Control Switches by Focus SB: Smart Home Collection is Unveiled

Focus SB, a leading international premium electrical accessories brand presents its debut collection of innovative traditional style control switches, featuring low voltage technology.

Developed to meet demand from luxury smart home integrators and IoT technology and design consultants, the attractive push button Control switches by Focus SB can be configured in a variety of ways to suit functions required, whether programmed for lighting and shading controls or used with inline dimming packs, and can be finished to match across one of the widest ranges of electrical wiring accessories available in the luxury construction markets in UK, China and the Middle East today.

Designed to allow space for several switches on one faceplate, the ‘Control switches by Focus SB’ collection, handcrafted and finished in the UK, offers a proprietary system interface solution with a traditional aesthetic. Compatible with inline dimmers, lighting controls and home automation, with the advantage of providing a low voltage option available in component form and LED indicator switch options, Focus SB’s control switches offer flexibility and style for multi-function programming including audio, selection of lighting scenes, turning lights on and off when entering or leaving a property, raising or dimming lights, opening and closing blinds, curtains and shutters.

Available as complete products or in button, grid and plate component form, with the option to include LED switch functionality and custom text via the company’s in-house bespoke laser marking service, designers can choose up to four circular or square buttons on a single and a maximum of eight buttons on twin vertical or horizontal plates, offering a simple to use smart solution with the convenience of configuration flexibility paired with a superior finish.

Showcasing unparalleled craftsmanship, Focus SB’s modern control switches are manufactured from high quality metal base materials and offer the same functionality solutions as the company’s innovative retractive (momentary action) switches. The control switches can be finished to match across the company's electrical accessories products enabling designers to complement metal accents and hardware throughout an interior scheme.

Offered with Classic and True Edge faceplate styles as standard, this latest collection from Focus SB features smaller terminals better suited to low voltage control cables, with LED indicator programmable options in red, green and blue that work independently from the switches, and a voltage (V) terminal to enable selection of the system voltage with OFF (20-48V) and ON (5-20V).

Unique to the Focus SB luxury brand every component is designed, manufactured, tested, finished and hand assembled in-house by the company’s experienced engineers and artisans in East Sussex, UK.

Contact Focus SB for more information, request 2022 brochures, or to enquire about the company's bespoke product presentation and project support services.

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From the unprecedented collaboration of Patrick Norguet with RAK Ceramics comes a stunning bathroom project: RAK-Valet. It is the embodiment of a unique talent for understanding a need and creating a functional, long-lasting solution that fits in perfectly with the context. A cluster of visions, drawings, exclusive shapes and a fast-paced rhythm leading to unexpected solutions: this is what the French designer brings to each of his new creations.

RAK-Valet expresses the creative genius of Norguet together with the undivided attention devoted by RAK Ceramics to production quality and project completeness. A special project, attesting a new concept of living and a new way to use domestic space, which becomes free of constraints, permeable, osmotic, and innovative. Whether it be contemporary or traditional.

Norguet puts on stage a dialogue between light and shadow, between volumes and lines, between elements, forms and materials. A delicate balance that is never disrupted, as each element becomes functional to the user in this ongoing, harmonious exchange. Everything is in the service of the person who experiences the space, everything centres around the dialogue, bearing witness to something magical and unique.

The RAK-Valet collection is composed of functional elements – available in matt and glossy finishes – that serve as veritable valets and hand us the objects of our daily wellbeing via functional surfaces and stylistic solutions of great visual impact: decorative forms with slender profiles for the washbasins, top-notch stylistic research for the bathtubs, and elongated lines for the toilet bowls.

RAK-Valet is a project that comes to meet a need in interior design, leaving out any unnecessary shape or detail while the expression of the real is reduced to its pure, bare form.

RAK-Valet goes well with some of the most successful collections proposed by RAK Ceramics, such as their brand-new bathroom fittings and RAK-Joy Uno mirrors. It is rounded off by a rich choice of accessories, such as legs and towel holders made of metal, or the practical but extremely elegant ceramic surfaces also designed by Patrick Norguet.

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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a bright and colourful retail design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Seen Displays.

What was the client's brief? 

Following the launch of the Bally Haus Concept Store in Milan, we were briefed to create a space for Bally in New York’s Meatpacking District that transcended the traditional purposes of retail, acting as a creative grounding force for the area. It was important to us and Bally that their traditional design pillars of art, architecture and craftsmanship were included in the design, celebrating their Swiss roots and forward-thinking practice.

What inspired the design of the project?

Our creative narrative was inspired by the angular lines of Manhattan’s grid, which uniquely pivots in the Meatpacking district, causing Gansevoort Street to be bathed in a warm hard light during the spring and autumn equinox. Bally’s values of combining nature with the contemporary ensured that our approach to materialism was innovative, circular, and quintessentially Bally, using materials from Tessa Silva and Paper-Factor.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Designing and supporting the delivery of the project in a very short time frame, whilst collaborating remotely during covid lockdowns, certainly came with its challenges but the team weren’t deterred from achieving our vision for innovative materiality and experience from the very start. Our ongoing support of circular artists and relationships with bio materialist, Tessa Silva and PaperFactor, enabled us to achieve unique finishes and qualities rarely seen in retail design.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The realisation of our design detailing demonstrated how a luxury environment can remain both finely finished and offer an adaptable brand environment. Details included accurately placed curtain seams and material clad wall plugs, meaning our fixture system was seamlessly disguised, offering a premium finish overall whilst giving the brand flexibility to adapt the environment from a store to a community-based event space. Delivering this level of detail from start to finish with the challenge of using exciting and innovative materials in such a short time frame was probably one of our biggest highlights.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

One of the most prestigious, international design awards in the calendar, we entered as we appreciate the importance SBID places in celebrating unique design solutions across various disciplines. Thank you for having us!

Questions answered by Andrew Quinn, Lead Designer, Seen Displays.

Three distinct furniture styles, seventeen colour choices, three vanity basins and two brassware styles make the new Root range by VitrA one of the most flexible and customisable collections on the market.

Root is a complete bathroom solution with furniture, basins, taps, showers and storage units all within the range. With three different design options as well as various textures, colours and sizes, Root allows for a truly personalised bathroom experience.

Root furniture is available in a choice of three different designs: flat, groove and classic. Flat – a simple style for those with a minimalist taste; Groove – a contemporary option with a panelled style; and Classic – a modern take on shaker design.

Interior designers can choose from seventeen assorted colours, including retro green, dark blue, pearl grey and walnut in three types of finish – gloss, matt, or wood. The matt colours have a PVC finish which is highly durable with a water absorption rate of 0.5%. The gloss and wood colours have a PET finish which is a sustainable material produced by 100% recycled plastic and is both heat and moisture resistant.

Handle options include matt black, chrome and matt white, with two distinct styles to suit the different furniture designs.

A choice of three washbasins - Integra, Integra Classic and Zentrum – provide further flexibility. Integra washbasins have a deep basin with flat edges, Integra Classic has a short upstand at the back, creating a more traditional look, and Zentrum basins have a more geometrical outer with a rounded internal basin shape.

The brassware is available in two styles, Root Round and Root Square, and in five colours, chrome, brushed nickel, copper, matt black and gold, across the array of basin, bath, and shower mixers.

To help designers in their bathroom design journey, VitrA has developed the Root Configurator. This online tool allows users to experiment with the various styles, colour finishes and sizes to find the perfect bathroom design. In addition to the washbasin units, the tool includes the taps and additional storage units available to enable users to design their whole bathroom space.

Find out more about Root, by downloading the brochure or by visiting the microsite.

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Expanding on the brand’s new contemporary handwriting, sofa.com has launched three new statement seating designs as part of their latest collection. Each piece is handmade-to-order in just 4-6 weeks and can be upholstered in over 75 different fabrics to perfectly suit any residential or commercial project.

The range puts a spotlight on minimalist modern shapes and sleek lines ideal for contemporary interiors design projects.

Oswald and Chester join the range as the two hero designs for the season boasting clean lines and Scandi-inspired shapes, combining elements of contemporary style with the same trusted comfort the brand is so celebrated for. Curvilinear detailing and sleek tapered legs lend a feminine, avant-garde allure to Edie creating an elegant, fashion-forward shape.

With Chester available as armchair or various sized sofa, Oswald as the all-encompassing corner option, and Edie as the cocktail chair of choice, the brand is introducing modern marvels for varying lifestyles and for the ever-evolving interiors.

Each new design is available in different fabrics and colours - from durable cottons, to lavish velvets and luxurious leathers. This ensures each hand-crafted sofa.com upholstered design is bespoke based on your own requirements, whether specifying seating for a residential, hospitality or commercial property. With the entire range also available in COM, there is no compromise necessary to create the perfect custom design.

The trade team at sofa.com is on-hand to assist with any queries – please visit www.sofa.com/trade for more information.

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Can you describe your current job?

My current job is Creative Director at Pia Design - my own design studio. Our studio is currently myself and two full time interior designers. I oversee all the projects and present designs to our clients and set the creative direction of each project - my team are super talented at creating 3D visuals and detailed specification documents to deliver our ideas to the client.

What is your background and how did you get into interior design?

I had quite an academic start to my education and career - I completed the International Baccalaureate and then did a Foundation course in Art & Design and then a degree in Interior Architecture at Kingston University. I knew from my teens that I wanted to be an interior designer - my family moved country every two years throughout my childhood so I quickly learnt the importance of 'making a house a home’. I was also interested in psychology, and interior design allows me to combine my creative passion with my interest in understanding people. One of my favourite parts of the project is interpreting the brief and developing a design tailored to the client’s taste.

Describe an average day in your job role.

My days can be varied but typically I start the day with a team call to review project progress and our to-do lists for the day. I’ll then catch up on my emails and urgent payments / invoices before heading out to site visits - sometimes I have two or even three site visits in a row. Then it’s back to the studio to review the work of my design team from the day, catching up on more emails, and occasionally I’ll have evening calls with my clients who are in different time zones or too busy to speak during the day time. After dinner, I’ll usually sit down with my iPad and browse Instagram or Pinterest or read magazines for an hour or two, saving inspiration ideas for our current projects.

Which elements of your profession do you enjoy the most and/or find the most rewarding?

I love the conceptual part of the project the most - working out who our client is and what they like, often reading between the lines or drawing inspiration from what they already own or from their artwork. It’s great to see their reactions to the initial concepts and then build the designs up from there - the most rewarding part is of course seeing the finished result of our designs and a happy client!

Is there anything new you are excited to be working on?

What do you find the most challenging aspects of your job?

Keeping all the plates spinning! We typically have between 10-15 projects at any one time, all at various stages, and we take on project coordination for many of our projects as well… so a lot of what we do is organising and keeping on top of timelines to make sure projects run efficiently and on time. There can be a lot of unknowns during the building works stage so often we have to be quick to rethink ideas and find solutions on the spot if things don’t pan out how we intended on site.

What do you wish you knew before working in the field?

What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance?

Trust your intuition and knowledge, don’t be discouraged by disagreements and stand up for yourself! There are a lot of big egos in this industry and it’s important to believe in your vision and sometimes you have to stand your ground to see your vision through.

What has been your favourite project to work on?

We recently worked on the redecoration of a large country manor in the North Downs which was in dire need of updating. The client owned a lot of heirloom furniture pieces that they wanted to bring back to life and was excited to work with us from a sustainability perspective. We were careful not to rip out anything that was still in good condition, choosing instead to repair, reupholster and rejuvenate everything from existing joinery to the furniture. The client was so happy when she saw her home of many years and inherited furniture pieces lovingly restored that she cried tears of joy.

What do you think is the biggest problem the interior design industry faces?

Construction is one of the most polluting industries in the world and interior design is unfortunately a guilty party to the waste created. I think the industry needs to adapt and change quickly to focus on more sustainable ways to refurbish and I believe that designers are not only responsible for implementing this change but that we have the power to set the direction of change by helping our clients make more planet-friendly decisions during their renovation project.

Which people do you admire the most in the industry and why?

I am a huge admirer of the Finnish Architect / Designer Joanna Laajisto - I love the way her designs are a contemporary take on classic Scandinavian design and her focus on sustainability in her material selection. I am also in awe of Sophie Asbhy and how she has built a successful brand and business, as well as her involvement in setting up the United in Design initiative.

Why did you decide to join the SBID?

I decided to join the SBID to feel a sense of community within the interiors world and to be involved and connected with new suppliers and trade events. It’s also really important for the types of clients that we work with that we can demonstrate a high level of professionalism, which being a member of the SBID’s international community provides.

Questions answered by Pia Pelkonen, Founder and Creative Director, Pia Design.

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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a minimal luxury hotel suite design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, LW Design.

What was the client's brief? 

LW Design was tasked to create this extraordinary new flagship hotel in this vibrant city and overall hospitality industry in the Middle East. The iconic hotel boasts minimalist luxury and already has intrigue in the local community with its subtle appeal. Location and people are paramount to the brand.

What inspired the design of the project?

LW Design has created arguably the best looking EDITION hotel in the world to date; it is the first hotel of its kind in Dubai with elevated style, materials and design language. The Dubai EDITION is also the first hospitality project LW Design has completed for both architecture and interiors. The EDITION collection celebrates the diversity of cities across the world, reflecting the best of cultural and social environments and a new generation of understated luxury.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Having started on the project almost five years ago, Pooja Shah-Mulani, design director at LW Design, describes the journey as the most intense but rewarding experience, making its completion the pinnacle of her career to date. “The fusion of working with an international brand such as The EDITION, in one of the most prestigious locations in Dubai, and for a client that trusted us to deliver an exceptional product, meant that expectations were only ever going to push creative boundaries into delivering something very special.

The result of ideas being challenged throughout the entire process has led to some of the most iconic moments in the hotel today, namely the arched ceiling. LW Design conceptualised The Dubai EDITION almost five years ago; the doors are now open to a design that's ahead of its time, yet timeless and current.

It was more complicated than we thought to create something effortless while still creating something that would have the biggest impact in the market by being completely different. Having maintained our philosophy of designing to current trends through organic simplicity, the result has exceeded expectations, and we are incredibly thrilled with the outcome”.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Dubai is a world capital for design and is used to setting the bar for outstanding service and luxury hotels. It is the brave that will survive and set the tone for travel into the future. It is the first five-star luxury property that we have managed both architectural and design projects. Our vision has allowed us to successfully launch and manage many game-changing concepts such as the Vida Downtown, Zabeel House in the Greens and Media One Hotel”.

The long-awaited Dubai EDITION opens its doors as the extraordinary new flagship hotel in this vibrant city and overall hospitality industry in the Middle East. The iconic hotel boasts minimalist luxury and already has intrigue in the local community with its subtle appeal. Location and people are paramount to the brand.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

International platform and recognition this project deserves.

Questions answered by Pooja Shah Mulani, Partner & Design Director, LW Design.

A spacious kitchen for eating and entertaining was an essential for the Italian family who moved into this stunning home in Ascot. Their first decision was to relocate the existing small kitchen into a generous extension. Next stop was Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio, to request a show-stopping kitchen design imbued with his signature mix of materials. The result is a stunning kitchen that’s perfect for busy family life.

Charlie’s design centres around a generous island that’s hand-painted white and wrapped in a hard-wearing Calacatta Quartz waterfall worktop. The island is positioned below a roof lantern that floods the room with natural light throughout the day; a trio of decorative pendants provides effective task lighting at night.

“The couple wanted a sleek, contemporary aesthetic for their kitchen, so we chose grey-stained natural oak for the base cupboards,” explains Charlie. “Then, to create a contrast, the island cupboards are also oak but stained white. Staining timber in this way allows the natural beauty of the grain to shine through.” A large double larder and a breakfast cupboard flank the wall run. The doors are also grey-stained oak with exquisite brass inlay in a diamond-shaped design. “And one of my favourite elements is the liquid pewter finish with shagreen-like texture we created for the wall cupboards in between,” adds Charlie.

The adjacent wall is dedicated to the practicalities of the kitchen: a bank of ovens and a dedicated fridge and freezer separated by an impressive wine cooler. Huge slabs of porcelain in a Cararra marble finish were chosen for the floor as a final touch to this fabulous open-plan kitchen where practicality and glamour go hand in hand.

Ledbury Studio kitchens start from £50,000.

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What are the origins of your brand?

The company was originally founded in Stockholm in 1949, by Nils Erik Eklund, who came up with the idea of recycling textile offcuts into woven rag rugs. In many ways, our founder was ahead of his time and his ability to see an opportunity where others couldn’t still inspires us. Today, his granddaughters Annica and Marie keep this same spirit alive but since they took over the company from their parents Lars and Monica in 2003, they have also been on a mission – to make Bolon a design-led innovator and fuse the conservative, traditional flooring industry with the boundless creativity of the world of fashion. Under their leadership, business has transformed from a traditional weaving mill into an international design brand with clients such as Armani, Google, Four Seasons Hotels, Chanel, Adidas, Apple and Missoni Home and we’ve collaborated with world-renowned designers and architects. We are proud of our progress, but our story continues - we want to keep moving forward and innovating, creating sustainable, world leading flooring and rug solutions.

How do you work with interior designers?

We have a team of people, both in the UK and internationally, who work closely with interior designers to keep them abreast of our new products. We aim to offer the best service possible every step of the way, including quick and efficient technical, design and sample support.

What value does your sector add to the interior design industry?

Innovation, inspiration and unique flooring and rug products.

How do your services/offering enhance an interior designer’s projects?

Bolon creates beautiful flooring and rugs that stay looking that way, even after years of use. Our multiple custom options mean that there is a unique solution for each project a designer is working on, depending on the requirements of the client.

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

Sustainability is a big part of our DNA and we are proud of our impressive sustainability credentials. We have noticed that these are of increasing interest to all interior designers, and we’re thrilled that this has become such an important part of how designers work.  It is also essential that our flooring and rugs are long lasting, so the cleanability of our flooring is also of increasing interest. Designers and their clients need flooring and rugs that are practical, as well as beautiful. People have had bad experiences with flooring that is not cleanable and therefore looks tired quickly after very little use, so they love how easy our flooring is to clean.

We’ve also noticed a number of requests for rugs that can be used both inside and outdoors.

Questions answered by Sarah Herman, Director, Bolon UK.

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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxury property design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Jeffrey Beers International.

The Alyx at EchelonSeaport is a defining contemporary landmark designed by internationally lauded Kohn Pedersen Fox architects of New York. The impressive stepped tower design takes inspiration from Boston’s Victorian neighbourhoods full of brick and brownstone row houses, and puts a modern spin on it, showcasing oversized windows with city, courtyard, and water views. On the interior, the design team at world-renown Jeffrey Beers International, crafted the lobby and amenity spaces to feel like an extension of one’s own living room; warm, inviting, and comfortable. Designed with a sense of community, the amenity experiences encourage residents to gather and socialize.

What was the client's brief? 

We identified with the client’s vocation to create the property’s DNA as artistic, innovative, authentic, and communal.

What inspired the design of the project?

Boston, specifically it’s history, culture and innovation! We have drawn inspiration from Boston’s colonial past, rich academia, and its cultural heritage, as well as from the city’s sense of authenticity and community. We are also drawn to the surrounding views of the water; the geography, design and lifestyle of the waterfront.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Budget and timing always should be managed carefully for every project.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We are honoured to be part of the progressive plans to transform the area of Boston Seaport into a neighbourhood that will balance the soul of the city with innovation and modernity.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

We wanted the opportunity to highlight the project on an international stage.

Questions answered by Tim Rooney, Principal, Jeffrey Beers International.