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What's in Store for Kitchen Design?

'As the oldest established kitchen manufacturer and retailer in the world, Poggenpohl has seen a whole host of trends come and go, from cork flooring and tiled work surfaces to serving hatches and cathedral arched doors.' says Martin Gill, Managing Director, Poggenpohl UK.

'Poggenpohl's policy of 'unrelenting forward thinking' means the company continues to push forward the boundaries of kitchen design'. Martin believes a number of recent innovations will continue to gain in popularity throughout 2006: 'The kitchen will remain one of the most important areas of the home and will continue to be developed as the social hub of the household. As a result, the demand for open-plan living will increase, with designers being asked more frequently to incorporate dining areas, breakfast bars and office areas, as well as intelligent integrated home technology and separate, dedicated work areas for food preparation.

'Chunky worktops and open, on-view storage solutions will grow in popularity. There will also be greater emphasis placed on ergonomics and display, with areas of the kitchen devoted to the presentation of simple, every day items.

'Designers and architects will continue to push the limitations of space, through the use of false walls and embedded units, to create the illusion that the kitchen is part of the very fabric of the home.

'Lighting will also play a progressively important role as homeowners become more appreciative, and therefore more accepting, of the value of light as a vehicle for the creation of ambient environments and striking designs.

'Bold blocks of colour will be offset by natural materials, such as stone and wood, with Corian, granite and laminate work surfaces continuing to be more popular than wood. As people become more confident in their design aspirations, we will see even more textures and materials appear.

'The future of kitchen design is looking ever more exciting, with homeowners placing even more importance on design and individuality. The kitchen, as with other areas of the home, is being used to convey character as never before.'

Tel: 0800 298 1098
Web: http://www.poggenpohl.co.uk

ELECSA Urges Electricians & Tradesmen to Remind Homeowners about the House Sellers’ Pack

With the Home Information Packs (sometimes referred to as the Home Sellers' Packs) becoming compulsory in England & Wales in 2007, ELECSA is urging electricians and tradesmen who carry out electrical work in dwellings to remind homeowners about the need to prepare.

Furthermore, for every electrical installation notified to ELECSA under the scope of Part P, the homeowner will receive a householder certificate. This ELECSA householder certificate will prove necessary for incorporating into the Home Information Pack to act as documentary evidence to demonstrate that Part P of the Building Regulations has been complied with.

So if you are not yet registered with ELECSA, why not consider registering? If you are already registered with ELECSA, you can let your customers – homeowners know that they do not need to wait until 2007 to take advantage of using the Home Sellers Pack. Many estate agents and conveyancers are already offering home information packs on a voluntary basis.

For further information on the ELECSA scheme and information on Part P, go to http://www.elecsa.org.uk or contact the ELECSA Registration team on 0870 749 0080.

KBSA Makes Plastic More Flexible for Members!

The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association has joined forces with Barclaycard Merchant Services to provide preferential debit and credit card transaction processing deals for members.

The deals include preferential terminal rental at £15 plus VAT per month, the waiving of the joining fee, no minimum monthly charge, free electronic authorisation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a debit card transaction fee of 20p and a credit card transaction rate of 1.2 per cent.

‘Shopping with credit and debit cards is part of everyday life - but the cost to the retailer for processing these card transactions can be high,’ says KBSA Operations Manager Lucinda Kenny.

‘The KBSA is committed to securing the best possible deals for our members and and we are very pleased to be able to offer these preferential rates and benefits with the help of Barclaycard Merchant Services.’

Any KBSA members keen to find out more should contact Barclaycard Merchant Services direct on 0800 616161 (and quote their KBSA membership number).

Prince Edward Switches on J&J Ormerod's New BIMA Machine

J&J Ormerod PLC, the independent UK manufacturer of quality kitchens and bathrooms, recently received Prince Edward at its headquarters in Bacup, Lancashire to honour its contribution to the new sports hall for Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.

Prince Edward switches on the new BIMA machine during his visit to J and J Ormerod PLC, watched by (left) managing director Stephen Greenhalgh and chairman Allan Greenhalgh

During the visit Prince Edward was given a tour of the 750,000 square foot site and took the opportunity to switch on a new machine that the company has recently installed. The new IMA BIMA represents an investment of £300,000 and will enable the company to produce its kitchens in the shortest timeframe possible.

J&J Ormerod says that it is the first manufacturer in the kitchen market to make use of this technology. Utilising the BIMA P480V, the company is able to produce kitchen panels to accommodate doors that curve vertically from top to bottom, or more traditionally left to right. Most importantly, these unusual curved shapes are achieved using one single machine, whereas previously a number of machines would have been required.

The installation of the new BIMA P480V enables J&J Ormerod to reduce its production costs while also responding to European-led design trends quickly and in an energy efficient way. By using BIMA P480V, J&J Ormerod says it is able to keep to its ongoing commitment of providing its customers with high quality, contemporary kitchens. For example, the LIGNA show in Hanover demonstrated a trend towards semi-solid thicker panels with a honeycomb centre. The BIMA P480V allows J&J Ormerod to experiment with these types of new material to bring new designs to market.

Richard Proctor, Sales Director at J&J Ormerod PLC comments: ‘We are proud of our local heritage and are committed to contributing to our local community. In addition, we aim to continue our investment in the latest technologies in order to deliver high quality and trend-inspired products’.

Tel: 01706 877877
Email: npeters@jjoplc.com

Bosch, Siemens and Miele Washing Machines Top Which? Best Buy Guide

'Our Best Buy models give great results and their makers have proven track records for reliability.' says Which? in its updated report on washing machines, which looks for ease of use, efficiency and value for money.

The Siemens WXL 147A gives the quietest wash of our Best Buys. And it’s one of only a few machines that get good marks for spin-drying clothes. The reduced-ironing option gives fewer creases than the other new Best Buys, but you’ll still need to run an iron over your laundry. Despite low energy and water use, it washes well – though it is let down slightly by average cleaning on its quick-wash cycle.

The Bosch WFO 2467 is the easiest machine to program. There’s one dial for selecting the wash program, another to let you select your own spin speed, and just a handful of buttons for extra options.

There’s a special option for clothes that aren’t really dirty but need freshening up. However, it isn’t really different from setting any machine to the rinse-and-spin part of the cycle.

It gives a great wash across the board, including one of the most effective quick-washes. The only drawback is that it’s on the noisy side.

The Miele W2203 is the only washing machine with a metal rather than a plastic door, which gives it a really solid, well-built feel. Its filter is easy to clean, too – unlike on most models, there’s enough space to fit a container underneath.

Its cleaning of cottons and delicate clothes is good, though the quality of the quick-wash is disappointingly average. The only other thing to be aware of is the relatively small 5kg drum. That said, it’s an issue only if you have a large family and a lot of washing.

Other models appearing in the Which? report are the Bosch WFX 2868 and WFX 2867; the Tricity Bendix AW1260; two Hotpoints; the Dyson CR02 Flowcheck and the LG WM 1622OFD

If you do not already subscribe to Which? Online you can sign up for a free 30 Day Trial here:

http://trial.which.co.uk/home.php?source_code=J1AJ04

Roman Expansion Continues with New Tray Plant

Roman Ltd has unveiled its new shower Tray Plant, which forms the next stage in growth at its County Durham manufacturing base. Roman recognised the need for such a facility in response to customer and retail demand for low level trays. This followed the release of the award winning Wetrooms range launched at Expo 2003.

For the first time, a range of innovative shaped enclosures and low level trays were available to simulate the look and feel of a floor level Wetroom, yet with the reassurance of a specially designed and incorporated shower tray.
Roman’s low level Trays were awarded 'Best Bathroom Product of 2004' by ‘House Beautiful Magazine’. The award was presented to the Managing Director Gerry Osborne by Channel 5’s ‘How not to Decorate’ presenters, Colin and Justin.

The new tray plant will add an extra 12000 square feet of floor space, and it represents an additional investment of over £250,000 in buildings and specialist new machinery.

Roman’s low level shower trays are made of solid surface advanced plastic resin and are a breakthrough in tray technology. Not only do they allow level access, but the design definition afforded by the process has revolutionised the enclosure to tray link, by specially moulding all the location points for fixing the shower enclosure into the surface of the tray. This allows not only easy fitting, but also results in a water-tight sealed enclosure.

Advanced technology installed by Roman has also enabled the company’s in-house designers to think outside of the traditional square shaped shower trays leading to the creation of completely new shower tray designs, shapes and sizes.

The new Roman Sculptures range, to be unveiled at KBB 2006, also features low-level trays which have location points for 10mm glass panels as well as featuring designer style waste grids.

Not only do the low level trays create a stylish and fashionable Wetroom look, but they are also completely practical. No matter what the age or ability of the user, the low level tray gives easy access to all, and when combined with a unit such as Roman’s Colossus Walk-in Enclosure (pictured), creates a generous showering space. This is large enough for a carer should assistance ever be required.

Shower Tray plant manager, Graham Speed, said: 'Roman has always been at the forefront of pushing technology and meeting consumer expectations. Having the ability to create our own shower trays gives us the edge when it comes to manufacturing and delivering our products to retailers. This plant should also give us a platform to develop new opportunities in the future.'

Two More Showrooms for In-toto Kitchens

In-toto, the fitted kitchen franchise, has just opened showrooms in Stirling and Canterbury, giving forty-five nationwide.

The franchisee for Stirling is Lawrence Christie and the showroom is well located at 79 King Street, the head of Stirling's main shopping area. Canterbury's franchisee is Richard Blunt, and his showroom (pictured) is at 21a Lower Bridge Street, a busy road near the town centre.

'Both Richard and Lawrence have several years in the kitchen business and are pleased to put their experience to work for their own benefit under In-toto's proven franchise' says David Watts of In-toto

In-toto, established by one of Europe's largest kitchen manufacturers, has been franchising for over 25 years and is a full member of the British Franchise Association. Four showrooms have opened so far this year with two more expected December/January.

In-toto is actively seeking prospective franchisees in the Birmingham area, Eastern England, Wales and the North East.

For further infonnation, e mail David Watts at david.watts@intoto.co.uk

Hot Competition for Next Years' B&K Awards

Having announced the nominees for 2006's hottest bathroom and kitchen awards event, it looks like there will be some serious in-house rivalry as two leading kitchen and bathroom companies - Ripples and Houseworks - prepare to compete against their own colleagues to become the best in the UK.

There were literally hundreds of entrants for the thirteenth annual Bathrooms & Kitchens Industry Awards - organised by KBB Review Magazine - but only ten chances to pick up a prestigious award. Following extensive judging sessions by a panel comprising some of the industry's most influential and successful personalities, just 39 nominees have been selected to compete for the top awards.

Of those 39 nominees, a remarkable 12 are from the same two companies - Ripples and Houseworks - which is in itself cause for celebration and commendation.

Ireland-based, family owned kitchen design company Houseworks has been nominated an impressive - and unprecedented - seven times and has managed to win a place in every category available to kitchen companies. The odds are certainly high for the company, which first brought the SieMatic brand to Ireland, to be victorious in at least one category but with three of its showrooms receiving nominations, it will be exciting to see who the judges will select as the best.

Clockwise from bottom left: Ros Anderson (editor of KBB consumer magazine) ; Richard Eisermann (director of Design and Innovation, The Design Council); Johnny Grey (acclaimed kitchen retailer); Robin Levien (of Studio Levien); Catherine Treacy (of Versatile Interiors)

Over in the bathroom camp, high-end franchise company Ripples has secured no less than five nominations, with showrooms in London, Chichester, Winchester and Swansea all in with a chance to win throughout the bathroom categories.

The judging panel comments: 'It always adds an extra element of excitement when there are nominees from more than one showroom but it's also a great sign of achievement for these two companies. The competition was extremely tight this year and we had some truly amazing designs come in from across the UK. Each entrant was judging as an individual entity, so the fact that some companies have been selected more than once demonstrates a high level of quality across the board.'

The 2006 Judging Panel: Ros Anderson, Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms Magazine, Richard Eisermann, Director of Design and Innovation, The Design Council, Rik Barker, IKEA, Jackie Daly, editor, Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms Magazine, Tim Denison, SPSL, Martyn Denny, winner of the 2005 Special Achievement Award, Jim Geddes, J S Geddes, Bill Gleave, Chairman, Bernstein Group Holdings, Johnny Grey, Robin Levien, Studio Levien, John Lewis, John Lewis of Hungerford, Catherine Treacy, Versatile Interiors, Sarah Wakefield, Wells & Wilde, Mark Wilkinson

The winners will be announced at the glittering, black tie Bathrooms & Kitchens Industry Awards ceremony held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Monday 23rd January 2006.

Contact Houseworks on 0035 3 1676 9511; www.houseworks.ie
Contact Ripples on 0870 7501 626; www.ripples.ltd.uk

KBSA Corporate Members Networking Forum

The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association corporate members networking forum was well attended by more than 50 corporate members, publishers and journalists who where welcomed with a welcoming glass of warm punch at Ansty Hall in Coventry on November 10th.

Attendees listened to presentations from KBSA corporate chair Barbara Leech on KBSA Corporate Member Benefits and Opportunities, KBSA managing director Graham Hayden spoke about the importance of Three-Way Insurance, Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom National Training Group Training Manager Renee Mascari provided an update on progress of the KBB NTG and KBSA public relations consultant Carol Downing gave a PR review of 2005.

Corporate forum speakers, Renee Mascari, Lucinda Kenny, Barbara Leech, Carol Downing and Graham Hayden

‘We are delighted that so many members took time out to join us at this important networking event,’ said KBSA Corporate Chair, Barbara Leech.

‘The KBSA offers unrivalled opportunities for people to network with others in the industry and to build and nurture important business relationships that will benefit them and their businesses.

‘It was also an ideal opportunity for me to share with the corporate members the objectives and aims that the KBSA corporate committee strives to achieve and the many benefits that KBSA membership brings.’

The presentations were followed by an open forum discussion and then dinner. After dinner entertainment took the form of a whisky tasting presented by connoisseur Barry King. This proved to be a lively session as guests learnt how to taste and savour different whiskeys from around the world.

Electrolux Researches Style

Recent research by Electrolux and Future Foundation Group confirms the democratisation of design – i.e you don’t have to belong to an elite social group to be stylish! So with good design truly available to everyone how does this affect how people feel, think and consume? The report reveals some very interesting facts:

How stylish do British people feel they are compared to other countries? 'We think we are third on the style stakes – after Sweden and Italy – and ahead of the French, and trend setting Japan and USA! With our wealth of home-grown design talent from fashion designers to interiors - many of who are international celebrities like John Galliano, Matthew Williamson, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and Terence Conran – surely this new consumer confidence will have a positive impact on how media portrays Britain in other countries' comments Andy Mackay, Brand & Marketing Director, Electrolux Major Appliances.

Parents – stand aside – you are not nearly as stylish as your offspring! A resounding 68% of people believe that their sense of style is more developed than their parents. The question is - is this down to an inherent sense of style? Or one developed by exposure to media where style and design feature heavily?

What really counts when it comes to style - clothes or home? Forget the designer dress, the skinny jeans and the ballet shoes, homes have become the most important expression of our personalities! The vast majority ( 64% of people) of over 25s agree that their home says more about who they are as a person than their clothes or their car. 70% of women and 58% of men would agree with this statement.

Only 18-24 year olds feel that clothes are more important than homes for expressing their identity. Almost half chose clothes compared to 37% who opted for home, but this is unsurprising given than many people in this age group do not own their own home.

Style is more important than design fads when it comes to acquiring things for the home – and women are more swayed than men when it comes to keeping up with trends. BUT – looks alone are not enough when it comes to choosing! Only 28% of consumers say they would buy a product just because it looks good so it seems that furniture, accessories and appliances for the home need to be stylish and functional to suit today’s homeowners.

Individualism is the new buzz word – most of us don’t want to be like everyone else and conforming is definitely out! Electrolux and Future Foundation research in June 05 highlights our desire to express ourselves through new experiences and through our belongings.

20 years ago, nearly half the population felt it was important to ‘fit in’ – today that number is down to nearer 40% - which means more of us are seeking new ideas and experiences to express our individualism.

SEC Clears Whirlpool Share Registration

Whirlpool Corporation and Maytag Corporation announced on 21st November that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has declared effective Whirlpool's registration statement on Form S-4 covering the share portion of the consideration to be issued to Maytag's stockholders upon completion of the proposed merger. Maytag has now commenced mailing to its stockholders the definitive proxy statement/prospectus contained in the registration statement for use at its special stockholder meeting.

Maytag is moving its special stockholder meeting from December 16th, 2005, to December 22nd, 2005, in order to allow for sufficient notification to stockholders following the SEC clearance process. Maytag stockholders of record as of November 2nd, 2005, will be eligible to vote on the transaction.

The stockholder meeting is now set to begin at 10:30 a.m. in Newton, Iowa. If the merger is completed, Maytag stockholders will be entitled to receive for each share of Maytag common stock, approximately $21 in value, comprised of $10.50 in cash and between 0.1144 and 0.1398 of a share of Whirlpool common stock, depending on the volume weighted average trading prices of Whirlpool common stock during a 20-day trading period ending shortly prior to completion of the merger.

Maytag Announces Organisational Changes

Arthur B. Learmonth, President of Maytag Services business unit, is promoted to the position of Acting President for Maytag Appliances business unit. David R. McConnaughey, 49, Vice President, Maytag All-Brand Service in Maytag Services, is promoted to the position of Acting President, Maytag Services, replacing Learmonth.

Learmonth, 59, will lead Maytag's largest business unit, which manufactures and markets major appliances and floor care products sold in North America.

David R. McConnaughey, 49, Vice President, Maytag All-Brand Service in Maytag Services, is promoted to the position of Acting President, Maytag Services, replacing Learmonth. Maytag Services provides repair and maintenance to Maytag brand appliances as well as other major appliance brands. Both Learmonth and McConnaughey will report directly to Ralph F. Hake, Maytag chairman and CEO.

Hake said, 'Art Learmonth is a talented and proven executive who brings a wealth of operations experience from his 35-year career working in manufacturing and supply chain positions. His skills will be invaluable as we manage through our restructuring initiatives. During his tenure with Maytag Services, Art and his team have grown the business, experiencing double-digit revenue increases during the last six quarters. We are pleased that Art will lead the Appliances organisation.'

Art Learmonth joined Maytag Appliances in 1997 as Vice President, Manufacturing and Engineering. He was promoted to Senior Vice President, Supply Chain in 2003 and then assumed his most recent position at Maytag Services in 2004. Learmonth has been instrumental in instituting the LeanSigma® business management tool at Maytag to develop a lean and highly efficient operation. Maytag has realised hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings since the organisation formally implemented its LeanSigma® certification programme in 2001.

Learmonth began his career in 1970 with the General Motors Harrison Radiator Division and then G & O Manufacturing Company before moving to Nippondenso Manufacturing USA, Inc. in 1986 as Vice President Manufacturing/Operations. He also worked as Vice President, Operations for York International. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of New Hampshire.

Dave McConnaughey joined Maytag in 1998 as Vice President & General Manager - Laundry in the Maytag Appliances business unit before moving to Vice President & General Manager - Amana in 2003. He was appointed to his current position in Maytag Services in 2004. McConnaughey has held a variety of management positions for Johnson & Johnson Company, Nippondenso USA and Borg Warner Automotive. Dave holds a bachelor's degree in management from Spring Arbor College and an M.B.A. in business from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Hake also noted, 'Dave has been an integral part of Maytag for several years. Through his contributions in Maytag Services, the business has diversified its revenue base and grown. I have great confidence in his ability to step into this senior leadership role and sustain the profitable growth we have experienced in the Services business.'