The latest updates for kitchens, bathrooms and big projects

UNDER CONTROL

Taps in the Astonian Index brassware linefrom Aston Matthews have something of the old-school rotary dial telephone about them courtesy of circular controls complete with holes. Add in knurled grips and finishes in polished chrome or scuffed brass and suddenly you have a deliciously modern update.

OFF TO SEETHE WIZARD

Inspired by the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, which begins in black and white and then bursts into bright technicolour once Dorothy hits Oz, Domus’s technicolor tiles come in both monochrome and colourful shades (20 in total). Sporting a subtle woodgrain pattern and natural-feeling matt finish, the tiles are particularly effective when installed in a herringbone format.

KEEp huSh

In response to the phenomenal popularity of hobs that fuse cooking and extraction in one, Elica has introduced the NikolaTesla Prime. Featuring an elegant glass hob with four induction zones, the extractor sits beneath a centrally positioned cast-iron grill and provides a high performance, near-silent operation. You can effortlessly keep steam under control with the ‘autocapture’ function, which sets the extractor to automatically adjust according to how many cooking zones are in use.

TAKE A STAND

On a mission to reinvent the kitchen as a room made up entirely of freestanding units, London-based craftsman Edward Collinson’s beautifully designed and exceptional quality ‘kitchen elements’ have us hooked. The Broad – made with a soft white pigmented lacquer applied to birch plywood – features a brushed stainless-steel worksurface with a mixed-fuel hob and sink seamlessly integrated into the surface. Stash away pots and pans in its generously sized oak drawers (finished with dovetailed joints) and you’re one step closer to that elusive minimal, always-tidy kitchen.

CALL thEShotS

Hoover’s new AXI dishwasher is voice-activated, allowing you to pause a wash cycle from the dinner table or receive progress updates from the comfort of your sofa. it can also be operated via your smartphone. the a+++ rated appliance is also pretty clever on the cleaning front, and includes smart features such as total Care technology, which ensures gentle yet effective washing of delicate crockery and glassware, plus a hardcore steam cycle.

Holiday mode

Believe colour can change the temperature of a room? Iris Ceramica thinks there’s some truth in it, offering its surfaces in palettes of Warm or Cold. Opt for its new Arqui 20 x 20 cm tiles – dappled with terrazzo specks and geometric shapes referencing Venetian architecture – and feel the holiday heat all year round.