The collaborative showroom of leading interior suppliers brings fresh inspiration to the Home Ideas Centre

Designed by Melanie S’au of Yellowfox design studio, NZ Panels Group’s new Mercer and Durasein showroom at the Home Ideas Centre is a one-stop shop for sink and benchtop inspiration. 

Mercer, an iconic New Zealand brand with a history dating back to 1884, was acquired by NZ Panels Group two years ago. As the largest supplier of sinks to the New Zealand market, their extensive range covers everything from granite to stainless steel — with tapware and accessories to match. 

Durasein joined NZ Panels Group at the same time, bringing their global reputation as a leading acrylic surface supplier, and their large range of innovative products, into the fold. 

“When you want to show off your range of beautiful sinks in a high-end showroom, it makes sense to partner with a benchtop material that will complement those. With NZ Panels Group owning Mercer and being the New Zealand distributor for Durasein, it was a no-brainer to combine the two in a seamless environment that shows both off to their best advantage. The new showroom is also directly next to the adjacent Dezignatek showroom, a brand of profile cabinetry doors that is also owned by NZ Panels Group,” says Desiree Keown of NZ Panels Group. 

“Melanie designed the showroom to complement the Dezignatek showroom, which she also designed, using the same Resene ‘Half Stack’ colour on the Prime Adorno Wall Panels in both areas to tie them together. Joinery production and installation was done by Stirling Kitchens and the fabrication of the Durasein solid acrylic for the benchtops, drawer fronts, and pull-out colour display drawers was done by Topline Benches.”

The showroom has been designed to provide visitors with plenty of inspiration for their kitchen, bathroom, or commercial project. The main display areas showcase a range of popular and new Mercer sinks, with more to explore in the pull-out drawers below. Taps in all finishes can be found in-situ above the sinks to help visitors visualise the complete kitchen or bathroom set up.

“We have also included some Durasein vanity basins and sinks to show people how the solid acrylic benchtop can be integrated with a sink or basin to create a seamless and hygienic surface. Plus, 24 pull-out drawers on the Durasein side of the showroom show off every available design, making it easy to compare designs and combine with your other decor options to check suitability,” Keown explains. 

The newest addition to the Mercer family, the Ravenna Fireclay Butler Sink by Italian brand Isvea, has been installed as the centrepiece of the showroom — paired with a softly veined Durasein countertop in the colour ‘Ever After’. Available as either a single or a double sink, the design features a modern fluted pattern that can be replicated on the Durasein acrylic for a cohesive look.

The Ravenna models are easy to install due to their straight sides, and feature the popular accessory ledge, allowing for the HPL Cutting Board (included with the sink) to sit inside the sink and move from side to side. The double Ravenna RB290 has a functional drop bridge to allow extra-large dishes to be cleaned with ease, as well as enabling accessories to move from side to side without being obstructed. If you’re looking for more of a sleek appearance, the Ravenna sink can be reversed and installed with the fluted front hidden. 

Keown says both Durasein and Mercer are fantastic options for the modern kitchen. “With Durasein, you have the option to thermoform or router-cut your benchtop to create interesting shapes only limited by your imagination. The Mercer sinks are both durable and highly functional, with a myriad of options and configurations to choose from.”

The Home Ideas Centre in Parnell is currently open to visitors from Thursday and Friday 9am-5pm, Saturdays from 10am - 5pm, and Sundays from 10am - 4pm.  

Learn more about NZ Panels Group, Mercer, and Durasein.