kbb Birmingham 2020 | SHOW REVIEW


British companies were taking traditional shaker styles and innovating with the aesthetic and


colours to deliver something fresh and exciting


From Fortune Brands, coloured V&A baths and Perrin & Rowe taps (right)


While blues remained the most ubiquitous colour, greens were hot on their heels. I can only describe the new colour palette as ‘English country garden’ – lots of beautiful greens, ranging from deep evergreens through sages to some very subtly herby/minty tones and now joined by gorgeous floral shades of pinks, purples, lemons and hints of pale tangerine. While 2018’s blush pinks and baby blues were a tentative step, this year the shades came alive and were shown off to wonderful effect on many stands, including Caple, LochAnna and Uform. Paired with light woods, granites and plenty of whites, the effects were dazzling and I am aching to replicate some of the styles back in our own showroom.


Metal magic


It was good to see the continued evolution in metallic finishes. If 2018 was all about bright copper, 2020 saw brass as a key trend, though not the only one. It pairs well with the up-and-coming darker greens and existing dark blues. It also worked well with the industrial aesthetic. Yet it was by no means the only trend and some lovely gunmetals and darker, brushed bronzes and coppers added some grown-up sophistication – and there was still a smattering of yellow golds to keep those Russian oligarchs happy. The standout was Insinkerator’s 4-in-1 tap in rose


gold, which few visitors could pass without admiring. Fresh traditional


If there was a noticeable divergence between the colour palettes picked by British exhibitors compared with their European counterparts, I felt that particular trend continued in the units themselves. While the German stands continued to show beautifully engineered linear boxes, and the Italians did similarly


April 2020 ·


but with added panache, with a few notable exceptions – one being Leicht – I would struggle to know which European brand’s stand was which. The modern aesthetic felt a little stale, while the British companies seemed to be taking more traditional shaker styles and innovating with the aesthetic and colours to deliver something fresh and exciting. Uform’s new Harborne handleless shaker was a particular highlight.


I had less time to browse worktops this year, but my impressions were of evolution rather than revolution. That said, I am in love with Cosentino’s new Nilo natural stone – a Brazilian quartzite with stunning movement and life. Other new additions to its Dekton and Silestone ranges were bang on-trend and will be very popular with our customers. And the angular, monolithic island creation from Marazzi was a work of true gravity-defying beauty.


Appliances Most brands seemed to be showcasing refinements to existing lines rather than major upgrades, although connectivity was the clearest theme.


The most interesting aspect of connectivity was to see how each brand was taking a different approache. Although Samsung is still relatively new into the ‘core’ kitchen appliance market, they are making waves and have, perhaps, the most mature offering when it comes to connectivity, focusing around lifestyle and making the kitchen the hub. Caple’s focus was fairly and squarely on being useful and simple to use. There were lots of smiles, oohs and ahs at their new ovens and when combined with their crisp aesthetics – especially the exquisite gunmetal – keen pricing and comprehensive list of extras. Its appliance offering really is coming on. Neff, too, was keen to get in on connectivity, with


lots of talk of “going on the connectivity journey” and the “theatre of the showroom”, but the theatre of opening an oven to the start of the Bake Off music and turning the lights a strange colour did feel slightly pantomime. Still they finally showcased some wine coolers that will be available later in the year. In range cookers, it was great to see Ilve’s latest models with increased capacities and some other rather nice upgrades, and Lacanche added colour to the proceedings with its instantly recognisable style. Vlaze – a brand new to me – added some colour and innovation with its brightly-coloured indoor/ outdoor modular kitchens – something genuinely different – and it certainly created quite a buzz. Highlights for me were Elica’s Lullaby solid oak extractor – truly an object of beauty – and I could have happily stayed on the Fisher and Paykel stand all day. Its outstanding engineering, attention to detail and five-year parts-and-labour warranties make them a very interesting proposition. With limited time, we barely scratched the surface in bathrooms. Of particular note was the Flova/Imex/ Deuco stand. All its new items were different enough to catch the eye, solidly made and professionally presented by very knowledgeable staff. And from a more design-led direction, the stands from Dansani and Acquabella were attractive and certainly attracted plenty of attention.


Standout stands


In kitchens, LochAnna and Uform were particularly fresh, but my favourite stand was Caple with its Japanese/Scandi look, great new products and delicious food by Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton. In appliances, Fisher and Paykel was quietly understated yet oozed quality, and for the quintessentially British experience, the Perrin and Rowe/Shaws/Victoria and Albert area had a wonderful mix of traditional and modern. The new Armstrong tap was a particular highlight and the painted baths put a smile on everyone’s face. I felt it was a very successful show. Loads of inspiration, an upbeat, confident feel and some great new products and potential suppliers.


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