"We set trends" woods & style – that was this year's theme at rational einbauküchen. From 15 to 21 September the premium kitchen brand with worldwide references presented a host of exciting design trends, range enhancements as well as a completely remodelled showroom. "We set trends" the company's Managing Director, Andrea Lodetti, explained. "The kitchen is a slice of contemporary lifestyle and home culture. We combine distinct shapes with choice materials. Creative tension is created by the interplay of contrasts, giving rise to architectural solutions that accommodate a diversity of personal tastes and lifestyles." According to Lodetti there are other factors too that clearly set rational einbauküchen apart. These include ecology in practice, partnership and variability – values that trading partners and collaborating parties alike truly appreciate. Meeting the highest demands of modern living Particularly the virtually "limitless" planning options open up new creative horizons to kitchen specialists – even when faced with difficult spatial conditions, special requests and highly diverse furnishing styles. "We offer 1/9 If published, please send a voucher copy to: rational einbauküchen GmbH, Rationalstr. 4, D-49328 Melle innovative design solutions for individualists – a major benefit to dealers and consumers alike“, Sales Manager, Ernst Tanzler, pointed out. This is based on a sophisticated, holistic and fully integrated material and colour concept for the three rational worlds Design, Style and tio, high planning aesthetics, innovative constructions coupled with optimum functionality and ergonomics. "These ingredients combine to create unmistakable, carefully thought out and enduring lifestyle landscapes that perfectly meet modern-day living standards”, Tanzler went on to say. Thus with “woods & style” the Melle-based innovator sets new architectural trends for 2012/2013 that can be defined in three pairs of values: Colours & Harmony, Naturalness and Elegance, Variability & Innovation. Colours & Harmony With Cayenne, Honey and Ginger Red three eye-catchers take centre stage. While the rich spice tone Cayenne presents itself in an understated shade of warm redorange, the deep yellow of Honey is reminiscent of fields of ripened wheat. Honey is also getting itself noticed in the 2/9 If published, please send a voucher copy to: rational einbauküchen GmbH, Rationalstr. 4, D-49328 Melle world of fashion – it's the new retro trend colour straight out of the 70s. Ginger Red with its delightful, light shade of red proves the ideal accent colour. All three shades are offered in both soft lacquer and high gloss and combine beautifully with the new woods and decors. After all wood loves colour! And it goes without saying that the lacquers are produced on hydro basis, so they are both eco-friendly and solvent-free. Naturalness & Elegance Natural wood conveys a cosy ambience and provides a contrast to the new, contemporary trend colours. With high-quality real wood and noble book-matched veneers rational einbauküchen sets a new benchmark in terms of aesthetics and elegance. The timeless brushed veneers barrique oak and sepia oak impress on account of their exquisitely even graining and impeccable craftsmanship finish. Book-matched woods have their own unique character. Alongside stripey grained smoked oak and walnut, the Melle-based manufacturer is soon to take the bookmatched veneers barrique and sepia oak into its range, 3/9 If published, please send a voucher copy to: rational einbauküchen GmbH, Rationalstr. 4, D-49328 Melle with the consumer even having the choice of vertical or horizontal graining. The three new wood decors Cortina, Balsamo and Wild Cherry represent a particularly natural and aesthetic look. The vibrant, knotty appearance of Cortina makes for a look that has a high recognition value. When used with light shades, such as polar white, camee or natural, highly elegant combinations can be achieved. The evenly grained decor Balsamo, on the other hand, presents a darker, rather more dignified and classic look. The new Wild Cherry decor - barely distinguishable from the original - is a top-notch reproduction with synchronized pore structure. Speaking of which, the entire sector encompassing plaincoloured fronts is being changed over to seamlessly finished surfaces. Variability & Innovation Introduction of the cosmo welcomes a newcomer to rational's ever popular rural lifestyle range. Following its successful launch at this year's eurocucina, the cosmo has been significantly extended. The classic frame front is now 4/9 If published, please send a voucher copy to: rational einbauküchen GmbH, Rationalstr. 4, D-49328 Melle available in wood decors, soft lacquer and both barrique and sepia oak. The additional frame strips in the country range create a rural ambience and country-house charm. Here classic Shaker elements fuse with a modern puristic design. country is a master of versatility and transformation because the frame strips can be perfectly combined with other front lines. When teamed with a smooth, puristic lacquer front from the cambia range, for instance, these frame strips help create a restrained, modern countryhouse look. Marketing Manager, Elke Pfeiffer, explains: "By means of a base unit frame construction, fitting flush with the front, the innovative country range allows us to achieve a contemporary interpretation of the modern country-house style.“ The 2.8 cm thick frame strips in soft lacquer and oak veneer can, for example, be used between two units and/or as a top/bottom finishing strip on base units. The frame strip can even be used between deep pan drawers in base units to create an extra focus of interest. Innovative design elements round off rational's portfolio, including a number of new cabinet modules for multifunctional living solutions, e.g. decorative end shelving 5/9 If published, please send a voucher copy to: rational einbauküchen GmbH, Rationalstr. 4, D-49328 Melle for tall units which can be used as expressive architectural features and/or as a room-divider arrangement. Likewise new and available in all the colour groups: built-in shelving that adapts flexibly to the room architecture in height, width and depth. Thus, every corner, every centimetre and every recess can be used as storage space. Proving to be true eye-catchers in open-plan livingdining kitchens are attractive solitary modules in soft lacquer and veneer which when serving as a coffee or wine bar promise to produce moments to quite literally savour. Whatever‘s on the agenda – sheer purism, the clear use of shapes or making appliance technology simply "disappear" – it’s all do-able thanks to the 16 cm thick cladding frame or the new inwards-opening vertically parking doors. Thus, if desired, the electrical appliances can be discreetly concealed behind the elegant furniture fronts, until such time as needed. Also worth noting is the significantly broadened range of attractive worktop decors, such as dark Vesuvius, roof tile slate, white zingana and smoke-silver oak, to name but a few. rational offers, among other things, worktops exclusively for specific product lines, for example an 6/9 If published, please send a voucher copy to: rational einbauküchen GmbH, Rationalstr. 4, D-49328 Melle angled version for the models solo, onda or casale. Over and above this a large number of solid wood worktops have also been added to the range. Particularly when combined with high-gloss lacquer and wood modern-day contemporary space planning can be optimally implemented. In order to round off its overall range rational has expanded its offering of decorative fittings by adding a number of new, attractive handles and knobs. And last but not least – with sedia rational is focusing on a strong and reliable pro from the accessories sector, resulting in a collaboration to be launched in time for the inhouse exhibition. Thus, specialist dealers can look forward to a significantly expanded assortment of high-grade commercial merchandise across all product groups. Communication & Service "This year once again we are delighted to be able to welcome such a large number of visitors to our in-house exhibition, thus giving us the opportunity to demonstrate the future-oriented design and outstanding quality of our 7/9 If published, please send a voucher copy to: rational einbauküchen GmbH, Rationalstr. 4, D-49328 Melle products and services. We will continue to consistently expand all sectors, thus allowing us to position ourselves as a reliable business partner not only at the present time but also in the months and years that lie ahead" added Sales Manager, Ernst Tanzler. In a completely remodelled showroom and a feel-good atmosphere visitors to the exhibition were able to exchange information, intensify existing contacts, establish new ones and be generally inspired by the creative staging of the kitchens on display. "We present small, mediumsized and more spacious planning examples which our trading partners can also easily integrate into their own showroom display bays. This encompasses an array of design innovations that perfectly reflect the spirit of the times in terms of both look and feel. It goes without saying that this also includes our success models, the kitchen classics onda and casale, which have been inspiringly "restaged", Sales Manager, Ernst Tanzler, concludes. All the new product lines will be available as from January 2013, some already as from October 2012. And as far as the coming year is concerned, the next highlight is already 8/9 If published, please send a voucher copy to: rational einbauküchen GmbH, Rationalstr. 4, D-49328 Melle on the horizon: the popular kitchen brand is all geared up to celebrate its 50th anniversary. September 2012 Contact: rational einbauküchen GmbH Elke Pfeiffer Rationalstr. 4 49328 Melle / Germany Tel. +49 (0) 5226 58-330 Fax +49 (0) 5226 58-288 9/9 If published, please send a voucher copy to: rational einbauküchen GmbH, Rationalstr. 4, D-49328 Melle