FOCUS ON LUXURY VINYL TILES (LVT)
Design for Life
Lorna Williams, Head of Product Design and Creative Marketing at
luxury vinyl tile (LVT) specialist Amtico, discusses her projections for interior trends throughout 2017 and how LVT can meet them.
2017 is bringing with it innovative and imaginative trends that focus on not only colour, but shapes, textures and materials.
We still look to nature for inspiration, particularly for raw, tactile texture, but more than ever the line between the handcrafted and technology is blending to produce outstanding designs. The juxtaposition of nature and modern architecture provides the perfect inspiration. Concrete cityscapes and botanical references that keep us close to the natural world are very prevalent this year.
There is always a place for design inspired by nature. In the home, bringing soft touches of the outside world in can create something comforting and bright. The simplicity of nature’s designs resonates perfectly in the home, creating a calm atmosphere. But the interesting update for this year is how these organic patterns can be combined with soft geometric abstracts for a more contemporary look.
A Splash of Colour
In wood grains, we are seeing rustic grains and shapes with carefully balanced colour variations. Some unusual accent tones, like blue, can be added like in Amtico’s Pearl Wash Wood but, as they are very subtle, they just add a sheen or mood rather than obvious tone. Colours also continue to be based on nature, such as references from rustic natural plants or trees. Weathering and treatments come through with careful flashes of rich colours like rustic greens and reds which you can see in Amtico’s Regency Walnut.
Neutral Ground
There’s always a need for neutrals in flooring: they so often create a beautiful foundation for spaces. However, to avoid anything too simplistic and dull, pick products that carefully balance multi-tonal neutrals. This would be a grey
26 | Tomorrow’s Retail Floors
that isn’t simply one tone; it’s a balance of warm and cool. Mirus Feather is an abstract design that is ideal for bringing a sense of depth and understated charm to interior spaces, it offers a soft grey tonal palette with delicate patterning and dynamic flashes of light and shade.
The Power of Pattern
There is still a real focus on laying patterns for wooden floors. Amtico develop laying patterns to suit the widest range of spaces and, while long-length planks have been popular over the past few years, there has been a resurgence of the smaller scale, more intricate cut patterns like Parquet and Pleat. Parquet is a sophisticated and elegant design that has stood the test of time and works equally well in classic and modern settings. Using a single colour highlights the varied beauty of the wood but, when used in multiple shades, it is given a contemporary edge. Pleat looks like a simplistic design but the perfectly precise angles and neatly balanced design elevates it. There is also so much opportunity to create something truly unusual and unique. These complex, designs can easily be achieved in the home in any size room from the hallway to dining room. The patterns can add drama to an otherwise neutral room without feeling overwhelming.
Handcrafted Connection
When something is evidently handmade, a greater connection to the manufacturing process can be created for the consumer. There’s an overall trend for luxury that is defined by simple, long-lasting materials that use resources carefully. The treatment of everyday materials is being re-examined and the craft of their creation is a new definition of luxury. We are seeing companies and manufacturers delving into archives not just to look at designs retrospectively but also to understand and engage with the handcrafted. Processes that have now become automated now need to have a connection to craft. It’s important to work efficiently today, be productive and creative - the clever products will be a balance of the two: the functionality of modern tech and the form created by hand.
www.amtico.com/flooring
www.tomorrowsretailfloors.com
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