Cosentino are a family-owned business, much like Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design. Their journey began in 1940 with Eduarda and Eduardo Cosentino, quarrying small amounts of marble in Macael (Almeria, Spain). Not long after, the second generation of the family joined – Francisco, Eduardo and Jose Martinez-Cosentino – opening a small warehouse in Barcelona, Spain, stocking the Macael Marble.

During the ‘80s, Cosentino expanded over Europe and quickly realised they had no limitations. They diverted away from Macael Marble and became innovators with Silestone in the ‘90s. Without fail they have continued to release ground breaking materials:
 
- ECO – recycled surface
 
- SENSA – granite surface with anti stain protection
 
- DEKTON – ultra-compact surface

‘ 7 production factories, 12 natural stone quarries and 13 processing centres around the world
 
7 production factories (6 in Almeria, Spain and 1 in Brazil)
 
15 kitchen worktop and bathroom surface processing centres (12 in the USA and 1 in Germany)
 
1 intelligent logistics platform (Spain)
 
2 distribution hubs (USA)
 
90+ Cosentino centres (Worldwide)
 
Current employment – 3,450 people worldwide – 1,750 of them are in Spain ‘

It was a privilege to have been invited to Almeria, Spain this November by The Cosentino Group who are recognised for their 3 lines – Silestone, Dekton and Sensa (available at IDW&D).
 
Our first stop was the quarry, hidden among the mountains of Macael, unearthing the Macael Marble or White Macael. Arriving at this beautiful landscape, it was clear to see from the viewing platform the vast scale of the quarry.

Our guide, Jan delves into the history of Cosentino on our way down the mountains to our next destination, the largest marble mortar and pestle in the world, as featured in the Guinness Book of Records – standing at 3.29 metres and weighing 30.95 tons.

After admiring the marble sculpture, Jan took us to the Cosentino headquarters. We soon realised from the quarry, pestle and mortar, The Cosentino Group don’t do anything small. This became more apparent over the course of the factory tour.

We arrived at the industrial park, encompassing 1 million square meters. We entered their central office and showroom hub encased within a beautifully spacious glass-roofed atrium. The pyramid showcased tall Dekton slabs, a wall dedicated to Sensa granite and a sample room including Silestone, Prexury (the luxury precious stone line) and Scalea (natural stone line).

Jan enlightened us with the pioneering Sinterized Particle Technology during our excursion across the factory.
 
We already know Silestone is an extraordinary material – constantly improved - however there are downfalls. Silestone is not a material suited for the outdoors or on facades. Fortunately with 6 years of research and development Cosentino have something a recipe of 20 different natural minerals – carrollite and feldspar, just to name a few as the formula is a fiercely guarded secret – then mixed with pigments and colours. Most of these minerals travel from around the world – Asia, South America, North America and Europe.

Dekton is highly resistant to scratching, extreme high and low temperatures and ‘almost completely impervious to liquids’
 
A completely inorganic material, which will not decay over time
 
Slabs colouring will remain stable over long periods of time and ‘when ‘exposed to ultra violet radiation’

For more details about the Dekton process and video, click here

Credit & Images
The Background: Cosentino

BORA is an innovative cooktop extractor manufacturer with a great eye for marketing, introducing BORA in the air 2017.
 
Starting their Revolution Tour in Milan, Palma de Mallorca they travelled Europe with their 40 tonne truck spanning 19 metres and transporting a glass cube kitchen certainly turns a few heads.

Greeted on arrival with a glass of wine, we were suspended 38 metres above London, South Bank, the highest during the entirety of the tour. Our attention was immediately drawn to the looming Shard in the distance and The River Thames flowing nearby. Breath taking and awe inspiring how cleverly BORA had put this together.

Welcomed by our BORA chefs Armin Auer and Deirdre Taylor who freshly cooked lunch on the 3 BORA systems, consisting of:

Starters
Lentils with prawn and leek

Main
Steak with vegetables

Desert
Poppy seed oatcakes with fruit

In a confined space cooking smells can be a pain, BORA have eliminated these odours through their innovative design. Not only do they set this example, but also how quickly it was prepared.

Be sure to take a look at the brilliant BORA video. Photographs can only tell so much

Two days left until Father's Day and still no gift! Not to worry, you still have time!

We know every father is different, so we've hand picked something to match every personality. From the single fathers to the adoptive, they all deserve a special treat.

From a father and son pampering session to grooming products, you can't go wrong! So, why not head down to Porters Barbers' newly opened branch in East Dulwich or Dulwich Village. Not to forget their added coffee shop for a warm and welcoming feel.

What about the dad who thinks he's a chef? With touch navigation and a cook top extractor, this will get those cooking obsessed fingers tingling. So why not take a look at the Bora collection, from their Tepan grill to the induction glass ceramic wok.

Not to forget the sporty dads. Head down to White Stuff and find 'pocket sized puncture repair kit'.

Happy Father's Day!

Credit & Image
Porters Barbers / BORA / White Stuff

Founded by the Miele and Zinkann families in Germany in 1899 Miele's motto Immer Besser - Forever Better - was clear at Abingdon Experience Centre speaking to consumers before beginning one of Miele's many courses. Later learning both existing and non-existing customers are able to attend one of these courses or visit their showrooms to gain further understanding - Abingdon and London.

Ovens
With a beautiful range of Pure Line (high proportion of glass) and Contour Line (glass framed by stainless steel) ovens utilising a variety of buttons and touch screen navigation, consumers are able to select precise settings and cooking instructions to accommodate individual cooking habits. One of the unique oven ranges was the wireless food probe with a probe hidden top left the door for easy access and easy clean.

Using rapid speed heating on the touch navigation, the roast chicken and Yorkshire puddings were cooked in almost half the time, therefore preheating is not required and energy saving.

In addition, fridge/freezers can be fitted by Miele ovens as there is no loss of heat, thus without the conventional problems of over heating or making them work twice as hard.

Ovens in their showroom came in a variety of colours – Stainless Steel/CleanSteel, Havana Brown, Obsidian Black, Brilliant White and the most recent Graphite Grey.

Cooktop with extractor
Can be fitted as flush fit or on top of worktops with an easy clean filter box and CleanCover

Cooker Hoods
A Miele representative demonstrated the extraction test with their 90cm Oven tray rather than cardboard - blowing everyone away! In conjunction these now are supplied with an automatic function, such as a wireless communication between the hood and hob – Con@ctivity.

Hob
Miele has an incredible set of hobs now, from CombiSets to induction - something for everyone. The newest of the range is the TempControl Induction Hob. The three pins allow steady heat whilst cooking.

CombiSets
Being able to build your own cooking space from a variety of hobs - induction hob, barbecue grill, Teppan yaki plate, induction wok, grill, gas and extractor

E-Learning
All Miele customers have access with login details to their E-learning portal to help with friendly product videos and newsletters and updates on desktop or mobile applications.

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, we appreciate the birth mothers, adopted mothers and not to forget the motherly figures. So why not treat these beautiful women to a special gift that lasts longer than a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers.
 
Whether she’s the traditional mum or the modern mum we have a few ideas we think she’ll love.

For the mothers who love to make their homes warm and welcoming, treat her to a beautiful throw from White Stuff

Or the mothers with green fingers we have a beautiful selection of plants from the Aloe Arborescens or Green House Terrarium to the Ceropegia Woodii at one of our favourite plant shops, the Fresh Flower Company. You could even treat her to a one of their classes!

But what about the mothers who love to cook or bake. Whether it’s a steam oven from Miele or a coffee machine, you couldn’t go wrong.


Happy Mother's Day!

Credit & Image
White Stuff / Fresh Flower Company / Miele

As temperatures fall approaching the most romantic time of year, some of us may enjoy a home cooked 3-course candle lit dinner.

Immerse yourself with warm and rustic surroundings similar to our kitchen complete with wooden furnishings and an island complimented by our bespoke cabinets could be your ideal cooking and dining space....

Or imagine a minimalist open space looking out into a garden with the ideal Miele appliances.

Twice-Baked Goat’s Cheese Soufflé with Fennel
 
For a special occasion like Valentine’s, you can always count on an elegant, tempting starter.

Roast Duck Breast with Asparagus and Caramelised Shallot
 
A classic roast is always a winner and great served with calvados sauce and hispi cabbage.

Pot au Chocolat

What a beautiful way to end an evening with great company and a rich intimate chocolate pot.

Ingredients

2 cups heavy cream
3/4 pound semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, at room temperature, coarsely chopped
4 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons dark rum
3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Method

In a medium saucepan, heat the cream until bubbles appear around the edge. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chocolate and let stand for 1 minute, then stir until smooth.

Whisk the egg yolks in a small bowl, then whisk in 1/2 cup of the hot chocolate cream. Scrape this mixture into the saucepan and whisk constantly until smooth. Stir in the rum and butter. Pour the custard into eight 1/2-cup ramekins or espresso cups and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours.

Image
Fisherman's Cottage, Rustic Kitchen, Scotland - David Morris

Credit
Gourmet Traveller / Great British Chefs / Food and Wine

​This September we were invited to the opening party for the new Cosentino City showroom in Old Street, London.
 ​

Just like the wonderful Spanish hospitality we were spoilt with delicious Iberico ham and Spanish cheeses from Brindisa, whilst browsing the stunning new space.

​The Cosentino City showroom offers clients a space to see the various work surfaces available in a very relaxed and inviting environment. The sample room allows you to select which work surface is right for you based on colour, thickness and style and highlights the options under LED lights.

If you don’t know already, Dekton is a worktop material produced by Cosentino (the same manufacture as Silestone). The properties of Dekton make it highly durable, heat resistant up to 300 degrees, scratch resistant and visually modern and lustrous.
 
Dekton is available in 8, 12 and 20mm and can be used in the kitchen, bathroom and as panels for flooring and walls.
 
Other worktop materials produced by Cosentino include Sensa Granite, Silestone Quartz and Prexury.

Ian Dunn Woodwork and Design are Elite Cosentino partners and have exclusive access to special finishes. During the design process we always advise clients to view larger slabs of any worktop before making their final decision. In our design studio we have samples of Dekton, Silestone and Sensa; these are to provide an indication of the colour and arrangement only.
 
For more information about starting your kitchen project with us, get in touch today.
Visit Cosentino City, London or Cosentino Warehouse, Hook.

Many of our clients are interested in incorporating a steam oven into their kitchen design but are never quite sure what it does…
 
As a Premium Miele Partner we will show you a few options from their Appliance range and try to explain in a few steps what a steam oven does and what the main benefits are.

​Comparison: Steam Oven vs. Conventional Oven. 
​
You can cook most things you would in a conventional oven in a steam oven; many favourites are vegetables, fish and desserts. The Multisteam technology developed by Miele for their steam ovens work by distributing steam through 8 ports heating up the oven quickly for even cooking. The steam distributed in the oven enables the food to be cooked without loosing moisture.
 
Because steam is able to transfer heat to food much faster than boiling water, you can cook, reheat and defrost food much faster in the steam oven than on the hob or in a conventional oven. 

Which size steam oven?

Built-in Steam ovens are available for a 45cm high niche, which provides a maximum 38 litre capacity. If you pair it with a single oven it would give you two options of cooking for a larger audience.
The Multi steam technology works by filing water in the easy to access water containers inside the appliances. This makes them very easy to operate and keep clean.

Healthy Cooking

Essentially cooking with steam allows to you to cook your food at the right temperature without added fats or oils.
​
As the food is not sitting in water, the goodness does not drain out, and the 13 vitamins as well as minerals and trace elements that are essential to good health are almost fully retained. For example, steamed food contains up to 50% more vitamin C than traditionally cooked food. 

We found a copy of the official Miele Steam Oven Cookbook! Wonderful selection of recipes.. you can even make a colourful Bouillabaisse, Moules Marinieres and Caribbean chicken.. the possibilities are endless!

Have we tickled your tastebuds?! read more about the Miele Steam Ovens on their website. Or better still we would be happy to arrange a appointment for you to see a Miele advisor at the London Experience Centre. 

Call the Ian Dunn Team on 020 8613 1781 or email [email protected]

​*Extracts taken from the Miele Steam Cookbook - Credit Miele Company Ltd
*Image credit, Miele and Miele Video extracted from YouTube

​Last week, the project manager and showroom coordinator took a trip to the Cosentino warehouse in Hook, Hampshire.
 
Equipped with two enormous mechanical cranes and enough quartz and granite to fit hundreds of kitchens it really was an amazing sight.
 
In our showroom we have plenty of samples of the different worktops available but to get a better understanding of the scale and impact of the colour it is well worth a visit. 

Cosentino is a Spanish company that is famous for its Quartz, Silestone; available in more than 90 colours and various finishes it is a worktop that has been popular for 25 years.
 
The newest product that was launched 4 years ago is Dekton, a man made compact worktop that is extremely hardwearing.  Entirely heat, stain and scratch resistant it is sure to last a lifetime.
 
Cosentino offer a 25 year warranty on Silestone and 10 years on Dekton.

Sensa is a Cosentino natural Granite, beautiful finishes and colours. Every slab is unique. 

​The Cosentino Hook warehouse is open to the public on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday 12-3.30pm. Book ahead to ensure someone can show you around and you can see specific worktops. 

Recently we had an interesting commission… very specific and of course we like a challenge.

Ben, one of our cabinet makers took on the task. The project involved making a bespoke seat to fit a custom built bike, commissioned by Death Machines of London. 
 
This project was displayed at the Bike Shed MC at Tobacco dock, which was held at the end of May.
 
The seat was first made as a mock up in pine and once happy with the shape and fit, the final seat was made from American Black Walnut and it was finished in Danish Oil. 

'It's been meticulously constructed out of seventeen parts in order to maintain a consistent grain pattern within the highly complex compound curves of the riders form. It is, despite what you might think, exceptionally comfortable.'

Would you go for a ride...?

Here is a selection of images of the finished bike, roguishly named UP YOURS COPPER.

​Visit Death Machines of London to read more about this amazing project.

Credit: Images and Extract from Death Machines of London.