kbb Birmingham 2020: five products we loved on day two

After what event organisers described as the busiest kbb Birmingham opening day in 34 years, exhibitors and visitors once again crowded the NEC for day two of the show.

Day two is traditionally press day, and so our morning began with an official welcome by event director Mark Gordon, who treated visiting journalists to a whistlestop tour to some of the must-see stands at this year’s show.

We were particularly inspired by the Ecomo model kitchen, an ingenious scheme developed by kitchen design students at Buckinghamshire New University, who spent nine months studying the requirements of the millennial generation. The result is compact, adaptable and made from sustainable materials.

Once again, the hours flew by. Technological innovation was high on today’s agenda, with InSinkErator, Novy and Quooker among the brands showcasing their flagship products. There were even a few celebrity sightings, including TV’s Ben Fogle hosting a press breakfast with Fisher and Paykel.

It was a special pleasure to stop by the MERLYN stand and meet Pink Ribbon Foundation ambassador Hayley Sparkes, who was on the stand to support MERLYN’s Just A Reminder initiative.

Here are just five of the things we loved on day two of kbb Birmingham. And you can click here to see what we made of day one.

Quooker’s MD Stephen Johnson showcased the company's CUBE tap, which has the ability to dispense sparkling water alongside hot, cold and boiling. Designed with environmental impact in mind, the tap can deliver 60l of sparkling water from a single canister, eliminating the need for plastic bottles of water.

Mereway unveiled its Q-Line kitchen, a streamlined and contemporary design for the high-end market. Vastly different to any its previous releases, Q-Line blends together a handleless system with the best features from its touch-to-open drawers, with a tactile ceramic and glass finish.

On stand H84, InSinkErator showcased its 4N1 Touch Tap alongside the latest additions to their 2020 Showroom Collection, under a new slogan - 'designed for designers'. Their ultra-quiet food waste disposal systems, emulsify food waste so it can be safely washed away down the waste pipe.

Merlyn showcased its newest Arysto enclosures alongside a new fitted storage system – an in-shower shelf rail designed in response to consumer research. TV presenter and influencer Hayley Sparkles also joined the company as part of its #justareminder campaign – an initiative to remind women to check for the symptoms of breast cancer.

On its award-winning stand, Marazzi showcased its incredible marble-look ceramic surfaces. The result is a visually stunning countertop that is hardwearing but not porous, making it resistant to staining.