As Giorgio Armani so eloquently put it, “The difference between style and fashion is quality”. The Wandsworth Group couldn’t agree more. That’s why their range of superlatively designed, hand crafted electrical accessories, including luxury light switches and electrical sockets, are used by world-class interior designers and architects in prestigious building projects from Hong Kong to New York – even in the private residence of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace.
Their reputation for providing stylishly designed, beautifully realised lighting and electrical wares means that Wandsworth products and expertise are sought out by a host of discerning design professionals – particularly in projects where the importance of elegance is on a par with peerless quality. This is evidenced by their involvement in a number of prominent hotel developments across the world but most recently with the newest addition to the famous Firmdale Hotel’s stable: The Ham Yard Hotel in central London.
Situated in the bustling centre of the capital’s famous Soho district the Ham Yard Hotel is owned by Tim and Kit Kemp, both internationally recognised interior designers famous for outstanding excellence in modern British design – Tim having previously won the coveted Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year award in 2008. Together they have made Firmdale’s 9 hotels and 7 bars & restaurants, located in both London and New York, beacons of service excellence and unique design. Kit in particular has been personally responsible for carrying out the complete interior design of all of the properties – no less so than when the Ham Yard Hotel building project was begun in 2012.
From the very beginning Wandsworth Group were actively involved in the establishment of this £60 million luxurious boutique hotel development. Consisting of 91 individually themed deluxe bedrooms and sumptuous suites, as well as airy bar and contemporary restaurant areas, the Ham Yard Hotel project included a lavish drawing room and library. In addition, this expansive new development featured a spa and gym, numerous private dining and meeting rooms, as well as an original 1950s era bowling alley and rooftop garden, complete with sweeping vistas of the Soho skyline and the city beyond.
Luxury hotel light switches and electrical sockets coordinate with modern British interiors
As a new build project with such a relentless focus on individual style, modern design and matchless quality Wandsworth Group worked closely with the client’s project manager, the contractors and the architect to understand the requirements for all the electrical accessories needed from the outset. With over a century of expertise in providing high quality, luxury light and socket fittings, Wandsworth worked in close concert with all of the interior design parties to offer ideas and suggestions on the best solutions to complement the individual modern British style so prevalent throughout the hotel.
The Wandsworth Group’s diligent project team assisted the clients and the contractor’s site manager in producing a complete, full size mock up of the rooms required – enabling a much more holistic overview of the impact of all the interior design proposals. Following on from this Firmdale Hotels felt assured that the Wandsworth Group’s Classic Collection of electrical accessories was the perfect fit for the high levels of design quality, reliability and elegance inherent in the personalised room designs of Kit Kemp.
The Classic Collection was chosen due to its ergonomically attractive flush finish featuring a unique flat plate profile to compliment the contemporary modern British design. Whilst those selected for the Ham Yard Hotel were supplied in ultra-clean, Super Mirrored Stainless Steel, as a market leader who is able to boast of offering the largest variety of colours on the market, the Classic Collection is available in a dizzying array of finishes, including:
– Polished Brass
– Antique Bronze
– Bright Nickel
– Satin Nickel
– Antique Brass
– Light Bronze
– Matt Black
– Satin Silver
– Satin Stainless Steel
– White
– Yellow Etched Prime
Needless to say, all of Wandsworth’s bespoke multi-service, AV plates and screw fixing plate attachments are individually manufactured from the highest grade solid brass, premium stainless steel or aluminium, as required. Wandsworth are shamelessly uncompromising when it comes to ensuring that the quality of product meets the high standards of style demanded by national and international customers.
Bespoke electrical sockets and data outlets installed throughout the Ham Yard Hotel
As you would expect for the Ham Yard hotel the Wandsworth Group project managers were only too happy to provide standard and bespoke accessories (both Multi-service and AV plates) specifically tailored to Firmdale’s requirements. In the case of the Ham Yard boutique hotel project these included a data outlet and American style two pin socket as well as a standard 13 amp plug, which were installed throughout the building.
Wandsworth’s involvement was not simply limited to lighting and electrical sockets for this particular project. At the client’s invitation, Wandsworth were all also delighted to provide individually designed and constructed disabled toilet alarm systems (again, in the same style as the Classic Collection Super Mirrored Stainless Steel).
Ensuring excellence in electrical accessories from concept to delivery
Right through the overall project lifecycle of just over two and a half years the Wandsworth Group’s staff kept in constant contact with all parties, from the clients own representatives to the M & E consultants, Mecserve, and the electrical contractors, LJJ of Stockton. By maintaining continual communication and making numerous site visits Wandsworth were able to react quickly and decisively to any changes in the original specifications, design alterations and other unexpected project developments. Wandsworth offer this kind of end to end service as standard, meaning their clients receive a consistently high level of customer service, as well as seeing deadlines met. This was particularly appreciated by LJJ, who were responsible for the installation of the high end, luxury electrical accessories supplied. As demonstrated throughout the Ham Yard project, the Wandsworth Group is consistently chosen to work with and deliver to large scale projects across the globe. Taking pride in their reputation as the ‘go-to’ firm for clients looking for high spec, hand finished products – something which is demonstrated by the fact that Wandsworth’s electrical accessories are used extensively in the construction, repair and renovation of countless landmark buildings across the world.
Hand-crafted hotel light switches and electrical sockets exceed the highest quality demands
The premium electrical accessories which are handcrafted and tested beyond the highest industry standards by a British workforce are valued by top class interior designers and architects – all of whom recognise their brand as a market leading innovator and supplier of peerless quality.
The Ham Yard Hotel project was completed on 1st June 2014 and the hotel is already a popular place to stay for many visitors to the capital who have been entranced by its chic urban village feel and Kit Kemp’s stunning modern British interior styling. Located in the heart of the cosmopolitan Soho district the Ham Yard Hotel is also proving to be a big hit with savvy Londoners looking for a convenient place to rendezvous, relax, enjoy a drink or indulge in a fabulous dining experience, all within easy walking distance of the city of Westminster.
For the people who make up the Wandsworth Group – from the skilled designers and craftsmen to the individual project managers – it is a source of great pride that Firmdale Hotels, leading interior stylists and renowned architects around the world continue to choose them for electrical accessories that live up to their high standards of class, elegance, reliability and quality. If Giorgio Armani had been an interior designer it’s nice to think he would approve.
www.wandsworthelectrical.com
Ritchie House
Albert Drive
Woking
Surrey
GU21 5JY
UK
01483 713400
sales@wandsworthgroup.com
CIBSE promotes the career of building services engineers in a number of ways, such as approving work-based training programmes, including the Geberit CPD ‘Embedding acoustics into design’. Providing a technical insight and definition of ‘noise’ and its causes, the CPD covers current British Standards relating to limiting bathroom sound.
