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DECEMBER 2019 | 31 Carpet Carpets add character to a space and o‡er great acoustic benefits by LAURIE JONES I n the world of interior design, customer preferences in flooring have undergone significant changes in recent years, particularly with the swing to hard surface floors. But there are still many people – in commercial and residential markets – who enjoy the soft underfoot feel of carpet. Shnier, Gesco L.P. can attest to the fact that there are those who still want carpet in certain areas of the home, such as bedrooms, and are willing to invest in better quality products. "Consumers are still gravitating to all things soft, and with developments in the fine denier yarns, carpets are becoming increasingly softer," says Amy Bonenfant, product manager. She explains the improvements in polyester yarns are allowing for better performing products. "Polyester offers exceptional softness and colour clarity, and is also naturally stain and fade resistant. Most residential carpets being sold today are tonal [tone on tone] in cut pile or LCL [loop/cut/loop] patterns." With regard to colours, Bonenfant says neutrals continue to be popular with grey still leading the way. "We are beginning to see the appearance of blues because it provides an easy transition away from the neutral norm, but it is still subtle enough to blend with neutral grey décor. Sherwin-Williams has named naval as their 2020 colour of the year, which is a deep blue reminiscent of the night sky." In the commercial market, carpet tiles are being chosen as a better solution to broadloom with the ease of installation, transportation, and more design flex- ibility. "For carpet tile, we are seeing trends move away from standard squares to other shapes like rectangular planks or even hexagonal," says Bonenfant. "The planks allow for more unique installation designs, such as herringbone." In September 2019, Mannington Commercial launched Self Assembly, a modu- lar carpet collection inspired by the craft of knitting where small stitch patterns can be layered and wrapped around each other to build striking, large-scale designs. "There are four patterns within the collection, each a different take on what occurs when randomization is incorporated into the structured process of creating a textile," says Roby Isaac, VP of commercial design. "This collection was developed to address the desire for textural products in the workplace. The four visuals were designed to help identify various needs in a commercial environment. Our intent was to create a group of products that would feel both modern and timeless, not only in pattern, but palette as well." The Self Assembly collection elevates artisanal texture to stunning beauty in four unique styles of modular carpet: Aran merges vertical motifs with more organic areas of patterning; Continental features an all-over organic design with fluctuating areas of openness and density; Gansey combines vertical and hori- zontal linear elements, layered with dappling; and Stockinette is a richly textured linear design with bands of patterning. "Each style is available in nine neutral colourways to suit workplace environments," says Isaac. Shaw Contract, a design leader in commercial flooring solutions and surfaces, is excited to introduce Suited, a collection designed to bring an innate confidence to workspace interiors. "We respond to our environments in a variety of ways, but the core of our responses is esthetic, tactile, or emotional," says Reesie Duncan, VP of Global Design. "Suited draws upon all of these responses to both sooth and empower, inspire and engage." Workplace design is no longer one-size-fits all – now, the contemporary workplace is inviting, creative, and agile, Duncan says. "Suited is a response to this changing modern work experience – a shift toward warm, welcoming spaces. The collection evokes a sense of comfort and belonging in the office." Taking its cues from timeless fabrics, this lushly tactile collection reinterprets them to create an evolving story of pattern and texture. "This is not simple nostalgia, but instead a multi-layered experience where the familiar and the new forge a bond between person and place." Duncan notes Suited adds a laid-back sophistication to every environment. "This versatile collection is ideally designed for workspaces and gathering places that require a sophisticated formality, yet at the same time embraces an atmo- sphere of ease and welcome. Suited takes hints of home and infuses them with a sense of history that informs how we work and how we live." Available in four tile styles with one co-ordinated broadloom, Suited offers a distinctive, sartorial statement of 12 colourways. Eight relaxed neutrals move across the spectrum from cool light tones to warmer, darker shades. Milliken introduced four new collections at NeoCon 2019, including Change Agent, Color Thesis, Edge Lit, and Heavy Meta. "Change Agent features carpet tile and LVT that are designed to seamlessly work together," says Bob Hunter, regional VP sales – Canada. "This collection features a range of styles that capture the essence of aged stone to charred and petrified wood. The modular plank carpet is offered in two patterns and a selection of 16 colours." For buyers who want to break traditional design rules, Color Thesis offers two brilliant patterns in an array of vibrant intensities. "Color Thesis instantly brightens spaces," says Hunter. "With Milliken's proprietary DDI technology, this collection's dyeing process seamlessly achieves the most true-to-life repre- sentation of a watercolour piece of art. Plus, with its unique sizing, pairing, and modular inset rug options, no two floorscapes will ever be the same." The Edge Lit collection was inspired by the unique dispersion of light. With one powerful pattern offered in a series of 12 colours, Edge Lit is available in 25-cen- timetres by one-metre planks and one-metre squares, in addition to a modular inset rug option. The final choice for Milliken's 2019 line-up is Heavy Meta, featuring two reformed patterns – Alloy and Foundry. "This selection is available in 14 colours contrasting in tone and polished in design, and a brilliantly high-luster yarn welded into each tile," says Hunter. Tread SOFTLY The Color Thesis collection from Milliken.

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