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your daily building industry bulletin


New Colours For Schlüter-DESIGN-NICHE
Available in three different dimensions and nine colours, the Schlüter-DESIGN-NICHE niche elements can be used to create a multitude of design highlights on walls while providing practical, integrated storage solutions. Designed for modern living spaces, the prefabricated installation elements are suitable not only for bathrooms and wetrooms, but also for kitchens, utility rooms and other areas throughout the home. Stylish and functional, Schlüter-DESIGN-NICHE is manufactured


First In The Industry: Prestigious Red Dot Award 2026 For Biobased Kitchen Range
International jury recognises biobased kitchen concept enduura® elba for design and innovation. Keller Kitchens, part of DKG, has received the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2026 for its biobased kitchen range enduura® elba. This recognition highlights the sustainable and innovative direction DKG has pursued for many years. The Red Dot Design Award is recognised worldwide as one of the leading competitions for product and concept design. Each year, independent experts assess t


Looking Beyond The Price Tag: Why Long-Term Value Matters In Cast Stone Specification
Callum Jensen, Senior Commercial Manager at Haddonstone, explains what architects and developers should consider when specifying cast stone... Specifying cast stone is about far more than achieving an attractive finish. For architects, housebuilders and developers, the decisions made at specification stage can have a lasting impact on a building’s appearance, durability, and whole-life costs. While it may be tempting to focus on initial purchase prices and ambitious delivery


Keller Kitchens’ New Utilities Range Wows The Workplace
New luxurious utility rooms Keller’s versatile, durable, and stylish utility room range of units makes it possible to design this popular “work” room in a beautiful way; and it has recently been extended. With a series of tall, base and wall units, and interior fittings, a bespoke utility room can be created, where ease of use and design go hand in hand. The cabinetry is available in all melamine decors while the interior comes in white, mist or graphite. The base unit


New Ground Survey Specialist Launches To Support Architecture Sector
Architects and architectural technologists can now benefit from a range of high-tech powered surveys of underground tunnels, pipes and drainage systems, provided by start-up firm, Survey X (UK). The Yorkshire-based company delivers a range of cost effective, value-added professional surveying techniques and equipment, which include topographical surveys, ground penetrating radar, utility surveys and CCTV surveys, designed to help to locate, map and inspect drainage systems


Trianco’s Activair R290 Indoor Heat Pump – The Perfect Energy-Efficient Solution For Apartments And Smaller Homes
Trianco’s new Activair R290 indoor heat pumps deliver efficient, low-carbon heating with outputs of 3.2kW and 5kW, advanced smart controls and remote diagnostic/monitoring capability; ideal for retrofit, new build and LA/social housing. Trianco’s new Activair R290 is a revolutionary indoor air/water heat pump designed for locations where an outdoor unit is unfeasible; examples are apartments without balconies or those with limited outside space. Developed to supply both heat


West Fraser Quantifies The Climate Benefits Of Choosing Timber In Building Design
West Fraser’s 2025 Sustainability Report is bringing new clarity to the role timber can play in reducing the climate impact of buildings, revealing that the use of wood products helped avoid an estimated 19.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions in 2025. The figure comes from the company’s latest analysis of “displacement”, the measurable emissions avoided when timber is used instead of more carbon-intensive materials such as steel and concrete. Photograph courtesy of U


Trianco's New Activair Pro Heat Pump Range Achieves Quiet Mark Certification
Trianco is proud to announce that the company’s new Activair Pro air source heat pump range has been awarded the prestigious Quiet Mark certification for its 6kW, 12kW and 17kW models. Leading low-noise performance recognised across 6kW, 12kW and 17kW models Awarded by Quiet Mark, the international certification programme associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society, the accreditation recognises products that have been independently assessed and proven to reduce noise witho


Strength, Consistency And Versatility From CaberMDF
In the world of high-performance panel products that deliver reliability, consistency, and versatility on every project, CaberMDF from West Fraser continues to stand out as a trusted solution, offering exceptional versatility for both structural and decorative uses. Engineered to exacting standards, CaberMDF combines durability with a smooth, uniform surface finish, making it suitable for all sorts of projects – from carpentry and interior finishing to commercial fit-outs. Ph


Taylor Maxwell Launches SpecView To Support Early-Stage Façade Design
Taylor Maxwell, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of brick, façade and timber solutions to the construction industry, has launched SpecView, a new in-house visualisation service that allows architects and specifiers to see how façade materials will look across a full building before they commit to a specification. SpecView combines live visualisation with hands-on guidance from Taylor Maxwell’s brick and masonry specialists. Architects and Main Contractor design teams can bri


Engineered vs Solid Wood Flooring: A Practical Guide From Havwoods
From period properties to contemporary apartments, timber flooring remains a firm favourite among homeowners. While solid wood is associated with traditional craftsmanship, engineered constructions are at the forefront due to their compatibility with modern needs and the demands of busy households. Understanding the practical and technical differences between the two is vital to ensure the correct flooring is chosen for the right setting. Anthony Scott, Global Product and Inn


HIMACS Terrazzo Designs Receive Red Dot Design Award 2026
Contemporary terrazzo colours featuring certified recycled content. Five HIMACS Terrazzo colours have been honoured with the prestigious Red Dot Design Award 2026 in the Product Design category, one of the world's most respected design distinctions. The award recognises a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional terrazzo aesthetics, combining expressive design with responsible material innovation. The award-winning colours, Terrazzo Ulivo (Q102), Terrazzo Nuvola (Q103), T


The New Rules of Decorating With Tiles: Creative Ways to Use Tile Throughout the Home with Tile of Spain
Tiles are no longer confined to kitchen splashbacks and bathroom walls. As homeowners become more confident in their decorating choices, tiles are increasingly being used to introduce colour, texture and personality throughout the home. From statement headboards and decorative bathroom details to tiled furniture and creative laying patterns, today’s interiors are embracing a more imaginative approach to surfaces. Maria D Arráez, Director of Tile of Spain UK, shares the new ru


Small Kitchens, Smart Design: Maximising Space With Insight From Life Trade
As urban living continues to shape modern home design, compact kitchens are becoming increasingly common. While smaller footprints can present design challenges, they also create opportunities for retailers, designers and installers to demonstrate the value of intelligent planning and innovative storage solutions. Paul Berryman, Head of Life Trade, says, “Creating a successful small kitchen is no longer simply about fitting everything into a limited space. Today’s consumers e


Why Cabinet Hardware Is Becoming The ‘Jewellery Of The Kitchen’ With Croft
As homeowners continue to embrace more considered, design-led interiors, the demand for beautifully crafted finishing touches has never been greater. As part of their all-encompassing portfolio, Croft presents its collection of cabinet knobs, pulls and handles, offering homeowners an opportunity to elevate cabinetry through exceptional British craftsmanship and timeless design. Often described as the jewellery of the kitchen, cabinet hardware has become an increasingly import


Finish Off A Seamless Shower Design With The Bellagio Hinge
Incorporating hinges into a frameless glass shower door installation for a seamless look is now easy than ever, with Bellagio from CRL, available in eleven on-trend finishes and with a sleek yet high-performing design. Bellagio has a minimalistic and compact design, with a square cornered look that is elegantly modern, its clip on cover plates discreetly hide the screws. Choose from Chrome, Matte Black, Brushed Nickel, Polished Brass, Satin Brass, Gun Metal, Brushed Gun Metal


Designing Homes That Perform For The Long-Term - And The Role Of Engineered Wood Panels
Designing homes that perform for the long-term means creating dwellings that are durable, energy-efficient, comfortable, adaptable, and environmentally responsible throughout their entire lifespan, not just when they are first built. West Fraser’s consistent goal is to design and manufacture panel products that meet customer’s (trade and consumer) needs, minimise running and maintenance costs, and reduce environmental impact over many decades. A key way this is achieved is th


New Look Column Radiators From Stelrad – Engineered With Italian Design Influence
Leading radiator manufacturer, Stelrad Radiators has introduced an Italian-designed new look, improved range of its popular Column radiators – in both its vertical and horizontal column radiator ranges. With effect from 1st July 2026, the new range will be available through all existing outlets streamlining the existing range, enhancing the performance from Stelrad's Column radiator selection, and strengthening long-term value for purchasers of the range. The most obvious cha


KönigZero’s Taj Mahal For Exotic Marble Beauty
Königstone’s KönigZero new Taj Mahal is a stunning, marble‑inspired engineered stone that captures the soft veining and warm, creamy tones of natural stone while offering greater practicality. Designed to echo the elegance of Taj Mahal quartzite, it delivers a refined look with a non‑porous, stain‑resistant finish that won’t absorb spills or require sealing. Easy to clean and simple to maintain, it’s an ideal choice for busy kitchens and living spaces. For anyone who loves th


Navigator MSL Launches New Catalogue
Navigator MSL – the leading distributor in the heating and plumbing sector - has recently released its new product catalogue – just before the InstallerSHOW allowing customers to collect their own copy for those who prefer a hard copy of what’s available. Alternatively you can download a pdf version or a flip book version by going to the Navigator website at www.navigatormsl.com. The timing was perfect and designed to coincide with the company’s appearance at the Installer Sh


GRAF UK’s New-Look Rainwater Harvesting Range Maximises The Use Of Free Water
Sustainability is optimised by GRAF UK’s new-look rainwater harvesting systems. A range of award-winning rainwater harvesting systems that maximise the use of free rainwater rather than rely on mains water top-ups has been launched by GRAF UK. The specialist water management company’s AA rainwater harvesting range bucks the trend for most such systems to top up underground tanks with mains water, which means the space set aside for free rainwater is compromised by water the h
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