Gulf Construction Online - BnB unveils showroom for affordable fittings

Ceramics & Sanitary Ware

BnB’s signature product is its Big Slabs collection of wall and floor tiling.

BnB unveils showroom for affordable fittings

01 February 2020

Bianca & Bianco (BnB), a new concept of affordable luxury porcelain slabs, tiles, and exclusive bath and kitchens solutions, has launched its first showroom in Dubai, UAE, on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Catering to the needs of large commercial and residential real estate projects looking for competitively priced international quality fittings, BnB will also serve property owners wanting to upgrade their real estate asset value and aesthetics. From luxurious Italian porcelain slabs to Arabesque wall accents, the showroom offers a choice of elegant, classy and bold designs that are modestly priced.

BnB was set up to fill a gap for reasonably priced luxury fittings in the industry, according to Ahid Shaikh, who has close to two decades of experience in the emirate’s real estate sector.

BnB showroom ... on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Shaikh, also chairman of Déjà vu Real Estate, says: “There are two clear segments where we see a need gap. One is homeowners, who are seeking a classy and cosmopolitan look for their new homes, or looking to upgrade existing properties to increase valuation and ensure a steady return on investment. And the other is Dubai’s growing residential and commercial projects market.”

A Faithful+Gould’s report forecasts the UAE fit-out market to reach Dh3.4 billion ($973.4 million) by 2022. At the same time, the renovations and refurbishment market in the UAE is on the rise. Experts estimate renovations can add between 10 to 15 per cent to the selling price, something that is promoting a lot of owners to remodel and upgrade their older properties.

Shaikh sees a huge market for refurbishment, not only in older communities such as Meadows, Springs and Emirates Hills, but even in the shell-and-core Dubai Hills villas as well as the Jumeirah Island and Palm Jumeirah Mansions.

He believes Dubai’s growing leisure, retail, dining, hospitality and entertainment destinations, that are built with ‘experience’ at their core, need products that exude class but are also functional, low on maintenance and durable for heavy use. And he feels BnB fits that niche well.

“Real estate is one of the biggest investments in your life. Property needs to look beautiful and should be upgraded regularly for it to retain and enhance its value. But while you want luxurious finishes and high quality, you also don’t want to break the bank! Today everyone, whether a project manager or an individual, wants opulence that is cost-effective and delivers great ROI (return on investment),” he adds.

BnB’s key product lines in porcelain slabs and tiling, sanitary ware and cutting-edge kitchen solutions include Italian and Spanish brands that have been curated and carefully handpicked by BnB’s team of international designers. The company’s signature product is its Big Slabs collection of wall and floor tiling that infuses seamless elegance to interior decor, akin to that of a five-star hotel lobby, for a nominal cost.

Its bath range comprises elegant counter tops, wall-hung or under-counter basins, and smart faucets and shower mixers, while kitchen solutions are functional and new age, designed to increase efficiency.

Tapping into the founding team’s 12 years of experience in flooring and slabs in Canada, BnB has also recently joined hands with two of the key players in the Canadian slabs, tiling and marble market – New Age and Tile Giant – that boast over a decade of market leadership.

At the core of BnB’s philosophy is its commitment to give back to the local design community. To this end, a dedicated area has been designated in the showroom for conducting knowledge sharing and training workshops.

Customers can also benefit from these workshops as well as from BnB’s multilingual team of handpicked experts and international designers (Arab, Minimalist and French styling) who will provide free design consultations. Interior designers, consultants, architects, and fit-out companies in Dubai can also attend sessions with international designers and experts to learn more about tiling trends and technicalities and industry best practices.