautiful new home in Brighton.Mary now lives in a wonderful Regency Town House. The kitchen is located on the lower ground floor which is where the two new doors have been installed. They bring in lots of natural light and open out into the charming walled garden.Mary commented: “I love my new steel doors which make the room much lighter and warmer and encourage the indoor-outdoor link to the garden. Clement were a delight to work with and made everything easy and straightforward. The fitters were super efficient and left the place spotless.”

Beecholme is a detached house which has been converted to create seven flats. This development has been the subject of extension to make a kitchen and living room overlooking the rear garden for one of these flats. In addition, five of these flats include a ground floor bedroom and family room with an ensuite, providing versatility to suit a family’s needs. This development comes with allocated parking.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by CROE Architects due to the high sound reduction performance and low floor levels. As it’s suitable for all floor types, it is frequently viewed as the solution of choice for new build and refurbishment developments. Its interlocking edges for installation convenience, high density, and unique resilient layer provides unrivalled acoustic performance.JB Carpentry was supplied 338m² of Cellecta products for this development in Welwyn.

Klaudia and Michal purchased a brand-new property in Staffordshire in November 2021, built by David Wilson Homes. The couple’s chic, minimalistic design aesthetic soon gained a following on Instagram with clean lines, sleek finishes, and a focus on simplicity. @ThePolishedGosford has become a popular account with other new-build homeowners with similar proportions and layout.In their quest to enhance their interior design aesthetic, the couple sought out an artistic addition that would perfectly complement their existing décor. They received a recommendation from a friend suggesting KEIM Colourwash, and they eagerly embarked on a project to create captivating feature walls in both their kitchen and master bedroom.Klaudia and Michal desired to incorporate a concrete effect, a task that is often challenging and time-consuming when using conventional materials. Seeking advice, Amie Paxton, Creative Finishes Designer at KEIM, provided personalised colour choices combining KEIM Innostar & KEIM Colourwash to achieve the desired outcome.Available in over 200 colours, KEIM Innostar is an innovative interior paint, requiring just a single coat application to achieve full coverage and a luxuriously fully matt finish. Klaudia commented: “The paint was really easy to use, and the application was better than other brands we’d used in the past.”KEIM Colourwash offers a convenient and hassle-free solution for achieving a beautiful limewash effect. Unlike traditional limewash, which can be time-consuming and potentially hazardous, KEIM Colourwash provides a safe and easy alternative. When used in combination with KEIM Innostar, a trendy “perfectly imperfect” aesthetic can be applied to both bare and previously painted walls and ceilings.Using a KEIM Oval Brush, the couple applied KEIM Colourwash to their selected feature walls, transforming the plain surfaces in a remarkably short time frame of less than 20 minutes per wall. Michal commented: “We originally wanted a concrete effect on our kitchen wall, which seemed very complex to do, unlike using KEIM.”

Abode was the tap designer of choice to inject eco-luxe convenience to a unique water tower restoration project in Castle Acre, Norfolk with Pronteau: a high-specification range of steaming hot water taps. Paul Illingworth, Design Manager at Abode says, “We were delighted to be a part of this project alongside property owner Dennis Pedersen and Tonkin Liu Architects, as they meticulously came together to reimagine a derelict industrial water tank into a contemporary, family home. Dennis purchased the water tower at auction for £20,000 in 2015, and then project-managed all the building work himself to save money and realize Tonkin Liu’s architectural vision with the help of a local builder. Following the addition of a new CLT timber tower and careful infilling, the original water tank is now an open-plan kitchen living space complete with Pronteau Propure 4 IN 1 steaming hot water tap in ultra-fashionable Urban Copper finish. As the property needs to cater to a family of four, the additional breakfast room on the second floor, is also designed with a Pronteau Propure 4 IN 1, to ensure the height of convenience, design continuity and eco luxury in the modern home and living space.”  The 160 sqm Water Tower project, is testament to the increasing demand and complexity in personalised building projects across the UK. As the trend for flexible kitchen living is a key focus for today’s multi-generational homes, homeowners want to make sustainable choices wherever possible. Pronteau by Abode is the ideal way to combine high function design with a superior style, heightened level of safety and sustainable consideration in reducing the consumption of plastic bottled mineral water.  “We believe that safety goes hand in hand in interior design and construction, which is why we continually invest in new product development to ensure our designs are fit for purpose. As a practical example, our exclusive Filter Recycle Scheme enables end users to return redundant filters directly to us for recycling.”

The challengeThree types of mineral ceiling tiles feature at the Jenny’s Well care home for older people with sight loss. It is operated by the Royal Blind charity, which shares sister charity Scottish War Blinded’s new Hawkhead Centre for visually impaired veterans.The Jenny’s Well care home designed by the Unum Partnership features Zentia’s tiles in the main entrance, reception and manager’s offices, all the corridors, back of house staff areas, kitchens and toilets.The solutionThese include 1,000 m² of Zentia’s Perla Tegular and 250m² of Prestige dB tiles, as well as 350 m² of Aruba Max, all mineral with Tegular edges installed on a Zentia Prelude 24mm XL2 grid system.In addition, it features ISO clean room rated Hygiene tiles to the main kitchen and humidity-resistant Hydrabloc tiles to laundry areas and WC, both square-edged 600 x 600 mm in a Prelude 24mm Corrosive Resistant grid. The use of a 200 mm high Axiom profile also provided a solution for ceiling level changes with a pre-finished bespoke upstand.The Zentia systems were supplied by CCF in Glasgow and installed for main contractor CCG (Scotland) Ltd by specialist sub-contractor Brian Hendry Interiors, a member of Zentia’s Pinnacle Partner network of sustainably-certified installers, whose squad of specialist fixers completed over a six-month programme.Unum found the site for the client, The Royal Blind, to not only accommodate proposals for the bespoke care home but also a drop-in centre for the Scottish War Blinded. The care home is designed to provide an exceptional caring environment designed to the exacting requirements of the visually impaired. The design has been developed to create domestic-scale pavilions centred around a sensory courtyard, creating a community hub, with the aim of providing a secure environment that promotes care and social interaction and encourages self-confidence and independence among its residents.

GEC ANDERSON OFFERS PRISTINE PERFORMANCE FOR UCS SPORTS PAVILIONThe fit out of a major new academic sports facility in North London has included the selection of custom built sinks, work-surfaces, shelving and other stainless steel units, manufactured and installed by sector specialist, GEC Anderson.The University College School Sports Pavilion in Hampstead has been designed by Marcus Beale Architects (MBA) with LIFE Build Solutions of High Wycombe filling the role of main contractor. The area was farmland until the 20th century. The use as playing fields dates from the 1920s.The 18th month project encompassed upgrades to the schools playing fields themselves and the erection of a two-storey structure with extensive changing room facilities, showers and toilets on the first floor. The comprehensive catering facilities include kitchens large enough to serve a dining area which can seat 200. Amongst the stainless steel fabrications designed and fashioned by GEC Andersons highly experienced workforce are a number of base units which combine with single section work-surfaces, sinks and splashbacks to create an easily cleaned, hygienic and ergonomic working environment.As well as the actual kitchen, GEC Anderson also supplied adjustable wall shelving and an L-shaped, three level base unit for a food storage and preparation area. In several places GEC Andersons site survey and subsequent liaison with the project team, which also included The Litmus Partnership Ltd. Catering Consultants, led to units being tailored to fit around structural columns and to accommodate different sized pieces of catering equipment.The stainless steel back bar, with associated fabrications and appliances were also supplied and installed by GEC Anderson.A spokesperson for MBA commented: In 2015 MBA won an invited competition to design a new sports pavilion on the site. Thorough analysis of the topography and the wider views led to a radical design for a pavilion in two parts, linked by a bridge angled westwards to align precisely with the Wembley Arch.

Having outgrown their previous offices, Smoove – a company operating in the property sector (formerly ULS) – took the decision to take on three floors at Masters Court; a fully refurbished office building in the quaint town of Thame, Oxfordshire. They swiftly appointed HNB and Leap Architects to deliver an overhaul of the dated interior that would better suit the Smoove team.We were approached to deliver a glass moving wall capable of separating the ground floor kitchen and main open plan space when required. Our Type G200 system was chosen, which provides transfer of natural light when partition is closed while simultaneously stopping the transfer of noise.The minimalist manifestations applied to the glazed panels along with their black painted frames have been designed to match a number of fixed glass partitions within the space, offering a consistent design throughout.

Vega is a 37-storey new build property in Vauxhall, South London ideally located near to Kings College London, University College London, University of London, and University of Westminster.  The building houses a variety of 841 studio and shared student apartments and has a roof garden terrace, an on-site gym, cinema room, private dining area, and gaming zone all for student use, as well as a six-storey open-plan office. As the student accommodation had cooking facilities which included a hob, fire safety protection was considered to be of particular importance. Due to its unique benefits and ease of use for the students and the fact that other Downing Student properties across the UK had requested it, the Firechief Kitchen Stove Guard was chosen to be installed as standard in 497 apartments to complement the passive fire products which had also been fitted.

Goodluck Hope sits in an enviable position on the banks of the river Thames, directly opposite the 02 Arena. This flagship project from the Irish developer, Ballymore, is a prime example of stunning contemporary design with an industrial edge. Using a mix of blue and green façades, interiors feature bright, colour palettes interspersed with splashes of polished brass in both the kitchens and bathrooms.Towelrads have worked with the M&E subcontractor, Borough Engineering, on every phase of the waterside development and supplied Multicolumn radiators, along with chrome and white towel rails, to the private and shared units. This unique island development features an eclectic mix of contemporary buildings including suites, 1,2-, and 3-bedroom apartments, lofts and townhouses. With so many different plot types, most sizes throughout the project have been made to order with vertical and low-level radiators supplied, some up to 1.6m long.

Armourcoat have been specified throughout the VIVI restaurant, a 1960’s inspired eatery in the Centre Point building in London’s West End. VIVI promises to deliver traditional British food with an innovative twist.VIVI’s 290 cover dining room serving delicious British favourites has its interior design inspired by 1960’s colours and fabrics including a handmade chandelier by British designer Vibeke Fonnesberg Schmidt. The new restaurant, created by Rhubarb – the team behind Sky Garden and Verdi Italian Kitchen at the Royal Albert Hall, is part of a wider refurbishment of Richard Seifert’s celebrated Grade-II listed high-rise tower. Armourcoat finishes have been used to spectacular effect in the entrance lobby, restaurant reception, bar and dining area with close to 300m2 of hand finished Armourcoat polished plaster applied to the walls.

Stainless steel worktops, sinks, splashbacks and shelving, from GEC Anderson, have been installed at The Lab at Fitzjohns Primary School in Hampstead. They provide a durable, professional looking kitchen area as well as adding valuable light to an otherwise dark space.The work carried out in the Lab, a science and cookery facility, is part of a phased transformation of the school, involving a complex programme, designed to cause minimum disruption to the occupied school.The school is split into four blocks; the main block being listed and over 150 years old. The Lab is located on the ground floor of this block in an old culvert space which had been open to the elements and was used as a dumping area!Frank Swan, Bursar for Fitzjohn Primary said, “The Lab was built to put an additional focus on science in the school and to have a dedicated learning space for the subject.”

Project: Manufacture and installation of concrete worktops at the office canteenClient: Everybody’s Music ManagementMaterials used:  Bespoke BTX GRC 2500 x 65 x 30 mm precast and hand polished concrete worktops in Silk Mist finish.Three large concrete panels; each 2500 mm long and 650 mm wide with side returns; were installed by the Living Concrete team in the communal office space at Everybody’s Music Management offices in North London.The worktops were cast to the client’s individual and unique specifications using our BTX Ultra High Performance Concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The worktops were cut to fit various kitchen appliances and then treated and sealed to make them stain proof. Concrete worktops are extremely strong and durable and designed to withstand high level of use.

On this redevelopment project we worked closely with McLaren.Excell Architects to manufacture and supply bespoke concrete kitchen worktops and concrete cladded central island in a newly renovated penthouse flat at a warehouse in Shoreditch.The glass fibre reinforced concrete central island, splash backs and worktops were manufactured using our special GRC BTX concrete, which is lighter and stronger than traditional concrete. We used our unique eco concrete mix technology with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The individual elements were precast in our workshop for assembly on site and then hand polished and treated with a specialist sealant. Living Concrete’s worktops are extremely strong and durable and can be used indoors or outdoors. By using the best of modern technology, we have created a sleek contemporary look that demonstrates how concrete can be both eye catching and functional.

The East Slope Student Village is a development of 32 buildings of three to six storey flats and three to four storey town houses accommodating 2,113 beds for students at the University of Sussex. Demolition of existing buildings commenced for the redevelopment of a lightweight steel frame mixed-use facility which includes a kitchen, student hub and retail space. Due to the steep slope of the site, a 30,000m³ of bulk excavation was required and buildings were arranged in linear blocks. The BREEAM Excellent rated development was designed to blend with the existing Sir Basil Spence campus and includes grassland as an environmental impact measure.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by Pascall+Watson due to its excellent impact and airborne acoustic performance. ScreedBoard was recognised in the housebuilder awards and took home the winner’s award for ‘best internal/interior product’.Balfour Beatty was awarded this 30,000m² contract for this student accommodation in Sussex.

Nerrols is a primary and nursery school which is part of the Richard Huish Trust located in Taunton. Opened in September 2019, Nerrols includes facilities such as 14 classrooms, main hall, kitchen, science and technology room, sports hall library, food technology room and a 3G sports pitch. Built to support a new residential development being constructed, the two-story building school provides 420 places for 4 to 11 year olds and 26 nursery places, with modern colour render above, and features a generous canopy over the main entrance.Cellecta’s Mojave S1-8 was specified due to it being a lightweight option for an acoustic composite floor build up. This system has a low energy use, reducing running costs and co2 emissions, which benefits the environment.Willmott Dixon was awarded this 1,000m² contract by Somerset County Council to construct this development in Somerset.

A lot of walking is done throughout a hospital, and when Region Zealand was to build Copenhagen's new psychiatric hospital, Denmarks most modern of its kind, it opted to supply 30,000m2 of the hospital's total area of 44,000m2 with the most modern and long-lasting flooring available. The flooring is environmentally friendly and provides outstanding durable floors made up of a 6-7 mm thick polyurethane. The total 30,000m2 area included patient rooms, walking and living areas, kitchens and canteens and more than 5,000m2 of walking areas. The floor systems used as finishes on this project were SofTop SLR and SofTop Comfort SL. Both were hard wearing self smoothing polyurethane systems which can be installed quickly to a very high standard. The SofTop Comfort SL involves an initial flexible membrane prior to the self smoothing topping being applied. This provides the bounce in the finish which make for comfortable walking and sound reducing properties.

SENSO UK teamed up with Room Studio to help create this unique space that uses warm tones throughout the property. Senso creating a seamless look that not only unites the rooms seamlessly but creates a sense of warmth, something that we all look for in a home.‘NO LOCATION IS TOO FAR FOR SENSO’ As you can see this project was on the Isle of Skye. Location is no obstacle for us, if you do have a project that is not in London or surrounding area, we can still accommodate you.Senso helps creates an environment that is not only minimalist but sumptuous. Why stop with the kitchen, continue the Senso look throughout the project from the living area to bedroom and even the stairs ( treds' and risers'). The colour dune has two hues together which create a beautiful fusion.Following this we add in our aggregate of recyclable materials from old concrete remains, this creating a look of polished concrete but without the ramifications you get with a concrete.

Wisteria Lodge is a collection of 6 well-appointed apartments, some with a balcony or alternatively private garden, situated in a convenient central location close to Broadstone’s shops and amenities in the popular Ridgeway. The apartments benefit from numerous features including open plan living with bespoke kitchen and quartz worktops, solid internal doors, underfloor heating, air source heat pump for efficient home energy and master bedroom with en-suite shower room. Included with a communal lift, communal bike store and landscaped gardens and 1 allocated car parking space, future proofed with provision for electric charging points.Cellecta’s Mojave S1-8 was specified due to it being a lightweight option for an acoustic composite floor build up. This system has a low energy use, reducing running costs and CO₂ emissions, which benefits the environment.Harry J Palmer was supplied 536m² of Cellecta products for this development in Broadstone.

Moneyfields is football club in Portsmouth which includes a new social club and sports facility Building with housing development of 26 residential units in the form of 14 one and two bedroom apartments and 12 four-bedroom houses. Redevelopment of this part single and two storey building was completed to accommodate the sports and social club with bars, function hall, kitchen, cellar, offices, changing rooms, boxing ring, gym, spectator stand, classrooms, ticket office, tea hut, car park, and a pitch with floodlights and fencing.Cellecta’s Mojave S1-8 was specified by PLC Architects due to it being a high-performance underfloor heating system, offering a dry and robust floor build up from one source.XFLO boards are manufactured to suit the pipe diameter and spacing required to achieve the desired thermal output.Chichester Building and Carpentry Ltd was awarded this 900m² contract to construct this redevelopment in Portsmouth.

The responsive service and high standard of craftsmanship offered by stainless steel specialist, GEC Anderson has led to the manufacturer repeating the success of a previous collaboration with a design practice renowned for its expertise in historic buildings: creating a commercial style kitchen within a very confined space in the undercroft to London’s French Protestant Church.  Although it was established in London by Royal Charter five centuries ago in 1550, the French Protestant Church’s current home in Soho Square was designed by Sir Aston Webb and was completed in 1893. The current contract came about partly as the result of an aspiration for improved facilities, able to cater for larger numbers of people and a pressing need to replace the sub-structure’s failing tanking system. Caroe Architecture Ltd. was duly appointed as the lead consultant while Coniston Ltd. was the main contractor for the work.Having worked with GEC Anderson on previous projects such as The Old Deanery in the City of London, Caroe Architecture was confident in seeking the company’s advice on the possibilities for the refit in the very confined space of the barrel-vaulted crypt. GEC responded by conducting a detailed site survey, followed by a ‘templating’, supply and installation contract.  The Project Architect, Alanah Honey, commented: “Not only was the existing, domestic scale kitchen beneath the French Protestant Church not meeting its full needs, but the failure of the old waterproofing measures required the walls to be taken right back to bare brickwork for repair.From previously just providing tea and coffee, the client wanted to move to more of a commercial scale installation, but unfortunately there wasn’t the space or the extract capacity for a full commercial facility, we therefore went for the highest specification we could, calling on the services of GEC Anderson on the basis of our past experience of working with the company.”  “The fit-out has gone very well with GEC installing all of its stainless steel drawer units, shelves and work-surfaces as well as providing a detailed specification for the church to purchase all the appliances direct, to help keep within budget. We are delighted to have been appointed to York Minster this year, having been nominated as Inspecting Architects to a number of other Cathedrals and major churches over the last 10 years. So our work is expanding significantly beyond London and Cambridge – also involving National Trust properties as well as the Oxbridge Colleges – so there is the likelihood for further cooperation with GEC.”   Benedicte Fougier, the President of the Consistory stated, “On the advice of our architects, Caroe Architecture Ltd., we contracted GEC Anderson to design and build a kitchen in our quirky, grade 2* historical building which was no small feat given the many architectural constraints. GEC Anderson has been terrific, coming up with creative ideas and delivering exactly what we needed and more. They have been extremely professional and personable throughout, very engaged with us through constant communication and adjusting their design until the last minute to take into account our needs”. Since its formation in 1962, GEC Anderson has built its reputation for the supply of top end stainless steel sinks and sanitaryware on a combination of innovative design, top quality materials and expert craftsmanship. In addition to the company’s Decimetric system of cabinets, sinks, drainers and other equipment - widely specified for sectors including health and catering - the company’s custom engineered solutions have been selected for some of the country’s top sports, entertainment and leisure destinations. 

Altro flooring now standard for welsh social housing providerAltro Wood, Altro Aquarius“We have a longstanding and very strong relationship with Altro. Our decision to exclusively use their flooring going forward will ensure consistency and a high level of quality, durability and aesthetics across the homes we have available where we have developmental control.”Elliw OwenSenior Development Surveyor at AdrassueAdra, a leading affordable housing provider in North Wales has constructed a large scheme of mixed housing units in Caernarfon, Wales. The scheme offers 46 properties comprising two, three and four-bedroomed houses and bungalows available as market sales, rent to own and social rented units. Adra creates comfortable, affordable, contemporary and stylish homes for their clients using quality interior components.ApproachAltro’s wide range of colours offers choice and flexibility in terms of design, enabling Adra to match to kitchen units and Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) recommendations, making this housing scheme accessible for all. With proven durability combined with good looks, performance and impressive safety credentials, Altro products have delivered great results for Adra over many years with long-term sustainability of quality and standards, and it is for these reasons that Adra have chosen Altro as their standard flooring supplier on all their new-build programmes.SolutionAltro Wood safety flooring was fitted in all kitchens on the scheme in a choice of three colours. All bathrooms and shower rooms were fitted with Altro Aquarius safety flooring in the colours Swan, Cygnet, or Tern.“We have not had one problem with the flooring, and the 12-month assessment reported it looked as good as the day it was fitted,” said Elliw Owen, Senior Development Surveyor at Adra. “Another big plus for us is that our local flooring installers love working with Altro flooring because it’s an easy product to lay and work with. This means we don’t need to bring in expensive specialist flooring contractors, and we can keep it local.”“We want to offer our residents beautiful, stylish flooring they can be proud of. We are pleased to be working with Altro; their flooring ticks all the boxes for us.”Elliw OwenSenior Development Surveyor at Adra

We visited David and his family in Essex, UK, who recently completed a rear kitchen and dining extension that began in June 2021 and was completed in October.   One of their main goals was to include natural light and ventilation in the design by using opening rooflights.  Tell us more about your home and why you decided to renovate. The family fell in love with the house because at the time they thought it had all of the space they needed.  'It was really obvious when we first moved into the house that we didn't have a joint space where all of us could be together, cooking and eating, playing or watching TV. That's when we said; 'okay, we need to do this project.' Before the family completed the renovation, a lot of their time was spent in individual rooms. Therefore, they made a decision to create a joined-together family space, they felt essential for creating memories and bonding with one another.  'We wanted to make sure we had a rooflight over the kitchen to create light in that space and make sure we had enough light to the existing part of the house.'  Adding a rooflight to your kitchen can be a great way to bring in more natural light and improve the overall ambiance of your home. Positioning and size of the rooflight, are important for including light in harder-to-reach areas, such as an existing part of your home. Make sure to take the necessary precautions and consider all the factors involved in such a project. Check out our top tips on what to consider when renovating or extending.  How important was the option of having bespoke rooflight design for you? 'The importance of bespoke design was really around size, and what size we needed for the space. When we first started looking around for skylights, they were often a lot smaller than we needed. What we found with Vario by VELUX is essentially, they took that problem away.' We had options, we could have chosen different colours, and different styles of glass, but we were able to choose something that matched the rest of the living space, as well as being functional.' 'The reason we went for two rectangular rooflights was really to fit in with the design of the rest of the extension. What I like about the VELUX Windows is that internally we really do just see that flat glass at the top and it finishes it off really nicely.' It's great that you had the option to choose different colours and styles of glass for your rooflights. By matching the rooflights with the rest of your living space, you have created a cohesive and harmonious design that enhances your home’s overall look and feel.   Why opening rooflights? 'The coolest thing about these rooflights is that they can open.' 'We decided to invest in large windows, one of the things we wanted to do is get the most out of them. Having the automatic opening, meant that we can open and close the windows to keep the air quality.' VELUX Active can add a modern touch to your home and can increase its energy efficiency by reducing the need for air conditioning or heating. We are glad to hear that the decision was made to optimise your indoor climate and invest in Vario by VELUX rooflights.  'One of my favourite moments to do with the rooflights, was when we first brought the children into the property, my son pointed out the rooflights and when we opened them, he was astounded!' 'Traditionally, this back part of the house was quite dark. So by coming out with an extension and having the rooflights put in above, it means we get more natural light earlier – quite often from very early in the morning.' The rectangular rooflights you chose to install sound like they fit perfectly with the design of the extension and provide a modern and clean look whilst making your space the place where family comes together. Natural light and ventilation is not only essential for our physical health, but also our emotional well-being. By having more natural light earlier in the morning, you can start your day in a better mood and with positive energy. How do you use your new extension now? 'I would say actually we spend 80 to 90% of our time now just in this room. The joy for us is sitting together and eating, whether that's at the breakfast bar or the dining table, having the kids playing along the side of the kitchen. We are delighted with the end result.' 'We are now seeing the benefits of what this means to us as a family and the wider family. Being able to host and have parties and social gatherings.’ 'Everything happens in this space now.' It's wonderful to hear that your home renovation project has transformed your living space and has made it a central gathering place for your family and friends. Hosting social gatherings and spending time with loved ones is an important aspect of life and it's great that your home now provides a comfortable and welcoming environment for those special moments. It's always a great feeling when a home renovation project meets or exceeds expectations, and it sounds like that is exactly what has happened in this case. Congratulations on your beautiful new space and we wish you very happy memories there! 

The Anchor Line Aparthotel, formerly home to the Anchor Line Shipping Company, features EGGER Feelwood materials throughout.A full refurbishment of the upper floors of this Art Deco building has created a luxurious aparthotel. A smoky timber finish was required, and EGGER’s woodgrain decor H3406 ST38 Anthracite Mountain Larch, from the popular Feelwood range, met this brief perfectly.The decor was used to create kitchen doors and end panels, wardrobes, bookcases, and television units. The synchronised deep texture provides a striking surface that is as close as you can get to real wood.Designed by ICA and fabricated by Workspace, the chosen finish has helped to create a relaxing and contemporary interior.Lesley Annison of ICA said, “We frequently specify EGGER products throughout our hotel industry projects as there is always great availability and an extensive variety of products and finishes. We were able to select an EGGER decor for this project that provided our client with the exact look and finish they required.”

The nautical heritage of Aberdeen was the inspiration for Fresh Property Group's student accommodation development Caledon Court, designed using EGGER finishes throughout.U599 ST9 Indigo Blue, H3170 ST12 Natural Kendal Oak and U732 ST9 Dust Grey have been used in study bedrooms, studio apartments and shared living spaces. The neutral colour pallete brings the maritime world in and provides a calm, comfortable environment.Caledon Court is a 199 bed site next to Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.Designed by HLM Architects and fabricated by Welcome Furniture, students will find their desks, wardrobes, shelving, headboards, drawers, kitchen doors and worktops all feature EGGER laminates.Mhairi-Claire Wilkes of HLM Architects said, “The large variety of contemporary decors by EGGER enhanced our ability to design an exciting and unique space, all within a reasonable budget. The wide range of uses of the product allowed us to create a synergy between spaces and we were able to create a consistent aesthetic throughout.”

The ChallengeTramways is a 402-bedroomed new build student accommodation complex for Chester University. It comprises 356 en-suite cluster rooms and 56 en-suite studios incorporating communal kitchens and living rooms.The development was to be split into five blocks of accommodation, with each block between three and five storeys in height.The SolutionForterra’s Dark Multi Smooth and County Multi Smooth bricks were selected for the project’s facing brickwork. Used alongside zinc wall cladding, these red bricks helped to create interest and variety in the external appearance of each of the five blocks.Part of Forterra’s Butterley range of bricks they are both smooth, wirecut bricks. While County Multi Smooth is a fully red brick, Dark Multi Smooth introduces elements of blue.The BenefitsThe juxtaposition of the metallic cladding with the red and blue facing brickwork ensures the Tramways development offers its own, unique architectural interest while at the same time complementing the local built environment of this part of Chester.

Pura® NFC by Trespa as connecting factor between two building volumesIn close cooperation with Guus Vedder (2•1 Architecten), architect Hendrik Jan van der Valk (Van der Valk Woudst ra) has designed a modern villa, consisting of two main volumes. The villa was for a private client and is located in a rural village in the Veluwe region. One volume is used as living/ dining room and kitchen, while the bedrooms, bathrooms, playroom and technical area are located in the other.The client had a number of explicit requirements for the design of the villa which is located on a large plot in a wooded area. In addition to various aesthetic aspects, the villa had to be sustainable and energy neutral. The facades, roofs and floors were therefore very well insulated and of airtight construction. All window frames have aluminium profiles with optimum insulation and have triple glazing. The whole house is equipped with domotics and all installations are powered by the solar panels that were fitted; there is therefore no need for a gas connection.

When Dundee-based architects Jon Frullani wanted to refurbish their own Grade B listed office they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 250m2 of their Creation 70 LVT Dryback vinyl flooring in ‘Deep Forest’.Creation 70 LVT is a synthetic, decorative, flexible, antistatic abrasion group T floorcovering available in tile or plank, with bevelled edges. It consists in a 0.70 mm thick transparent wear layer, a design film, and a Resilient Comfort Core to provide softness and comfort surface.The LVT flooring has been used throughout the practice including the offices, communal areas including corridors, staff break-out areas, recreation space and the kitchen.Jon Frullani, Architect, and Company owner commented, “We specified Creation 70 LVT from Gerflor as it was the most suited product for our bespoke requirements. In fact, there is not one level floor in the entire building and the Creation 70 LVT has coped very well in this challenging situation.”

Resilient 250 was installed beneath engineered wood flooring in the kitchen, landing and living room, covering approximately 75m². These spaces were located above bedrooms, and it was therefore essential to minimize sound transmission into areas where people would be sleeping. As Resilient 250 is a high performing acoustic underlay, this provided excellent impact performance in excess of UK sound insulation regulations. Benefits of Resilient 250 • Extremely fitter friendly • Clean, quick and cost effective installation • Less subfloor preparation required – an important factor given the client required minimal disruption • Provides lasting stability and comfort over time Made of durable sponge rubber, it is engineered to provide long lasting performance without deterioration. Resilient 250 provides sound improvement of 19 dB ΔLw, creating a quieter, more comfortable environment for the whole household. Resilient 250 is also an exceptionally ‘fitter friendly’ product, supplied in 10m² rolls for easy handling and distribution on site

The Dairy is a retirement Living Plus development built in 2017 for people over the age of 70. Providing both one and two bedroom apartments, each apartment has a fully fitted kitchen, underfloor heating, fitted and tiled shower room with level access shower and a 24 hour emergency call system. Facilities include a hair and nail salon, lifts to all floors, club lounge, restaurant and a south facing courtyard garden. Transport links to surrounding towns and cities are available via rail and road. The railway station has trains running directly to Charing Cross and London Bridge which takes one hour.Cellecta’s Mojave S1-8 was specified by Lewis & Hickey due to it being a lightweight option for an acoustic composite floor build up. This system has a low energy use, reducing running costs and co2 emissions, which benefits the environment.McCarthy & Stone were awarded this 2,860m² contract to construct this development on St John’s Road in Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Professional flooring contractors, Elvet Flooring Solutions, have made a homeowner’s dream come true after installing 40sqm of luxury vinyl flooring at their property using UltraFloor’s expert subfloor preparation materials.BackgroundAs part of their extensive home renovations, a homeowner in Durham dreamed of installing beautiful Tarkett Mini Plank flooring throughout their hallway and kitchen – the perfect finishing touch to their modern and luxurious home.The ChallengeThe 40sqm area is the main thoroughfare from front door to garden and so the floor needed to be smooth and bump-free to keep the family, and dog, safe. It was also important that the flooring was installed speedily so as not to delay the rest of the renovations.The SolutionUltraFloor have a reputation for providing the flooring market with quality and innovative subfloor preparation materials. For this project Elvet Flooring Solutions first secured 5.5mm FG1 plywood across the entire area and then primed the surface using Prime IT Multi-surface Primer.Formulated to promote the adhesion to all UltraFloor smoothing underlayments, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer reduces pinholing, minimising the risk of costly failures. With a coverage rate of 200sqm at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.Once cured, Level IT Renovate was applied at a 5mm depth and left for 3 days before the LVT flooring was installed in a herringbone design.Developed for the renovation of existing floors, Level IT Renovate is fibre reinforced for added strength and to minimise the risk of hairline cracks – reducing a common cause of failure.Suitable for deep applications from 3-40mm, Level IT Renovate is multi-purpose for extensive use and boasts excellent flow properties, making this flexible and versatile floor leveller ideal for a wide range of flooring substrates.What’s more, Level IT Renovate can also be used externally, as a light wearing surface, can be walked on in as little as 2 – 2.5 hours and can receive floor coverings in just 4 hours.ResultsThe flooring took just 4 days to install from start to finish and the homeowner is now enjoying their beautiful new kitchen living area.On the performance of Level IT Renovate, Matt Williams owner of Elvet Flooring Solutions, commented: “The flow rate was very impressive and easy to work with. Perfect smooth finish ready for the LVT.”

Anchor is England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people  in later life, committed to providing homes where people love living in later life. This not-for-profit organisation serves more than 65,000 residents in 54,000 homes across almost 1,700 locations and operates in more than 85% of local councils in England.Deep rooted within the company values are robust initiatives aimed at providing the highest level of nutritional standards to the residents to support overall health & wellbeing. Comprehensive water hygiene inspection regimes are put in place to minimise risks and they continually seek new opportunities to reduce their environmental impact through reuse and recycling schemes.Committed to fulfilling their sustainability initiatives, Anchor partnered with BRITA VIVREAU and invested in premium drinking water solutions across multiple locations, bringing filtered, refreshing, clean drinking water for both it’s residents and staff. Based on business and residents’ needs, Anchor opted for different BRITA water dispensers across their care home sites – the versatile Top Pro is situated in waiting rooms and corridors and the powerhouse Fill model in the kitchen canteen, allowing for bottle-filling for residents in room, and keeping guests and staff hydrated. Additionally, BRITA’s signature Extra C-tap installed in the kitchen caters to hot & cold water requirements for their staff and residents.By being plumbed-in water dispensers, the care home could not only save money and use space more efficiently, without having to compromise on patient care, but this also encouraged round the clock access to fresh and hygienic purified drinking water, thanks to the powerful BRITA ThermalGateTM solution.Noel Finnegan,National Catering & Hospitality ManagerAnchor Hanover Group"To us, being sustainable means providing residences that people love living in. Sometimes maintaining an environmental policy in a healthcare setting can come with certain challenges and uncertainties, but our recommendation would be to start by taking small steps. Investing in a water dispenser program has been an easy way for us to reduce our carbon emissions, as we no longer have to worry about the logistics involved with handling, storing or recycling bottled water. We knew we needed to move away from our unreliable and expensive pre-bottled water process and the BRITA water dispensers helped us achieve that."