Darren Holiday

Md, Abode

How would you view the current kbb retail market?

Overall I believe that the number of consumers entering stores with new projects has been dented by the general level of pessimism spread by a news hungry media. Key economic indicators, unemployment/employment levels, economic growth and, believe it or not, house prices, suggest that the economy is in reasonable shape. Consumers will soon realise that the world is still turning in 2008...

Which companies do you think are setting the pace in this industry?

For me, two companies stand out for design alone. First, V&A Baths. I love the clean simplicity of their designs ensuring they can work in either classic or contemporary environments. In our own market, you would have to go a long way to beat the new Mimi range by Gessi - radical styling and advanced production technology equal gorgeous products!

Do you think this is a golden age for kbb design?

Product and trend life cycles have such speed today, that I'm sure all areas of the kbb business will continue to evolve and improve with time. So my answer is no, but the industry has made a very good start!

Which new products have stood out for you in the past 12 months?

I particularly like the Pyramis Crystalon sinks - tempered black glass with steel inset bowls. A winning style direction in my book.

Who is the most famous person to have blagged free product from you?

We don't do free...