BURLINGTON OPENS NEW SIGNATURE STONE STUDIO

Leading natural stone producer, Cumbria-based Burlington, has opened a Stone Studio to showcase its expanding range of high quality interior and exterior products. Located at the site of its head office and main production centre in Kirkby-in-Furness, the new facility has been officially opened by Burlington Stone’s owners, Lord and Lady Cavendish, in the presence of daughter Lucy, who has recently been appointed a director of parent group - the Holker Group of companies. Forming part of Burlington’s ambitious corporate development strategy, the new signature stone studio - representing a £1/2m investment - will help spearhead the company’s invigorated drive into the high-end retail, interior design and consumer market sectors. Alongside an internal space occupying some 110 sq metres and which is adorned with an array of sumptuous and functional interior natural stone products, is an exquisitely designed and intricately presented hard and soft landscaping area. The latter serves to welcome visitors to the stone studio, which is set against a stunning panoramic Lakeland fells backdrop. Commenting on the official opening of the new showroom, Chief Executive Duncan Peake said: “The Holker Group of companies has ambitious plans for the future and Burlington Stone figures prominently within the Group’s corporate development strategy. Indeed the opening of the stone studio is only the first in a series of initiatives that will take the business into a new and dynamic era.” As Sales & Marketing Director, Nick Williams adds: “By locating the stone studio against what is a truly breathtaking backdrop, we are confident that interior designers, specifiers and discerning home owners will be able to draw inspiration from a plethora of creative yet functional interior and exterior natural stone solutions. “The stone studio represents a flagship proposition and typifies why an increasing number of people are aspiring to share in the natural beauty and authenticity of a natural stone that is revered around the globe,” he added. Within the studio’s interior space, Burlington has cleverly created a series of cameo settings covering both traditional and contemporary interior design styles, each serving to portray the versatility of Burlington’s product offering, not to mention the tactility of the stone itself. Feeding off a reception area finished in limestone flooring with Bursting Stone part-clad walls, visitors enter a traditional living/family room setting before savouring the delights of a complementary and classically finished farmhouse kitchen area. Amongst the stone products on display are Kirkby honed flooring with limestone inlays, internal random walling, cills, worksurfaces, a fireplace and both random sized slip sets and new-to-range split faced, modular sized walling that delivers a further random look. From here there is an opportunity to enter contemporary world where clean and incisive lines meet al fresco dining. Dominated by both blue/grey Kirkby and silver/grey Brandy Crag stone, the latter has been used as flooring that continues out into the external space as paving. Equally inspiring is an open wet room space, complete with working shower, and sumptuous bathroom area. Showcasing a series of bespoke pieces, also displayed are a number of Burlington off-the-shelf products such as inline shower trays, aqua and bath panels. Also featured is an enclosed shower space, the exterior of which is clad in a multi-patterned mosaic of Burlington’s stones, a product that the company is looking to launch in 2011. Internally the shower features Bursting Stone cladding and flooring. Externally, a soft and hard landscaping display entices visitors to meander through an array of natural stone paving and feature products, all of which have been successfully interspersed with colourful displays of shrubs, borders and planters. Featuring landscaping products – bespoke and off-the-shelf – that range from the most rugged to precise, the visitor can gain inspiration from sentinel looking obelisks, feature and rockery stones, walling, external paving, water features, riven path edgings, decorative aggregates, and mulches and circular patio sets. As Nick Williams enthusiastically injects: “The stone studio serves up a feast of possibilities and opportunities that Burlington’s natural stone has the capability of delivering and we are confident that the end result will serve to inspire people from all walks of life many for years to come. “Not only has the project involved a significant level of investment, none of it would have been possible without the dedication and persistence of the team that has been put in place to make it a reality. I would therefore like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all those who have been involved in delivering what is a stunning showpiece,” he added. Located at Cavendish House, Kirkby-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA17 7UN, the Stone Studio will be initially open Monday – Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm. Saturday opening between 10.00am and 3.00pm will commence with effect from June 1st. For further information on Burlington Stone’s product range, or to arrange a viewing by appointment only, contact the Stone Studio on: 01229 889661, or visit the company’s website: www.burlingtonstone.com. -ENDS- CAPTIONS: BSPR08.10 – Studio.jpg Burlington Stone’s Chairman, Lord Cavendish, toasts the official opening of the company’s new Stone Studio. BSPR08.10 – Studio 2.jpg Burlington Stone has opened a new Stone Studio to showcase its expanding range of high quality interior and exterior products. Officially opened by Chairman, Lord Cavendish, the new facility is located at the site of its head office and main production centre in Kirkby-in-Furness, Cumbria. BSPR08.10 – Studio 3.jpg Burlington’s Stone Studio is home to a sumptuous and inspirational ensemble of bathroom and wet room product propositions that can be used to introduce high levels of individuality and style never before experienced. BSPR08.10 – Studio 4.jpg Burlington offers a complete stone solution within today’s modern, contemporary bathrooms, shower areas (both closed and walk-in) and wet and stream rooms. Using a combination of product type, available in an unrivalled range of beautiful natural stone colours and anti-slip finishes, the design potential to create visually stunning yet functional spaces is infinite. BSPR08.10 – Studio 5.jpg From cottage to farmhouse, Burlington’s stone is the ideal medium with which to transform the classical styling of traditional kitchens. Here we see Broughton Moor worksurfaces and interior wall cladding coupled with the company’s Caulfeild limestone flooring. BSPR08.10 – Studio 6.jpg Proof that Burlington’s stone can deliver the ultimate style statement within today’s contemporary kitchens through the use of clean and decisive lines. Blue/grey Kirby and silver/grey Brandy Crag natural stone has been used to create a random looking floor pattern, the same stone then featuring as split level, fashionable worksurfaces. BSPR08.10 – Studio 7.jpg A taste of what can be achieved in Burlington natural stone within the landscape environment. Burlington’s landscaping product range now takes in both off-the-shelf and bespoke materials, enabling landscape designers and homeowners to combine uniform shapes and lines with random materials as a means of bringing designs to life. PRESS CONTACT: Paul Watson Wentworth Communications Limited Tel: 0161 973 6763 Fax: 0161 969 6813 Email: paul@wentworthcomms.co.uk