DOMOTEX INTERIORS EXPERTS PEOPLE ARE GOING BOLDER


WITH PATTERN AND COLOUR. IN THE SAME WAY THAT


HOMEOWNERS THREW CAUTION TO THE WIND, THIS LOOK HAS TRICKLED DOWN TO FLOORING


Charles Annable | Grosvenor Wilton


Or the way Atelier Dialect interlinked the bedroom and bathroom of an Antwerp apartment with grey carpeting which formed a base for a refl ective stainless steel bathtub. Or even the way Aqruitectura-G extended a warm-hued sisal from the fl oor to the bold, rectangular sunken seating area at an apartment in the Ensanche district of Barcelona, some of which we picture here over these pages. As for trends, visitors to Hannover in January will recall the strength of the European wood market, particularly the wide plank variety whose popularity has soared across the continent, not least because of the benefi ts, including fewer seams, easier maintenance, and a more unifi ed aesthetic. Sustainability, as expected, reached new levels of importance, and the use of reclaimed and antique wood fl ooring rose steeply as a result of that trend, given the way they minimise the environmental impact of new production.


THE MATERIALS THAT WILL ALWAYS ENDURE Popular among them were the reclaimed variety from the likes of historic houses, factories and farm buildings, particularly when related to the French shabby chic styles. Such is the individuality of materials like this, they are known to touch all senses so really need seeing up close, to be touched, felt and fully experienced. Engineered wood also grew in popularity, not only because it’s so


cost-eff ective, but because of its sheer durability, particularly when designing in spaces where fl uctuating humidity levels - kitchens and bathrooms, for example - are a factor. Equally high-scoring in the versatility-and-cost stakes was laminate, still one of the most frequently laid fl oor coverings in Europe, despite the advancement of wood, natural stone and bamboo, at least for now. Its dominance was usurped in 2023 by ceramic tiles which rallied as the strongest product segment in Europe with 26.6 per cent – three percentage points ahead as the balance tipped in its favour.


FACT Elsie de Wolfe, a US actress who became a socialite in


Paris and joined the English nobility is credited with being the first professional interior designer


QUO TE


And talking


of


French fl ooring,


one thing always at the forefront of design thinking there is limestone, something of a staple, give the enduring infl uence of the chateau. As any designer will know, the factors aff ecting the choice of fl ooring are numerous. Designers will be taking into account the use of a room space, the period of the building, the latter of which will bring other factors into play such as how a material will age or patinate over time, for example.


Some have a tendency to pick- and-mix, to bring a sense of individuality to each room. Others look for continuity in an eff ort to bring a space seamlessly together. All of which needs planning. In


the words of the London design journalist: Anya Cooklin-Lofting, plan from the beginning and soon you’ll have a space that’s vibrant from the ground up. She suggested that a fear of getting it wrong was “a major driver in the popularity of boring fl ooring”, which is why so many suggest starting with the fl oor and seeing it as an artist’s palette. Something cited more than a few times in the recent past is the adage that it needn’t be installed fi rst, but should remain a consistent inspiration throughout the design process, such as keeping a carpet swatch close to hand at all times alongside paint and wallpaper samples. In


India, Obeetee, the globally-


renowned rug giant, hired a UK designer to collaborate on a collection of new colour-drenched


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