Candana

Sunday, 19 October 2014

Germany 2014: Part 2

Hansgrohe Aquademie in Schiltach

Showerworld entrance

Showerworld dressing room

Axor Front shower in Showerworld

Axor Nendo Lampshower in Showerworld

Axor Massuad in Showerworld

Showerworld

Some of our group in Schiltach

Schiltach

Shower displays in the Aquademie

Puravida display in the Aquademie

Axor Citterio display in the Aquademie

Axor Urquiola & Nendo display in the Aquademie

Axor Massuad display in the Aquademie

Axor Starck Organic display in the Aquademie

Axor Urquiola display in the Aquademie

Axor Starck Organic display in the Aquademie

Hansgrohe 'Select' display in the Aquademie

After spending 3 fabulous nights in Munster with Kaldewei it was time to move onto the Black Forest to visit Hansgrohe and Duravit.

We travelled 6 long hours on a bus with a pleasant, unscheduled stop over in Cologne for lunch and the next day woke to the most beautiful view I could ever have imagined. It is clear to me why the Germans focus so much on sustainability and being green, because they are completely engulfed in this amazing environment that needs to be maintained.

Hans Grohe was inspired by the Black Forest surroundings and had a passion for water which encouraged his manufacture of tin showers in 1901, that's over 110 years ago!

Even today the Hansgrohe company is still owned by the Grohe family.

Our first day at Hansgrohe included a 'Shower World' experience. When initially reading this on the itinerary I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive. However, upon entering this area my doubts were completely squashed. The rooms were set up like some of the most luxurious bathrooms I've seen and we were lucky enough to test them all out.

My excitement at finding the brand new Nendo LampShower was visible, I think I may have squealed with joy.

We even got to try the AXOR Shower Heaven which is a massive 1m x 1m square ceiling shower panel with lights and different spray settings plus the set-up included body jets. This experience was out of this world, I can't emphasis enough how amazing it feels to be standing under a shower that pumps out 33 litres per minute. Maybe standing under a waterfall would come close.

I would also like to mention at this stage that all of the water in 'Shower World' is 100% recycled and used to flush the toilets throughout the Hansgrohe Aquademie.

After 'Shower World' and product training by very professional and knowledgeable Hansgrohe staff we ventured out into the factories. Hansgrohe are the complete embodiment of a 'green company', not only are their products water and energy saving with a long service life but they make an effort to use renewable energies within the company, sophisticated recycling systems and heat recovery in production. And walking through the factory you could not see one person slacking off or without a huge smile on their face. The workers are passionate about the company and love their jobs.

All Schiltach residents will know at least one person who works or has worked at Hansgrohe. This company has been a wonderful source of employment and economy for this stunning little town.

During training we were lucky enough to be shown some new products including the very cool Axor Starck V and new Select range. Select is going to change the way we control our showers, it is a revolutionary push button system that I think will be everywhere in the years to come. Can't wait to get these products in Aus!

During the 10 day trip we sampled some of the most delicious food and beer Germany has to offer. One the most memorable was visiting one of the 5th oldest farm houses in the Black Forest, Klausenbauernhof to make our own Flammkuchen (Black Forest pizza-style cake) in their wood fired oven.

Hansgrohe also organised for us to do a day trip across the border into Strasbourg, France.

We spent the day doing a walking tour through the town, eating delicious French/German food and managed to squeeze in a little bit of shopping, of course! It was great to see during the 'free-time' almost every public bathroom had Hansgrohe tapware!

Klausenbauernhof farm house, Black Forest

Learning a bit about the Klausenbauernhof farm house, Black Forest

Making a Flammkuchen

Enjoying our Flammkuchen, inside the Klausenbauernhof farm house

Hansgrohe History in the Aquademie

Axor Starck bathrooms in the Aquademie

Axor Starck V during training

The actual view from my hotel room window, Black Forest

Strasbourg, France train station

Strasbourg, France

Walking tour of Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg, France cathedral

Walking tour of Strasbourg, France

Lunch in Strasbourg, France

Outdoor basin in the Black Forest

Photos © kaety/Candana

Sunday, 12 October 2014

Germany 2014: Part 1

The group at Kaldewei, Ahlen

Ellipso Duo freestanding bath in gloss black

Kaldewei's Christian Spieker welcomes us to the KKC

Checking out the new 'Meisterstuck' with 'Comfort Select' electronic touch control

Conoflat shower surface in matt black

Conoduo freestanding bath in matt black

Every year Bathe Australia take a group to tour their German suppliers factories and to see what is new and exciting in the world of bathroomware.

This year I was lucky to attend and over the next few posts I'll be sharing with you all that was discovered, learnt and eaten in those 10 glorious days!

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We began our German adventure in Munster, also known as the bicycle capital of Germany. This beautiful town is home to approx 48,500 students and we were informed that every person has at least 2 bikes. There were literally bikes everywhere!

We made daily (short) trips to Ahlen for Kaldewei and were greeted each time by a stunning enamel-clad building and the smiling faces of the Kaldewei staff.

The most astounding thing I discovered about Kaldewei was their 0% waste policy.

Nothing, nichts, not one little piece is wasted. They recycle all product i.e. glass and steel and even re-use the taphole/overflow cut-outs for waste covers etc. Very eco-friendly!

Wandering through the factory was an eye-opening experience for me. The precision and skill that goes into producing a Kaldewei bath or shower tray is unbelievable and yet completely understandable, considering they have a 30 year warranty on their product.

Watching the cold press deep-drawing process was probably my favourite part of the factory tour. Seeing a 2.9mm thick piece of steel (overall thickness of the bath material is 3.5mm including enamel) deep drawn just by pressure (these pieces are not heated up!) into the shape of a bath is just outstanding.

Unsurprisingly their sales in shower trays (a.k.a shower floors & shower surfaces) have rocketed and we are hoping the Australian market will embrace the shower trays soon. They are more hygienic and so much easier to clean than the traditional tile/grout combo. And with Kaldewei's colour options, you wont have any trouble matching your floors.

Kaldewei were kind enough to share some of their new products with us also. They've just launched their one-piece, no-seams freestanding bathtub. 'Meisterstuck', German for masterpiece. And what a masterpiece it is. Sleek lines and contemporary styling with all the advantages of the best bath material in the market, steel enamel.

The other exciting new Kaldewei development is 'Sound Wave'. We were utterly enthralled by this new gadget, it basically turns your bath tub into a giant speaker!

Once adding a 'Sound Wave' to your bath tub, connect your device via bluetooth and you can play whatever music you wish through the actual bath. This also means you get cool little vibrations in the surface of the water.

Everyone needs a Kaldewei bath. Everyone needs 'Sound Wave'.

Kaldewei will be launching some exciting things at ISH trade fair next year but unfortunately they were kept well under wraps. We will be sure to keep a close eye on any Kaldewei releases and keep you updated.

Bicycle highway in Munster

City walking tour through Munster

Dinner at brewery Pinkus Muller

Cologne cathedral

Photos © kaety/Candana

Wednesday, 8 October 2014

WIN WIN WIN

It's competition time!

To celebrate 1000 followers on Facebook, we are giving away one of our super popular Menu Gridy Me mirrors (valued at $199.95).

To be in the running to win this fantastic prize please follow these easy steps;

1. Like us on Facebook
2. Visit our website and choose your favourite piece from our 'Featured Products' page
3. Comment on the Facebook post which is your favourite piece
4. Cross your fingers!

Entries close 21st October, winner announced 22nd October.
Open to Australian residents only

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Surprise Inspiration... NYFW 2014

Normally when we post our fashion surprise inspiration posts we feature the runway trends, this time we've been inspired by the street fashion in NY during fashion week 2014.

Each fashion week brings out the best in street fashion, so its only normal that these trend-setters inspire our interiors also (including bathrooms!).

Here are some of our favourite street looks paired with some bathroom design ideas.

Fashion images via Harpers Bazaar

Monday, 15 September 2014

Get to know the Candana team (Part 1)

32 years on and still located in Woollahra, Candana Designs showcase a diverse mix of decedent architecture and design work from an array of international and homegrown brands. Being designers themselves, the Candana staff strives to inspire a bathroom design culture that wows the industry and also their valued clients.

The team at Candana Designs all pride themselves on perfect craftsmanship and we thought we would begin introducing you to some of the staff behind the company.

Firstly, we will be introducing you to the Managing Director of Candana Designs, Marc Reed.

Next, you will discover a little bit about Senior Design Consultant at Candana Designs, Kaety Thompson.

Marc Reed - Managing Director

1. What bathroom products/brands currently make you hot and flustered?

The current range of Teuco products, simply because they are so damn Sexy! In particular, I love the Accademia freestanding bath in the Stone Grey or Carrara Marble.

2. What are you known for? (What’s your Instagram alter ego?)

I am known for telling terrible, groan-worthy Dad jokes. Having children has been a great excuse for me to act like a goose, which I seem to be good at! I would also like to think that I am known for running a very good team of Bathroom designers.

3. What is your favourite song to perform in the shower?

Having 2 young boys, it would probably be a song from The Wiggles. I don’t remember the last time I got to listen to my own music.

4. If we walked into your dream bathroom, what would we see?

I love the “Hamptons” theme that we are currently seeing a lot of, it has always been my desired style of living! So you would see subway tiles (I know they have been done to death), splashes of Carrara marble, a lot from the Happy-D range from Duravit and tapware from Brodware. In particular, the Neu England range in a brushed nickel finish. Clean, simple, warm, and textured.

5. Have you ever stolen a pen from work?

As I own the business I guess I can’t steal from myself, or can I? I know I have lost a lot of pens, that’s for sure!

6. Pick one designer and one architect to be your parents. Why did you choose them?

As my father is an architect, I’d pick him. He is my inspiration as a father and he is also a fantastic architect. He frustrates me to boiling point sometimes but I still love the guy. My mother would be the extremely talented designer, Briony Fitzgerald. She has been a client of mine for many years and I just love the way she goes about her business. Lots of colour and lots of fun. (Sorry Mum.)

7. What bathroom product/fitting would you be and why?

As the Managing Director here at Candana I normally have to deal a lot in spare parts for clients we helped 20-30yrs ago, so I would have to say if I was a bathroom product I’d probably be a washer or something alike.

8. What magazines/books are next to your toilet?

Bathroom and design books of course! Belle, Monument, Vogue, Trend, Habitus, and probably a few children’s books.

9. What are the biggest mistakes people make in bathrooms that quite frankly makes you seethe?

Putting a free-standing bath in to an area that can’t fit one. It is my absolute pet hate to see that in a bathroom.

Family time at the beach- Oscar, Marc and Charlie

The Reed boys- Charlie, Marc & Oscar

Neu England in Brushed Nickel

Teuco bath in Carrara Marble

Kaety Thompson - Senior Design Consultant

1. What bathroom products/brands currently make you hot and flustered?

There are some fantastic things coming out of Denmark at the moment, which I’m loving. Brands like Frost and Menu are designing some of the most beautiful and contemporary bathroom accessories, which are extremely well made and thought out. It’s so refreshing to have some Nordic design follow through to the bathroom. I also have to mention KOS; these guys are bringing out beautifully designed baths and basins out of my homeland, Italy.

2. What are you known for? (What’s your Instagram alter ego?)

I’m usually known for my constant hair colour and style changes, which is why I often have customers coming in asking if I’m new (even though I’ve been here almost 7 years!). I’ve been everything from pastel pink to fire red pixie, but I think my signature is the black bob.

3. What is your favourite song to perform in the shower?

My favourite song to perform in the shower would have to be 90s classic ‘Pump Up The Jam’, while using the soap pump of course.

4. If we walked into your dream bathroom, what would we see?

Sonny Bill Williams in a towel… I mean, Vola tapware in copper, concrete floors (underfloor heating is a must), and a Sicis custom tile mural of a Roy Lichtenstein artwork.

5. Have you ever stolen a pen from work?

Nope, I’ve been lucky enough to score some great things over the years from Candana, and they were gifted to me! Candana are some of the most generous people you will ever meet.

6. Pick one designer and one architect to be your parents. Why did you choose them?

I would HAVE to choose my all-time favourite wacky designer Philippe Starck to be my Dad – he is so hilarious and an absolute genius that there would never be a dull moment. As for my Mum, I’d have to go with Rae Eames, just because it would be interesting to see her and Philippe in a room together!

7. What bathroom product/fitting would you be and why?

I would be a Vola KV1 designed by Arne Jacobsen in the 1960’s – the most iconic bathroom/kitchen design piece of all time! But in Orange, to give it a ‘Kaety’ colour twist.

8. What magazines/books are next to your toilet?

I don’t believe in spending more time in the toilet than is necessary, so no books/magazines in there. However, if I HAD to read something, it would probably be the Harry Potter series (for the millionth time).

9. What are the biggest mistakes people make in bathrooms that quite frankly makes you seethe?

Putting freestanding baths in a space where there is not enough room! Renovation TV shows have given the general public the impression that a luxury bathroom needs a freestanding bath - this is not the case people! Try cleaning around a bathtub that is squeezed into a 3-wall niche – impossible and completely impractical!