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As consumer lifestyles and the significance of the bathroom sector evolves into stylish (and hygienic) wellness-driven sanctuaries in the home, discover how the innovative bathroom designer and manufacturer, Kohler collaborates with interior designers to enhance the product specification process for transforming bathroom environments with luxury and functionality in equal measure.

What are the origins Kohler?

Kohler is a now 4th generation family business which was started in 1873 by John Michael Kohler. Today it is a global business operating across various sectors and headed by David Kohler, President and CEO. Kohler Co. designs and manufactures kitchen and bath products under renowned global brands like KOHLER and KALLISTA; engines and power systems; luxury cabinetry and ANN SACKS tile; and is the owner/operator of two, five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, Wisconsin, and St. Andrews, Scotland.

How do you work with interior designers?

We work with designers through collaboration as a partner to help them achieve project requirements within the brief. We do so in the first instance by introducing them to our bathroom ranges designed for UK and global project specifications. This is supported and underpinned by our London Clerkenwell showroom, the Kohler Experience Centre, where we invite A&D to learn about our brand, experience our products and participate in talks and events that support the design community.

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

The bathroom today, as most designers will agree, has become an increasing focal point of specification with a far greater demand on design and function while delivering upon the dimensions of wellbeing we all strive to achieve in today’s modern world. It is now considered by many that the bathroom is the most integral part of the home to specify. More bathrooms are being added to projects and no longer the clinical white box but a need to ensure the space provides an environment that is tactile, stylish, modern, and offers a seamless transition from one room to the next. Above all, it’s creating a space of wellness as well as function. As such, the bathroom sector has adapted to offer products that reflect the different materials and colours often reserved for products seen in living spaces while bringing luxury, functionality and technology to new levels of possibility.

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

As a manufacturing business, and in particular with respect to the bathroom specification sector, we manufacture products to simplify the specification process, so that wherever possible we can be a one-stop shop for bathroom specification for the designer. From basins, furniture, WCs, and taps, to shower enclosures, fittings and accessories we can help to make specifying a much more gracious experience.

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

Metal colour finishes and the variety of choices available for tap and shower fittings have been hugely popular. We are seeing a resurgence in gold whilst the emergence of black and brass coloured finishes are now commonly requested across various levels of specifications, and not just at the very top end of specification. In light of the ongoing global situation with Covid, we are also seeing more demand for hygiene technology across specifications, whether it's intelligent toilets, touchless products or in the very material of the product itself.

Why did you become a sponsor for the SBID Awards? 

Kohler is a well-established brand within UK project specification, and we want to recognise the amazing work created by the UK design community which is driving global project design – many of whom we work with regularly on specification for various hospitality and residential projects. Kohler remains positioned as a global leader which continues to evolve and adapt to meet the needs and demands of both the specifier and consumer not just today, but also well into the future.

Sponsors of the KBB Design category for the SBID Awards 2021!

Entries are open until Wednesday 30 June.

To find out more about entering, visit www.sbidawards.com

To find out how to join SBID professional membership, click here 

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a residential design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist Chains Interiors. The Taiwan-based design practice worked on this high-end project which was inspired by a song written by the owner.

SBID Awards Category: Residential Apartment Over £1M Sponsored by Vectorworks

Practise: Chains Interiors

Project: Write A Song For You

Location: Taipei, Taiwan 

What was the client's brief? 

Our client is a professional Musician. Since music is such a big part of his life,  he wanted music to flow in all corners of the home, while remaining functional.

What inspired the design of the project?

The concept of this design is inspired by a song that a house owner wrote for his beloved wife. While the tunes and tempos of the song transform into lines on the walls, the spontaneous melodies also turn into colours in the space and the twists and turns of the notes into topographic curves on the ceiling. Together these elements become a manifestation of the tenderness conveyed by the song.

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

Finding a balance between aesthetics, design concepts, actual usage requirements and budget. We also wanted to make the intricate ceiling lines perfect, so we made several versions to make sure the final design achieved this.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight of this project was successfully fitting the final design with every part of the song that the house owner wrote.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The SBID Awards have always celebrated international certification and we wanted to showcase our work to a wider audience by participating in this competition.

Questions answered by Lien-Wu Chen and Yi-Lun Wu, Design Directors, Chains Interiors.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a Gatsby-inspired hotel bar, click here to see more.

Hitzig Militello Architects share the inspiration and process behind their high-end Buenos Aires cocktail bar and restaurant project; Osten.

Osten, the high-end cocktail bar and restaurant, is located in Puerto Madero's distinguished neighbourhood in Buenos Aires. The generating idea and initial design concept stems from the era of the economic crash in 1929. Inspired by the novel The Crack-Up by Scott Fitzgerald, and the decadence of glamour from The Great Gatsby.

At first glance, a large corridor is built with scaffolding and the name Osten hangs on perforated metal located in the main entrance that also functions as a waiting room. This sets the scene and atmosphere in an alluring effect to inspire desire to discover the space step by step.

The corridor has 6 different accesses to the general space - this was fundamentally designed so each of the areas can be made independent to divide the areas as private spaces when required.

Access to the bar is at the end of the corridor, crowned by metal perforated structures to frame the identity and design of the bar. The corridors separate the entire space into two large areas of use against the backdrop of this large, statement bar.

The presence of scaffolding acts to support the design theme, representing the  era that could no longer support itself. The essential characteristic of scaffolding devices throughout the scheme is ultimately the temporality of their use, and it is this word "temporality" that defines the end of that era of over indulgent elegance. These scaffolds underpin large sheet metal arches painted in gold, but without the glitz or bombast, their appearance is instead rather aged.

The language of the arches is carried throughout and used house all the most representative areas with the bar at the epicentre; the access through a large corridor, the bar itself and its setting, as well as the staircases and perimeter seating area. Knots hold each encounter of the aged scaffolding with old bronze paint.

Modernity is essentially represented by the inner skin, built with cementitious plates and marble organised in pieces in different areas. These marble slabs are arranged in between the scaffolding structures, seeking a relationship between the elegant and the temporary. All Carrara and dark green marble slabs are arranged linearly and held in an ethereal way.

Modernity also makes an appearance through the acrylic tubes that are part of the lighting system where the two worlds are combined; the modern and its acrylic packaging with art deco drawings. In the same way, large lamps that simulate spiders, hang with acrylic tubes and chains representing the beads.

The graphic identity developed from the naming typography was applied in different spaces, in the form of a stencil on walls and through cut-outs in plates to achieve devices that function as dividers. As a result of typographic development, graphic pieces of feminine profiles have been developed and applied in the form of artistic paintings held by the scaffolding system.

The scaffolding system extends to the outdoor spaces to support the seating area, with a large mural designed by the branding team through the development of the typeface family. The tonality of the old bronze, dark green, light and blue was the result of a sober and elegant composition.

As a professional accrediting body for the Interior Design industry, the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID) have formed a partnership with FRAME - the recruitment specialists in Interior Design, Architecture and Visualisation to support professionals working in interior design with career opportunities, career advice and guidance.

The partnership was formed to provide an important link between SBID members and a trusted recruitment business, supporting interior designers with employment and recruitment opportunities.

Awards 2020 CGI & Visualisation Finalist Project by Inside Studio - Parish View Development

Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, founder & CEO of SBID says: “I’m delighted that we can now provide employment opportunities for SBID members through this partnership, whether to find their new team member or discover the latest interior design job vacancies. Finding new talent is time consuming and expensive, so it is important to recruit with care. It takes time to source an honourable partner and we are confident that FRAME Recruitment are the perfect match for the high standards we uphold, and our ever-evolving industry demands.”

“We are honoured to form a partnership with an internationally recognised professional accrediting body for the Interior Design industry at this important growth stage in FRAME’s journey. We are pleased to be able to provide an important link between the esteemed members of SBID and some of the UK’s top Interior Design practices. Offering key career and recruitment advice to committed professionals is what the FRAME specialist Interior Design team does best.” Explains Martin Bennell, Managing Director of FRAME Recruitment.

Join Vanessa and Martin at FRAME's Interior Design & Architecture Spring Update Webinar on Thursday 29th April 2021 at 12pm BST.

Please contact Jasmine Stirling Jasmine.Stirling@frame-recruitment.com to secure your place.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a retail design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist 4SPACE Design. The Dubai-based design practice was tasked with bringing to life the 140 square metre fashion retail store Tutus Kurniati.

SBID Awards Category: Retail Design Sponsored by Garrett Leather

Practise: 4SPACE Design

Project: Tutus Kurniati

Location: Dubai, UAE

What was the client's brief? 

The client wanted to develop her e-commerce platform with its first flagship store, for a more intimate shopping experience. It was important that the design reflected the brand as a luxury resort wear. The client envisioned the space to be modern and very feminine.

What inspired the design of the project?

Since the logo speaks highly of the character of the owner, 4SPACE focused on the featured colours; pink and beach-sand. The interior design was inspired by the waves on the shoreline, rocks, and seashells.

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

Completing the project on time for the grand opening of the Mall. We had a hard time with our terrazzo floor as it was installed manually, placing the terrazzo aggregates one by one to ensure that the outcome will be the same as the design.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The Instagram booth inspired by the beach showers with a neon sign and perfect lighting for an insta-worthy status - a notable design concept that is totally chic and canny.

Steps seating lounge that would appeal to social media-savvy females who enjoy retail culture.

In a cash-free COVID future, Tutus Kurniati was designed with no cash desk where technology works at its best.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We’ve been participating in the SBID Awards since 2016 and we’ve heard nothing but praise. The process for submitting the entries has always been easy and all the coordinators are very helpful. Having a good review and been very consistent in promoting the interior design profession makes us a keen follower and member of SBID. Our founders and Interior Architects of 4SPACE started becoming Accredited professionals of SBID. We’ve also won the “Overall Winner” for SBID Awards 2018.

Questions answered by Firas Alsahin, Design Director, and Amjad Hourieh, Managing Director, 4SPACE Design.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an office renovation in a pre-war building, click here to see more.

In the announcement of the Budget 2021, the Chancellor set out a £65 billion three-point plan to provide support for jobs and businesses as we emerge from the pandemic and forge a path to recovery. 

In light of the encouraging news about the UK's social distancing restrictions due to end this Summer, and with businesses now readily preparing for post-lockdown operations, Mervyn Clarke FCCA; director of the SBID Accredited specialist advisors, Baker Clarke offers advice on how to manage business finances to help get interior design businesses back on track. 

Specialising in commercial advice and having advised many companies over the years about re-structuring and recovering from bad times after recessions and banking failures, discover Mervyn's key tips to aid business recovery for the interior design sector.

It's time to reassess! 

  • Look hard at your current customers and consider your position regarding any who might become credit risks. Tact is the key here - maybe obtaining a deposit or staggered early payments to minimize credit risks? Make sure you seek consultation from credit reference agencies like Experian.
  • Consider credit insurance. There are some specialist firms and it does cost money, but can take away lots of “heartache”. Just be mindful of policy wordings. Firms like Premium Credit can finance your premium payments by instalments.
  • “The best runners are lean”. Evaluate your overheads and be tough in cutting back costs - spread cash flow with instalments where possible. I have never yet seen a company where cost savings cannot be achieved, you just need to be ruthless!
  • Think about Directors` salaries and benefits. In tough times, this becomes a key area. Cash flows can be alleviated by year end dividends and save tax!
  • If you lost money (as many have) during the Lockdown period, get advice about tax loss carry back and carry forward.
  • Get advice on your accounting year end. Moving this around can legitimately save tax by efficient use of reliefs and losses.
  • Keep your “books & records” up to date, especially sales debtors!
  • Beware of banking pressures - they will come! Some banks are already dropping out of factoring etc.,  and/or putting pressure on overdrafts in spite of promises. Act now to secure longer-term finance if you can.

If things are really tough...

  • Talk to financial specialists like Mervyn Clarke about corporate re-structuring and check your legal position.
  • Get advice - don’t just leave it…Act NOW!
  • Monitor your position daily (or at least weekly).
  • Look at holding company structures for long-term security.
  • Look at re-finance of property. Here you need specialist lenders and help with presentation as, regrettably, the major clearing banks are often unable to assist in such cases.
  • Again - be tough! Cut down those costs and cut out “dead wood” wherever possible.

    Marketing matters!

    • Evaluate how are you reaching your customers and clients. What other ways can you engage this target audience?
    • Can you improve your website and online media presence in the increasingly digital landscape?
    • Are you being proactive and chasing business hard enough?
    • Look out for new opportunities and areas you could expand or diversify your business to remain agile.

    Episode Eleven

    Women In Entrepreneurship: Considerations For Impactful Change with Giovanna Melfi

    In this Digital Discussion, SBID CEO & Founder, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE is joined by Giovanna Melfi, Founder of Metamorphosis Biz, in a discussion about women in entrepreneurship.

    With over 20 years of experience managing top luxury brands worldwide, such as Marc Jacobs, Ermenegildo Zegna, Burberry, and Yves Saint Laurent, Giovanna offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship.

    In 2016, Giovanna founded her consultancy firm, Metamorphosis Biz, and has since guided many start-ups and SMEs to success. She is also a strategic advisor for the Women's Forum for the Economy & Society in Asia; she sits on the Asian University for Women Support Foundation's Mentoring Steering Committee in Hong Kong.

    In this discussion, Giovanna shares her experiences working for global luxury brands, how the corporate landscape has evolved in relation to women and what changes she hopes to see moving forward.

    Giovanna also describes her association with The 30% Club, a global campaign led by Chairs and CEOs taking action to increase gender diversity at board and senior management levels. She shares her insights on how impactful change can be made, and which considerations are vital in order for progress to be achieved. 

    Tune in to the whole conversation to discover more.

    Celebrating Interior Design Excellence

    Set to celebrate another year of global design excellence across the interior design industry, the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID) has officially opened its 12th edition of the SBID International Design Awards for 2021.

    Since it launched, the SBID Awards has received over 3000 incredible entries from 1000+ companies in 85 countries and continues to grow! Having firmly established itself as one of the most prestigious interior design Awards in the global design calendar, the Awards represent the outstanding achievements, dexterity, mastery and quality services that go on to inspire the creativity of this diverse and ever-evolving creative industry.

    What's new for 2021?

    Alongside 17 specialist Interior Design categories spanning commercial and residential sectors, the SBID Awards 2021 continues in its quest to champion and challenge industry-wide design standards, expanding entry categories to encompass added specialisms in Product Design and Fit-Out Design.

    With the introduction of new design categories, also comes an exciting panel of expert judges to lend their unparalleled knowledge and expertise to this year’s extraordinary international jury; featuring Property Services Lead for the Department for Education; Creative Director at Amazon; Interior Design Principal at Walt Disney Imagineering Asia; Editorial Director at WGSN; Global Store Design Manager at Tiffany & Co.; Design Director at Starbucks Coffee Company EMEA; and Director of Major Programmes at the British Council. Inviting entrants from around the world, the SBID Awards presents an exceptional opportunity to showcase professional work to a host of renowned industry leaders and the wider design community on its inclusive and international stage.

    In its ambition to reunite the industry, the SBID International Design Awards 2021 will open its doors once again for a global celebration of design talent. Offering unique and inventive event experiences, the annual awards programme suitably culminates in a captivating ceremony at London’s latest luxury lifestyle destination, Nobu Hotel Portman Square on Friday 22nd October 2021.

    The Awards’ entries for 2021 will close at 5pm (BST) on Wednesday 30th June, with ‘Early Bird’ entry rates ending on 31st March. Download the full entry guidelines for all information about entering this year’s SBID International Design Awards. Members of SBID can also take advantage of exclusive entry benefits, from discounted entry fees to complimentary submissions. Click here to find out more.

    Click here to discover the last year's SBID Awards winners!

    To enter, visit sbidawards.com to find out more.

    With newly adapted lifestyles and shifting consumer attitudes towards how our interior environments should feel and function, SBID hosts an insightful webinar and panel discussion with global design experts on the opportunities and challenges facing the interior design and architecture industry in 2021. From the design and business implications of Covid-19 restrictions, to leveraging global opportunities overseas.

    Discover unique global insights on the future of the interior design profession with SBID founder, Vanessa Brady; global principle of HBA Residential, Chris Godfrey; senior associate at Zaha Hadid Architects, Bidisha Sinha; co-founder of Albion Nord, Ben Johnson;  and founder of Design Haus Liberty, Dara Huang.

    Key discussion points:
    • Top challenges and opportunities facing the UK / global interior design industry in 2021.
    • Growing interior design businesses in the aftermath of COVID-19.
    • Building long-term trust and relationships with clients in the Chinese and Asian markets.
    Speakers include:
    Chris-Godfrey-e1615912569738-350x350

    Chris Godfrey  |  Global Principle of HBA Residential

    Chris has over 23 years experience creating highly considered and finely crafted interiors for the residences of the most discerning clients. Chris cultivated his holistic design approach; combining Architecture and Interior Design to create beautifully conceived and exquisitely delivered residences for clients who appreciate the value of design excellence. In 2018 he received the coveted Master of Design Award from SBID and is also an award-winning Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Chartered Architect.

    Bidisha-Sinha-e1615912772238-899x899

    Bidisha Sinha | Senior Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects

    Bidisha finished her first degree in New Delhi before moving to London for her Masters at the Architectural Association. She has had an architectural career spanning over 18 years, delivering projects in India, UK and Hong Kong. In her role within Zaha Hadid Architects, over the last 15 years she has personally delivered projects which have made a positive difference to the revitalization agenda of the programs that were associated with them.

    AlbionNord_Portaits0303_V-e1615913268529-799x799

    Ben Johnson | Co-founder of Albion Nord

    Equipped with a First-Class Honours degree in Interior Design, Ben began his career at Candy & Candy, followed by Heatherwick Studios, and quickly built a strong foundation of experience in high-end residential design, public spaces and retail projects around the globe In 2010, Ben joined design practice 1508 London, leading a studio of 40 interior designers and appointed Creative Director and Partner in 2014. In 2017, Ben co-found Albion Nord, building an impressive of portfolio of both international and domestic residential projects.

    Dara-Huang-Profile-16-e1615912179939-312x312

    Dara Huang | Founder of Design Haus Liberty

    Dara Huang is the founder of Design Haus Liberty; an international architecture, interiors and design practice established in London in 2013, with global offices in both London and Hong Kong. She holds a Masters degree in Architecture from Harvard University and started her career at Herzog de Meuron, Basel and Foster + Partners, London. In the company’s short time, Dara has received numerous awards and honours including Property Weeks 40 under 40, BBC China's 100 Women, and Prestige Hong Kong’s 40 under 40.

    From Zoomtable panel discussions and online interviews, to Accredited CPD webinars, SBIDPro provides access to exclusive industry content. Email pr@sbid.org to get involved and share your professional views on the interior design profession!

    Nicholas J. Hickson and Manuela Mannino, founders of THPD, lead us on a trail that winds through the new tendencies of Hotel Design.

    The hotel and tourism industry rest on an ever-changing canvas and today more than ever – also considering the pandemic period – the customer and traveller requirements express themselves through novel brushstrokes.

    “If we were to identify the new directions our work is heading in, the necessity to conceive and design projects as authentic travel experiences and stone narrators of the place housing them, that is to say, destinations worth admiring and living would be the at the first place” – Nicholas Hickson says.

    New frontiers of hotel design open up and the positions that recently come out during “Designing New Hospitality” – the digital conference fostered by Elle Décor Italia –  seem to meet Hickson’s philosophy. “Emotional hotels” capable of offering stories, experiences and emotions and “story-teller interiors” wherein the city itself may be to some extent retained and enclosed are ­– according to the industry experts surveyed last January by Il Sole Ventiquattrore – the new hôtellerie avant-garde (Pierotti, Paola).

    Today, according to THDP, hotels are places of enchantment for travellers and local inhabitants, rather than mere ports of passage. Modern sanctuaries far from the hectic pace of the city or refined niches where divorcing from reality, contemporary hotels are the background to unique experiences and places to appreciate the rare flair of the inside spaces. Two fundamental reference models may be cited. The Indigo Verona Grand Hotel Des Arts, largely inspired by the Arena di Verona theatre and based on Romeo and Juliet second act, and the Hilton Frankfurt City Centre, where the welcoming atmosphere of Manhattan – the New York district that lends its name to Frankfurt city – informs the magnificent construction.

    “Designing the Indigo Verona Grand Hotel Des Arts has been just like writing poetry ” – the architecture Mannino explicates.

    Upon entering, the reception and the hotel lobby feature an evocative counter inspired by the stone masonry of Juliet’s renowned balcony in Via Cappello. And not only that. “The rear panels behind the newly designed reception take cues from the staggered wings of the theatre. Given the renown of Verona’s signature Roman arena, it would have been a pity not dedicating him a tribute…” – the architecture Mannino explains.

    The burnt bronze and the deep indigo blue colours are complemented by terrazzo sophisticated finishes, thus rendering the whole place a postcard-worthy spectacle to be admired in every single detail. The lightning is entirely made in Italy and conceived to enhance the Roman arches on the reception pod front. “The café façade is a homage to the Hotel Des Arts – namely the hotel prior to becoming Indigo – and consists of frames in varying shades”. The most precious Italian marble completes the ambience with a further hint of elegance.  “The selected furnishings feature soft shades of blue and aquamarine with rattan and orange hues, manufactured by the Italian firms Miniforms and Tehkne”. The former hotel’s art masterpieces and the mirrors have been carefully tended and maintained, with the intention of providing the atmosphere with modern touches.

    “We wanted them to merge with works already part of the heritage of the hotel, belonging to Classical periods and mid-century. Sustainability is a priority for us and recycling is a valuable resource we have at our disposal. We wanted to give the existing works new life rather than throwing them away”. And the resulting effect is astounding.

    Indeed, GlobalData’s “Luxury Hotel Market to 2024” 2020 report has revealed an upward tendency as regards the tourism industry sustainability. Paperless counters, refillable dispensers and recycled materials are trends likely to gain increasing popularity over the next years, thus leading to greater competition in the market. A further aspect highlighted by GlobalData’s report is the key role technology will play in the near future as a consequence of the pandemic restrictions, as luxury hotels are expected to redefine their design towards a more contactless experience, (GlobalData, November 2020).

    “The new Hudson Yards Bar at the Hilton Frankfurt Centre resembles a typical New York café, with brass gantry shelving, custom counters, brass foot stops and a Rancilio coffee machine realized ad hoc” – Hickson explains. The ideal place for relaxing during the day or in the evening. “The bar is designed to work day and night. We have installed swing doors so that, besides hosting a ‘day’ focus section for coffees and sweet treats, the night discloses an unedited set-up, with cocktails and liqueurs”. The guests find themselves wholly immersed in the New York atmosphere, albeit with a local food menu. The spaces combine urban and chic vibes, with green marbles and brass elements. To top it all, a parquet reminiscent of the asphalt colours. “We have worked with a four-colours palette: we wanted the guests to feel as though they were standing at the very heart of Manhattan.”

    Article written by Stella Manferdini.

    We hope you enjoyed this look inside the hotel design sector. To read about how Heritier Founder, Julien Bonzom, is pushing the boundaries of product design click here

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