BC Designs and Bayswater London W2 have become the latest manufacturers to join The IPG; the UK’s largest and fastest growing membership group of independent plumbing, heating and bathroom specialists.

The IPG was founded on the belief that independent merchants should have a better voice in today’s market, and a better opportunity to compete with the generic chain stores and companies dominating the market.

Ventola Projects, Leicestershire lighting specialists are pleased to have been selected to provide the lighting for the Italian Chamber of Commerce (ICC)’s stand at this month’s Furniture Show at the NEC in Birmingham, a true testament to Ventola’s continuing development and international growth.

Ventola Projects Managing Director Mick Ventola, a member of the ICC, was quick to praise his team, saying:

The popularity of smart wearable technology has been growing at a phenomenal rate during the past couple of years. Companies are now looking into ways in which they can take advantage of smart tech as a means to reduce workplace injuries and to help improve the overall health and productivity of their employees.

TRUE Solicitors have identified the newest health and safety technology to look out for in 2019:

The Homebuilding & Renovating Show experienced one of its most successful years to date in 2018, delivering more than 18,000 engaged and targeted visitors at its last two events covering the North and South West of the UK. The Northern Homebuilding & Renovating Show, which took place between 2-4 November at Harrogate Convention Centre, stood out by marking its busiest event yet with an eight per cent increase in visitor numbers year on year.

Data gathered from both the Northern and South West events underlines the quality of the audience profile, with over 70 per cent of visitors revealing plans for a live project which will be underway within the next 12 months, and an average project spend of between £118,000-£125,000.

Henry Howard Finance (HHF) has helped start-up window manufacturer Fentrade Limited invest in cutting edge machinery to expand its burgeoning business.

South Wales-based Fentrade were helped by HHF to buy new equipment to enable it to manufacture high volumes of aluminium windows.

With ambitious plans for growth and distribution throughout the UK, Fentrade knew that it had to start with the right machinery in place. This is where Henry Howard Finance was able to support the business to grow.

P C Henderson has this month introduced a number of new additions to its range of Rustic sliding barn door hardware – including a new top mounted version and a new ‘antique rust effect’ finish.

The new Rustic Top Mount offers a stylish, contemporary twist on the company’s classic Rustic 80 system with its matt black hangers being mounted to the top of the door. The company has also introduced a new ‘antique rust effect’ finish to its classic Rustic 80 system to further complement the range. 

PACKAGE FOR MAJOR STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

A carefully integrated package of building façade products provided by Sto has been used to create attractive new elevations for a building which has undergone extensive refurbishment. StoTherm Classic external wall insulation and a brick slip façade finish combination has been applied to the CityBlock site in Reading, which provides premium purpose-built student accommodation.

“The ability to source a completely integrated solution was important to us,” comments Chris Reader of Whittam Cox architects. “We knew that the various component products would be entirely compatible with each other. The Sto range allowed us to use traditional red brick slips and then add complementary grey panels to create a really contemporary visual identity for the building. Combined with the new glazing that we introduced this has totally transformed the building’s appearance.”

Fever-Tree, one of the UK’s fastest growing major companies, appointed ThirdWay Interiors to design their headquarters in Hammersmith which spans 7000 sq ft and reflects Fever-Tree’s creativity and commitment to quality.

Incorporating a range of raw and natural materials, the office oozes character and showcases Fever-Tree’s explorative nature. Key to the design brief was Fever-Tree’s commitment to its ‘foraging’ roots, searching for the very best botanical ingredients, which have also been showcased in its meeting rooms, named after various Fever-Tree tonic flavours and in-house ‘taste wheels’.

Cambrian Slate has been awarded Global Heritage Stone Resource status.

Cambrian-age Welsh slate, which is produced at Welsh Slate Ltd’s Penrhyn quarry in North Wales, has become the first slate in the world to be designated a Global Heritage Stone Resource (GHSR).

Its designation by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), which represents the national geological societies of 121 countries, recognises its importance to the architectural heritage of the many countries in which it has been used in the past and continues to be used today.

An all-avocado dining concept in Henrietta Street, featuring flooring from Havwoods

The first of its kind, Avobar is situated in Covent Garden and is London’s first dedicated avocado bar. Expertly designed by the team at DesignLSM, the brief involved creating a space that is both eclectic and ‘insta-worthy’. Adorned with sumptuous fresh produce and framed by stunning botanical backdrops, the restaurant embraces the beauty of nature with a contemporary design aesthetic that makes Avobar one of the most exciting new additions to London’s thriving social dining scene. Taking inspiration from the laid-back Californian lifestyle, the design features a relaxed, neutral colour palette with distressed white timbers, a range of woven textiles and statement wood flooring from Havwoods.

The leading British Thermal Engineering Group Western Thermal Limited is delighted to announce the appointment of Christopher Garland, who will be joining the Western Thermal Group as Executive Director and CEO from his previous position as Regional Director at Hertel.

Since beginning his career in the construction industry upon graduating in 2000, Mr Garland has developed a wealth of experience within the industry, following stints at Balfour Beatty to his most recent employer, Hertel, where he has been since 2010.

The eagerly anticipated 2019 edition of the Vicaima Interior Door Selector (IDS) has now arrived, with an array of products designed to inspire creative interiors for modern living.   Whether for homes, commercial environments, health or educational establishments, Vicaima offers original style coupled with outstanding performance.

The 2019 IDS provides specifiers and distributors with an easy to navigate, priced guide through a myriad of styles and finishes that demonstrate the sheer breadth of possibilities available with Vicaima interior doors and doorsets. All doors are available in a variety of constructional cores, extensive choice of dimensions and of course a colour palette that allows real creative flair for new build and refurbishment projects.  Whether the vision calls for wood veneers displaying their natural specie or stained in a contemporary tone, originally designed laminates and innovative foils or even a spectrum of paint lacquers; Vicaima has one of the most comprehensive selections available.

In the run up to Christmas staff at the UK’s leading garage door manufacturer, Garador, have been collecting food parcels to donate to their local food bank. The Lord’s Larder, which is based in Yeovil, has been providing emergency food supplies to local families since 1991.

Garador staff have been donating food to their local food bank for the last couple of years, and this year they donated even more, with over 100 food items being given and a really great variety of things like biscuits, pasta, tinned vegetables, tinned fish and even a Christmas pudding! This year, Garador’s very own Alanna Babiy organised the food collection and really worked hard to make it a success.

T. Gunning Ltd, the Chartered Building Company specialising in interior/exterior refurbishment, has completed a major project to refurbish and renovate Fairfield Hall, a magnificent, historic building in Bedfordshire.

McCoy Pearce was appointed on behalf of the management company to deliver the planned maintenance programme and to invite tenders from a selection of suitably qualified Contractors. T. Gunning was subsequently appointed to carry out works to the Grade II Listed former hospital on the maiden major works contract known as Phase 1.

Working closely with Chartered Building Surveyors McCoy Pearce, T. Gunning has helped to transform the building, cleaning and repairing masonry and undertaking an extensive series of repairs to the building’s timber-framed windows. It has also conducted repairs to the roof, replaced guttering, and redecorated throughout – all of which has been done using materials appropriate to the building’s historic status. 

The Regent’s Park end of London’s Portland Place has been the scene of a significant number of astonished looks recently.   As passers-by have discovered that the iconic Park Crescent West, a Grade 1 listed residential Regency terrace built by architect John Nash, is no more.  However, all is not as it first seems. The original Nash terrace, completed in 1821, was badly damaged during the Second World War and restored in the 1960s to provide offices and residential accommodation.  The work though was considered flawed and not true to the original.  As a result this is now a very rare case where the demolition of the Grade I listed terrace ‘and its replacement with a more scholarly replica would preserve and enhance rather than obliterate its significance’.    Renamed Regents Crescent, the project will see the post-war version of the terrace converted back to the residential use for which the early 19th Century building was intended.  Rebuilt with new brickwork and stucco that represents the original Nash design; and with interiors that respond to the heritage character of the architecture, the finished development will result in up to 76 grand London residences, nine mews houses at the rear and private gardens.