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kitchens & bathrooms
Organic direction for tops and finishes
Robertson’s new Evostone 20mm solid acrylic tops offer four different finish options – White, Monsoon, Riverbed, and Absolute Concrete – along with a range of organic-inspired patterned finishes. Available across all Robertson’s vanity ranges, EvoStone is extremely durable and easy-to-maintain, non-porous (which makes it also highly hygienic).
A new range of Laminex acrylic cabinet finishes with organic patterns and designs include soft and tender pastel colour schemes include seven new matte look and soft touch feel finishes and 14 different finish options for the Terina II and Studio Plus ranges with matching tower/mirror cabinets. The new matte acrylic finishes are; White Linen Matte, Sky Scraper Matte, Jute Matte, Metallic Dune Matte, Metallic Coal Matte, Cinder Matte, and Pitch Black Matte.
https://robertson.co.nz
wardrobes, as well as other undisclosed opportunities.
The pandemic and lockdowns have impacted kitchens just as
much as other home improvement categories, for good and bad. Taking the good, Rebecca Collier-York says “Covid has had a
huge impact for us in particular.
“Looking at your kitchen day in and day out, you might want
something a little bit nicer.
“So I think people have been willing to spend a little bit more
on better products.”
Expect to see PlaceMakers’ new 3D Design Planner including other rooms at some point.
MORE FOR SMALLER DWELLINGS
Although product price increases and other external cost hikes will also be affecting the average spend in bathrooms as much as kitchens, Louise Cook, Category Manager Bathrooms for Mico and PlaceMakers, is also quick to note that customers have been looking up in terms of products, finishes and materials.
“We still have our trends of light and natural and woodgrains,” says Louise, along with accents of soft blues and greens coming through.
In terms of accessories, according to Louise, there is definitely a move away from the blacks and gunmetals and more into softer golds and stainless, brushed nickels etc.
Another trend is the bathroom becoming a wellbeing space, in terms of hygiene, and in terms of the ageing population living in their homes longer.
“That is a trend that Australia has been running with,” says Louise “And we’re making sure our products match what’s happening in this space.”
Space in the bathroom and the use of that space are also ongoing factors in product choice with a growing need for smart storage, shower niches and mirror cabinets.
Then there are smaller vanities, smaller showers, smaller toilets, and smaller freestanding baths for smaller townhouses and multi-unit dwellings.
DIY’S INVESTMENT IN DESIGN
At this year’s National Kitchen & Bathroom Association Conference, in what is thought to be a first, a DIY retail employee took out the prestigious Judy Bark Cup for the “Most Promising Kitchen Design Student”.
Selected from people enrolled in the Diploma in Kitchen Design with BCITO, shortlisted students have shown
28 NZHJ | AUGUST 2022
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