Chameleon Business Interiors – a Yorkshire-based interior design, fit-out and furnishing business, specialising in commercial buildings – has been operating internationally for over 20 years. The interior design and fit-out industry has experienced a lot of challenges during this time, but none more so than in the last two years. As the sector continues to negotiate supply chain delays, inflated material costs and a national labour shortage, Shaun Watts – chairman of Chameleon – shares his reflections from the last 12 months, makes his predictions for the year ahead, and offers insight into the plans to secure continued growth. It has certainly been a challenging time for our industry, and it’s incredibly sad to see firms in our sector close their doors recently. No one knew what to expect as we entered 2021. If you believed everything you heard at the time, you’d think that the office working model was dead and that we’d all be working from home permanently. Indeed, 2021 saw a slow-down in our Canadian business, despite delivering several projects successfully due to our strong management based in Toronto.  But, overall, I’m very grateful and humbled that we have bucked the trend, starting 2021 on the back of the growth and success of 2020. We secured a number of large and complex contracts early on, with clients that took a long-term view to workspaces: they wanted to think creatively, design spaces their employees wanted to return to, and prioritise collaborative and safe working. As a result, we doubled our turnover and we have our innovative and hard-working team to thank for that. I also saw clients’ confidence in us grow because we’ve continued to invest and recruit. But I do recognise that we represent a small proportion of companies that emerged from 2021 in a strong position. 2022: industry predictions As we look ahead to 2022, I believe that: Sustainability will continue to influence everything we do. Carbon neutral buildings will become more important to occupiers and we’re even seeing projects that are aiming to be carbon negative. It’s a phenomenal purchasing mindset shift. Employee wellbeing is absolutely front-of-mind; the pandemic has focused everyone on this and they’re now investing significantly in their workspaces. It should be about putting people first and really considering how existing spaces can be maximised for the people that use it. Safe yet sociable hubs that enable collaborative working is essential for the return to office-based working. The workplace has changed forever and we have seen this new model work well in 2021.  Reducing the office footprint is not the right approach – you can’t expect employees to live their whole career in their bedroom. There’s limited personal development opportunities with this model and it’s short-termism, in my view. British manufacturing has an opportunity to really thrive – with all of the delays and inflated costs we’re experiencing importing materials and furniture into the UK, now is the time for British manufacturing to make its mark. 2022: industry challenges In terms of challenges this year, I predict we’ll be looking at: The skills gap presenting us with ongoing difficulties – recruitment across the sector has been very difficult and there isn’t a large talent pool out there. To combat this, we need to be offering more opportunities to those entering the industry and enabling them to develop long-lasting and fulfilling careers not just ‘jobs’. Cost continuing to impact our sustainability goals – unfortunately, doing the right thing comes at a price. If we’re ever going to move the needle, we need to find some way to appease both clients’ budgets and the sustainability agenda. Motivating staff after a very busy few years becoming a bigger challenge – this is a challenge faced by businesses all over the world. The last two years have been stressful and we’ve all been working very hard. So this year will be the ‘Year of Fun’ for the team at Chameleon to give the team the opportunity to bond and have fun together again. It’s been well overdue! Chameleon’s 2022 The year has begun well, with a number prestigious projects already on site across country that we’re all very excited about and new projects in design stage. With the addition of new talent and expertise to the business, we anticipate the size and complexity of our projects continuing to grow. Acquisition will be part of our growth strategy in 2022, and I am actively looking for the right opportunity. We have some ambitious targets to meet that will stretch us all but we are up for the challenge. The infrastructure and talent we now have in place gives us the strength in depth to support our growth ambitions over the coming year.

Daval Furniture, award-winning British designer and manufacturer of quality fitted furniture predicts furniture trends, with a rise in made-to-measure furniture for the kitchen, living space and bedroom as UK consumers seek interior solutions that optimise space management in 2022. Simon Bodsworth, Managing Director at Daval says: KITCHENS: Painted kitchens will embrace the mellow and gentle hues of nature where land meets the sky so look out for shades of grey, cream, green and blue echoing the colours of the British countryside. When it comes to material, timber will be a go-to solution providing both traditional grounding for modern in-frame kitchens, as well as a tactile and organic contrast to pared back linear schemes with Scandi-style undertones and eco-attributes. Two key looks will dominate the kitchen market next year – Refined Country, inspired by the timeless beauty of painted Shaker-inspired furniture and Natural Renewal, in which recycled materials and tactile surface treatments and finishes take precedence. It’s safe to say the market is enjoying the ability to create whole-house interior design schemes so that the kitchen living space now includes added-value living areas like a home bar or utility/boot room with ease. Broken plan and open plan will continue to evolve with elegant and versatile made-to-measure, made-to-order furniture serving real needs in custom kitchen design. Still the cornerstone of the modern home, optimizing how the kitchen space can adapt with your lifestyle to create a supportive environment with ample storage and worktop space to accommodate family life is going to be vital next year and one of the furniture trends. Post pandemic life will bring a deeper appreciation of the capabilities of custom-made furniture, alongside the introduction of hygienic surfaces and hardworking kitchen storage like walk-in pantries. LIVING: Hybrid home-office lifestyles have brought new options to the meaning of a healthy work/life balance, and this is set to continue next year with flexible interior spaces becoming increasingly important. In fact, we are getting requests to assist customers with personalised garden rooms to work as an outside office or entertaining space. This alone underlines the markets determination to optimise indoor outdoor living all year around and offer a home office which is separate from the main building, for extra privacy and comfort. Beautifully designed media rooms, home offices and space for outside entertaining will all see resurgence next year as one of the furniture trends and built-in furniture is your answer to achieving both style and function affordably. There is real benefit to selecting furniture which is designed around the evolving needs of your growing family or changing lifestyle and so carefully curated personal spaces will become standard fare next year. BEDROOMS: In 2022, the master bedroom is all about quality time with considered space management becoming critical to enhancing wellbeing at home. This will see a rise in tactile surfaces with silky-soft finishes and ergonomic handles topping the charts alongside easy-to-use storage components, which help create a deluxe space built for comfort and relaxation. Added to that, tailor-made dressing tables, walk-in wardrobes and fitted drawer systems will evoke a five-star feel to the home, so regardless of any potential travel restrictions, you can enjoy a boutique look and feel at your leisure. I believe the sustainability theme in interior design and growing responsibility to reduce carbon footprints at home and in business, has already encouraged more people to ‘shop local’ and Buy British. This has led to a greater appreciation for family-run British manufacturers in the creative industries both regionally and nationwide.

Granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, has been appointed by Formation Group PLC to provide the worktop materials for two high profile projects in London, Tottenham. Comprising of an apartment block in Tottenham Hale’s Berol Yard and phase two housing for Ashley Gardens in the London Borough of Haringey, the constructions by Berkley Square Developments have provided more than £1 million worth of work to Roann Limited to supply and fit high-quality, durable worktops. The team specified 166 units of Cosentino Silestone Lusso worktops with splashbacks for Berol Yard to complete the high-level finish seen throughout the build, and 310 units to Ashley Gardens.  “We have always found the Roann team to be professional, pro-active and an efficient organisation. Both projects at Wembley and Berol Yard, Tottenham have been handled superbly and delivered as per our schedules. Roann Limited is a pleasure to work with and we would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone,” said Commercial Manager of Formation Group, Mark Gordon. With the projects on track to begin in January 2022, the new homes will be populated by Winter 2023.  “Working with Formation Group and providing the new developments with worktops is a great way to kickstart the New Year and continue our business growth into 2022. Providing housing with durable, attractive and long-lasting materials is what we’re passionate about so being selected for this prestigious project is an exciting step for us as a company,” added Scott Wharton, Sales Director at Roann Limited. 

Rotpunkt, award winning designer and manufacturer of carbon neutral German Kitchen furniture leads the way in eco-luxe interior design on account of its market-leading furniture solution BioBoard Gen2, which has been in production for nearly two years and is available to UK customers. Made from up to 90% recycled wood, this versatile eco-luxe material is one of the most environmentally-friendly chipboards ever used in the global kitchen industry, becoming a key pillar of the company’s integrated social-environmental policy up to 2030. Not only does BioBoard Gen2 reduce the use of virgin wood in the supply chain, but it also benefits indoor climates by ensuring the amount of formaldehyde released is half that of new chipboard. “As sustainability meets luxury design in the 2022 kitchen, we are proud to lead the way with an eco-friendly alternative that does not compromise on quality or design. All KBB professionals know that ‘change is an inside job’ and developing a brand is ever-evolving, which is why we are excited to report huge retail uptake and market support in our mission to become sustainable in every aspect of our business. To paraphrase Henry Ford, ‘Any customer can have any kitchen in any colour, as long as it’s green!’ As a German manufacturer, we have long been aware of the importance of recycling and protecting the environment and in 2017 our founders decided to take action in line with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals – known as the Agenda 2030 – and so this has always been a fundamental part of our corporate responsibility,” said Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt, Matt Phillips. Rotpunkt is laser-focused on seeing green solutions throughout its supply chain from the factory floor to the end users’ experience in the showroom. The company’s senior management team is continuously working on rethinking processes and questioning consumer habits – to pursue its zero carbon target by using an “avoid-reduce-compensate” approach. Emissions that cannot be avoided or reduced have been offset through sustainability projects since 2019 in partnership with myclimate. “It is a credit to the imagination and commitment of our global Rotpunkt family that our vision is on track despite challenges in the wake of the pandemic. In 2020, we ensured that all our materials for kitchen production were fully FSC-certified and this year we converted our heating system so that it uses wood waste, having made a complete switch to green energy to promote climate-friendly production across our Bünde and Getmold sites. Our next goals are to ensure that not only are our kitchens manufactured in a carbon-neutral way, but that all our raw eco-luxe materials are zero carbon too. We are investing in our production facility at our Bünde site with state-of-the-art robotics and a photovoltaic system to harness solar power as well as installing of charging stations for electric vehicles,” added Matt. As the journey to zero carbon emissions gathers pace, so do technical innovations at Rotpunkt. For instance, a new batch production process size at the Getmold site is significantly reducing wastage and the order-shipping team now have the option of using a passive robotic exoskeleton that reduces the physical strain of performing heavy repetitive or overhead tasks. All staff can explore extensive wellness options as part of the company’s employee benefits package –proof that sustainability starts from within.

While most of us can only aspire to live in a million-pound property, that doesn’t mean that we can’t make our homes feel like a modern mansion. Design inspiration is drawn regularly from the rich and famous, but which luxury home features are more accessible than we may think? Windows and doors specialists, Genesis Collection have analysed property data to reveal the features that the UK’s million-pound properties have in common. The investigation, which involved deep-diving into hundreds of properties across the UK that are currently available on the market, found a total of seven unique features that were a recurring theme throughout. The good news? Lots of these home features are readily available to the wider public, which means everyone can draw inspiration and add a little luxury to their own spaces. Floor to Ceiling Glass Doors This feature was by far the most repeated design element encountered throughout the UK’s high-end properties. Whether sliding patio doors or aluminium bifold doors, the designs and colours varied by interior theme but the core design concept remained very much the same – floor to ceiling glass. As most of these properties also have large and beautifully landscaped gardens, it’s understandable why such a feature may be in high demand. However, the light inducing benefits of floor to ceiling glass are also popular, making this a highly sought-after element for any home. Freestanding Bathtub Though the style of many of the million-pound bathrooms varied, one common feature remained throughout – freestanding bathtubs. Whether the powder room was traditional in design, with Victorian-themed tiling and clean white features, or modern, with floor to ceiling marble, the inclusion of a freestanding bath is a clear indicator of a luxury home. Fireplace Another stunning piece encountered in almost all million-pound homes currently on the market was a statement fireplace. Coming in a vast array of designs, a fireplace can easily compliment any interior theme, whether that’s farmhouse décor or minimalist chic. Similarly, to the kitchen island, a fireplace creates a focal point in any room and creates a highly sought-after cosy ambience. Open Plan Space Perhaps an interesting observation, each of the properties analysed all had a very similar approach when it came layout, with big open plan living spaces a theme throughout. Large kitchens continuing into dining rooms and dining rooms continuing into living rooms were all popular designs. Often, this open space is also extended seamlessly through glass doors into an outdoor the patio, creating the illusion of an even larger space, thus achieving a luxury look.