BRASSWARE & ACCESSORIES
A lasting legacy T
Comment by Nigel Palmer
Marketing Communications Manager, House of Rohl
he concept of ‘built-in obsolescence’ is something we’re all familiar with. The home appliance that breaks down just a week after the warranty expires is a standing joke. How long should we expect a product to last, when even a £1,000 phone may have only five years guaranteed support from its manufacturer? In the world of kitchens and bathrooms this creates real anxiety amongst buyers. Who wants to spend thousands on installation only to see a part fail, with the prospect of further product and plumbing costs? Bob Perrin and Greg Rowe, before they founded Perrin & Rowe, were consultant engineers, fixing design and production problems for other manufacturers. They gained a unique understanding of why products go wrong – and how to ensure that they don’t. Perrin & Rowe was established with a philosophy of making taps that last, and designing them to be easily
maintained and straightforward to repair. They have been champions of ‘small batch’ production, blending individual craftsmanship with state-of-the- art technology to achieve the highest possible quality standards.
At Perrin & Rowe’s site in Rainham, on the edge of East London, you see the legacy of Bob and Greg’s approach. The Customer Service team get calls every day from owners who have products ten, fifteen, twenty years old and more. They ask, often more in hope than expectation, if anything can be done to keep the tap going. In fact, Perrin & Rowe stock parts for virtually every tap they have ever made. Generally they can be fitted without a plumber, although sometimes it’s helpful to have Terry, the resident technician, talk you through it.
Vintage Perrin & Rowe taps are regularly traded on eBay, as those in the know appreciate they have many years of life left in them. With today’s focus on sustainability, this may be the ultimate rejection of built-in obsolescence.
Industrial Revolution – New Perrin & Rowe Armstrong bathroom collection
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n 2020 Perrin & Rowe launched their Armstrong kitchen collection, a luxurious take on a pared-back design trend, with distinctive knurled handles and raised levers giving it an industrial edge. The concept met with critical and commercial success, winning a Living Etc magazine Style award and establishing itself as one of Perrin & Rowe’s most popular taps.
Earlier this year Perrin & Rowe unveiled Armstrong bathroom, featuring the same design DNA. It is now available to order and is one of the most comprehensive ranges the company has ever launched. The basin mixer can be specified as single-lever or as a three-hole
tap, and both can be wall-mounted or deck-mounted. Perhaps the most iconic piece is the freestanding bath-shower mixer, which takes around five hours to polish by hand. There is also a complete Shower Set with h and-shower and overhead rose and a full range of accessories.
Every piece can be specified in Chrome, Nickel or Pewter for a silver finish, or 24-carat Gold, Polished Brass or Satin Brass for a golden glow. Perrin & Rowe’s two brass finishes are unlacquered and develop their own patina over time, enhancing the beauty of the alloy. English Bronze offers a darker metallic finish that brings out the detail of the knurled handles, a unique homage to our industrial past.
+44 (0)207 351 4378
www.houseofrohl.uk
24 BKU OCTOBER 2023
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