New design bulletins outline product features and benefits

New design bulletins outline product features and benefits

by | Jul 3, 2020 | New Bathroom Products, New Kitchen Products

Professional designers must continue to be informed about the features, benefits and design considerations of a wide range of products. With an in-depth knowledge of surfaces and materials, a knowledgable designer will be far better placed to extend their potential in kitchen and bathroom design. In our new Design Bulletins, we’re helping Members build a bank of references to start their material investigations.

We recently partnered with Austaron Surfaces to outline the features and benefits of Staron® Solid Surfaces. The Bulletin summarises how solid surfaces can be used in all kinds of kitchen and bathroom applications. It outlines the key considerations designers need to make when designing with solid surfaces, including support and structural requirements, designing with pattern and selecting colours. Most importantly, this handy cheat-sheet sets out the compliance and warranties associated with the product, making it an invaluable resource for all good designers.

Members can access this Design Bulletin (along with our full suite of Technical and Business Bulletins) in our exclusive Members Portal. If you’re interested in learning how your product can be featured in this way, contact us via the form below and we’ll be in touch.

Expression of Interest: Product Design Bulletin

Staron® Design Awards 2020 Open for Entries

Staron® Design Awards 2020 Open for Entries

by | Jul 2, 2020 | Industry News

A message from our Corporate Plus Partner, Austaron.

Staron® Solid Surfaces is a quality surfaces material that is a leading product in the solid surface industry. The design versatility made possible by using Staron® is extensive, and we have seen some simple, creative and complex designs using the product nationally and internationally. Staron® has been used across the globe from small to large projects by some of the world’s leading designers and architects. To celebrate this design versatility, the Staron® Design Awards was created eleven years ago, and the program has returned again in 2020.

The Staron® Design Awards are open to any designer, architect, developer, kitchen/bathroom designer, student or any other designer who has created a design project using Staron® Solid Surfaces. The design awards have been designed to create exposure for students, designers and architects using Staron® in outstanding design. The aim is to recognise and celebrate beautiful design at all levels – from a young designer’s vision, who creates concepts and ideas all the way through to an experienced designer / architect who has been in the business for years. The program is open in three categories.

The Commercial category is open to any installed commercial / industrial project with a prize of $2000 cash plus marketing exposure for the winner.

The Residential category is open to any installed house / apartment project with a prize of $1000 plus marketing exposure for the winner.

The Concept category is open to any ‘idea’ or concept that has not been realised yet. This can be a drawing, graphic or sketch, with a prize of $250 plus marketing exposure.

The Staron® Design Awards 2020 are now open for entries till 31 January 2021. Entry to the Staron® Design Awards is free and easy and can be made online at www.staron.com.au

staron.com.au

Ph: 02 9822 7055

Image: The Commercial Staron Design Award winner 2019 by Lisa Schiffermuller and Liane Jarvie of Ellivo Architects

Europe’s most trusted kitchen, bath and interior CAD is here!

Europe’s most trusted kitchen, bath and interior CAD is here!

by | Jul 2, 2020 | Design Software

A message from our Supplier Partner, CAD International

Choosing design software for your kitchen and bathroom or interior design business has not been an easy task – until now. There’s a vast range of software on the market and making a decision can get very confusing, very fast. Many products are expensive, difficult to master, limited in potential or just too ‘Americanised’. And some products are all of the above. A range of software products can be purchased outright, while others are offered on a subscription basis – and one model may suit you better than the other.

In Europe, one affordable and easy-to-use product has risen to the top by placing its focus on meeting the needs of a specific target market – interior designers.

ARCHLine.XP was initially designed for architects, but when architecture almost dried up following the 2008 GFC, the developers cast their attention to interior design, renovation and fitouts. They focussed on delivering a suite of specialised tools for kitchen, bathroom and cabinetmakers that would stand them apart from their competitors. Knowing productivity would be a key advantage for this market, they combined rapid design creation and editing tools with presentation assets, the ability to prepare bills of materials and 2D documentation.  

In this feature, we’re stepping through the features most loved by Europe’s interior designers, and now available in Australia through KBDi Supplier Partner, CAD International.

A Simple Interface with Smart Tools

Interior designers can benefit from a full set of 3D tools for kitchen fit outs, bathroom fit outs, skirtings and cornices, lighting, furniture, cabinets, tiling, stairs, materials and more. Working in 2D and 3D at once allows great design freedom and ‘out of the box’ creativity.

Room Maker

Now interior designers can explore the full extent of room design using real walls, ceilings, windows, finishes and fixtures to help maintain more coherence in the design. From a ‘real-person’ perspective you can edit furniture and objects, and automatically create interior elevations and plans.

Real-life fixtures and BIM objects

With a direct link to online 3D Libraries such as 3D Warehouse®, and BIM libraries like BIMObject®, Cadenas®, Synchronia® and Showroom®, testing out new taps, sinks, shower heads, cabinet handles, door handles and shower doors becomes a simple drag and drop exercise.

Cycle Between Products and Test Design Options 

Test different design options at will.

3D Warehouse Link

Access thousands of different furniture and 3D models that you can drag and drop straight into your models to test different layouts.

FF&E Reports

ARCHLine.XP supports a full Open-BIM interface, allowing you to instantly extract quantities, costs and information about your models to create FF&E reports in Excel.

Kitchen Design

Start with a rough footprint of your kitchen layout.

Create your base cabinets in seconds.

Add a sleek modern benchtop with your favourite sinks and taps.

Add your desired tiling patterns to the splashback and define your work area.

Finally, document your designs for construction. ARCHLine.XP contains a full 2D drafting toolset for you to create detailed documentation.

Bathroom Design

Using the same tools, you can easily create jaw-dropping bathroom fit outs.

3D Visualisation

ARCHLine.XP also comes with a high-end render engine. Help your clients understand the atmosphere and aesthetics of your designs with beautiful (and easy-to-generate) high-end visuals.

Keen to learn more? Visit CAD International today, and be sure to mention your KBDi connection.

Confused about PI and PL insurance?

Confused about PI and PL insurance?

by | Jun 26, 2020 | Business

If you provide advice to your customers – like how to set out a kitchen or bathroom, for example – a mistake or misunderstanding around the information you give could see you facing a legal claim.

Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance is essential for those who offer design advice as part of their service. PI insurance covers an ‘act, error or omission in design or specification’, and provides both you and your client with great peace of mind.

Doesn’t my Public Liability (PL) Insurance cover this?

If you charge fees for your service and advice, most (if not all) public liability policies will exclude claims for injury or damage that may arise from a breach of your professional duty. You’ll need professional indemnity coverage to respond to such claims.

How is a Professional Indemnity (PI) claim triggered?

A public liability claim can only be triggered if there is third party injury or property damage. A professional indemnity claim, on the other hand, can be instigated by a financial loss to your client or a third party contractor as a consequence of an error or omission deemed to be a breach of your professional duties.

We’ve worked closely with our insurance partners, CMIB, to tailor a combined Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance Policy that best reflects the services carried out by kitchen, bathroom and interior designers. And we’ve leveraged our group buying power to negotiate a hard-to-beat rate, too, with premiums starting from just $495.

Keen to get a quote?

To get an accurate quotation for your current set up, complete our online application here. Our insurance team will assess your situation and send you a quote asap.

Or would you like to compare policies?

To compare your current insurance policy with the KBDi insurance policy, simply complete the above online quote form (click on the ‘Apply for PI and PL Insurance button) so we have all your business activity details. Send our office an email with a copy of your current policy schedule and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), and we’ll arrange for our insurance broker to compare the policies.

Not yet a member but interested in learning more? Complete the form below and we’ll be in touch.

PD Thursday | Making marketing part of your day

PD Thursday | Making marketing part of your day

by | Jun 25, 2020 | Business, Video Conferences

Thursday | 9 July 2020 | 4pm AEST

With five bustling businesses in the Enever Group Family, Linda Reed-Enever knows what it’s like to be busy! As a publicist and marketing consultant, she also knows the considerable value and importance of marketing. In this session, Linda will share her best tips and tricks to make marketing part of your day and eat the elephant one bite at a time.

About the Presenter

Publicist and Marketing Consultant Linda Reed-Enever lives and breathes publicity and has a passion for connecting everything from people to ideas. Linda is the Principal Director at ThoughtSpot PR and Founder of Media Connections and Business Business Business. With her ‘can do’ attitude and entrepreneurial spirit, she inspires and motivates as she connects people and opportunity. Linda’s innate ability to network and think on her feet has positioned her as a dynamic leader and ‘go-to girl’ in the communications and marketing arena.

Places are limited (with priority allocation going to KBDi Designer Members). Register TODAY and we’ll confirm your spot via email.