Moben Kitchens, Sharps Bedrooms and Dolphin Bathrooms have unveiled their new ambassador - renowned interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Bringing his own unique style to all three brands, Laurence now provides inspiration and styling advice when it comes to new kitchen, bedroom and bathroom product introductions and is featuring throughout the marketing programme, unveiled to customers for the first time on Tuesday, 22nd June 2010.  

All new photography of new ranges launched by Moben, Sharps and Dolphin will be styled by Laurence himself and a part of his role will be as a style consultant for all three brands, working with the new product development teams. Sitting alongside the existing brand experts, Laurence will be available for comment on the inspiration behind new products, style advice and trend predictions on the three brands behalf.

Laurence also has a dedicated ‘trends and inspiration’ page on all three websites – www.moben.co.uk, www.sharps.co.uk, www.dolphinbathrooms.co.uk – featuring his detailed insights into the design inspiration behind each new range introduced, styling tips and a look ahead to what trends will be leading kitchen, bedroom and bathroom design over the months ahead.

Furthermore, Laurence will also be embarking on a ten day showroom tour, visiting a total of 20 Moben, Sharps and Dolphin showrooms across the country this autumn. Consumers will be able to meet Laurence and hear all about the latest trends and product launches, with dates to be confirmed soon.

A close working relationship

Commenting on his new role with Moben, Sharps and Dolphin, Laurence said: “I have been working with Moben on the TV advertisement voiceovers for a while but it soon became clear there was a great deal of potential in becoming an ambassador for all three brands.

“My real remit with Moben, Sharps and Dolphin is to inject even more personality into these products and make sure that customers can truly ‘see’ the product within their own home. I can come up with the big, broad-brushstroke ideas that can take all three brands to an even more design-inspired position. I want to further inspire the design team, encourage them never to hold back on creativity and share my enthusiasm of this wonderful business.”

With regards to the existing product portfolio as well as the new ranges soon to be introduced, Laurence is excited about the potential all three brands have to offer the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom market.

“Moben, Sharps and Dolphin all have a reputation for quality, reliability and dependability, and I want to build on that. These days, it is no longer about playing the property market – it’s about making your home a home again. There is a now real hunger to have more personalised products. By working with these three great brands, I feel I can bring more personality to their beautifully engineered, thoughtful and well-designed furniture.”

 

 For a design with the longevity to last a lifetime, Edwardian is Moben’s latest addition to the collection of ‘Character’ kitchens. With a stylish cream wood finish, this kitchen will amplify the light in your home whist the black iron-cast handles give it that durability and finish, echoing a time-gone-by.

With deeply routered door profiles and a traditional dresser design, this kitchen range gives a truly high-end look and feel, without the designer price tag. A range to impress visitors and family alike, the sociable island unit makes a this a fantastically friendly kitchen.

A traditional Belfast sink is used as a real focal point, with plenty of space for the family to congregate, and to help mum with the washing up. What’s more, the solid granite Maia surfaces provide a hard wearing solution no matter what culinary masterpieces or disasters come its way.

Terry Watson, Kitchen Planning Expert for Moben Kitchens comments:
“For a kitchen which brings the warmth of a classic kitchen – without looking out of place in a modern home, this range brings a real flexibility to your home. Whether you are after a design which will stand the test of time, but can be easily updated with accessories or want a real traditional look this is the kitchen for you.”

Terry Watson, kitchen planning expert at Moben, comments:

 “Kitchens have come a long way over the past 10 years as trends come and go, design changes and technology moves forward. Essentially their key purpose – for the preparation of food - remains, but evolving lifestyles have changed the way in which we use our home. Whilst we all like to go out and have a good time now and then, the home has fast become the social space of choice in recent years as we look for more cost-effective ways to spend our evenings and weekends.

“The kitchen is now integral to the trend for home entertainment because of our rekindled passion for cooking, thanks in part to the enduring popularity of food related programmes and our love of TV chefs. We are becoming more ambitious in the kitchen and the idea of throwing a dinner party seems to now be a British tradition so it makes sense that homeowners are looking to make their kitchens part of their wider living space.

“In turn, we are demanding more than ever from our kitchens as its role evolves from simply a place to cook to being the centre of the home, where the whole family congregates. With the kitchen becoming ever more multifunctional, identifying different ‘zones’ - such as cooking, dining, entertaining and working - will help achieve the most out of the space. Practicality is essential and there is a growing demand for kitchens to incorporate an array of gadgets and multimedia, so everything is close to hand.

“For instance, it’s now common to find items such as integrated scales, push down plug-sockets and hot water taps within the modern kitchen. Digital entertainment systems such as televisions and iPod docking stations have become regular features in the busy family kitchen, and slimline, integrated options have come into their own of late. Having a flat-screen integrated television within one of your kitchen cupboards is a great way to bring entertainment into the kitchen without taking up too much space and is a perfect choice for enthusiastic cooks who want to ‘cook along’ or as another way of bringing the family together in one place.

“Technology has also meant that large appliances are boasting more user friendly features than ever. Slimline designs have been very popular as a solution for those with space at a premium whilst drop down ovens are a real show stopping choice for entertainers. Multifunction is also key but it has to be practical and not technology for technology’s sake. People need to be able to benefit from the functions their ovens can boast, and manufacturers have really taken this on board.

“Also, the kitchen is a statement room in its own tight and there is a real trend towards choosing appliances, worktops and all-important finishing details with a dramatic design that cannot help but catch the eye. Extractor hoods that double as a striking chandelier, integrated wine coolers, plinth lighting and illuminated shelving are all options from Moben that can help transform the kitchen into a state of the art experience.

“Increasingly, storage has become top of the kitchen agenda and there are so many solutions to choose from that will organise your cupboards and drawers so you have a place for everything and everything in its place. Homeowners are keen to replace traditional cupboards with two sets of drawers or with bi-fold wall units that open upwards, because this not only creates a stylish look and streamlined finish, it makes the space more practical and ergonomic.

“Homeowners are also opening up their living spaces more and more, connecting the kitchen, dining and lounging areas, providing the opportunity to work, rest and play within one communal space. The latest kitchen cabinetry designs offer a harmonious look that can be continued throughout the rest of the home for a complementary and inviting overall scheme so style really has been brought to the fore over the past 10 years.”