The Surface Design Show is always a rich source of inspiration and innovation, and this year's event did not disappoint – Amelia Thorpe rounds up her 5 key KBB takeaways.
The annual showcase of innovative surface materials, the Surface Design Show, took place at the Business Design Centre in London on 4th - 6th February. Over 180 exhibitors took part, including 40% for the first time this year, offering a range of solutions, including plenty aimed at the KBB sector for worktops, furniture doors, shower walls, flooring and more.
Key trends included:
1. Natural and warm colour
Francesco Giorgi, export area manager of Infinity Surfaces large format porcelain slabs, says they are seeing lots of natural, warm neutrals, such as terracotta, coming through. "There is lots of interest in travertine looks, their warmer tones making them popular in both kitchens and bathrooms," he says.
2. Focal point power
"Designers understand the importance of creating a focal point with a unique feature," says Joss Thomas, founder of Indigenous, who was receiving plenty of interest in 2 extraordinary basins on his stand – one carved from rock crystal, the other from agate.
The same quest for striking individuality was also drawing visitors to the Metall FX stand. Specialising in bespoke metal surface finishes, the company offers over 2,000 colour variations with multiple textures, including the Aged Bronze finish shown on the cupboard doors here.
Also worthy of note, new ‘sculptured’ wood lacquered and stained panels, featuring engraved patterns, from Italian company MS, and designed for kitchen and bedroom furniture.
3. Waterproof easy-install surfaces
Seamless trowel-applied surfaces for bathrooms, including showers and wet areas, have been developing apace. Frescolori has now introduced its latest product, One, which is designed to be easy and fast to apply. It is supplied ready mixed as a one-component levelling compound to produce a durable, waterproof and seamless shower surface – and available in 3 texture variants and more than 40 colours.
Another bathroom tiling alternative is the Reco Surfaces ‘easy-fit’ panel, designed to be eco-friendly, waterproof, low maintenance and cost effective. The panels are made in Britain from recycled materials including plastic bottles. "And at the end of their life, the panels can be sent back to be fully recycled again," says specification manager, Daniel Adams.
4. Stress-free stone
Manufacturers have been working hard to offer natural stone and stone looks in more hassle-free options. Large-format porcelain slabs and tiles, coupling ultra-realistic stone effects with excellent performance characteristics, were in evidence throughout the show. Maria Dolores Arráez, director of Tile of Spain UK, points to the interest in mixed material designs, including the porcelain Apavisa Intarsio tiles, designed to look – and feel – like a realistic parquet of wood and stone.
Meanwhile, Stone Architecture was gaining plaudits for its real marble and quartzite large-format Lightweight Stone panels, available on various honeycomb, fibreglass and even plywood backings, designed to be both strong and easily manageable in terms of weight. "The panels can weight as little as 9kg per sq m, making them a good solution for walls and furniture," says Michael Davis, MD of Stone Architecture.
5. Sustainability coming on apace
Good to see so much innovation in sustainable surfaces, and an especially chic stand from ‘Terrazzo Timber’ specialist Foresso. Made from waste wood sourced from trees felled in Britain, Foresso blends offcut timber, wood dust, mineral powders with non-toxic, formaldehyde free binder to stick everything together and create a durable worktop and furniture material. "We wanted to showcase a genuinely sustainable material used in a sophisticated and contemporary way," says Siobhan Tolley, sales manager, Foresso.
Also worthy of note is Revive Innovations for its shelves and furniture made from recycled CDs that have been saved from landfill. Products include the Boxy bar stool with top made from over 113 recycled CDs on a frame made from 80 recycled steel. And Ottan, for its range of surfaces made from nut shells and eggshells mixed with plant-based binders to create unusual materials, some suitable for use as bathroom or kitchen splashbacks.
