Innovative strength, precision down to the smallest detail, personality and the courage to break new ground – these have been Dornbracht’s hallmarks since 1950. At that time, Aloys F. Dornbracht founded a fittings factory in Iserlohn, Germany, and caused a sensation with the invention of a pull-out spout – a genuine world first. In 1969, Dornbracht then presented its first luxury fitting; the Edition 2000.
Today, we are active in more than 125 countries and are famous worldwide for our design and architectural expertise. Our claim “Leading Designs for Architecture” underlines our leadership aspirations. Leading in the sense of “acting responsibly” means, above all, creating sustainably lasting value and developing products that will endure.
Together with our partner Sieger Design, we continuously sound out trends and tendencies in architecture and interior design. Collaboration with interior designers is therefore the core of our work, because only in direct exchange do we understand the needs of the market. It is always a pleasure for us to inspire them with our bathroom architectures. At the same time, the exchange of experiences also enriches our work immensely.
With Dornbracht Pro Services, we provide the support expected from a premium partner – from personal advice and planning support to the provision of all necessary product and planning data to customized spare parts offers on a project basis.
As a place of well-being, the bathroom plays a central role in every house and flat. The effect of water – whether at the washstand or in the shower – makes a significant contribution to our ability to relax and unwind from everyday life there.
In the kitchen – the place where people come together – the fitting has a more functional role. But it is decisive in whether we find the cooking experience enriching.
Dornbracht manufactures high-quality designer fittings and accessories for the bathroom, spa and kitchen. Proportion, precision, progressiveness, performance and personality – these are the five design principles that distinguish each of our products. Combined with uncompromising quality, they ensure the longevity and stylistic confidence of the fittings – for many years to come. Furthermore, our curated range of finishes offers numerous design options.
The individualisation trend reflects the central principle of the current age: Self-determination and self-realisation, uniqueness and personal freedom of choice are becoming the driving force more than ever. This can also be transferred to the interior sector. Whether with a high-quality mix of materials or coloured elements – our customers expect the greatest possible choice to design their bathroom and kitchen according to their own ideas. We meet this demand with a wide range of products and our x-tra service, which realises special designs.
Questions answered by Stefan Gesing, CEO, Dornbracht AG & Co. KG.
About Dornbracht UK & Ireland
Dornbracht, with headquarters in Iserlohn, Germany, is a leading specialist for superior designer fittings and accessories for bathrooms, spas and kitchens. The company was founded in 1950 and today is internationally renowned among architects, designers and luxury consumers for its product portfolio in more than 125 markets.
As an ultra-luxury brand, Dornbracht prides itself on its innovative technology and “Made in Germany” manufacturing standards which are made possible by state-of-the-art production technologies and highly qualified employees.
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Founder of Ledbury Studio Charlie Smallbone has stepped back in time for his latest project, creating the beautiful Stroud Kitchen for the owners of a 16th century Cotswolds home. The results speak for themselves – but the quirks of a home built when the first Queen Elizabeth was on the throne nonetheless provided Charlie and his team with a few challenges. Here he talks us through the project.
Our clients sought us out because they wanted a kitchen that would be in sympathy with the age of the house but that also had a contemporary look. Our projects range from Georgian townhouses to warehouse conversions, so we’re accustomed to striking this balance with many of our kitchens. This is why the owners came to us the minute they’d exchanged on the house.
The original kitchen had a small scullery attached. We knocked through the dividing wall to create one large space for cooking, eating and entertaining. However, the age of the property meant that none of the walls were straight and there were a lot of original features to account for. Plus, the low windows and doors, original brickwork and huge fireplace all had to work in harmony with the kitchen furniture.
We designed the island as the main working area and this houses the hob, prep space and plenty of storage, as well as a breakfast bar. As you stand behind the island, you can see a central dividing wall ahead, which is where the oven housing is situated (see image 4). The sink is in the corner and the fridge-freezer is on the other side of the dividing wall, next to the door to the garden (see image 5). At the other end of the island there are steps down to the utility room and a door into the dining room. Although it’s one large space, there are clearly defined zones of activity in the kitchen
We used a range of finishes so that the various elements of the kitchen have their own identity. However, there is also a unifying theme: they are all designed to look like pieces of furniture. From the island to the oven housing, the fridge-freezer and wine storage, and the sink area – each resembles a bespoke freestanding piece. These include some clever design ideas: for example, to hide the electricity meters, we designed a shallow-depth cupboard (see image 6) that we’ve turned into a feature as a bar area with aged brass shelving above.
The ‘Choppy Wood’ carving on the back of the island cupboards and meter cupboard is a signature Ledbury Studio finish. It’s created by hand-carving stained oak to form a textured surface that chimes well with the unevenness of the dark wooden beams in the room.
For the oven housing and fridge-freezer, we selected a patinated copper. The oven housing is visible from the breakfast bar, and there is a small drinks area next to the fridge (see image 7), so both pieces needed to be decorative. However, they are also practical: there is pan storage below the ovens and a large breakfast cupboard and larder sits alongside the fridge-freezer and wine storage (see image 13).
Adding contrast to the dark oak furniture, the sink area is in white-painted oak, while the worktops are Stone Italiana Ambra quartz, an excellent hardwearing choice for the working areas of the kitchen.
To add some glamour, the sides of the island are in Verdigris copper, which ties in beautifully with the oven and fridge-freezer housing. Meanwhile, the worktop on the island is edged in aged brass (see image 9), mirroring the handles used throughout. Finally, possibly my favourite feature, is the aged brass and oak screen (see image 10) that sits beside the stairs to the utility room. It’s for safety, but who says it can’t be a sculptural piece at the same time? Overall, I think the kitchen looks like it has always been there, which was what we intended, but it also adds a large dose of contemporary wow factor!
Ledbury Studio kitchens start from £70,000.
About Ledbury Studio
Ledbury Studio is a new and exciting design studio, showcasing Charlie Smallbone’s latest kitchen designs. Small and personal, Ledbury Studio has been established to explore and develop the interface between kitchens to cook and work in, and kitchens to live in. The company offers something very different in the world of kitchen design, something not found elsewhere. Combining exquisite materials and artisan craftsmanship, the new kitchen collections are striking and innovative and the culmination of Charlie Smallbone’s history at the forefront of cutting edge kitchen design.
If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an open-plan kitchen design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Concepts by Gavin Hepper.
SBID Awards Category: KBB Design
Practice: Concepts by Gavin Hepper
Project: Oxford Project
Location: Sydney, Australia
We were engaged to transform the interior spaces of this new build into an elegant Australian home, reflecting a modern European luxury. To bring a WOW factor, being a family home the kitchen in particular needs to be durable and functional for a large extended family that enjoy cooking and entertaining. The client also requested a specific ‘morning’ zone for a coffee and juice bar, and that the space is able to be occupied by multiple people simultaneously. And where possible, the use of products with a sustainable nature was preferred.
Drawing on the materiality elements of traditional European luxury interiors of beautiful marbles and metallic finishes and ornate details, we have then interpreted these materials for a modern Australian lifestyle. With a background in joinery, I wanted to bring a handcrafted bespoke furniture element to the project. Specifying a Neolith Sintered Stone in a modern 12mm profile has facilitated some great detail within the design, working with a family run Australian business with a strong sustainability focus to handcraft the timber features and panels really highlight these elements. Working the design to achieve a balance of the scale of the island, anchoring the kitchen within the open plan living area whilst keeping the rest of the space light and provide a seamless transition and flow throughout the home.
Being engaged in the project well into construction of the property set some challenges for us, as there had been several significant oversights that we had to deal with.
Collaborating with some great brands and suppliers to deliver such a detailed orientated project, working alongside our team of trades to deliver our clients forever home, having clients that welcome you into their homes with such faith and trust to build a space for them to be able to create new memories with their family in, this is the ultimate highlight on our Oxford Project.
To provide an international platform for great functional and beautiful Australian design.
Questions answered by Gavin Hepper, Creative Director, Concepts by Gavin Hepper.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a minimalist monochrome residential design by MOON bureau, click here to read it.
Sylan started when we saw a strong desire for bespoke and luxury washrooms along with excellent customer care. With over 30 years’ experience in the washroom industry, Sylan washrooms creates bespoke crafted, beautifully engineered products bringing a true element of luxury to any commercial washroom. As a business we aim to be leaders rather than being a follower of market trends.
We are a specification lead brand working with Architects and Interior designers providing washrooms to commercial projects such as offices and hotels. We work alongside SBID to keep a constant dialog with Interior designers. We aim to gather great understanding of their needs and requirements to make the specification process as smooth as possible.
To fulfil their design aspirations where form & function are critical elements within a project. Our dedication and understanding of the key markets is paramount to our success and drive. Our continuous desire to create innovative products created through extensive research and market knowledge, make us a brand leader within the washroom market.
Our project managers provide guidance when it’s come to writing your specification and will take the pressure off by providing you with a completed specification with any supporting documents you may require including mood boards, brochures and samples. They can offer their advice and expertise through specification appointments whether it be on site or remotely, making the whole process as easy as possible.
As we work with office, hotel and commercial projects our main trend is simplistic washrooms with a luxurious feel. The need for full height cubicles and superloos is increasing with the demand for unisex and privacy washrooms. We have seen an increase in black and metal fittings e.g. copper are being specified in washrooms, we have worked closely with our new product development team to create new fittings which meet this demand. Finishing touches such as Solid Surface vanities are becoming increasingly popular and we are working hard on including more bespoke vanity profiles for a more inclusive offering. Throughout this process we make sure we do not compromise our position on sustainability and environmental impact.
Questions answered by Hana Aubad, Marketing Executive, Sylan.
About Sylan
A Sylan washroom is the ultimate expression of precision. This is because we are obsessive about detail. Every Sylan washroom we create is a luxuriously crafted, beautifully engineered product. But more than that, every one is bespoke built and individually customised around your needs. Your Sylan journey will start with our Project Managers and stay with you for years to come. It will be so well built, so precision crafted and so detailed in its design that we are fully confident to offer a 10 year guarantee across the whole range.
If you’d like to feature your project news here, get in touch to find out more.
From premium bathroom retailer, C.P. Hart, comes three exclusive brassware ranges: Original, Epoch, and Spillo.
Exclusively designed and manufactured for C.P. Hart, each range is available in various luxurious finishes, presenting brassware options to suit both classical and contemporary schemes.
Epoch is an award-winning, classical brassware range designed exclusively for C.P. Hart and manufactured in the UK. The collection combines facetted spouts, soft crosshead handles, and stunning etched indices, showcasing quality craftsmanship with timeless charm.
Inspired by the glamour of the Art Deco era, Epoch brassware is available in eight finishes, including Chrome, Polished Nickel, Gold, and Living Brass – a finish that ages beautifully with time. Though classical in design, the Epoch range also complements a contemporary setting.
“To create the below suite, we paired Epoch brassware with Artelinea’s eye-catching, fluted Monolite Vanity Unit, combining its elegant modernity with Epoch’s timeless appeal,” explains the C.P. Hart Design team.
Explore Epoch range.
Designed by John Hart, the son of C.P. Hart’s founder, the exclusive Original collection celebrates the company’s heritage, combining classic Edwardian proportions with modern quarter-turn technology.
Precision-manufactured in the UK, Original brassware ensures authenticity, durability, and a flawless finish. Each item is available in Chrome, Incaloy Gold, and Nickel.
“C.P. Hart supplied Original brassware as part of the transformative renovation of Moore House, featured below,” says the C.P. Hart Design team. “We paired the Original Bath and Shower Mixer with C.P. Hart’s freestanding Winchester Freestanding Bath, both exclusive to C.P. Hart, to breathe classical elegance into the modern-classic aesthetic.”
Explore Original range.
C.P. Hart’s most comprehensive brassware range, Spillo, is manufactured exclusively for C.P. Hart in Italy. The collection’s slim, minimalist form is present in every piece, including a full range of basin, bath, and shower fittings, as well as an extensive accessories range. Engineered from low-lead brass and packaged in recycled boxes, Spillo is an eco-friendly brassware option, available in 10 polished and hand-brushed finishes.
Also available from C.P. Hart are the Spillo Steel and Spillo Tech ranges. With the same design ethos as Spillo, Spillo Steel is manufactured from marine-grade stainless steel, one of the most durable materials for a wet environment. Featuring three styles of faceted handle design, Spillo Tech highlights the extraordinary engineering of Italian manufacturing, providing a unique look for every bathroom style with its range of polished and hand-brushed finishes.
“The Spillo Steel Tall Basin Mixer complements the monochrome scheme, whilst the Spillo Single-Lever Basin Mixer in matt white boasts a unique finish that beautifully contrasts the bathroom’s wooden textures.”
Explore Spillo, Spillo Steel and Spillo Tech ranges.
Visit a C.P. Hart showroom here.
About C.P. Hart
Leading bathroom retailer C.P. Hart has an outstanding reputation for the best in design and innovation, with products sourced from designers and manufacturers worldwide, many exclusive to C.P. Hart and unable to be purchased elsewhere. C.P. Hart has 15 showrooms across the UK, including its impressive flagship at London’s Waterloo.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a light and airy kitchen design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Bocchetta Interiors.
Practice: Bocchetta Interiors
Project: The Slipway
Location: Dorset, United Kingdom
The Slipway is a modern new build home in a tranquil setting by the sea. The owners already had a very clear idea of what style they wanted their home to have, but they commissioned Bocchetta Interiors to pull a cohesive scheme together. They liked the idea of each room flowing from one room to the next with beautiful, quality materials, lighting and FF&E. The main large open plan kitchen and living space was the most important room to them and needed to have the ‘wow’ factor, especially as it has the most enviable Harbourside views.
The inspiration was the amazing location. We needed to encapsulate the calmness of living by the sea and hearing the water and clinking of boats. We wanted to keep a light and airy feel with subtle hints of luxury and pops of coastal colour and artwork. The builder/developers Ash Haus and Glass Harbour Group were such a pleasure to work with. Nothing was too much trouble, even if it meant adding a last-minute steam room or intricate wall paneling with hidden door.
I think the trickiest part was getting a kitchen layout to work with the breadth of space. The wrong kitchen design could have easily ruined the space and been too dominant. The developers and clients were delighted when Siematic Chichester came on board and produced a truly stunning kitchen design that seriously impressed whilst still being sympathetic to the surroundings and other elements in the room.
One of our favourite commissions was to design a custom made 3.4-meter-long dining table with hand polished metal gold base and Silestone top. We worked with the clients to make sure the shape was just as they wanted, oval and wide in the middle to make conversations with everyone around the table easier. The gold of the table perfectly matches the gold trim in the kitchen and further gold pieces around the room.
We have been a member of the SBID for many years, so we know that their awards are well respected within the industry. It was also the perfect opportunity to showcase work that we are very proud of.
Questions answered by Lucinda Bocchetta, Owner and Founder, Bocchetta Interiors.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a hotel design by YANG, click here to read it.
Entering the rooms of the Landaburu Borda country house, the NATURFLOOR-W wooden floor (an AC6 natural wood floor especially designed for rooms with heavy, frequent traffic and suitable for spaces in frequent contact with water) takes us to their bathrooms, in which the Country Oak wood finish takes continuity over walls, floors, furniture, and even inside the shower cabins.
With a 14 mm thick and a bevelled edge, NATURFLOOR-W is installed as glued floor, with different board widths (188 and 290 mm). The boards rest on pieces of sound-proofing blankets laid out in parallel. Between them, elastic adhesive lines were applied to secure said boards to the ground. They are joined together by a tongue-and-groove machining, to which a line of PVA D3/D4 glue is applied to hold them together and to avoid water leaks into their structure.
Furniture has been custom made with standard NATURPANEL-W panels, the same material as used in walls, which has been cut to size to allow the installation of electrical and water sources.
A glass curtain separates the WC space from the shower. The shower stall is continuous with the same Country Oak finish, although here the material used is the NATURHARDPANEL-W board, the PARKLEX PRODEMA covering for areas frequently in contact with water which is built on an HPL core that makes it watertight.
The shower stall’s lower corner has been resolved with a superimposed edge system, applying a sealant from above to below the panel to prevent water entry. Installing the panels on laths provides for good water draining and air circulation. These two qualities guarantee hygiene and a long material life.
About PARKLEX PRODEMA
PARKLEX PRODEMA is the merger of two international brands, specialized in coverings for architecture. For decades, they were competitors in the architecture, interior design, and construction industry. The union between these two brands is our new future, because we believe that union, today (on this new international stage), is the best formula to keep growing and innovating.
The Vintage collection by GRAFF Designs, a unique range marrying industrial style with rich heritage. Inspired by the Chicago Fire Department’s heroic role in extinguishing the state’s Big Fire of 1934, GRAFF Designs pays homage with this tactile and vintage style brassware.
Reminiscent of the iconic fire hose valve silhouette and mirroring the red logo of the Chicago Fire Department, the collection boasts exquisite craftsmanship and detail, from its architectural elements to its modern take on traditional design. Comprising 140 stylish products including bath and basin mixers, showerheads and rails, as well as an accompanying accessories range.
Formed with precision engineering and premium-quality materials, the Vintage Collection is available in 21 luxury finishes including 24K polished gold, vintage brushed brass and the classic limited-edition red.
Available to buy now in the UK with prices starting from £500 for a basin mixer in Chrome, up to £5,500 for a 24K Gold freestanding bath shower mixer.
For more information, expert comment or imagery, please contact the team at [email protected]
About GRAFF
GRAFF’s luxury taps and shower collections elevate the bath space with designs that are both timeless and cutting-edge, complementing endless architectural and interior styles. Available in 21 luxury finishes such as Brushed Brass, Polished Nickel, and 24K Gold, and with a choice of three Tuscan marble inserts, GRAFF basin mixer or shower controls offer bespoke and unique customisation possibilities. Backed by a rich heritage of European artisanship, GRAFF products transform the bath space into a masterpiece of tranquillity, wellness, and spa like experience. With a focus on design, sustainability, and high technology, GRAFF caters to the senses with features such as chromotherapy, bringing bath and shower experiences to luxurious heights.
MOD+ by GRAFF Designs, a rich and diversified modular collection that offers endless customisation possibilities. Allowing a high degree of creative freedom with luxury custom finishes, materials and configurations, MOD+ unlocks up to 65 000 possible combinations – a collection like no other.
Comprising 55 bathroom products for the washbasin, bathtub and shower areas, in which each element can be completely customised GRAFF has created its MOD+ Collection Configurator to fully exhibit the collection’s potential. An online tool to help design and specify, personalisation options include handle detailing, finishes, materials, spout size and mounting type.
MOD+ offers 20 unique finishes, including Gunmetal, Matt White or Vintage Brushed Brass, or for that extra special touch, a unique 24 K gold finish. Handles materials include variations of Tuscan marble including Storm Black, Forest Green and Smoky White.
President of GRAFF Designs, Ziggy Kulig comments: “GRAFF is committed to presenting the best bathing experiences in the personal space of your house with exceptional style and selection of precious raw material innovations in a way that exceeds expectations.
To see the full collection and try the online configurator, visit www.graff-designs.com/en/catalog/configurator/
Ledbury Studio creates kitchens that are uniquely personal to every client – a point happily noted by the owners of this stunning home in Poole. “It was love at first sight when they saw the eclectic range of materials on show at our studio in Notting Hill,” says Ledbury Studio founder Charlie Smallbone. This, coupled with Ledbury Studio’s skill for mixing and matching these beautiful materials to create truly bespoke designs was perfectly aligned with the clients vision for a contemporary kitchen that oozes wow factor.
Extensive building work was required to create the light-filled, open-plan space that now exists. To divide the large space into smaller areas of activity, Charlie designed a screen in black-stained oak and aged brass to frame the kitchen. From this vantage point, the eye is automatically drawn to the striking mirrored splashback embellished with aged copper. It provides a stunning backdrop to the island, another talking point thanks to the verdigris copper panels edged in black-stained oak on one side and the black-stained oak cupboard doors surrounded by aged brass on the other.
To pull the various metallic elements together, Ledbury Studio’s design included an aged-brass rack over the island. This creates a small space to display beautiful objects.
Injecting a neutral note is the poured concrete flooring and the base cupboards that run in an L-shaped configuration to the island. Made from oak and painted white to allow the beauty of the grain to shine through, the cupboards are topped with a pale quartz worktop and feature patinated brass surrounds and kickplates to coordinate with the other cupboards in the kitchen.
Also sharing the space is a bank of built-in tall cupboards illuminated by an LED surround. They incorporate a large larder for food storage, ovens and a fridge, and the cupboard fronts are made from liquid metal in a specialist shagreen finish. Aged-brass handles unify the look. “Every Ledbury Studio kitchen is truly unique and this one was no exception,” says Charlie. “Our clients were thrilled with the result, and in particular, with the range of materials used.”
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