Demand for the raw beauty of natural materials shows no sign of waning, with the design world grabbing inspiration from the things around us. But in an age where sustainability is more important than ever, designers have a responsibility to seek ever-more environmentally friendly options.
And they happily are, with higher quality products that mimic natural surfaces reaching the market, at lower costs and in a wider range of colours and sizes. Whether it’s the smooth textures of weathered rock or the tactile patterns and groves of wood, our search continues for the most innovative new surface products that take their inspiration from the best that nature has to offer…
Rock is one of the latest vinyl wallcoverings from Tektura and is designed to complement the many heavily textured stone effects that mimic rough walls. Instead of this coarse appearance, Rock is smooth and understated with a matt finish, offering a choice of nine neutral shades, from bone white through to pebble grey. Their palette accurately reflects the colour schemes you might find out in the wild, bringing a touch of the outside into your interiors.
The brand new addition to Johnson Tiles’ prestigious Absolute collection offers a range of glazed porcelain wall and floor tiles. Antique impressively recreates the appearance of aged planks of wood in five neutral shades, achieving something that is more convenient and durable than wood itself. The porcelain woodgrain finish still captures the same richness and tactile qualities.
Marble has been a major player at this year’s design shows, continuing to be a leading player for on-trend finishes. True Scale, an eye-catching addition to Formica’s New Collection, captures the beauty of marble in eight laminated decors, as well as replicating granite and wood. The textures look so real you’ll want to touch them.
The new easy-fit range, Palio Clic, from luxury vinyl flooring company Karndean Designflooring uses a simple click-lock design. As well as eight wood effects, it also includes four contemporary stone finishes in modern grey tones, giving a luxurious appearance without the expense or complexity of traditional stone flooring.
Find out more about these projects on Mix Interiors and read through our monthly column, Matterial Matters. For new material inspiration, come and visit us at our studio in Great Titchfield Street in central London.
