Atkinson & Kirby has become a founding partner at Material Source Studio, a world class product and materials hub for architects and designers located in Manchester city-centre. Material Source will be opening its first studio this Novemeber, offering architects and designers an experience like no other. Located in Manchester’s regenerated NOMA, an £800 million, 20-acre mixed-use redevelopment scheme in Manchester, Material Source’s impressive 15,000sqft space will allow visitors from across the North West and beyond to fully immerse themselves in ‘beautifully useful’ products and materials, while becoming part of a like-minded creative community. Set across two levels, the Material Source Studio will feature a wealth of inspirational exhibits and interactive displays from over 30 leading brands operating in the materials and furniture sectors. The design destination will also feature a 100-seat theatre space and numerous meeting areas for seminars from industry experts and even a podcast studio. The space is enhanced further with stunning internal gardens connecting both floors. Commenting on the announcement, Craig Holt, Head of Marketing & Business Development at Atkinson & Kirby, said: “We are excited to be part of this unique opportunity to connect with designers, architects and industry professionals in such a creative space. The collaboration between all partners will be extremely valuable to clients and other partners alike. “We will be showcasing our most popular and trend-led floors, many of which have already been used in high-profile, large-scale projects throughout the UK and Europe; from residential to hospitality.” Craig continues: “Each quarter, visitors will see a new trend that inspired our creative team, with updated décor and flooring samples. Each of our interior trends are largely focused on sustainability, so expect to see lots of greenery, naturally characterful floors and sustainability sourced timber.” Our specification team work directly with architects, designers and contractors, offering a bespoke flooring service tailored to the client’s individual requirements. Visitors will also be able to arrange meetings with the team at the Material Source studio. The studio will open its doors this November. We can't wait to see you there!

Hardwood flooring brand, Atkinson & Kirby and sister brand, Richard Burbidge, the UK’s leading supplier of stairparts, decorative mouldings and decking accessories have been announced as sponsors for Chirk AAA FC. Both Richard Burbidge & Chirk AAA FC have long, illustrious histories in the area, with Richard Burbidge established in 1867 and Chirk FC being formed several years later in 1876. Atkinson & Kirby also has a long-standing history having been formed in 1903. The sponsorship will help support the day to day running of the club and upkeep of facilities. With the brands keen to support the community of Chirk, the partnership will also help to encourage children to participate in team sports right up to the adult teams. Josh Burbidge, Managing Director of Richard Burbidge and Atkinson & Kirby, comments: “We’re really proud to support Chirk AAA FC. The club is a huge part of the local community and we wish them every success. We’re looking forward to further enhancing our relationship and plans for a range community projects.” Colin Heyward, Chairman of Chirk AAA Football Club, comments: “It’s great to have the support of such large local businesses and it really goes a long way to help support the running of the club. We are looking forward to a long and successful partnership that will enable us to continue to run training sessions, matches and social events.”

For the majority of the last decade, a clean and simple room has been the ultimate ‘interior goals’ when it comes to decorating, allowing 21st century minimalism to outshine all other design trends. However, tastes are quickly changing to favour a more traditional and busier look. Maximalism encourages the idea that more is most definitely more and is often referred to as ‘cluttercore’. Characterised by bold patterns that call to the eccentricity of Impressionist design and harmonious use of colour, this eclectic approach gives any room a deeper sense of personality that can be both modern and traditional. Following months of being stuck indoors, this particular design aesthetic has risen in popularity as people seek to make their houses feel more like homes. In turn, the art of self-expression and reinvention throughout the home has become a more favourable option than some simplistic looks with little ‘personality’. At this year’s Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, which we are proud to be a sponsor of, an expert panel will even be discussing whether maximalism is in fact the new minimalism, noting that design is getting more and more courageous. At Atkinson & Kirby, we are celebrating maximalism through the trend Regal Revival, which combines the iconic décor of the 19th century and a nostalgic ode to Gatsby-esque glamour, with modern and sophisticated touches. Encapsulating the grandeur of maximalism with gold accents, smooth finishes, and deep tones to complement our engineered hardwood flooring. Parquet flooring is our top recommendation for this trend due to its timeless quality and traditional appearance that still adds a contemporary twist to any room. You can check out the collection here.

Discover our latest flooring brochure, complete with all of the information you need in one place, so you can find the floor you're looking for in seconds! Here's some of the new features we've added: Our sustainability promise and certifications Filled with inspirational imagery The latest interior design trends Exciting new case studies to inspire you FSC and PEFC logos on all of the relevant floors so you can shop sustainably Download Now Download our brand new brochure today and have it delivered to your email within seconds! Click here to download now.

We have recently appointed an internal Environmental Action Group to drive our sustainability goals and pledge for a greener future. Amid a turbulent year for the timber trade, Atkinson & Kirby has appointed an Environmental Action Group to drive our sustainability agenda with the aim to reduce carbon emissions. The impact of climate change combined with the pandemic and Brexit has had a huge impact on the timber industry, with shortages widely publicised and both builders and consumers struggling to get their hands on supplies. Thanks to our long-standing partnerships with domestic and international timber suppliers, we are proud to have been able to maintain a constant supply of certified material into the UK market during these challenging times. Our appointment of the Environment Action Group demonstrates our ongoing commitment to environmental best practice and environmental responsibility. The group is ISO 14001:2015 accredited which confirms its environmental management systems are complaint with the standard’s rigorous requirements. The Environmental Action Group is working towards the ultimate goal of reducing carbon emissions and is currently reviewing its environmental impact. From this, the group will ascertain a baseline and develop a carbon footprint management plan which sets clear measurable objectives, targets and timescales to becoming net zero. We believe that all of the small changes we make at Atkinson & Kirby can have a big impact globally. We pledge to make our contribution to a more sustainable future.  The appointment comes as we launch our ‘Sustainability Month’ this September with a range of meaningful eco initiatives, including the launch of a partnership with COAT Paints. Designed using a water-based, low-toxin and solvent free formula, COAT Paints are also animal cruelty free and vegan, as well as being carbon neutral. Sustainability Month is an important initiative for us to help drive awareness of our brand as well as the importance of a sustainable timber trade to preserve the environment. Keep an eye on our website and social channels for more updates.

We have recently teamed up with COAT Paints and our sister brand, Richard Burbidge to showcase some of the top sustainable home trends for this year and beyond. With sustainability and quality design at the forefront of our ethos, COAT was the perfect brand to partner with for this range of trend-led shades. Designed using a water-based, low-toxin and solvent free formula, COAT customers can choose from various shades for every interior scheme. COAT Paints are also animal cruelty free and vegan, as well as being Carbon Neutral. The brand offers innovative products like the peel & stick swatches that make it easy to try paint colours at home. On this, Rob Abrahams, Co-Founder of COAT Paints said, “It has been great to collaborate with a brand that not only gets us in terms of our trend-led approach but also shares the same values around sustainability and conscious topics too.” This partnership aims to make it simple for customers to select the perfect complementary paint shades to match their flooring, as well as the ideal shades for wall panelling and staircase transformations.  The collaboration includes four key recommended shades from our trend collections – Japandi, Rustic Vogue, Vivid Zonal and Regal Revival with everything from earthy hues to rich jewel tones. We are also collaborating on a series of top tips, aiming to take the confusion away from picking the perfect paint shades for your home, with advice on preparing and painting wall panelling and making sure your paint colour compliments your flooring. Download your trends colour guide here.