THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
EPLF explore how urban movements are impacting trends in laminate flooring.
Combining a mixture of urban and industrial themes with elements of timeless, modern country-house style, the new “Urban Industrial Interior” is the latest interior design trend dominating international markets.
This attractive flooring style was presented by European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) manufacturers and suppliers at this year’s Domotex in Hanover, along with innovative pattern developments and special technical features.
The new, relaxed mélange of urban lifestyle and modern country style reflects the developments in the housing market. The continuous migration from rural areas has meant significant population growth for metropolitan regions. In order to provide much-needed living space, urban vacant plots are being creatively used in the form of overbuilding, or residential spaces are being created by gutting and converting vacant industrial buildings. The materials found in the existing stock, with its "processed" surfaces such as metal, concrete or stone, are then often deliberately utilised in the redesign concept.
The new surface finishes designed by laminate flooring manufacturers have been inspired by these characteristic structures, colours and effects, and once again they're setting the trend on international flooring markets.
NATURAL PLAY OF COLOURS AND
SMOOTHER SURFACES Current floor styles combine the old and new in a mix of ways from a rustic closeness to nature, Mediterranean- inspired lightness or Nordic clarity. Where the room size allows, classic laminate floorboards can show off their realistic imitation-wood effect in new, generously wide and longer formats. If the surface area is limited by structural conditions,
36 | LAMINATE
multi-strip effects are increasingly being used. With a creative mixture of two- strip versions and a variety of floorboard colours and wood finishes, individual floors can provide a special atmosphere.
In the main, oak remains the favourite for laminate flooring due to its versatility in terms of colour and shaping. However, traditional woods such as beech, walnut, pine, elm and ash are also maintaining their place in the current range of decors. Simple design and harmonious colour combinations determine the current laminate look with natural shades in bright or soft muted colours such as white, white-glazed, cream, light beige and greige frequently found in all contemporary furnishing styles. Darker laminate decors, with warm nuances in an array of brown tones, are used to create a cosy atmosphere of understated elegance.
After the very rustic, significantly- textured surfaces of recent years, with their massive "cracks" and branches, calmer decors are now taking their place in the collections, although some vintage features such as the rough- sawn effect still remain.
LAMINATE WITH THE APPEARANCE
OF WOOD Also for kitchen, bathroom and non-residential buildings.
Printing techniques are being continuously developed with innovative, industrial digital printing onto decorative paper allowing for a more varied, luminous and multicolour range. Using special press plates, material reproductions offer lifelike depictions – from the "patina" of old wooden floors to metallic effects.
With the appropriate equipment, low-maintenance, robust laminate floors are suitable for all living and working areas, and they also have new
applications in commercial and office spaces and doctors' surgeries.
Innovative moisture-protection devices allow laminate flooring to be laid in bathrooms and kitchens. A special board formulation and a corresponding impregnation of the top layer reduce swelling, whilst the edges receive a special sealant for protection purposes. Finally, patented locking methods ensure that the joints are securely locked. Thus, laminate flooring can be employed as a warmer alternative to traditional tiling.
And don’t forget, the internationally recognised environmental product declarations (EPD) offer certification that tested laminate flooring exhibits a very good ecological balance, with enormously positive values in terms of primary energy requirements and global-warming potential. The European laminate collections are thus leading the way on international markets also in terms of sustainability and environmental protection.
www.eplf.com
www.tomorrowscontractfloors.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64