Focused Choices – ForestOne Announces EuroCucina Round Five A&D Trade Competition Winners

Tasked with creating a twist on a modern biophilia kitchen design, Kate crafted “a friendly, open plan kitchen that not only looks aesthetically pleasing but also promotes wellbeing and a better connection to the natural [surrounds] and outdoor features on the property,” she explains.

Tasked with creating a twist on a modern biophilia kitchen design, Kate crafted “a friendly, open plan kitchen that not only looks aesthetically pleasing but also promotes wellbeing and a better connection to the natural [surrounds] and outdoor features on the property,” she explains. Additionally, Kate wanted to design a kitchen that allowed for easy access to an outdoor dining area, blurring the lines between inside and out. The design allowed Kate to blend contemporary style with nature-inspired elements through the use of sustainable materials, such as the EGGER Black U999 TM28 PerfectSense® Feelwood panels and EGGER Vicenza Oak. “As a sustainable and green-friendly material, it was a must in keeping with the client brief of incorporating elements of biophilia design into a modern kitchen [renovation],” says Kate.

As a specialist kitchen designer, Kate tries to incorporate as many sustainable products as she can. “Promoting responsible and ethical design practices are a value we appreciate at Kate Anderson Design,” says Kate. Moreover, Kate and her team encourage clients to make conscious selections. “We are big on providing our clients with the most up-to-date product knowledge on materials [that are] available on the market,” she enlightens. Working with ForestOne also allowed Kate the opportunity to work with someone who was just as passionate about sustainability and who believes in the products they are selling. “Kellie Cross from ForestOne is always available for training and continues to keep us up to date with our product knowledge whenever the team or myself need assistance,” says Kate.

“Many of our clients are sustainability focused but are not aware of EGGER. So once we tell them of the sustainable practices and recyclable nature of EGGER products, they are all in,” Frances explains.

With a love for EGGER materials, Frances has employed a variety of products for many projects, including her EuroCucina entry, Glamis Avenue, which saw her use the unique EGGER Niagara Green for the living room cabinetry. Additionally, Frances has used the EGGER Natural Halifax Oak for the ensuite vanity and benchtop, EGGER White Chromix for the laundry benchtop and EGGER Black Brown Sorano Oak for the internal cupboards of the kitchen. However, Frances’s Radleigh Drive project saw EGGER’s Black Brown Sorano Oak used once again, this time for pantry cabinetry, shelves, panelling, benchtops for the cellar and the walk-in wardrobe. Thanks to the texture and wide colour range of EGGER, Frances was able to recommend and use EGGER for many of her designs. “Many of our clients are sustainability focused but are not aware of EGGER. So once we tell them of the sustainable practices and recyclable nature of EGGER products, they are all in,” Frances explains.

Building her own home in 2013 – which won awards for its sustainable nature – Frances has continued to incorporate sustainability as part of her company’s ethos. “It is really a part of what we do and the reason that I have personally been sustainability focused for well over 10 years,” says Frances. “I live and breathe the sustainability story.” Even whilst building her own home, Frances worked towards creating a dwelling that was far more sustainable than anything that was being built at the time. Inspired to use materials that enhance passive living where possible, Frances and her team at White Pebble Interiors specify “sustainable – Green Tag accredited – where possible, whether our clients ask for a specific sustainable solution or not,” she says. “As EGGER is cost competitive, it makes sense for us to use them for [sustainability] reasons.”

With their responsible use of considered materials and focus upon providing services that go above and beyond, Kate and Frances have demonstrated how designing for the future can be achieved. Moreover, with the assistance of ForestOne and their respective specification representatives, both winners have showcased how EGGER enhances interior design, whether it is a kitchen renovation or full-home detail.