Wake up to Sleep 2016

With over forty BCFA members exhibiting at Sleep 2016, designers are guaranteed to discover the best quality products for award-winning hotel projects. This annual event much anticipated by the hotel design community returns to London’s Business Design Centre on 22-23 November.

There’s much to experience alongside the exhibition, including a two-day complimentary conference programme of celebrated names, lively debates and expert advice; the Sleep Set installations, a competition that explores new concepts in guestroom design with creative teams from across the globe participating; this year’s pop-up bar created by interiors and branding agency Superfutures, promising an immersive, sensory experience – and the Immersive Reality Lounge, offering visitors an opportunity to get their hands on the latest digital reality platforms and experience hotel design concepts in 3D.

Beautiful products for distinctive hotels

Sleep has the brands that offer bespoke products and services that will define distinctive hotel interiors. Debuting in 2016 is Heritage Wallcoverings with the relaunch of the Lincrusta brand; a unique product evolved from the ingenious development of linoleum floor coverings in the 1860’s, it remains unsurpassed for its deeper emboss, exquisite detail and enduring strength. Collections of handcrafted furniture will be on show from Decca London alongside luxurious fabrics from Clarke & Clarke and Zoffany with its new ‘Phaedra’ collection of fabrics and wallpapers that express a mastery of colour ranging from delicate mineral hues to deep forest greens and moody blues. Morgan will present its latest Rio table, using 3D printing technology to create a sculptural product with a jewel like aesthetic. The side and coffee tables are small and versatile and will complement many of Morgan’s seating collections as well as the Rio chairs.

Products designed for wellbeing

With a growing awareness that well-designed spaces can promote health and wellbeing, Sleep is the destination for world-leading brands in this sector. Founder Sponsor and host of the invitation-only VIP lounge GROHE will present its Sensia Arena shower toilet plus other products incorporating its innovative technologies. Newcomer Villeroy & Boch will show new ranges designed by Gesa Hansen including the Artis Colour surface-mounted basins available in 15 colours and four shapes for maximum personalisation. Functional yet beautifully designed products are also anticipated from prominent global companies such as Hansgrohe, Bette UK – and Laufen, presenting for the first time in the UK a preview of Cleanet Riva, a new shower toilet which will be fully launched at ISH 2017. Handcrafted beds that promise an unrivalled sleep experience will be represented by British companies Hypnos and Harrison Spinks, each renowned for their award-winning, sustainably made beds.

A quality lighting scheme is essential to good hotel design, creating atmosphere and lending drama to spaces, but above all an indispensable ingredient for a pleasurable guest experience. Sleep attracts the best names in the business, including UK brand leader Chelsom, which will introduce its Stockholm lamp featuring seamless joints between glass and brushed metalwork, Astro Lighting and Heathfield.

Sekers will be previewing two new ranges at Sleep – Malmo, a luxurious, wool melton with heather tones, suitable for all contract upholstery, curtains, cushions and bedding; and Yuma, a collection of four elegant textured designs plus a sheer, all woven in 100% Trevira CS and available in a palette of refined shades including cool metallic tones, sophisticated neutrals, rich rust and luminous yellow. Performance fabric specialist Agua will present the new Cashmir Tones, Carmina, Stretch and Lunar Canis collections, each conveying a sense of luxury.

Johnson Tiles will be showcasing five new ranges: Ashlar, Cambridge, County, Eminence and Drift. Tying in to the trend for design that’s inspired by nature, the ranges boast a hint of texture in their appearance, which creates depth and interest. Vescom is launching three attractive and distinct designs of vinyal wallcovering with a 3D effect – Aikin, Boyd and Copan – with each available in a wide range of colours and metallic finishes.

Designing environments for a memorable guest stay

Thoughtfully finessed design is more than ever a differentiator in hotels across the world, and the Sleep exhibition will reveal how well-chosen products can create a memorable stay. A new feature this year is ‘Spaces’, a series of stands designed as hotel environments where exhibitors will create inspiring installations of lobbies, outdoor terraces, guestroom bathrooms and spas. Innovative bathroom supplier Roca will present three hospitality environments exploring how guests’ attitudes and behaviour can influence the design process; inspiring spaces also anticipated from Elegant Clutter.

An entirely new feature this year, Sleep Walking will bring the science of wayfinding into focus, informing and guiding visitors through Sleep 2016 so that they don’t miss a thing.

Visitors will also be treated to a highlighted selection of new products from BCFA members Ena Shaw, Evans Textiles, Kai, Knightsbridge Furniture, Kobe, Muraspec, Pekalp of London, Skopos, Curtis Furniture, Edmund Bell, Egger (UK), Crosswater, Shaw Contract, Roman, Harlequin Contracts, and Waterbury.