We have experienced the most difficult market conditions in many generations over the past 3 years, and most economists are saying that this could still be the case for the next few years as well. There is growing support for the ‘Cut the VAT’ Campaign which is aimed at reducing the rate of VAT to 5% on all home improvement projects. This would obviously help kick-start the KBB sectors back to life, all of which have been dramatically hit in the downturn.

The Whirlpool MAX 35 is stylish and powerful microwave and comes in a variety of colours white, black, silver, red, cream and a purple model will be available from November! Its cleverly designed ‘round back’ means it slips neatly into any corner, saving worktop space. It has a generous 28cm turntable and a cavity space equivalent to a 23-litre model, 750 watts of microwave power and Whirlpool’s renowned Jet Defrost feature.

Created by the famous Italian-maker Faber, the EKO is one of 7 new vertical models available exclusively from Air Uno. Answering consumer demand for more linear hoods, this smart wall-mounted hood in glass and stainless steel has a streamlined design and does not impinge on the look of a more minimal kitchen.

The new Maytag MDW 606 AWG dishwasher is the first in the world to use just six-litres of water¹ in a standard programme. The 13-place setting model owes its exceptional performance to Maytag’s electronic IntelliSense® and new pump technology. The low water consumption is achieved by saving the water from the final rinse in a dedicated reservoir, where it is stored and recycled for use at the beginning of the next programme.

For easy access and a refined finish, Amica’s Platinum collection provides coordinated built-in appliances with multi-function ovens, chimney hoods, microwaves and dishwashers finished in fingermark-resistant stainless steel with red illumination and black glass. The combination steam oven has 12 heating functions, 24 pre-programmed recipes and 10 pre-set steam recipes along with an LCD screen and mobile phone-like touch controls for intuitive use.

Innovation, style and CDA go hand in hand. In the past two years the company has broken the barriers of appliance design and performance with inspiring new products including the dramatic and stylish Purple Art, Black Art and Tiger built in ovens that brought colour and pattern to UK kitchens, rise and fall downdraught extractors, a built in ice maker and more. This year saw the launch of the SVA310 14 function sensor touch oven, a giant step forward in appliance design that makes cooking the perfect dish simple with just the touch of a finger.

Providing architects, designers and retailers with an extensive portfolio from which to choose, Caple offers an impressive collection of appliances, kitchen furniture, sinks and taps designed for the modern home.

Samsung has earned an enviable reputation for developing highly functional, well designed products that enhance people’s lifestyles. And nowhere is this truer than in the home, where Samsung has created a comprehensive range of innovative home appliances. The Dual Cook Steam oven is the first of its kind to offer people the choice of splitting the oven cavity in half to simultaneously cook two separate dishes at two separate temperatures with the option of using steam technology.

‘Linea’ is the most popular of Smeg’s built-in appliance ranges, consisting of sleekly styled ovens, combination ovens, warming drawers, steam ovens, microwave ovens, coffee machines, hobs and extractors. They can be installed in many different configurations to provide your customers with the perfect combination to suit their lifestyle.

Westin Design, specialists in extraction, takes the clever thinking approach to providing a breath of fresh air in the kitchen. With its custom and standard ranges of extraction hoods, as well as 90 years of expertise in extraction, Westin Design’s clever thinking combines style and performance, to suit every individual lifestyle, home and kitchen.

The British-made, stylish, Stoves built-in collection offers an option to suit every style of kitchen, size and fuel preference. The core range has recently been expanded to include a number of new products featuring the aesthetic from the highly popular Stoves Sterling range cooker. The new products include two built-in single ovens, two built-in double ovens, a 70cm built-under double oven, four gas hobs and one ceramic electric hob, all with co-ordinating control knobs.

Beko is extending its Excellence range with the launch of the DPU8360 8kg Dry and Save Condenser Tumble Dryer; with A+++ energy rating it uses 50% less energy than a standard C rated appliance. Powered by efficient heat exchange technology, no energy is wasted and bills can be lowered. Automatically recognising when clothes are dry, the 15 sensor drying programmes include cycles for cottons, synthetics and delicates as well as programmes for jeans, shirts, sportswear and baby clothing.

Hafele offer a broad range of storage solutions to suit all kitchens and together with their partner Vauth Sagel have launched Premea Glassline, an innovative collection of interior cabinet storage systems that can be tailored to meet design demands. The unparalleled high quality Vauth Sagel is known for is demonstrated in the frames as user friendly movements mean little effort is needed when opening and all options are all offered with soft close as standard.

The latest motion product development from Blum has proved of immediate interest to furniture manufacturers supplying all sectors. Blum Movento – a concealed runner system for wooden drawers and pull-outs - excels in terms of action and ease of assembly. The quality of motion from opening to closing is attributed to synchronisation which has been introduced for the first time to this product genre.

Sycamore Lighting, the leading lighting supplier to the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom trade, have launched their new Prestige Range, offering high output LED lighting for the kitchen. The collection includes the aesthetically stunning Arezzo LED cabinet light, which is available in a modern Chrome finish and natural white LEDs, and also boasts an edge lit feature for maximum light output.

Sycamore Products Ltd have added high quality Italian manufactured Soft Close wirework to their extensive 2011/2012 portfolio. With emphasis on high quality soft close mechanisms, the range includes the kidney shaped Octo unit, which is a space saving must have for any kitchen. The Octo unit incorporates two independent shelves, with a stylish Chrome metal surround, and is available in right or left hand options.

Autumn marks a peak selling period for the kitchen industry so what are the latest trends and how can retailers maximise their sales? With cautious consumer spending, homeowners investing in a new kitchen are looking for longevity in a style that won’t date, can easily be adapted to fluctuating trends and is highly durable. Modern-day classic kitchens tick all these boxes and have recently shown a remarkable come-back, but with many contemporary twists.

K Kitchens has launched “The Painted Collection”, an inspiring range of timber ash painted kitchens featuring 30 new doors comprising 15 colour options in two door styles. The versatile collection aims to satisfy the growing trend for painted kitchen doors that offer maximum flexibility and personalisation to suit all tastes and lifestyles.

Burbidge’s contemporary handle-less kitchen Malmö has been such a success with retailers and consumers that a Natural Oak finish has now been introduced, further enhancing the range. The stylish door is beautifully engineered from horizontal oak veneer with a natural finish; the premium range comes with a stunning variety of features including a curved door which allows for endless design possibilities.

Hill’s Panel Products (HPP) recently rounded of the celebrations for their 20th birthday with the successful HPX exhibition. One of the highlights for HPP was the launch of the updated door range making it comfortably their biggest ever. Every HPP door is available nationwide and is manufactured on site to bespoke sizes in a quick seven day turnaround.

TK Components has launched its new Lucente range, a collection of handleless kitchen doors designed to appeal to consumers seeking the very latest in minimalist design within the kitchen. This stunning new range represents the pinnacle of modern living and, with its smooth and subtle clean lines, provides the ultimate high-end kitchen solution.

Apex Interior Systems manufacture bespoke, made-to-measure vinyl wrapped kitchen and bedroom doors and related accessories. Specialists in supplying bespoke doors to independent installers, retailers and manufacturers, Apex prides itself on their quality service. One of the latest finishes is Noce Marino on the Premier door style and when teamed up with White Gloss, makes for a very modern kitchen.

The stunning Tetbury kitchen from über combines timeless beauty and splendour and offers a modern twist on the traditional Shaker design. Tetbury features solid frame doors made from Ash in a rich oyster colour with grey undertones. The flowery grain of the solid timber fascias has been carefully exposed by wire brushing before painting giving an interesting 3D effect.

The Timber Door Company has found the recession-proof formula to take it well into the next decade, manufacturing bespoke timber doors in Oak, Ash, Maple, Steam Beech, Pine, Walnut and Pippy Oak in a wide selection of styles such as Shaker Square, Multi-panel, Cathedral and Slow Arch. With a variety of stains and pigment paint finishes available, we’ll have no problem in meeting your customers’ demanding expectations.

The Kitchen market may be going through some tough times with austerity measures biting all but a few select consumers. Whilst this causes massive problems, it can also highlight those products/services that offer real value for money.

At Ellis Furniture we have a passion for making furniture. Since 1891 and over four generations we have built a solid business based on three core principles: the use of superior quality materials; the creation of stylish and enviable designs; and, an unwavering desire to be the very best we can be.

Every kitchen retailer knows that today’s customers demand stunning design, innovation and functionality. Offering the widest choice has often meant displaying multiple brands, making retail more complicated and increasing the risks in maintaining reputation.

Symphony has delivered inspiration and innovation in both products and services this year to provide one of the most beautifully designed, comprehensive and flexible kitchen ranges in the market. With the largest team of qualified designers in the sector, it has introduced six new kitchen styles under its premium Gallery range and a host of other product firsts.

In its 30th year as a supplier to the UK furniture industry, ECF’s product portfolio is already well-established and viewed as one of the most comprehensive in the marketplace. In particular ECF’s range of Goscote made to measure vinyl doors is recognised as being one of the most comprehensive available – with over 50 styles and 50 finishes to choose from. Add to that a further 7 door ranges covering both kitchen and bedroom applications and you have the 2011 Door Portfolio.

Mereway Kitchens embark on yet another exciting launch this Autumn with the introduction of stunning new door style ‘Segreto’ this September, that joins their uber contemporary Cucina Colore collection. ‘Segreto’ Italian for ‘secret’ or ‘hidden’, is the name for the new J style pull handle that comes in one of their best selling finishes Pergamon Gloss which offers a fresh, sleek look.

Create and design your own uniquely styled kitchen using the Stamford Painted Collection of timber doors. The simple and timeless ethos of the shaker door combined with an almost limitless array of finishing options brings affordable luxury at outstanding value for money. We’ve constructed two exceptional palettes, each with eight finishes, giving sixteen colour options in total.

Bellissimo has added five grey solid and woodgrain options to its Saturn vinyl range. Anthracite is a dark solid gloss, while Lava and Stone Grey are dark and light solid matts respectively. Grey Drift Oak and Avola are the woodgrain options in matt. Saturn now comprises 60 matt and gloss vinyls in solids and woodgrains. Bespoke sizes are available throughout the range, as are various widths and heights of convex and concave curve and handle-less fascias.

Trade Mouldings is now established as the UK and Ireland’s leading manufacturer of MDF wrapped mouldings, vinyl wrapped cabinet doors and matched accessories. With 30 years of manufacturing experience the main Trade Mouldings factory is on an 8 acre site at Cookstown, Northern Ireland where state of the art equipment give Trade Mouldings the capacity and flexibility to produce high quality products in deigns and ranges that give their customers trend setting distinction.

BA Components have over the last 20 years built a strong reputation for quality product, great design and unrivalled marketing support. This is a reputation of which BA are justifiably proud, and this along with an ability to listen carefully to what their dealers say, and where possible building those requests into product development, has led to the launch of three new door styles for the Bella range; Broadway, Tullymore and Knebworth.

Bushboard’s Encore solid surface range now includes integral moulded sinks in 100% white acrylic. Elegantly designed with simple lines, there is a choice of a single bowl or one and a half bowl options which create a contemporary streamlined flow between sink and work surface. In keeping with the ready-made, easy installation ethos of the Encore range, the moulded sinks can be installed on site by a trained kitchen fitter ensuring a fast and cost effective process for the retailer.

One of the nine new tap additions to Carron Phoenix’s tap offer, the Dante Pro in chrome is a slick new style that offers a handy spray option. Dante Pro is inspired by the full-on professional style catering tap but in a design proportion that can suit a wider range of kitchen styles. Measuring 538mm high, Dante Pro sits approximately 200mm higher than a standard tap giving it stature and poise yet without dominating the sink space.

Building on the continued success of the classic HydroTap, instant boiling and chilled filtered drinking water systems, Zip Heaters, the world market leaders in instant boiling water, has increased its range with launch of the HydroTap All-In-One. This range delivers instant boiling and chilled filtered drinking water PLUS hot, cold or mixed warm water for sink use, all from a single tap.

The latest design innovation to be at the forefront of the Astracast brand is the beautifully crafted ROK Tex® material. As leading sink and tap manufacturers; Astracast has worked to create a concept that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly durable. Designed to replicate the natural appearance and texture to that of slate; Astracast’s ROK Tex® sinks are the ideal accompaniment for both the on-trend and practical kitchens.

Rangemaster has launched a new collection of kitchen sinks and taps specifically developed to add value to kitchen retailers and reflect the needs of the UK kitchen market. The new range offers great design and innovative developments at very competitive price levels. In addition to a host of brilliant designs Rangemaster has developed a robust new surface finish, Micro-sheen™, which has been applied across the entire stainless steel range to enhance the colour of the steel with a soft brushed effect.

Recognising the popularity of undermount styles and the classic appeal of ceramic, Carron Phoenix has brought the two together in its stunning Carlow range. There are five options, all single bowls ranging from the oblong 50, 100, 105 and 150 to the round 400. Top quality kiln dried ceramic with a lustrous and smooth finish, they are designed with gentle curves within the bowl making them very easy to keep clean.

Carron Phoenix has updated its popular Reno tap style by introducing it in a stylish combination of textured granite and polished chrome finishes. The tap was launched on July 1st, when the company unveiled its newly updated 2011/2012 portfolio with nine new taps and several new sink models including the Sapphira ceramic, Carlow ceramic, Deca Belfast and Ergo 200 in stainless steel.

CD (UK) Ltd have updated their range of Fontana sinks to include the new translucent Arctic colours from Corian® (shot shows new Arctic Blueberry). Hygienic and easy to clean, high-performance Corian® has long been a favourite of kitchen designers for worktops. Fontana Sinks combine Corian® with the highest quality stainless steel base which offers a practical and durable finish which is also easy to maintain.

British manufacturing heritage is the central theme of the new range of luxury kitchen taps by Abode, available from October 2011. Inspiration for the collection comes from the classic era of British design and manufacture – refined and different!

With angular sinks continuing to prove a strong choice amongst homeowners, Reginox has added two new options to its popular Ontario range, a contemporary collection of luxury sinks which has proved continually popular with homeowners seeking esoteric design within the kitchen. The Ontario 1.0 (pictured) and Ontario 1.5 both feature the progressive geometric finish that has become synonymous with the Ontario range, but have the added advantage of a sleek, integrated stainless steel drainer.

RAK Ceramics has introduced a new kitchen solution which includes a complementary package of ‘wall to floor’ products for the quality contemporary kitchen. This includes wall tiles, fireclay sinks, porcelain slab tops, sink mixers, waste kits and porcelain floor tiles. The new cost-effective solution reduces specification, delivery and installation lead-times and with RAK’s usual affordability will suit all budgets.

James Latham continues to have great success among architects and interior designers in both the residential and commercial sectors with HI-MACS® Natural Acrylic Stone™ solid surfaces which is ideal for a wide variety of kitchen and bathroom applications. HI-MACS® is easily fabricated and boasts visually seamless lines.

Responding to the growing demand for natural surfacing in the kitchen, PWS timber worksurface portfolio now includes 15 species. The recently introduced natural bamboo natural has a mellow, caramel tone that will appeal to lovers of lighter, softer colour schemes. One of the most environmentally sound worksurfaces available and the fastest growing plant in the world, eco-friendly bamboo has a distinctive grain that creates an elegant pattern with natural warmth, which is not only unique but will complement and contrast with most materials and finishes.

Axiom by Formica®, the UK and Ireland's leading kitchen worktop and accessories range, offers the ultimate choice of designs, textures and materials to create the dream kitchen. The range, developed in response to trends in kitchen and interior design, provides a wide variety of looks for the design-conscious consumer. Offering over 70 different designs, the range includes fresh twists on design classics.

Johnson Tiles – the UK’s leading manufacturer and importer of ceramic wall and floor tiles - has a collection of tiles suitable for any kitchen, that’s whether the design is contemporary, classic, traditional or modern. Called Prismatics, it is the largest range of plain colour wall tiles available in the UK, boasting over 90 colours and seven sizes ranging from 100x100mm to 200x200mm, along with glazed fittings in most sizes and colours.

The diverse colour palette of the Creative Colours range of wall tiles from British Ceramic Tile has recently been expanded to include eight tiles in a 198x198mm size including three completely new colours – Latte, Aubergine and Cobalt Blue. The wide selection of shades & colours blend well together or alternatively provide contrasting aspects that can be used either as a solid colour or as a chequered or horizontal design to offer versatile options.

N&C Nicobond Gypfix is a new, innovative, rapid setting, white, gypsum based tile adhesive specially designed for fixing ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tiles directly onto Anhydrite/ Calcium Sulphate floors.