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Chicago’s, the newest destination bar and club in Windsor, benefits from a bespoke floor from Wilton Carpets Commercial contributing to a cutting edge interior with a welcoming touch. Some 200 square metres of bespoke woven axminster carpet can be found throughout the seating areas of the venue, complementing a stylish blend of traditional and contemporary interior décor influences.

“When talking through the design with the client, we discussed how we could make Chicago’s a cutting edge venue that also soothed and welcomed visitors,” explains Ian Dean, Arc Associates, responsible for the design of the venue. “We looked at traditional origin companies that achieved a contemporary and modern style, using their history and adding a fresh twist.

“The tartan carpet achieves this blend, taking a design steeped in heritage and adding modernity through oversized scale. We selected colours to complement the interior, using a dark base as is prerequisite for carpets in licenced premises. The whole design process was very smooth and Wilton Carpets understood what we were trying to achieve with the space right from the off.”

Manufactured in a high performance blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon for the ideal blend of durability and ease of maintenance, the carpet for Chicago’s was supplied and fitted within a tight timescale, helping the venue to open on time.

The broadloom carpet was produced by Wilton Carpets at its Wiltshire site and was installed by RJR Technical Services.

Eclipse Hotels Group, advised by Assael architecture, has secured planning consent for a new £14m next-generation Holiday Inn development in Wandsworth, South London.

The 6 storey 4 star hotel will include 122 suites designed to meet Holiday Inn’s ‘next generation’ format, with modern contemporary interiors and flexible space for work and relaxation. A business academy, restaurant, bar/lounge, gym and basement parking for 25 cars are also included in the plans.

The highly contextual approach to the design enhances the character and setting of the adjacent church and presbytery, while making the best use of an area, which has serious environmental constraints, including protection of existing open spaces from noise and pollution. The design concept concentrates on the fragmentation and articulation of the building volume into 3 components arranged around a central courtyard. Each component responds to the scale, massing, appearance and materials of the buildings adjacent/opposite to complement the existing building forms.

A new public open space will be created adjacent to St Mary Magdalen Church to improve the visibility of, and access to, the existing entrance to the church. The S106 agreement includes a significant contribution to the improvements to Huguenot Burial Ground that adjoins the application site. The team have also worked closely with the planning design officers to explore how public art can be incorporated into the development.

Sameer Damji, Director for Eclipse Hotels Group, said: “We are delighted that we will be operating a hotel in Wandsworth which we feel is one of the most progressive and business friendly boroughs in London.”

John Assael, Director of Assael Architecture, which is based in Wandsworth, said:
“This is a new generation of Holiday Inn hotels that will be a modern and sophisticated addition to Wandsworth town centre and breathe new life into a derelict site. Throughout the design process we have focused on community conscious design and an approach that is sensitive to the surrounding area while creating a sustainable new business and leisure facility that will bring regeneration benefits and employment opportunities to the area.”

The 0.404 acre site is currently occupied by a disused car showroom which will be demolished to make way for the new development. Work is expected to start on site in mid-2011 and the hotel is scheduled for opening the following year.

Team credits:
Developer: Eclipse Hotels Group
Architect: Assael
Structural engineer: Walsh Associates
M&E engineer: EDC
Civil engineer: NA
Planning consultant: Quod Planning

The practical and stylish Cleveland Floor Lamp in Bronze (Height 124.5cm) and the corresponding Cleveland Square Column Lamp also in Bronze (Height 62cm) are newly launched from lighting specialists, Vaughan.
Cleveland Floor Lamp in Bronze and the Cleveland Square Column Lamp

Please contact our Hotels & Contracts Team for further information on these products contract-sales@vaughandesigns.com

Following on from the success of Chaobaby situated in the Trafford Centre, The Chaophraya group renowned for their authentic yet modern Thai fine dining cuisine has appointed Dawnvale to carry out a full refurbishment to the existing Yee Rah restaurant at Liverpool One.The Bar and Restaurant currently spread over two floors, is a particularly demanding project as Dawnvale’s contracts team will be working to very tight time restrictions, with the entire project to be completed within an eight day programme.

Neil Guest, Managing Director comments “We’re very excited to be working with the Chaophraya team on this scheme and confident that with our combined experience and reputation, we will create the ultimate restaurant destination in the capital, it’s a stunning venue and has everything under one roof”.

The proposed refurbishment scheme will see Dawnvale’s various divisions carry out a full makeover to the interior including walls, ceiling and flooring along with a new bespoke Bar and Theatre Kitchen in line with the theme synonymous with the group.

Halcyon by Skopos evokes nostalgic days of endless warmth and peaceful calm. Designed specifically for curtains, bedspreads and soft furnishings, this collection combines soft textures and loosely drawn organic imagery finely woven in a luxurious gentle draping quality, ideal for hotel interiors.Create stunning, contemporary interiors with this collection of striking organic lead-designs and co-ordinates using colour palettes of nude pinks and neutrals. Inject atmosphere into traditional interiors using hot mulberries and cerise or warm chocolates and coppers with uplifting accents of lime and aqua.

All the fabrics are made from 100% Trevira CS, inherently flame retardant to full UK and International contract specifications, and washable to 40OC.

Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company and has over 30 year’s specialist experience in the design and manufacture of high performance FR contract fabrics for the hospitality sector.

Lighting specialists Vaughan have recently introduced some new products for London Design Week. These include the ‘Trentham Ceramic Lamps’ in Blue, Yellow and Sang de Boeuf. They are 43cm in height and 11.5cm in width and are pictured with Bedford Shades in Cream Silk.

As with all Vaughan products, the lamps can be wired to suit the wiring requirements for any part of the world. The lampshades can be chosen from our extensive stock range, or made to order to almost any specification.

Located in Manchester’s most celebrated building, the historic Free Trade Hall, the 5 star Hotel creates a mood of understated luxury in the city centre.As the Principal contractor, Dawnvale worked closely with the architects and the client on the refurbishment of the existing meeting rooms and Private function suite, providing everything from the building and joinery works, all mechanical and electrical services, building partition walls, through to the stunning, finished interior. The bespoke walnut doors and joinery works were manufactured and installed by Dawnvale’s skilled joinery department into the premier rooms.

With the projects team working on a fast track programme on the operational site, the works were carried out around the clock from start to finish with no disruption to existing facilities; both Dawnvale and the client are delighted with the completed areas.

Interior fit out and Bar specialists Dawnvale provide a complete service for the refurbishment of Hotels, Restaurants and Bars. Working nationwide we have developed relationships with many leading architects, designers, principal contractors and independent operators. With the latest additions to our growing portfolio below, the company are delighted to be working on other key projects across the UK.

Stunning bespoke woven carpet from Wilton Carpets Commercial now graces the entrance and stairways of the Tallow Chandlers’ Livery Hall.

Delivering on-time and within budget, Wilton Carpets designed a bespoke axminster carpet that draws upon the heritage of the guild and that uses its coat of arms as a central design cue. Working closely with The Tallow Chandlers, design manager Julie Robertson captured the heritage of the Livery Company; achieving a design that complemented the relatively unchanged Grade I listed building’s interior while also providing a pleasant uplift within the heavily panelled hall and stairways.“The carpet has had a really positive impact with both our members and long-standing users commenting on how it has uplifted the ambience of the hall, creating a more inviting atmosphere”, enthuses Brigadier Roy Wilde CBE, Clerk of The Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.

Installed by flooring contractor Spratlings Ltd over an area of 173m2 covering the entrance and six flights of stairs, the 80/20 woven axminster carpet uses a heavy yarn count that provides long-term appearance retention for these demanding locations.

“Working with Julie Robertson, we were able to plan the design to perfection enabling accurate positioning of key elements such as the coat of arms while minimising seams and wastage,” comments Bill Hawkins, Carpet Manager, Spratlings Ltd. “Being this involved at the early stage, combined with Julie’s understanding, helped us to install the carpet without difficulty and it was a pleasure to play a part in one of the City of London’s oldest interiors.”

The Tallow Chandlers’ Hall was built in 1672 after the destruction of the original hall in the Great Fire of London and is one of the few livery halls to remain unchanged since the 17th Century. Through private function rooms, the building now helps The Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers to support healthcare and educational charities through donations.

“From the moment we submitted the coat of arms to Julie Robertson for her inspiration, I was delighted with the whole process and in my nine years as Clerk of Tallow Chandlers it is rare to find a project that ran so smoothly and that makes such a difference,” continues Brigadier Roy Wilde.

“Julie’s designs immediately struck a chord, generating ideas that we simply wouldn’t have thought of while still remaining sympathetic to the interior. The samples of our two shortlisted designs also really helped committee members to visualise how the carpet would look before making their final decision, alone proving a great aid in the process. Once our verdict was made, every aspect ran incredibly smoothly and the carpet was installed on time and within budget. I would have no hesitation in recommending Wilton Carpets to any other livery company looking for outstanding service and a carpet that has a positive influence on the interior.”

For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com

Morgan Furniture, the design-led British manufacturer of contract furniture, will once again venture to the Florida coast to showcase their latest launches at Cruise Shipping Miami from 15-17th March 2011. On Stand 2109, Morgan joins forces with Skopos, Brintons, Muraspec, Trimline and SMC Design to make up a highly experienced sextet representing some of the ‘Best of British’ for furnishings and interior design for international cruise lines. Ideally suited to the cruise market, Panama and Soho have been selected by Morgan for display. Panama is a new collection from the Morgan Studio. Dining and lounge chairs feature a slim angled dynamic frame and sharp square upholstery. An ergonomic seating angle and webbed seat create a light and comfortable chair making Panama a contemporary and ultimately practical addition to the Morgan portfolio.

Soho is a new soft seating collection with a chic appearance and bags of personality. Created by Katerina Zachariades, Morgan Design Director, with echoes of 50s and 60s design Soho comprises a two and three seater sofa, a comfortable armchair and a luxurious daybed. The distinctive shape is visually inviting with softened corners and absence of harsh lines, making Soho perfect for any relaxed seating environment such as lounge areas and spas on cruise ships.

The cruise sector is a highly successful market for Morgan thanks to their ability to apply the Marine Quality Mark to produce attractive and practical furniture pieces of unsurpassed quality which fully conform to Marine Contract standards. The company also possesses exemplary eco-credentials, a fact independently endorsed by the ISO14001 environmental standard. All products are manufactured in a low energy consuming factory, using sustainable FSC timber, top quality CMHR foams and non rusting fittings.

Mint Hotel enlisted Skopos Design Ltd to commission fresh, crisp, quality soft furnishings at their brand new Mint Hotel Tower of London which opened in December 2010. Working closely with the client, Mint Hotel and their designated designers Bennetts Associates and Woods Bagot, Skopos Design Ltd developed a new quality to help create the luxurious look and feel of linen for the floor to ceiling curtains. Tafetta accent cushions in Alto Olive and Port complement the smooth minimalist lines and give you a real sense of thoughtful textures in a truly modern interior.

Skopos completed the installation in late 2010, on time and to budget, manufacturing the soft-furnishings in Yorkshire and providing full project management on-site.

Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company with over 30 year’s specialist experience in the design and manufacture of high performance FR contract fabrics for the hospitality sector.

The Mere Golf & Country Club situated in the heart of Cheshire, is set to transform itself into one of the finest luxury resort hotels in England. Dawnvale are proud to working directly with the Mere team on key elements of the project. As part of the £4 million build and refurbishment, The Mere will encompass its existing championship golf course together with a newly built world class spa and hotel in the heart of the Cheshire countryside.

Working alongside the main contractor, Dawnvale’s project team carried out the design, build and fit out of the Bar and commercial kitchen spaces within the Spa area. The fabrication of the bespoke Bar and Spa Kitchen was handled at the group’s production facilities and head office in Manchester, with the team taking the site from a bare shell and handling everything from the building works, all mechanical and electrical services, to the plumbing and interior finishes.

Interior fit out and Bar specialists Dawnvale provide a complete service for the refurbishment of Hotels, Restaurants and Bars. Working nationwide we have developed relationships with many leading architects, designers, principal contractors and independent operators. With the latest additions to our growing portfolio below, the company are delighted to be working on other key projects across the UK.

Situated in fashionable South Kensington, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, The Park International Hotel is a five story Georgian building of which is nearing completion of the new wing.Dawnvale are very pleased to have been part of the refurbishment team, manufacturing and installing the new bar, servery and breakfast counter, in addition to supplying and installing high quality contract furniture for the residents’ lounge and other areas.

Interior fit out and Bar specialists Dawnvale provide a complete service for the refurbishment of Hotels, Restaurants and Bars. Working nationwide we have developed relationships with many leading architects, designers, principal contractors and independent operators. With the latest additions to our growing portfolio below, the company are delighted to be working on other key projects across the UK.

Grohe invites you to take part in ½ days or full days training workshops. It is totally flexible and you choose which one(s) you wish to attend.(Dates and details are on the downloadable pdf below)

“My aim is to deliver the best training in the market across all key stake holder sectors,
in order to achieve brand endorsement, deliver differentiation, create market experts
and grow sales.”

James Blood (Training Manager – UK & Ireland)

The oldest family owned manufacturer in the UK, Wandsworth Group has announced a distribution deal with one of the oldest German family owned manufacturers, electrical company Jung. The trade partnership extends the distribution network for Jung into the UK whilst Harald Jung, the grandson of the German company’s founder, expressed his delight in having the ability to distribute Wandsworths ‘retro’ fittings through their extensive distribution system.The disparity in size between the two companies is marked, with Jung’s turnover being 10 times that of the UK company. This can partly be explained by the difference in electrical specifications between the continental systems and the idiosyncratic system of the UK. Also Jung have developed the electronic control systems that are now de rigueur for electrical installations. The adoption of their products by Wandsworth opens the possibility of finally designers being able to suite all the switches within an hotel room.

As Gary Stevens, Sales & Marketing Director at Wandsworth explains “By joining forces with Jung, we instantly open up our existing range, at the same time, we’re also adding wiring accessories and door entry systems that match our existing range for quality but complement it in terms of design, enabling us to offer customers even greater choice.”

Comments Export Manager Wolfgang Becker of Jung: “We have never sold through distributors in the UK because our products are for the niche market where design and quality matter, not just the cheapest option. In Wandsworth we have found a partner that we can trust to deliver those values in the UK marketplace and a one that has the resources to drive understanding and uptake of our products in the UK. In the coming months we will also be introducing Wandsworth to the workings of the KNX building controls protocol. The protocol is now 20 years old and the UK remains around 12 years behind key economic competitors in Europe in terms of installations, which means that many commercial and public buildings are missing out on the wow factor and energy savings that KNX can offer.”

For hotel designers who have long recognised the quality of the slim plates and stylish finishes in the Wandsworth range the possibility that these will be extended to include a full range of electronic controls within a family of plates can only be a mouth-watering prospect

Patrick Goff

The original Victorian school house has been transformed into a chic townhouse hotel with unique, individually designed bedrooms and suites alongside stylish lounges and Oyster Bar. As part of the original programme and working directly with the client, Dawnvale carried out works to the Ground floor Bar Lounge and Oyster Bar. The decorative joinery and steel fabrication, including bespoke polished steel bar tops and complete back bar were manufactured and fully installed by our contracts division completing the understated vintage chic styling.

With the success of the Hotel, Dawnvale were delighted to be further appointed working with GJS on the refurbishment of the Roof Top Lounge and Roof Garden. This most diverse area of the hotel is unique and luxurious in its styling with both areas having their own bars; the Lounge and Roof have been fully refurbished with bespoke fabrication and finishes to transform the roof top space.

Interior fit out and Bar specialists Dawnvale provide a complete service for the refurbishment of Hotels, Restaurants and Bars. Working nationwide we have developed relationships with many leading architects, designers, principal contractors and independent operators. With the latest additions to our growing portfolio below, the company are delighted to be working on other key projects across the UK.

Bartle Hall Hotel is a charming and elegant period mansion dating from the 15th century. Set amidst 16 acres of extensive landscaped gardens.Having worked directly with the client on the Balmoral Suite at the Country Hotel a number of years ago, Dawnvale were appointed to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment to the main public areas, reception, bar, lounge and hallways within the Manor.

An intensive 6 week refurbishment programme is underway providing the hotel with sophisticated yet multi-functional dining, banqueting and hotel and conference facilities, whilst also ensuring the latest intelligent technology is incorporated.

As part of the programme the company is also installing a new reception counter, bespoke bar dedicated to the suite, creating new offices, reception and toilets. The bespoke and decorative joinery in the reception area, lounge, bar and hallways, all manufactured by our contracts division, is complimented by the new interior finishes and furniture from our extensive contract furniture range throughout the reception and bar/lounge area, using an eclectic mix and match of chairs, as well as bar stools and sofas in wood and leather.

Interior fit out and Bar specialists Dawnvale provide a complete service for the refurbishment of Hotels, Restaurants and Bars. Working nationwide we have developed relationships with many leading architects, designers, principal contractors and independent operators. With the latest additions to our growing portfolio below, the company are delighted to be working on other key projects across the UK.

The ability of Wilton Carpets Commercial to marry design, flexibility and speed through its Ready to Go carpet concept has proved the winning formula for the Bury store of Peter Jackson The Jewellers.Specified by jewellery retail specialist, Hallmark Design & Shopfitting to add to the luxury feel of the interior, the carpet was selected in the striking floral of Fantasia from the Symphony collection and proved perfect in a standard colourway.

As part of the Ready to Go concept, Fantasia can be selected in any of 10 colourways designed to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of hospitality and retail environments. Manufactured in a high performance 80% wool 20% nylon blend for durability, ease of maintenance and appearance retention, the 3.66m wide woven Axminster carpet so impressed that it provided the base for the interior palette of Peter Jackson The Jewellers:

“The Symphony carpet was perfect for this project as it presented a delicate pattern with enough variety of colour to allow the rest of the interior’s colour palette to be drawn from it, hence the pinks and lime greens used on walls and furnishings,” comments Joanne Coleman of Hallmark Design and Shopfitting. “We recommend carpets on a regular basis as they really add a sense of luxury to the environment and this example is no exception. There is no doubt that working alongside a specialist such as Wilton Carpets Commercial will deliver the end result we are after and never fail to impress our client at handover.”

Along with a broad range of traditional and contemporary designs, the Fantasia pattern can also be selected as a Flexiweave semi-bespoke carpet, giving specifiers the freedom to colour from three standard palettes and from any of four qualities to deliver value in a diverse range of locations.

Peter Jackson The Jewellers is a leading independent jeweller with stores throughout the North East.

For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com

Dawnvale are proud to launch the new website for 2011. It seems only right that the new look website corresponds with the companys continuing expansion of Leisure Interior Solutions, providing the very best in full interior fit out projects to the bar, restaurant and hotel sector. The new website is a visual representation of some of our proudest achievements that we have completed over the years, with details of any aspect of the job provided upon request. Find out recent news on products and projects and see the recently completed Design centre which showcases everything from vip furniture to a fully operational ECO theatre kitchen.

Over the years Dawnvale have carried out full interior fit out and refurbishment projects, designed and manufactured innovative bespoke bars and provided furniture solutions for bars, restaurants and hotels throughout the UK and Europe. Dawnvale has earned an unparalleled reputation for cost effective, industry leading results.

The multi-award winning Residence Restaurant and Bar sits in the glorious, historic centre of Nantwich. The elegant Regency building – once the Lord Mayor of London’s ‘Residence’ underwent a complete fit out and refurbishment programme in 2007 of which Dawnvale were proud to be appointed. After the success of their original fit-out of the elegant grade-two-listed Regency building, Dawnvale are delighted to work again with the owner of the Residence on the new £1 million hotel planned for the land adjoining The Residence.

The scheme will include an 18-bedroom hotel with adjoining banqueting suite, garden and car-park, designed ’to complement the character of the town centre and its historic surroundings as well as Residence.

The venture, supported through English Heritage will see Dawnvale carry the build and fit out to all areas including the furnishing and interiors of the complete project.

Interior fit out and Bar specialists Dawnvale provide a complete service for the refurbishment of Hotels, Restaurants and Bars. Working nationwide we have developed relationships with many leading architects, designers, principal contractors and independent operators. With the latest additions to our growing portfolio below, the company are delighted to be working on other key projects across the UK.

Wilton Carpets Commercial has announced the appointment of Mario Sorano as Business Area Manager for the East and West Midlands, East Anglia, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Mario brings over 13 years experience within the carpet industry to the role and he will be responsible for developing relationships with designers, specifiers and end users throughout the regions, helping to create tailored solutions across a broad spectrum of environments.

“With Wilton Carpets’ stunning bespoke and semi-bespoke Axminster carpet solutions, as well as a broad range of stock creations, I am confident that we will be able to provide a solution that meets the most demanding requirements in terms of style, durability, appearance retention and value,” says Mario Sorano. “I’m looking forward to building upon existing relationships and spreading the good name of Wilton Carpets Commercial to an as yet undiscovered audience.”

Mario began his career in retail carpet manufacture before spending time in both retail and commercial sales at Carpets of Kidderminster.

Mario can be contacted on 07966 391123 or mariosorano@wiltoncarpets.com

Lano Flooring Solutions has deployed a significant revision to its Carve hotel-specific textured carpet concept in the shape of a new and improved bank of colours.

From floral inspired textures to the river-like Carve 07 and geometric Carve 25, each design uses Lano’s manufacturing capability to produce a multi-level cut and loop pile carpet in high performance 100% Aqualon nylon. From stock, specifiers and designers can now select from 19 beautiful new shades that have been introduced to meet the colour demands of modern hospitality interiors. With tones ranging from camel through to almost black, each is available in the standard C 72 design. In addition to the stock offering, Lano has added 15 beautiful new designs within the collection. A felt backing has also been introduced to provide improved levels of fire performance and adding reassurance in the specification of Carve.

“The Carve concept has been delivering the hospitality industry a dedicated solution for several years and has proved itself a worthy choice for hotel environments, providing texture in a range of plain colourways that complement our Walk of Fame axminster portfolio,” comments Birger Karlsson, UK and Ireland Sales Manager.

“The Carve concept allows designers to provide visual stimulation uniform in its colour, making it easier to complement interior décor, even more so with the carefully selected stock colour options. From 400m2 designers can even re-colour any existing design in their own unique shade.”

This bespoke colour offering is created through Lano Flooring Solutions’ in-house piece dyeing technique and specifiers can also select from either fire safe action or felt backings. From orders over 400m2, designers can also work with the manufacturer’s in-house design team to create a completely bespoke carpet including design and colour.

The hardwearing 100% nylon construction features inherent stain resistance, making the Carve collection adaptable to a wide range of design-led hospitality environments.

For further information on all Lano carpet ranges, freephone 00800 5266 5266, or visit www.lano.com

Bespoke carpet from Wilton Carpets Commercial now adorns public areas of the stunning Grand Central Hotel Glasgow as it takes its place once again as the city’s leading four-star hotel. As part a £20m refurbishment and commissioned by Karen Cleaver, design director of hotel owner Principal Hayley; Axminster woven carpets from Wilton Carpets Commercial are now providing stunning looks and superb underfoot comfort for guests throughout the Grand Ballroom, Champagne Lounge and upon the grand staircase, as well as within meeting rooms, meeting room corridors, the first floor corridor and bedroom corridors.

The Axminster carpets were manufactured on Wilton Carpets’ state of the art Electronic Jacquard looms in a high performance 80% wool 20% nylon blend to provide durability and appearance retention throughout all areas and within the tight timescale set out by the refurbishment schedule. The refurbishment of the 350,000ft2 space involved stripping the hotel back to basics, uncovering many original features, such as marble floors and intricate cornicing that have been brought back to life.

The carpet created for the first floor meeting rooms and corridors took inspiration from a unique marble floor found in the hotel’s original Black and White club. This bold square motif was translated into carpet and coloured to harmonise with the more contemporary palette now adorning the hotel. This pattern was then used in varying scales for the first floor areas – a larger version for the corridor and a much smaller one for the meeting rooms. In other public areas a free flowing design, appearing in several colourways, was used to link different areas throughout the hotel, but while still retaining the same essence.

“Working with Wilton Carpets’ in-house design manager, Julie Robertson, we tried to achieve carpet designs that could bridge the gap between the traditional listed architecture of the hotel and contemporary influences,” explains Mark Santon, senior project designer, Charles Leon Associates; the interior design company responsible for the refurbishment. “Yet we also wanted to give each area an individual treatment, reflective of its ambience and usage.”

“The two stand-alone areas in terms of design were the Champagne Lounge and the Grand Ballroom,” continues Mark Santon. “For the Champagne Lounge we wanted to complement the gold and black of the feature wall coverings and to have an almost Art Deco quality. We achieved this through a striking chevron pattern in strong black, grey and gold colours. Due to the scale of the space, the Grand Ballroom needed to have a statement carpet and so we turned to a traditional Scottish theme – the thistle. We gave it a contemporary twist by the use of over-scale pattern and bold purple and silver hues, giving the resulting grandeur required of such a room.”

The Design Director of Principal Hayley, Karen Cleaver has worked with Wilton Carpets Commercial for many years, finding the manufacturer’s design service unrivalled, with in-house design manager Julie Robertson’s ability to interpret briefs first time round helping with time pressures. Wilton Carpets have provided solutions for other venues in the Principal Hayley group including the Grand Connaught Rooms, London.

“Working with Wilton Carpets Commercial was a pleasure,” says Mark. “We feel that Julie’s ability to interpret innovative designs added greatly to the process and helped to produce an end product we can all feel very proud of. We have given the Grand Central Hotel back a sense of importance that it so deserves.”

For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com

Lano Flooring Solutions has announced the expansion of its contract sales force with the addition of David Welch to the team.Formerly of Natural Elements, David will now work closely alongside Kevin Beasant and Ronnie Wilkie covering Wales, the North (not including Scotland), Midlands and South West. Kevin Beasant will continue to remain Contract Sales Manager for London and the Home Counties, surrounding areas and East Anglia, while Ronnie Wilkie will continue to serve Scotland as well as help David and Kevin in designing bespoke carpets for the hospitality sector.

David’s former role within Natural Elements means that he is already familiar with the Lano Flooring Solutions portfolio having introduced the company’s diverse portfolio of commercial carpet solutions to a wide audience within the specification arena. As a result, David is perfectly placed to immediately provide comprehensive product knowledge and support to designers, contractors and retailers interested in developing their work in the contract sector.

“I am delighted to be joining Lano Flooring Solutions at such an exciting time,” commented David Welch on his new role. “Our broad spectrum of carpet, covering the floors of corporate offices and hotels to public buildings and schools, means that we are capable of delivering a solution tailored to the exact requirements of the project; whether its impervious-backed broadloom, a bespoke axminster or high performance nylon carpet tile.”

David also worked as Corporate Account Manager at Modulus Flooring for 12 years, before moving to Natural Elements where he was instrumental in the successful developed of Lano Carpet’s Walk of Fame range which has resulted in Lano delivering carpeting solutions to an impressive client list, including Holiday Inn, Claridges, the Millenium Copthorne, Q Hotels and Barcelo.

The expansion of the contract sales force marks a commitment to the sector from Lano Flooring Solutions as it looks to develop new relationships with designers, contractors and end users, as well as reinforce and strengthen those with existing clients.

For further information on all Lano carpet ranges, freephone 00800 5266 5266 or visit www.lano.com

Chelsom is thrilled to have been awarded first prize in the hotel design ‘Product Innovation Awards’ at The Sleep Event 2010 show. The winning entry, the SLIM desk lamp, was up against stiff competition from over twenty international product design companies including Dyson and Grohe.The main comment from the judging panel, which included Rachel Dunthorne, Director of FF&E for Hilton Worldwide; Su Pecha of ESP Business Development; Paul Flowers, Product Designer and Catherine Martin, Assistant Editor of Sleeper Magazine was “As more hotels gear towards the business traveller, the judges felt this lamp is elegant, stable, energy efficient, and distributes light in all the right places.”

A growing favourite with hospitality lighting specifiers worldwide, the iconic desk lamp, designed by Robert Chelsom, combines elegant aesthetics with specific design for laptop use. A rotating canopy with an internal reflector houses an energy-saving 8W fluorescent lamp which produces optimum light levels, while the heavy base gives stability and houses the rocker switch. Two finish options are available and the lamp can be wired for export markets. There is a matching table, floor and wall light plus LED reading light within the competitively priced Slim hotel lighting range.

On accepting the award on behalf of the company, Director Will Chelsom commented,
“Everyone at Chelsom was delighted to hear that we had won the Product Innovation Award, particularly those involved with the in-house design of the Slim Desk Lamp. A great deal of effort went into designing the lamp and we are very proud of our achievement. The design process started with the aim of lighting a laptop computer on a hotel desk and after numerous technical drawings and prototypes we came up with the perfect solution. We are confident that this desk lamp will continue to be very popular within the hospitality sector and are so happy that its innovative design has been recognised by The Sleep Awards”.

Vaughan had a successful event for Sleep 2010. Displaying many new products, and some existing favourites, the stand was ‘elegant and eye catching’. So many visitors were ‘wowed’ by The Verbier Chandelier which, weighing 62 kilos, was quite a feat to display at an exhibition!

The team had a busy couple of days meeting and greeting. It was a pleasure to see so many existing clients on the stand and good to meet an array of new clients, whom we look forward to the working with during 2011/12.

Agua to launch the Mystique collection at The Sleep Event 2010

Agua are looking forward to welcoming Interior Designers, Specifiers, Hotel Operators and Furniture Manufacturers to the launch of Agua Mystique at Stand M24B.The Agua stand has been developed by Purpose Design to showcase the new collection in situ using the key elements of hospitality environments. The effect will provide inspiration to be creative with Mystique to produce stunning “High End” interiors.

Mystique is offered in sophisticated metallic finishes, this modern faux leather range is contemporary, stylish and luxurious. Shimmering bronzes, dazzling golds with sparkling silvers and of course, the timeless black and white, make up five coordinating designs: Pegasus, Titan, Troll, Bamboo and Fleur.

Agua Mystique is fire retardant: BS 5852 Crib 5, IMO FTPC Part 8, M2, B2.

Please visit Agua at Stand M24b, Business Design Centre, London, 24th & 25th November

The Sleep Event is the UK’s premier event for the high-end hotel design industry, comprising an exhibition of over 150 key suppliers, a top-level conference featuring leading experts and a highly acclaimed awards ceremony celebrating the best of hotel design from the last 12 months.Beginning on 23rd November with the European Hotel Design Awards, key projects to have been completed in the last 12 months, including The Savoy, London; Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona and The Romanos, Costa Navarino, will all be celebrated with the winners of 14 categories being announced on the night. Categories include Newbuild, Conversion of an Existing Hotel Building and Conversion of an Existing Building to Hotel Use. The awards will welcome some of the key players from the hotel industry, including Olga Polizzi, who will be present to accept this year’s Outstanding Contribution award. The European Hotel Design Awards take place at The Lancaster, London.

The following day The Sleep Event Exhibition and Conference kicks off at the Business Design Centre, Islington. Coach House, Gloster Furniture, Grohe, MKV Design, Roman, Silent Night and Vitra are among the companies exhibiting. Sleepotel, a live hotel environment, will be created by leading interior designers and architects with a bespoke bar, bedrooms, spa and bathrooms all coming together exclusively for the event. Elsewhere at the show, the new Innovation Zone will celebrate the industry’s most exciting products with the Product Innovation Awards. The eventual winner, judged by a panel of experts, will be announced at the event.

Running alongside the exhibition is The Sleep Event Conference. This year, it will focus on some of the most exciting European hotel projects to be recently completed, gathering the key decision makers to form one-off panel sessions discussing each hotel. Highlights include Neil L Worrell of Hilton Worldwide and Peter Joehnk of JOI Design Interior Architects revealing the thought behind their new eye-catching project, The Squaire/ Hilton & Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt.

A must-attend session will see Andrew Sangster speak with those involved with the ambitious £100 million restoration project of the Savoy Hotel, London, including Design Principle Pierre Yves Rochan.

As well as budget and luxury hotels, the conference will also look at a key boutique brand with representatives from Swire Hotels, Make Architects and Rider Levett Bucknall.

The Sleep Event Exhibition and Conference take place from 24-25 November at The Business Design Centre, London. The European Hotel Design Awards will take place on November 23rd at the Lancaster, London. Visit our page in the Directory for more information on how to attend.

New Mystique collection by Agua enables designers to create striking high-end interiors.Offered in sophisticated metallic finishes, this modern faux leather range is contemporary, stylish and luxurious. Shimmering bronzes, dazzling golds with sparkling silvers and of course, the timeless black and white, make up five coordinating designs: Pegasus, Titan, Troll, Bamboo and Fleur.

Used individually or in tandem, the elements of the Mystique collection will create beautiful headboards as easily as they can be used to upholster chairs or even tables and bar fronts!

Full details of these and other Agua collections can be found on our website. Visit our page in the Directory here for contact details.

It is important for the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, located in the heart of prestigious Knightsbridge, that their Ballroom and adjacent Meeting Rooms not only look beautiful– but stay looking beautiful. Wilton Carpets Commercial, with whom the Hotel has a long standing relationship, was asked to design the carpets using contemporary designs that reflected the ambience and architecture of the rooms.Working with Countrywide Carpets of Walton-on-Thames, the requirement for Wilton Carpets was to create a contemporary feel that echoed the existing design, and which could be adapted to suit a number of environments including the Banqueting Suite, Meeting Rooms, Business Centre and adjacent staircases.

It was also important that the carpet has exceptional durability to withstand the most diligent regular cleaning processes.

Taking direction from Gerard Denneny, Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s Hotel Manager, Wilton Carpets created a concept floor plan which took inspiration from the beautiful ceiling which is inset with Viennese Crystal chandeliers. The ceiling was mirrored by the design elements of the carpet. The neutral palette of the previous carpet, designed by Wilton Carpets some years ago, was given added contrast and detail with the addition of a paler shade, with black being introduced to add shadow, creating a 3-dimensional effect.

The Banqueting Suite is now resplendent with a contemporary design that reflects the spectacular ceiling coffers – a magnificent golden chrysanthemum motif creating focal points and emulating the luminous chandeliers. The outfills are decorated with a complementary leaf design which uses the shadow effect for extra drama. The design elements are carried across the other rooms – including the chrysanthemum motif creating an impressive feature in the stairwell area.

To ensure the carpets retain their stunning look for years to come, a very heavy weave was specified at 10-row (42 yards to the oz) and a shrink-resistant backing to withstand the most thorough of cleaning – providing the hotel with extreme durability and longer lifespan.

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Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts has changed the face of the London hotel scene with its £350 million Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London hotel, which opened earlier this year.CD Curtain Contracts Ltd were appointed to manufacture and install all curtains to 1,021 rooms and suites at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, the single largest new-build hotel in London. Working closely with Park Plaza (Europe), CD Curtain Contracts Ltd, ensured the installation was completed smoothly and on time.

Both business and leisure guests will appreciate the contemporary guest rooms in addition to a choice of 54 suites and penthouses. Spacious Superior Rooms measure an average of 27 square metres while Studio Rooms, which provide a separate sitting room ideal for families, average approximately 36 square metres. Guest room features include 37-inch LCD flat-screen televisions, bedside lighting controls with dimmers, a workstation with international electrical outlets and a mini-bar with separate refrigerator. Sleek bathrooms provide separate bathtubs and glass-enclosed showers, vessel sinks, under-counter night lights and makeup mirrors.

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London is located at the foot of Westminster Bridge, only steps from the city’s most iconic attractions. Four minutes away, along the South Bank of the River Thames, guests will find unique attractions and a thriving arts community. The most visited attraction in London, the London Eye, is at the heart of the action. Also minutes away are the London Sea Life Aquarium, South Bank Centre and the National Theatre. A stroll across Westminster Bridge is Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Walk a few minutes further and find Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Covent Garden. Nearby transportation links include both London Overground and Underground lines at Waterloo and Westminster stations.

Image credit: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London

Launched at Focus was an array of new products from Vaughan, including glass lamp bases as shown below.The Klosters Candlestick Lamp is a modern and fresh take on the classic candlestick, with textured glass and nickel base.

The Aspen Rope Lamp is a pretty twisted glass that looks like its melting into a pool which forms the base.

The Courcheval Twisted Lamp is a slightly shorter, but just as pretty glass twisted base.

Joining blue chip organisations such as M&S, Hilton, Dyson and 3M – Skopos Design Limited, manufacturers of contract fabrics, based in Yorkshire, have been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard. Skopos are one of few textile manufacturers to achieve this standard – driven by a consistent carbon footprint reduction involving initiatives throughout the business.Sue Spurgeon, Managing Director stated “The Carbon Trust Standard is a mark of excellence awarded in recognition of measuring, managing and reducing carbon emissions – it has involved everyone in the business – manufacturing and our sales/marketing and administrative functions. We are proud to achieve the Standard and remain committed to invest in driving down our carbon footprint every year”.

Not complacent with such an achievement, the business is now stepping up a gear, with significant capital investment to further drive energy efficiencies both in print and fabric prep/finish.

The desire to minimise environmental impact is fundamental to Skopos’ manufacturing and product development plans – clear environmental details for all products are shown on the Skopos website – making it easier for clients to make informed environmental decisions.

Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company and has over 30 year’s specialist experience in the design and manufacture of high performance FR contract fabrics.

Inspired by the glamour of the Art Deco movement, Moderne, the new sculptured velvet collection launched by Skopos, celebrates the symmetry and geometric style of the period, combining strong lines with elegant fluid forms.The stylish colour palette encompasses classic black and white through to jewel like aquamarines, luxurious mulberries and sophisticated neutrals, lending drama and elegance to any interior scheme be it classic or contemporary.

Composed with over 50% bamboo, Deco and Morcenx have a wonderful soft handle and have the environmental benefit of being made from sustainable and renewable resources.

Appropriate for use as upholstery all four qualities are severe contract grade and meet all international contract upholstery FR standards.

Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company and has over 30 year’s specialist experience in the design and manufacture of high performance FR contract fabrics for the hotel, leisure and cruise sectors.

On Wednesday, August 18, GROHE CEO David J. Haines was a live guest on Asia Squawk Box, the early morning TV programme of CNBC Asia. In the approximately 5 minute interview he answered questions by presenters Martin Soong, Karen Tso and Sri Jegarajah on Grohe AG’s economic performance with a particular focus on the Asian market.CNBC is a world-leading television business news channel.

Their Asia Squawk Box programme focuses on current business and financial news as well as interviews with business leaders.

Link to the interview: CNBC Interview

GROHE will be exhibiting at 100% Design on stand B30

An additional 7 colours have been added to the successful Agua Libra Upholstery fabric from Agua Fabrics.Agua Libra is a competitively priced velour fabric that incorporates all the technical properties associated with the Agua Upholstery Collections.
The Agua upholstery collections are:

• Fire retardant: BS 5852 Crib 5, IMO FTPC Part 8
• Resistant to sea water and chlorine water
• Anti-microbial
• Impervious
• Stain resistant

Full details can be found via our website. Click here for our page in the Directory.

Please contact us for further details on our fabric collections.

GROHE achieved respectable growth in the last half of 2010. Consolidated sales increased by 24% to €490 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation rose by 51% to €97 million. GROHE is planning to invest roughly €1.3 million in the expansion of the new Research and Development Centre in Hemer, which will be equipped with state-of-the-art future technology. The R&D Division, which is partly still based in Menden, will move to Hemer and be concentrated there.

Having invested more than €25 million in the German plants over the past years, GROHE will further strengthen its German base through this new Research and Development Centre. Moreover, GROHE will hire another 300 people for its global sales organisation.

Grohe, the world’s leading manufacturer of sanitary fittings, has just released a PDF version of their latest brochure. This will soon be available as a printed version, but for those looking for immediate access, please click here.

The Product Innovation Awards will be launched at this year’s Sleep Event exhibition. Ensuring the exhibition continues as a platform for brand new and original product design, a designated display will feature a selection of the very best innovative products from across the industry. Any product launched since 4th November 2009 can be entered for a minimal fee which will include the opportunity to display the product at the show and be judged by a high-level panel including Paul Flowers, Senior Vice President of Design at Grohe, industry PR Su Pecha and deputy editor of Sleeper, Catherine Martin. The judges will assess each product during the show and a winner will be announced and awarded on the final day.

To enter the awards or to find out more information, please contact Suzie Ager through our Directory page. The awards are not limited to exhibitors but are open to any company or individual from within the hotel design industry.

The Sleep Event is Europe’s only event dedicated to hotel design, development and architecture which will return to the Business Design Centre, London from 24-25 November. As in previous years, the event also incorporates a top level two day conference and the highly prestigious European Hotel Design Awards.

The Lymington Chandelier from Vaughan is a sophisticated new ceiling light that has recently been added to their range. It is available as 2-tier with 4 lights (50.5cm high, 46.5cm wide), or as a single tier with 1 light (36cm high, 27.5cm wide).

For more information on this product please contact Vaughan through our page in the Directory.

Boss Design is delighted to announce that it has experienced a successful start to the year with sales up by 35% in the first quarter. To achieve the company’s long-term goal Boss Design has in recent years significantly expanded its production capability, invested in new product development and increased its UK and global presence with an impressive 8,000 sq foot showroom in London and manufacturing capability which spans the globe. This has all been achieved despite global recession and economic uncertainty.To support his business strategy even further Brian Murray, Owner and Managing Director of Boss Design today announced the promotion of Andy Watson, Sales Director into the new role of International Sales Director and the promotion of Marc Le Peltier, Head of New Business Development to the position of UK Sales Director.

Upon making the announcement Brian Murray said;
‘Our success in recent years has been exceptional and has been achieved through the implementation of a series of planned milestones particularly in the UK.’

He continued;
‘To build on this success and ensure that we best service new and existing clients on a global scale we now need to implement the second phase of our growth plan. I am confident that the knowledge and experience going into these roles will keep us on track.’

Andy Watson, who has twenty-five years industry experience and has been with Boss Design for fifteen years, has played a key role in the company’s success. He now plans to build on the company’s global presence in the US and Middle East and expand its representation and manufacturing capability to facilitate new and emerging market opportunities.

In the meantime Marc Le Peltier who has over twenty years experience in the industry will be focusing on the UK sales operation with plans to implement an aggressive sales strategy that will see the further development of existing sectors and a targeted approach to expanding new home markets.

It is inevitable. Green design is the way of the future and more customers are demanding that their purchases have a lesser impact on the environment than ever before. Not only this, but regulations are being put in place to make sure that hotels are built and operated sustainably.Recently in the revised UK building guidelines new rules were added to insure dwellings have minimum water efficiency requirements. According to Grohe, a manufacturer in bathroom equipment, the bathroom is responsible for 63 per cent of total household water usage and certainly much of hotel’s water usage comes through guest bathrooms.

Bathroom design companies are quickly catching on to the change in attitudes and have begun to release more energy and water efficient products. Grohe said that not only do customers want to buy less products less often but they also want more reliable purchases. Grohe, sales director, Garry Smith said: “There has been a shift in purchasing priorities – with a move towards quality and sustainability. Developers are also focusing on return on investment – so longer product lifecycles play a vital part in sustainability with a ‘buy less, buy better’ attitude.”

Villeroy and Boch, a bathroom manufacturer, agreed that improved environmental products can be combined with smart design to make sure they last a long time and are effective. Villeroy and Boch, UK and Ireland director, Michael Swan said: “By incorporating the latest technology, we have successfully reduced wastewater pollution, CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process and of course water consumption by improving our tap fittings and WC performance.”

Swan continued: “Our customers express genuine enthusiasm for any products in the range with an ecological advantage as we are seeing more and more people seek this out.”

Bathroom companies are not the only businesses to consider smart water-saving design. Hotel groups are more and more likely to put environmental design at the forefront of their minds when creating new hotels.

Rezidor is one of such hotel groups as it ensures showers deliver water at a rate no greater than 12 litres a minute and six litres a minute from basin taps. It also tries to install dual flush toilet cisterns with a five or seven litre capacity where possible.

Radisson Blu Portman, chief engineer, Simon Pearson said: “These activities, amongst others, produced a water reduction of 10K cubic metres in 2009 compared with 2008 at Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, which is one of the criteria that helped us achieve Gold status with the Green Tourism Business Scheme.”

Rezidor, technical development team member, Agnes Logan also said that reponsible business construction and renovation guidelines advise developers on how to build water-efficient bathrooms. He added: “Energy consumption can also be controlled by a building management system and front office staff, according to occupancy in a hotel.”

Grohe has won an astounding seven accolades at this years iF Product Design Awards. Established in 1954, the iF jury consists of noted international designers and is globally regarded as the quality seal of design – indeed it has become an internationally recognised trademark, serving as a buyer guidance tool in global markets.

With a total of 2,486 products submitted by 1,016 companies from 39 different nations, Grohe came up against stiff competition and scooped a total of seven awards for a number of its newly launched products and best selling lines, including:

• GROHE Blue®
• Europlus
• Grohtherm 1000 Cosmopolitan
• Euphoria System
• Veris
• Sena System
• Sanitary Collection (Skate, Nova and Cosmo flush plates)

Since it was first established in 1936 by Friedrich Grohe, there have been seven decades during which Grohe has continuously built its reputation for unrivalled quality, superior design and impressive technology.

With a history of technological advancement and a renowned in house design team, Grohe remains at the forefront of the market, which has been evident at this year’s iF Product Design Awards.

Vaughan has introduced a new range of desk lamps. The elegant yet practical Faringdon desk lamps are supplied with a GX53 low energy nine watt circular light bulb (equivalent to 40 watts).

They are available in brass, bronze or nickel finish and comply with current anti-tilt standards.

The desk lamps sit well with the new Pisa range of table and floor lamps.

These knuckle jointed lamps are also available in brass, bronze or nickel. The Pisa table lamps are stocked in a small (49cm high), medium (57cm high) or large (70cm high) whilst the corresponding Pisa floor lamp is available in one size (131cm high).

Choose from an array of lampshades to compliment the chosen scheme.

Grohe has introduced a new fresh and stylish collection with unbeatable entry level pricing – Eurosmart Cosmo offers a complete range from basin mixer to bath or shower mixer shower sets and a coordinating kitchen mixer will also be introduced this month. Every detail of the new Eurosmart Cosmo has been carefully considered to be in keeping with the highest modern design standards, bringing aesthetics to the bathroom.

Consisting of a traditional single-lever mixer, high spout option as well as the two-hole and three-hole wash basin mixers, each item shares the same cutting edge design.

Additional features ensure showering with ease – combining the shower mixer with a convenient and practical shower gel tray and matching the hand shower for the bath completes the perfect Eurosmart Cosmopolitan bathroom.

Crafted using the finest chrome finish, Grohe StarLight, the collection incorporates a combination of award winning technologies unique to all Grohe products. In particular, Grohe’s SilkMove technology using NASA-approved ceramic cartridges and special Teflon lubricant, ensures water temperature and flow has the ultimate precision.

Cliq Designs has completed the manufacture and installation of curtains, black out blinds and voiles for the recently completed Park Inn Manchester.Located in Manchester’s Green Quarter to the north of the city centre, the four star Park Inn Manchester comprises 264 guest bedrooms on five floors.

Cliq team members worked with project designers The Manser Practice to select a red dim-out lining fabric to complement the external visual appearance of the hotel, with face fabrics supplied from Skopos.

Cliq installed tracks on a floor-by-floor basis by liaising with project contractors Bowmer & Kirkland as each storey was completed – with Cliq fitting all curtains once carpets had been laid and rooms cleaned.

The company then installed blackout roller blinds and voiles to the hotel’s meeting rooms, and also a 13 metre long Strand curtain comprising fine black strings around the buffet area in the restaurant.

Cliq installed roller ball bearing carriers within the track to ensure ease of opening and closing.

Cliq managing director Adam Bolton said that the curtains specified in this project played an important role in completing the visual appeal of the finished property: “Park Inn Manchester makes a visually strong external statement, so it was important that the curtains complemented its aesthetic theme. Through effective project management, we were able to coordinate our input with the designers, contractors and property owners to play our part in ensuring a smooth and successful opening for Park Inn Manchester.”

In response to a growing demand from designers for electronic catalogues/sample cards, Agua have introduced e-brochures to its website.Sample cards can now be downloaded in PDF format to enable designers and specifiers to have access to the sample cards at all times.

Hard copies of the sample cards are also available for use in Fabric Libraries.

These are supported by A5 and A4 samples for use on Design Boards. Samples can be ordered via the website or by e-mailing a request to samples@aguafabrics.com

The spectacular setting of the Four Seasons resort in the Seychelles, provides a perfect backdrop for this luxurious resort.The treehouse villas, perched on stilts placing guests amongst the giant bamboo and Cinnamon trees, have been designed to blend with their natural surroundings.

The designer turned to Vaughan for much of the lighting within the resort. The interiors of the villas with their white washed walls and mix of custom made furniture with French antiques, called for a sophisticated lighting scheme. Vaughan were able to supply beautiful designs such as the Chadwick Column with its colonial style, mirrored wall lights for a classic feel, practical floor lamps and stylish bathroom wallights.

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles set out to become one of the most luxurious, comfortable, sophisticated and beautiful places to stay in the world and Hirsch Bedner, in partnership with well respected suppliers such as Vaughan, has enabled them to achieve this.

One of London’s most prestigious properties, the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, has selected WorldHotels as its strategic partner for global marketing, sales and distribution and will join the group’s portfolio on April 1 2010. The new partnership also reflects the hotel’s updated image which is accompanied by extensive refurbishment and redesign by Wilsdon Design Associates and Child Graddon Lewis Architects and Designers that encompass its changing direction.

Wilsdon Design Associates were in charge of the refurbishment of the Park Terrace, comprising of the restaurant, bar and lounge, as well as the public toilets and the reception area. Child Graddon Lewis completed the renovation of the bedroom suites on the 7th floor and the West Wing suites on the 8th and 9th floors. Child Graddon Lewis was also reponsible for the refurbishment of the Palace Suite.

The Royal Garden Hotel overlooking Kensington Gardens offers 5-star luxury and service without the stuffiness. Stylish rooms, a hotel spa, two award-winning restaurants, 10 meeting rooms and an events venue make it one of the best value
5-star hotels in London.

Having already completed several major changes, the Royal Garden Hotel will see further modernisation and redesign to be completed by April 2010. The recently reopened hotel lobby ensures a memorable welcome upon arrival. The
contemporary, modern feel can be seen on the 10th floor in the critically acclaimed Min Jiang restaurant and in the bedrooms and suites on the seventh,eighth and ninth floors which are now decorated in a palette of neutral calming
shades, complimented with rich fabrics.

New features include iPod docking stations and media hubs. Modernisation work is currently underway on the fifth and sixth floors to continue the phasing-in of the contemporary designed bedrooms.

The Park Terrace, the hotel’s other restaurant, is undergoing a complete refurbishment. The new destination venue will benefit from a window-lined wall offering seamless views of the Park beyond (in my experience on of the best views from a restaurant anywhere in London – Editor), as well as chic seating, a central bar and updated menu.

Also newly-refurbished are the hotel’s conferencing and banqueting rooms. The hotel’s 10 private function rooms offer state-of-the-art facilities from high-end technology specifications to impeccable catering.

RHA Furniture is behind the refurbishment that is being undertaken and Grohe supplied the bathrooms.

Fine Cell Work are inviting the public to ‘A private view of British quilts’ which will be hosted at the Victoria and Albert Museum on 25th March.This event will celebrate the launch of a quilt that has been commissioned by V&A from inmates at HMP Wandsworth.

The charity will also be auctioning a ‘celebrity signature quilt’ which features the signatures of 72 important figures whose lives have some bearing on design, textiles and prison. These include Tracey Emin, Margaret Atwood, Dame Judi Dench, Giles Deacon, Helen Mirren, Bruce Oldfield and Zandra Rhodes.

Tickets are on sales from £25 to £125.

The recently launched Layla Landscape sofa range hit the headlines at the IIDEX/Neocon show in Toronto, Canada for its contemporary design, innovative style and creativity.Working with North American partners Tayco, the Layla range was displayed as part of the evolving seating collection from Boss Design.

Layla Landscape achieved the Bronze Award for Products Innovation in the category of lounge chair seating.

The awards acknowledge the industry’s leading manufacturers and suppliers in the fields of design and architecture and were judged by 28 panellists from key industry design authorities.

Speaking from the show Boss Design, sales director, Andy Watson said: “The Layla range is a highly versatile sofa system at the cutting edge of design. It offers superb levels of comfort and is a statement piece for any image-led corporate environment.”

He added: “Achieving the award for Layla is testament to the sofas contemporary design.”

Morgan Furniture, the design-led British manufacturer of contract furniture, will showcase their latest launches suited to the cruise market – Hampton and Seville, at Cruise Shipping Miami from 15-18th March 2010. Morgan will share Stand 2109 with Skopos, Brintons, Muraspec and Trimline, making up a highly experienced quintet representing some of the ‘Best of British’ for furnishings and interior design to the international cruise lines.

Making its debut in Miami, The Hampton collection designed by Katerina Zachariades is a chair and sofa range with a classic profile and contemporary detailing. With the same name as the Long Island seaside resort famous for its historical Summer colonies, The Hampton sets a mood which feels familiar and calming, but at the same time prestigious and in tune with the modern world. Elegant and with a compact footprint, the timeless styling of Hampton makes it a perfect choice for cruise lines.

The collection includes an armchair, a lounge chair without arms and a dining chair. All are invitingly comfortable thanks to the deep, fully upholstered seat and buttoned back cushions which are a key feature of the soft, classic styling.

The second featured collection from Morgan is Seville – a modern take on a traditional armchair. The easy style and options of an armless lounge chair and a winged armchair make this a versatile choice for any interior design scheme. All chairs have the same modest footprint and are available with attractive detailing such as nail trim, contrast piping or buttoned back to enhance the design.

The cruise sector is a highly successful market for Morgan thanks to their ability to apply the Marine Quality Mark to produce attractive and practical furniture pieces of unsurpassed quality which fully conform to Marine Contract standards. The company also possesses exemplary eco-credentials, a fact independently endorsed by the award of ISO14001 environmental standard in November 2009. All products are manufactured in a low energy consuming factory, using sustainable FSC timber, top quality CMHR foams and non rusting fittings.

Adding to the launch of its new website, Lugo UK Ltd. has unveiled the first range of many to be added to its collection in 2010. The Elyseè echoes the period opulence of the late 19th century with deep buttoned upholstery and scroll back. It has a vain personality with its formal upright posture and stunning modern lines.

The Elyseè chairs are constructed around a sturdy re-enforced beech wood frame, with a subtle swept arm detail stylishly emphasised by the silver stud detail.

Pictured in various colours from Skopos Blush range, the nap of the velvet accentuates the luxurious aesthetic.

This versatile chair is ideal for boutique style bedrooms, fine dining restaurants or as a feature accent chair.

Due to the increasing demand for bespoke
furniture, Lugo are introducing many more innovatively designed chairs to promote a more extensive range of unique products for their clients.

Following an unprecedented number of launches in 2009, Grohe is once again leading the way with more new, innovative and exciting products all of which will be unveiled at KBB 2010.From the stand design to the new range launches, every aspect of Grohe’s appearance at KBB will be choreographed to demonstrate and underline the company’s position at the forefront of its market.

Adding to its contemporary product portfolio, the Grohe stand will have a significant focus on kitchen products with the company’s first ever filtered and hot water, appliances GROHE Blue and Red.

Other highlights will include Grohe Fresh, a completely new concept in bathroom hygiene plus 20 new flush plates. The stand will have news and imagery hot off the press, and a preview of a brand new range of deck mounted bath fillers due out in July 2010.

Vaughan has supplied its Milas Fabric to Firmdale Hotel for the new Crosby Street Hotel in New York.Firmdale’s owners, Tim and Kit Kemp opened their first hotel in New York in October 2009. Kit, who designs all of the hotel interiors with her in-house team, creates a unique, contemporary English style by using a mixture of colour and textile, modern and antique. This combination creates a totally unique look that has won Kit many awards including the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award 2008.

For Crosby Street, Kit has used Vaughan’s Milas fabric to great effect in the Drawing Room, covering chairs, sofas and even using the fabric for sumptuous curtains. The Milas fabric is one of the Aegean Collection of fabrics from Vaughan, an exclusive collection of colourful, sophisticated, embroidered fabrics.

To start the new year, Vaughan has launched a new range of practical and stylish glass table lamps.The Salzburg and The Meribel lamps are cut glass in modern designs with stable nickel bases.

The Cervinia makes for a pretty bedside or chic side lamp. Ranging in heights from 62cm to 36cm, there should be a lamp here to suit an array of locations in any design scheme. All four lamps are manufactured and priced to aim at the contract market, without comprising on the high standard of quality clients have come to expect from Vaughan.

Choose from its large selection of lampshade designs and feast your eyes on the new colour silks now available for 2010. Vaughan hold a stock of lampshades at its London warehouse in an array of card, silks and linens. Alternatively, you can let Vaughan know what you would like and it will make lampshades to your specifications in your chosen fabric or wallpaper.