INDEX homes & gardens 2 C
arpet manufacturers, in particular, tend to issue ‘trend predictions’ at the start of each year, fl agging up the latest colours and patterns. Carpetright (one
of the largest British retailers of fl oor coverings), for example, are predicting that what they’re calling ‘refi ned monochrome’ will be big in 2015 – a cool, sophisticated trend with a timeless look. Black and white fl ooring, they say, will provide the perfect backdrop for glamorous furniture, velvet upholstery and shiny glass and metallics. As anyone who remembers mini skirts from
the fi rst time around will tell you, most fashions come back if you wait long enough. The same is clearly true for carpets – shag pile is back with a vengeance. If you’re looking to create a luxurious feel without a high price tag, Crown Floors’ Portland Bay Collection could be ideal. These carpets have a lovely satin softness to them and come in a wide range of designs, from lively Blossom and subtle Willow Tree, to the clean fi nish of White Queen and After Dark black.
TILE STYLE
By way of complete contrast to the softness of carpet, the Karma mosaic tile range from Tunbridge Wells-based Trend GB is made from up to 75% recycled glass. Predominantly used on walls, the 2cm x 2cm format is suitable for low-medium traffi c fl ooring applications, and because glass tile is non-permeable, it is perfect for surfaces that need to resist moisture, mould and mildew, such as kitchens, bathrooms, showers and pool areas.
This drawn glass, hand-cut transparent mosaic has natural veining and deep internal fold lines, and is inspired by the stained glass windows of Gothic cathedrals. It’s available in more than 40 colours and in contrast to back- painted glass tiles, where a layer of pigment is fused to the reverse, Karma tiles are ‘through body’ coloured, meaning that pigments are mixed with molten glass, enabling pigmentation to permeate throughout the body of the tile, resisting colour fade and abrasion. Karma also comes in a combination of glass and 24 carat gold, called Karma Mirage, with white and yellow gold tiles priced from £500 per sq m in a 2cm x 2cm format. On the standard range, a metallic epoxy coating is bonded to the back of the tile, acting as a refl ective element that does not peel over time and is compatible with regular tile adhesives.
For the Karma Mirage variant, a 24 carat gold
fi lm is applied to the reverse of clear glass tiles, projecting through the richness and elegance of pure yellow or white gold. Now if that’s not glamorous, I don’t know what is!
The INDEX magazine
www.indexmagazine.co.uk 99
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