Design trends are in a constant state of evolution, this year’s brown is last year’s black as it were. What’s for certain is that interior ‘looks’ are turning much faster than ever before – heavily influenced by the pace of change on the fashion catwalk, globalisation and the desire for differentiation in the face of product mass elitism. But for a range of interior products – flooring, tiles, laminates, fabrics, worktops, melamine – there are some prevailing themes that can be identified.
Texture is definitely the buzz word, with all manufacturers focusing on enhancing the tactile as well as the visual dimension of their product. In melamine, we currently see smooth ‘orange peel’ textures and very matt finishes, such as Natural by Kronospan which creates the look and feel of a real veneer.
In laminates, the interplay of texture is particularly strong. Expensive-looking high gloss texture immediately gives the product a lux factor. White gloss, and even pearlescent white gloss, is a particular favourite for perfume counters – all helping to sell the cosmetic dream. Meanwhile, gloss is already an established success story in worktops, especially in conjunction with dark granite designs.
At the other end of the texture spectrum, comes heavily rippled finishes on hot colours of orange and yellow, plus leather hides of Buffle as seen in the newly launched Elegance range from Polyrey.
Woodgrains
Woodgrains are going richer and darker. In MFC laminates and worktops there is the rising popularity of walnut, cherry and rustic oaks. The so-called ‘chocolate’ woodgrain look has now entered the mainstream in retail shopfitting and in high-spec office environments. American Walnut by Polyrey features on all the joinery work in 80 separate offices within a London development, while Zebrano by Formica Ltd is being rolled out in Ted Baker, Marks & Spencer and Top Man.
There is also greater willingness to pay more for expensive, exotic, African timbers in real wood veneers – for example Polyrey’s Placage and Ligna by Formica Ltd. However, within the office furni-ture sector, lighter and medium timbers such as maple, birch and beech continue to dominate as mainstream.
Colour-wise, white reigns supreme but the ‘white box look’ is softening through textures, and hot colours, such as orange, yellow and lime green are coming through. Some call it acid, others retro. The new Fundamentals range by Formica Ltd offers some vibrant tones of purple, red and orange. At the Spectrum office furniture exhibition earlier this year, orange and lime green were prevalent as accent colours with timbers. Even the government Job Centres are using red, orange, purple and yellow as accent colours on doors and cupboard fronts with birch-effect MFC.
Metallics
Metallics are a huge theme in shopfitting and in kitchens to the extent that brushed aluminium has now become a commodity item. But aluminium and silver, now with textures, will continue to make metallics big news.
And the final theme to mention is transparency, with products incorporating light reflective properties. The translucent laminates from Kronoswiss, along with the pioneering Diafos laminates from Abet, from as long ago as the 80s, fit nicely into this design trend.
Which all goes to prove that old adage – what goes around, most definitely always comes around.
