Adaptable Meeting Environment To Support Variety Of Daily Activities

DWF’s Liverpool office required a modern and adaptable meeting environment to support a variety of daily activities. Working with Overbury, Style Group was appointed to deliver a solution that combined visual appeal with practical flexibility.

Photo credits: SG Photography Ltd. | www.sgphotography.co.uk | All rights reserved. | Used with permission.

To meet the brief, Style Group installed Dorma Variflex semi-automatic glass moveable walls featuring white profiles and Crittall-style white banding to complement the contemporary interior. These intersect with a solid Dorma Variflex semi-automatic wall, finished on both sides with Autex Acoustics groove PET acoustic absorption panels to enhance sound control.

This configuration enables the area to function as a single large space or be divided into one or two separate rooms as required. Semi-automatic operation ensures smooth movement and consistent sealing pressure for improved acoustic performance.

The Autex PET panels further support noise reduction within the workspace, while the durable Variflex construction provides a long-lasting solution for busy commercial environments. Overall, the installation gives DWF a flexible, efficient, and stylish meeting area that can adapt seamlessly to different working needs. https://style-group.co.uk

Rossi Bathrooms And Schlüter Systems Deliver High‑Performance Residential Steam Room

In today’s fast-paced world, homeowners are increasingly looking to create at home wellness spaces. Ross Guerin of Rossi Bathrooms Ltd certainly provided a calm, relaxing residential steam room installation recently with products from Schlüter-Systems. As a Schlüter Registered Installer, Ross chose Schlüter-KERDI-DS and Schlüter-DITRA waterproofing and uncoupling solutions to prepare for the intense moisture and heat a steam room would generate.

Designed for areas exposed to high humidity levels – such as swimming pools, steam rooms, and spa environments – Schlüter-KERDI-DS is a waterproofing membrane with additional vapour barrier properties. It provides reliable protection even on moisture-sensitive substrates like wood, helping to preserve the entire structure beneath the surface.

In addition to its enhanced vapour resistance, KERDI-DS offers all the trusted benefits of the original KERDI membrane, including:

• Fleece lamination on both sides for optimal anchoring in the adhesive

• Imprinted gridlines

• Easy to cut using a cutter knife

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As Ross explained, “The Schlüter products are by far the best on the market. Using the vapour barrier KERDI-DS is great – the trust is there right from the word go! With the corner connections and KERDI-COLL, you don’t have to worry about watertightness and steam proofing. But once it’s all on and the banding is complete, it’s great to see the finished tanking.”

Ross installed DITRA on the floor to protect the tiles from substrate movement, providing waterproofing, vapour pressure equalisation, load transfer, and even heat distribution.

For Ross, attention to detail and using the right products were key to delivering a space that felt both indulgent and built to last. “The reason why we chose Schlüter is because it is the best,” he said. “For myself as a company, I only want to use the best product to give me peace of mind.”

Projects like this highlight how the right preparation and trusted materials can elevate even the most functional spaces into something special. For further information, call 01530 813396 or visit https://www.schluter.co.uk

Thinking About Sliding Doors? Here’s What You Need To Know Before You Specify

Over the past decade, sliding doors have become the go-to choice for architects creating designs that bring in more light and space into their projects. Whether it is an extension, a renovation, or a self-build project, it’s easy to see the appeal - large panels of glass, slim frames, and seamless views of the garden. But as the demand for slim-framed doors has grown, so has the number of products on the market. And while those ultra-thin frames look fantastic, they can come with hidden risks that end-clients don’t find out about until it’s too late. 

Credit: MOOi Architecture / Matthew Smith Photography​

The problem with ultra-slim sliding doors​

Edward Stobart, Technical Sales Manager at IDSystems, explains: “Traditionally, windows and doors use glazing beads that hold the glass securely inside the frame. But with some ultra-slim frames, there’s simply no room for these beads. To keep the profile as narrow as possible, some manufacturers now glue or permanently bond all four edges of the glass directly to the frame - creating what is known as a structurally bonded sliding door.” Structurally bonded doors are easy to spot - they’re the ones with extremely slim frames all the way around the glass. The catch? Because the glass is permanently attached to the frame, it can’t be replaced if it breaks - the entire panel, frame has to be changed. 

Credit: AR Design Studio / Paul Carter Photography​

Why that’s a costly problem​

In most cases, a home insurance policy will cover broken glass - but it is unlikely to cover the cost of a brand-new door frame. And if the company that supplied your doors has since gone out of business, getting replacement parts might not even be possible. Edward added, “Over the past few years we’ve spoken to homeowners looking for help with broken glass who had discovered that their original door supplier had closed down and the system they had bought was no longer available. When they tried to replace broken glass, they were shocked to learn they’d need an entirely new door system - something they were never warned about before buying.” 

Credit:  Sher + White Architects / Chris Taylor Photography​

The good news: there is a safer alternative​

Not all slim sliding doors come with that risk. theEDGE2.0 IDSystems’ multi award-winning system combines narrow 20mm sightlines but is designed differently - the glass is still removable thanks to deeper outer frames and traditional glazing beads. That means if the glass ever needs replacing, it can be done easily and affordably, without damaging the frame or needing to take up patio slabs or your lovely kitchen floor to access the track. 

Want to learn more?​

Find out more about the risks of bonded glass sliding doors at idsystems.co.uk/bonded-glass-what-you-need-to-know/