This month we headed over to the Grand Designs Show at the NEC to view a vision of the best that the building and interiors industry has to offer!
The first thing to catch my eye (other than the sartorial yet fretful Mr McCloud himself) was a magnificent clutch of fabulously presented ice baths. The mental and physical benefits of taking the plunge into near freezing water are well documented, but it’s the fourteen grand (yes you read that right £14,000!) price tag that puts a shiver down my spine! I am struggling to see much difference between these products and a nicely constructed bath with an ice-maker bolted to it. Anyway, not on my Christmas list this year!
Next up were some exceedingly nice cookers and built-in ovens by a brand we already know and love, Bertazzoni. Their entire stand genuinely looked a million dollars — it demonstrates that their tagline of Family, Food, Engineering encompasses everything they believe in — pride of place were two beautiful range cookers covered in the same eye-catching yellow and orange paint used by Italian supercar manufacturers. An especially nice touch considering their price point sits well-below half that of an ice bath.
It was incredible to see one of the first range cookers to have a downdraft hood built-in to the induction hob, alongside a suite of built-in ovens in colours like Zinc, Carbonio (a matt black) and Copper with built with steam combination cooking. We showcase these products in-store so please pop in for a demo.
Finally, we were seduced by one of the most incredible massage chairs I have ever seen. Although it was larger than some of the rooms in my house, and came along with a price tag higher than a reasonable second-hand car, it was time to kick my shoes off and strap in. I was soon subjected to a rather more intimate massage experience than I had bargained for but, nevertheless, one that did indeed provide an overall relaxing experience. Sadly I couldn’t fit it in my bag so the backache is here to stay!
Overall a good day out, and while there wasn’t much in terms of AI or robotics on offer to help us all out, I was pleased to see that the key message was one of sustainability and environmental awareness – two themes that neatly fit in with what we are seeing right now in our stores. Customers are looking to help the planet, their bank balance, or both, with appliances that are cheaper to run and kinder to the environment.
We hope to see you instore soon — give us a call on 01904 628676 to discuss your home appliance, kitchen or bathroom design plans.
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