The dynamic evolution in flooring design, where every element tells a story. The timeless allure of marble flooring with inlay and insets is embraced, yet contemporary aesthetics introduce modern methods. PVD metal and brass insets create mesmerizing composite patterned flooring in marble, wood, or tile.
2024 carpet trends are ushering in a new era for vintage carpets, fuelled by a renewed fascination with retro soft goods such as textiles and upholstery, along with a palette reminiscent of historical furnishings. These carpets uniquely blend the classic herringbone pattern with a rich array of warm golden browns, beiges, and taupe tones, complemented by touches of dark blue, grey, and black to add a subtle softness to the sharp linear repetition.
Designers and clients are increasingly seeking environmentally friendly and renewable materials for their projects and homes. Bamboo is recognized as an eco-friendly substitute for traditional hardwoods due to its rapid growth, ensuring sustainability, and its impressive hardness comparable to many hardwoods. Additionally, bamboo flooring boasts a distinctive and natural aesthetic appeal.
Cork, renowned for its smooth and durable characteristics, is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. As a renewable resource, its distinctive texture adds warmth to rooms, and it boasts inherent sound-absorbing properties.
Porcelain tile, extending beyond its conventional uses, is venturing into new realms with advancements that authentically replicate the look of wood and genuine stone. Its durability makes it well-suited for various applications, particularly in environments with high moisture levels.
Amidst a heightened focus on environmental awareness, the flooring industry is adopting sustainable practices across production and application processes. One essential sustainable practice in flooring production involves integrating recycled materials such as wood, glass, or rubber, allowing manufacturers to craft inventive and environmentally friendly flooring alternatives.
Selecting flooring with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification guarantees that the wood originates from well-managed forests, promoting responsible sourcing and contributing to the preservation of biodiversity and forests.
Minimizing waste in manufacturing processes is a key aspect of sustainable flooring practices. Companies can enhance their eco-friendly approach by adopting efficient production methods that significantly reduce material wastage.
Opting for locally sourced flooring materials not only diminishes carbon emissions associated with transportation but also promotes local economic growth by ensuring materials are obtained nearby, thereby minimizing the environmental impact.
These modern materials have a wide range of uses in various environments. Luxury vinyl, known for its versatility, is suitable for both residential and commercial spaces. Engineered wood is favoured for its aesthetic charm in homes, while bamboo is renowned for its eco-friendly qualities.
As per recent trends more and more rustic, hand crafted, distressed wood floors– close to nature products are gaining traction. Parquet is also trending. As far as wood flooring as a category is concerned, engineered wood flooring in form of long planks, Chevron, & Herringbone are evidently gaining popularity over laminate floors and traction. Also, over hardwood floors due to sustainability concerns.
Engineered wood flooring is no longer just confined to floors but they extend to walls and ceiling as well in terms of application. Wood staircase solution is another trending application that creates a seamless transition between floors, skirtings, and stairs by combining materials naturally to give consistency in design at different levels.
For years marble has been a classic choice of flooring and a lot of new trends have emerged that add contemporary flair to this timeless material. The use of large slabs creates a seamless and visually stunning effect. These oversized slabs add to the concept of open-space aesthetics. Additionally, unique marble varieties such as Carrara, Calacatta, Emperador and Statuario with strong veins can be used for experimentation and personalization. Now, with the availability of marble in special finishes such as polished, honed, brushed or even book-matched marble, where slabs are cut and placed to create a mirrored effect, it is quite popular as it adds drama and visual interest to floors to uplift the interior. Others can be combining premium materials with marble-like wood, metal, or glass. Currently, we are also noticing a surge of using marble tiles to cash in on the benefits of large slabs. However, artificial marble tiles cannot compare with the sheer aesthetics, durability, range, and variety of natural marble.
Marble can be used in diverse settings both indoors and outdoors based on the type of stone and its quarry of extraction. Each slab is composed uniquely therefore there are hardly any limitations when it comes to the application of marble. From being used in lobbies and furniture to floorings, kitchen counters, tables, etc., natural stone has various applications in both construction and interior settings. Stones like granite, travertine or limestone are preferred for outdoor application as well as decorative for living room centrepieces, accent features, backdrops / backsplashes, TV back panels, backdrops for bed headboards, table tops, etc. due to their tough and highly durable exterior. However, for indoor application, stones like Supreme Whites and Onyx are recommended for their smooth finish that adds a luxury appeal to the interior. The use of marble in such a diverse environment not only lends a sense of cleanliness to the ambiance but also saves you from regular whitewashing and the troubles of frequent renovation.
A noticeable challenge that can occur in the realm of design is finding raw material that is of good quality. When it comes to marble, a high quality marble, no matter how subtle it looks, makes a world of a difference. Investing in good quality raw marble not only gives a more realistic and natural aesthetic to the interior but also is highly durable, long lasting, and low in maintenance.
Read the full story that first appeared in Architect & Interiors Magazine Feb 2024 issue here:
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