An added value special looks at a housing scheme making the most of external design, and Trends explores the art of selling less
Whirlpool bath
Fiordaliso is a circular airpool and whirlpool bath made by Italian firm Glass Idromassaggio, available in the UK from shower maker NewTeam. The 1510 × 1510 mm bath fits neatly into a corner, has a waterfall fill and is available with digital or manual controls. NewTeam is offering a site survey and installation package, and an extended two-year labour and parts warranty.
NewTeam
www.newteam.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 901)

Central locking system
Hardware manufacturer and distributor Mila has introduced Centra-Lock, a household central locking system. The system locks and unlocks doors and windows through a small, hand-held transponder unit, as with cars. The electronics are housed in units that can directly replace existing handles for doors and windows, using existing espagnolette, shoot-bolt and multipoint locking systems. Centra-Lock is battery-operated and can be installed as a standalone unit, for a front door, or as a fully integrated whole-house system.
Mila Hardware
www.mila.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 902)

Regional Colour specification
Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings has launched a specification system for its Crown Trade and Sandtex Trade brands. A specification compendium draws on colour research in Europe and the UK with new colour themes and palettes. Landscape of Colour is a collection of 15 historically authentic regional colour palettes for exteriors, ranging from the Southern Counties to the Scottish Highlands. The collection was developed following research into the geographical history of regions and a national assessment of colours in the built environment, and draws on data from Akzo Nobel's Aesthetics Centre in the Netherlands. There is also a an interactive CD-ROM with specification software.
Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings
www.akzonobel.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 903)

Towel rails
Creda has a new range of towel rails, which includes white and chrome models, tear drop and ladder styles, plus a shelf-style warmer. All models offer low-energy usage and are fluid filled for even heat distribution.
Creda
www.creda.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 904)

Cherry wood flooring
Trima Wood Floors has supplied just under 6000 m2 of its engineered cherry wood flooring in an oiled finish, for all 95 apartments at Persimmon City Developments' Wenlock Works scheme in London. Engineered cherry comes from the company's Nordik range which includes 10 species in three styles. The engineered hardwood flooring is made from a cross-ply construction of real wood.
Trima Wood Floors
www.alpha-marketing.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 905)

Easy-to-install showers
Coram Showers says it has improved its Premier shower enclosure range to provide faster, simpler installation and enhanced design and user appeal. To help installation there are guide grooves for accurate drill location, fully adjustable wall channels and corner posts, and adjustable door runners on models with sliding doors. A polished silver frame finish has been added to some models, in addition to white, pearl silver and pearl light gold finishes.
Coram Showers
www.coram.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 906)

Vernacular-style slates
Landmark Slates from Redland Roofing Systems add to the vernacular feel of new homes at Countryside Properties' traditional fishing village-style development in Chatham, north Kent. Landmark Slates are made using the ColourFusion manufacturing process, which helps retain their true colour for at least 25 years. The process blends up to three colours, so that each slate incorporates colour differences to produce the laid roof appearance typical of quarried slate.
Redland Roofing Systems
www.redland.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 907)

The three-minute bath
Twyford Bathrooms has come up with an installer-friendly bathroom suite. The products are designed to improve quality of fit and make installation easier, and include a patented new design which is claimed to reduce the average time of installing a bath from 30 minutes to just three. The suite will be demonstrated at the Interbuild exhibition at Birmingham National Exhibition Centre from 9-13 June.
Twyford Bathrooms
www.twyfordbathrooms.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 908)

Fire surrounds
Robinson Willey's Premier and Standard ranges have a new selection of fire surrounds. The Premier range has four models, including the Heath surround in a beech finish with Marfil stone marble, and the Standard range of flat-packed and assembled models includes the Viscount surround in white with a black laminate back panel and hearth. The company has also introduced a carbon monoxide detector as an integral feature of its Firegem Visa 2 gas fire range.
Robinson Willey
www.robinson-willey.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 909)

Shower trays
Shower maker Mira is introducing a range of integral upstand stone-resin and acrylic shower trays. The integral upstand range is available in two-, three- and four-upstand variants, as well as riser and non-riser formats. The company is also rebranding its Alstone brand with the Mira name.
Mira
www.mirashowers.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 914)

Window units
Steel Window Supplies has manufactured and installed more than 100 window units for the refurbishment and extension of a 1920s house in Radlett, Hertfordshire. Window units were made using EB Series rolled steel sections, which offered the closest match for the original putted-in panes, but featured double-glazing retained by a bead. Window ironmongery includes ornate handle sets with shaped, cast backplates.
Steel Window Supplies
www.steelwindows.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 915)

Brass-finish shower mixer
The Kludi New Waves bath shower-mixer distributed by Eurobath International is contemporary in design and has a chromed brass finish. It projects by only 160 mm, has an ergonomically integrated diverter and includes automatic retraction. The mixer is equipped with a limescale-proof Cascade spray regulator.
Eurobath International
www.eurobathinternational.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 918)

Planks and floor tiles
Laminate flooring company Quick Step has introduced Uniclic Perspective long planks and laminate floor tiles. The long planks are 137.6 cm long and 15.6 cm wide and come in 10 wood-effect finishes, including antique, oiled or varnished oak, maple, cherry or beech. The laminate tiles are available in six designs, including a terracotta finish.
Quick Step
www.quick-step.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 919)

Bathroom accessories
Samuel Heath has added larger versions of round and oval swivel mirrors, together with a longer glass shelf with lifting rail, to its bathroom accessories collection. Both mirrors have bevelled edges and can be co-ordinated with the Novis and Curzon suites of accessories. All products are made from solid brass and are available in a variety of finishes.
Samuel Heath
www.samuel-heath.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 920)

Shaker-style kitchen

The Symphony Group’s light oak shaker-style kitchen is designed for loft-style open plan living. The Vancouver kitchen includes open shelving, three-quarter units, metal-framed glazed units, stainless steel pilasters and an aluminium support system for free-standing units. The island module combines a practical working and seating area with storage, including wine racks. The Symphony Group
www.symphony-group.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref 900)

What's the spec

St Andrew’s Mead, Holt, north Norfolk Hopkins Homes’ ability to add value to external design through quality materials and attention to detail first caught attention in the late 1990s when the housebuilder beat off competition from big-name developers to win a series of design competitions held by St Edmundsbury council to develop sites in Bury St Edmunds. The company’s latest project is a 69-home scheme of three- and four-bedroom cottages and houses, designed by architect David Futter Associates, in the Georgian market town of Holt. The vernacular designs feature such local materials as north Norfolk red brick above plinth detailing of locally quarried flint. Hopkins has also used local style clay ridge tiles on the roof parapets, with concrete pantiles on the roof itself. The homes also have added value features such as conservatories, solid working chimney breasts, and stone fireplaces. Project team
Developer: Hopkins Homes
Architect: David Futter Associates Windows
Jeld-Wen
www.jeld-wen.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref. 910)
Pantiles
Marley Redland
www.marleyroofing.co.uk
www.redland.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref. 911)
Bricks
Bovingdon Berry Multis
Hanson Milton Hall Light Reds
www.bovingdonbrickworks.co.uk
www.hanson-brickseurope.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref. 912)
Conservatory
Waveney Windows
www.building.co.uk/enquiries (ref. 913)