Transforming spaces from the ground up

Flooring has the power to transform the ambience of our homes. As a nation we are obsessed with home décor and our floors can literally transform spaces from the ground up with their unique blend of artistry and functionality.

We discovered that sources of design inspiration are as diverse as the designs themselves. Whether it’s our cultural heritage, our love
of nature’s endless array of colors and textures, the latest fashion trend, or a collaboration sparked by like-minded people. For this feature, we caught up with two brands who are known for pushing the boundaries when it comes to design innovation and an archive studio known for their heritage prints.

When you offer so many different styles and colours of carpets, finding inspiration for the next range can be challenging. But for Clare Jenkinson and Calvin Pope – the Residential Designers at Ulster Carpets – inspiration can come from anywhere. 

“The pair are both talented artists and use sketches, paintings and mood boards as a starting point for different ideas. They combine this with research into different trends before the new design or colours start to take shape.”

You will be able to see their artistic influence in the new additions to the Habitus Croft and Strond designs which will be launched later this year. The Danish inspired Tufted Loop range is influenced by the quiet, understated aesthetic found in Scandinavian design and the latest shades reflect the current shift towards warmer tones.

Their influences are also found on the recent twist to the classic Plaid designs of Glenmoy and Beaumont; the sun, sea and surf inspiration of Open Spaces Laneve Raglan and Napier designs; and the warmer neutrals and earth tones added to the York Wilton range last year. 

Organic beauty meets innovative design in the latest designs to join Karndean Designflooring’s premium Art Select range. This fresh interpretation of some of the world’s rarest and most precious materials are ideal for home decorators looking for timeless elegance with an unexpected touch of drama. 

Inspired by exclusive woods and stones, such as marble from Italy’s Apuan Alps, English ash from the Kent Downs and Holm oak from the Basque region of Spain, each new design reproduces the iconic character of the natural material in a versatile format designed for modern homes.

Fleur Carson, Managing Director at Karndean Designflooring, said,
“Our new Art Select collection began with a story. A meeting with breathtaking natural landscapes and some of the most famous personalities in history. Inspired by unique samples, our designers have painstakingly reproduced each material’s exquisite character before adding our unique embossed surface and bevel detailing. 

“Take our Persian onyx designs as an example. Said to have been worn by Cleopatra to protect her from negative energy and danger, onyx is an ethereal and romantic stone unsuitable for flooring in its natural state. But we pushed boundaries to recreate the pearlescent magic of this semi-precious stone in three luxurious designs that combine its delicate translucence with outstanding durability.”

With all the practical benefits of Karndean flooring, from comfort underfoot and a waterproof hard-wearing surface that’s easy to keep hygienically clean, the updated Art Select collection presents 20 brand new wood and 19 stone designs in a range of contemporary colourways and sizes, including a new slimline plank and a large herringbone size.

Patterns and colour really do have the power to evoke emotions. Whether it’s a subtle texture inspired by nature, or a classic heritage print that takes back in time. 

Inspiration by Tarkett is a new collection from an international leader in high definition, ultra authentic vinyl flooring.

“We’re inspired by the natural materials the whole industry
strives to replicate. Still mostly wood & stone materials of course,
but our digital capabilities allow us to think differently about
what we can take from nature and how we can more accurately render it into finished products which will delight retail and
end user customers alike,” he said.

The additional authenticity that Tarkett’s unique process delivers, gives their designers free rein to explore new ideas in terms of pattern detail and colour movement. With a 12 square metre pattern repeat, they are working with much bigger canvas for the artwork – four times the size of the traditional or ‘analogue’ process.

“Mostly we’re inspired by pragmatism, by our customers,
by listening to what works for people and designing this feedback into our collection,” adds Steve.
“This is how we come up with the ideas which others do not.
Like our Design Studio offer and our Fast-Fit Herringbone solution. 

We caught up with Print Pattern Archive, a leading global design studio with an antique textile and wallpaper archive of over 50,000 antique documents for inspiration. Founder and Co-Director Cheryl O’Meara has an unrivalled eye for heritage design with a
contemporary twist.

The studio are experts in creating a contemporary heritage vibe, or ‘hipstorical’ aesthetic as they called it. Cheryl’s unique and exquisite private antique textile and wallpaper collection has been sought after by industry titans Alexander McQueen and Soho House as well as a list of global fashion and home brands. She said:

“In the world of interior design, pattern, colour and heritage
are the heartbeats of transformation, breathing life and
narrative into space.”

Co-Director Kerri Rigby has a unique blend of fashion acumen and archive heritage which brings a fresh perspective seamlessly merging her expertise with Cheryl’s to unite beautiful heritage with contemporary design. Whether clients want hand painting or amalgamating gen AI, nothing is off the table. Together, they form a dynamic duo dedicated to preserving and reimagining timeless prints and patterns.

For more information contact:

Karndean Designflooring • 01386 820100 • www.karndean.com

Print Pattern Archive • 07789 164905 • www.printpatternarchive.com

Tarkett • 0800 328 2115 • www.inspirationbytarkett.co.uk

Ulster Carpets • 028 3833 4433 • www.ulstercarpets.com

Join the online community on:

facebook.com               twitter.com               pinterest.com

          instagram.com             youtube.com                houzz.com