officeinsight

Company Profile: GKD Metal Fabrics

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

12.17.07 | Do you know what technical weaving is? You've undoubtedly seen it but, perhaps not recognized it as such. In any event, GKD Metal Fabrics, with its 75-year tradition of German engineering, precision manufacturing and technical innovation, is a leader in this field, which has to do with mesh material such as metals and plastics that are used for specialized applications.

Designer Profile: Sina Pearson

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT

11.27.06 | On my way to meet Sina Pearson, I was expecting a grandmotherly type woman to greet me at the New York City loft which Sina Pearson Textiles calls home: grandmotherly, because of her wealth of experience, her stature in the interior textiles industry, and the complex beauty that emanates from her designs.

Janine Benyus at interACT

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 05:00:00 GMT

10.9.06 | The Association for Contract Textiles (ACT) held its first interACT conference last week. As part of the two-day proceedings, more than 200 ACT members and daytime conference attendees joined contract industry guests on Wednesday evening for a keynote address by Janine Benyus at New York Citys historic Cooper Union Great Hall.

The Textiles of NeoCon

Mon, 03 Jul 2006 05:00:00 GMT

7.3.06 | This year we saw a great deal more than lip service regarding sustainability.

For example most companies are:

NeoCon 2006: Carpet Preview

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT

6.9.06 | -Amtico (#7054, 8^th floor): Amtico has added eight new woods to its range of flooring: classic oak, fresh oak, American cherry, blonde oak, ivory maple, spalted beech, wenge wood and reclaimed chestnut. For more information, visit www.amtico.com.

-Atlas Carpet Mills (11-122): Miravena and Koari

These broadloom carpets are available in 24 standard as well as custom colors.

Atlas Carpet Mills: Mod Squad

This broadloom carpet comes in four retro patterns:Hip, Cool, Jazzed, and Fab. For more information, visit http://www.atlascarpetmills.com.

-Bentley Prince Street (#1060): Blue Highway

Blue Highway is a striped broadloom intended to coordinate with Bentley Prince Street’s Scenic Drive and Overlook patterns in corporate, hospitality and retail environments.

Bentley Prince Street: New Town

New Town is a broadloom carpet intended for public spaces.

Bentley Prince Street: Urban Scene

Urban Scene is an elegant, high-luster, tufted tip-sheared, solid broadloom.

Bentley Prince Street: Urban Tribe

Urban Tribe is a broadloom collection with several patterns: New Demographic, Civic Generation, Social Network, Found Freedom, Urban Tribe and Family Ritual. All of them are richly textured, with intense colors and structured background stripes. For more information, visit http://www.bentleyprincestreet.com.

-Blue Ridge Commercial Carpet (10-160): Art and Soul

This broadloom carpet comes in three geometric patterns: Performing Art; Artisans, and Impressionist. For more information, visit http://www.blueridgecarpet.com.

-Chilewich (#6030, 8^th floor): Plynyl Tile

Chilewich has revamped its standard Plynyl weave, yielding recyclable 18” floor tiles with 20% recycled content. They are available in eight colors: Caramel, Holly, Jade, Mocha, Russet, Rattan, Slate, and Terra. For more information, visit http://www .chilewich.com.

-ECOsurfaces Commercial Flooring (#7070, 7^th floor): ECOmax-Versatile Modular Tile System

ECOmax is a modular tile collection available in 16 standard colors and two thicknesses. It’s slip-resistant and suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

ECOsurfaces Commercial Flooring: ECOsand ECOsand is a collection of recycled rubber flooring available in twelve colors. For more information, visit http://www.ecosurfaces.com.

-Interface (440 North Wells St., Ste. 200): Rawhide

Interface describes this modular collection as “refined, yet comfortable…cowboy chic.”

Interface: TacTiles

This modular collection offers a revolutionary new installation technology.

Interface: Tea Rose

Inspired by both Pop Art and a feminine Victorian aesthetic, Tea Rose is a modular collection available in red, orange, pink and yellow.

Interface: The 1968 Collection

These six modular styles are based on art created by designer David Oakey during his college days. For more information, visit http://www.interfaceflooring.com.

-J&J/Invision (10-118)

J&J Commercial: The Newsworthy Collection

The four coordinating loop patterns in this broadloom collection -- Newsflash, The Scoop, Special Edition, and Hot Off The Press – are intended for a broad range of applications. For more information, visit http://www.jjcommercial.com.

Invision Carpet Systems: Phantom Block and Parallel Motion.

These two coordinating broadloom products evoke the elegance of woven carpets. For more information, visit http://www.invisioncarpet.com.

-Johnsonite (#4022, 8^th floor): Design Freedom Customization Program

Johnsonite states that this program “allows a designer to create the perfect rubber tile for the space, in the pattern they want, in the color and quantity they want, when they want it at a reasonable cost.”

Johnsonite: rePLACE Demountable Wall Base System

This innovative system reduces installation time because it hangs on a track. First introduced in 2003, this year rePLACE has been enhanced and expanded. For more information, visit http://www.johnsonite.com.

-Lees Carpets (#3-101): NeoFloor Moments

Moments’ spa-inspired motifs brings make the nylon textile sheet flooring ideal for healthcare environments.

Lees Carpets: WovenSquare Phase 2

WovenSquare Phase 2 is a 2’ modular jacquard-woven vinyl, designed for easy maintenance. For more information, visit http://www .leescarpets.com.

-Mannington Commercial (1039): Arpeggio

Available as both broadloom and modular carpet, Mannington calls Arpeggio a colorful “fusion of traditional and modern styling.”

Mannington Commercial: Twisted and Wired

These 24” modular carpet collections have undulating wave-like patterns that “diminish the appearance of uneven walls,” according to Mannington. For more information, visit http://www.mannington.com.

-Masland Contract: The Moderns (broadloom)

A broadloom collection of eight mid- to large-scale patterns, piece-dyed and available in ten colorways. For more information, visit http://www.maslandcontract.com.

-Milliken Contract (10-115): Foreign Intrigue

This 36” modular collection features seven coordinated patterns of varying complexity and an integral cushion backing.

Milliken Contract: Forma and Linea

This 36” modular collection evokes timeless materials such as linen and silk and features an integral cushion backing.

Milliken Contract: Fusione, Litho and Graphia

This 36” modular collection was inspired by “weathered” textures such as tree bark and features an integral cushion backing.

Milliken Contract: Ombra, D�e and Chiaro

This 36” modular collection has a three-dimensional look and patterns that are reminiscent of woven and coiled structures. It features an integral cushion backing. For more information, visit http://www.millikencarpet.com.

-Mohawk Group (377)

Bigelow Commercial: myEarth

Inspired by nature and geological formations, this broadloom and modular collection comes in four patterns (Happy Trails, Off the Beaten Path, Out on A Limb, and Bird’s Eye View) and twelve colorways.

Durkan Commercial: Mind, Body, & Soul

This modular collection is available in nine patterns and 15 colorways.

Karastan Contract: Continuum

Architect Robert Cox designed this woven broadloom collection, made with Invista yarn. Its six patterns are suitable for the most fashion-forward installations.

Karastan Contract: Poetry in Motion

The two patterns in this broadloom collection, Meditations and Fluidity, have the luxurious appearance of hand-knotted Oriental rugs, but are rigorous enough for commercial environments.

Mohawk Commercial: Milan Square/Milan Plaza

These woven broadloom carpets include a geometric pattern and a highly textured linear “partner.”

Mohawk Commercial: Breaking News

This modular collection is comprised of three patterns: Top Story, Newsworthy, and Headlines. It features Mohawk's Ecoflex cushion backing, which has 15% post-consumer recycled content.

Mohawk Commercial: Post Modern

This modular collection is comprised of three patterns with complex tonal effects: Hyper Reality, Complexity, and Abstraction. For more information, visit http://www.themohawkgroup.com.

-NOOD (#4112, 8^th floor): Urban Optimist

This collection is tufted and piece-dyed, then cut into carpet tiles. Designed for random installation.

NOOD: Spork

This tufted nylon “soft flooring” looks more like grass than carpet. Currently available in black, white and green, it will also be offered in custom colors later this year. For more information, visit http://www.noodfashion.com.

-Shaw Contract Group (10-167): Angela Adams Collection

Angela Adams’s broadloom and modular collection translates the famous rug designer’s hip aesthetic to commercial carpet. It will feature Shaw’s Eco Solution Q nylon and an EcoWorx backing.

Shaw Contract Group: Silk

This modular and broadloom collection was inspired by the culture, artistry and craftsmanship associated with silk and is suitable for high-end interiors. For more information, visit http://www.shawcontractgroup.com.

-Tandus Group (#391)

C&A and Monterey : Beneath the Surface

These four styles – Amaranth, Datum, Ogee and Fossel – were inspired by Persian handcrafted goods. Offered as modular carpet by C&A and broadloom by Monterey.

C&A: Turbulence

Available in 18" and 36" tiles, Turbulence was designed by Jhane Barnes. Intended for big spaces, it has a large repeating wave pattern and rich multi-colorations inspired by a double woven shirt.

Crossley: TeaHouse Collection

The TeaHouse Collection spans a variety of broadloom and structured back constructions, enabling designers to “single source” coordinate product across entire projects. Its designs include Onsen, a timeless bamboo; Chado, a subtle geometric; the organic Ikasu and Kura; and the more traditional Asaba, available in 6’ and conventional tiles.

Monterey : Full Volume

Made with Tandus’ specialty CrossWeave looms, Full Volume is a new kind of woven carpet that emphasizes volume rather than scale. Monterey suggests that the collection offers the “look of old wool Berbers,” but the “performance of today’s contract carpets.”

Monterey : Sol (broadloom)

The first pattern concept from Colouresce, Sol is a broadloom that blurs the boundary between pattern and ground. The collection has a positive-negative color relationship with C&A’s 6’ tile Sira. For more information, visit http://www.tandus.com.

NeoCon 2006 Textiles Preview

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT

6.9.06 | Textiles:

-Arc Com Fabrics (1194): Sylvan

Inspired by the maze of veins that comprise a single leaf, Arc-Com in collaboration with designer Patty Madden introduces its new vinyl upholstery pattern, Sylvan. Displaying an organic motif with great universal appeal.

Arc Com Fabrics: Willow

Arc-Com Fabrics in collaboration with designer Patty Madden introduces its new vinyl upholstery pattern, Willow . Inspired by the delicate weeping willow tree, and available in an palette of soft earthy tones.

Arc Com Fabrics: Ashanti and Kalahari

With dimensional quality and a unique linear design, pattern Ashanti is available in a palette of complex neutrals, bright multi-toned reds and oranges and deep rich blues. Kalahari displays a wonderful texture and subtle multi-colored effect and is offered in a sophisticated color palette.

-Bernhardt Textiles (): String Theory

String Theory, designed by photographer Sheila Metzner, is an expansive upholstery collection containing 5 distinctive patterns with up to ten color ways each.

-Carnegie (): The Sheer Technology Collection

The Sheer Technology Collection introduces 5 unique textiles that create atmospheric change and elegance to a room while complementing the architectural framework.

Carnegie: Street & Sport

Street & Sport is an upholstery textile collection that was inspired by the active spirit of a young culture that is attracted primarily to board sports of all seasons.

-cf stinson (8-4067): The Michael Graves Crypton Collection

cf stinson unveils The Michael Graves Collection which consists of 9 beautiful jacquard fabric patterns.

-Designtex (): Ingeo Drapery

Designtex introduces the first sheer drapery fabrics constructed in 100% Ingeo™. They are part of the Terratex�-classified family of environmentally conscious fabrics and are the world’s first biopolymer.

Designtex: The ABC’s Collection

The ABC's Collection from Designtex is comprised of four high performance textiles for the healthcare market, two of which are also sustainable.

-Edelman (): Scotch Grain

Edelman vintage "Scotch Grain" is an original 200 year old huntsman's boot and saddle leather reinvented for all environments - a unique texture and colors featuring "Amber", the color of 21 year old The Glenlivet Scotch

-HBF (): Greener Fields

Greener Fields consists of 3 upholstery fabrics and 1 multi-purpose fabric; sustainable textiles mixing contemporary aesthetics with a fresh color palette.

HBF: Trace

Trace, comprised of recycled polyester, addresses range of scale, variety of line and textural definition for upholstered wall or panel application.

-InterfaceFABRIC (8-4084): The Modern Collection

Consists of eight jacquard patterns in 65 skus, all made of 100 percent recycled polyester. The initial eight "transitional" patterns are intended for the mid-market sectors and will include abstract organics, geometrics and traditional residential-like florals in the most current colors.

InterfaceFABRIC: Open Line Panel

Although Interface offers a great range of proprietary panel fabrics to many of the panel system manufacturers, they also have a mid-priced open line that is available through customers such as Trendway, AIS and Maxon. At NeoCon, InterfaceFabric will feature nine new patterns in 7-10 colorways each.

-Keilhaur (): Urbano Collection

Keilhauer’s Urbano Collection uses an integrated palette in different textures and patterns to create a matrix of highly usable fabrics.

-KnollTextiles (1111): Dorothy Cosonas Collection

Coco, Empire Stripe, Cross Stitch, English Accent and Icon are five upholstery textiles inspired by fashion trends and the craft of textile weaving by Dorothy Cosonas for KnollTextiles.

KnollTextiles : Palladium and Hard Rock

These woven panel fabrics were designed with special flat tape metallic yarns complementing the metal finishes in today’s interiors. Hard Rock is a modern day taffeta while Palladium contrasts wet and dry looks.

KnollTextiles: Grammar Collection

Grammar Collection, designed by Abbott Miller of Pentagram, includes three vinyl wallcoverings, Merge, Filter and Switch, based on the overlapping and mingling of a series of letters.

KnollTextiles: LTL Parallel Lines

KnollTextiles introduces the Parallel Lines collection, a group of three wallcoverings by the architecture and design firm Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis (LTL). Patterns Vector, Perimeter and Margin are comprised of a series of parallel lines that, when installed, appear as if they were drawn on the wall. Pencil drawings were scanned and duplicated digitally to achieve this hand-crafted effect.

-KOVA Textiles (): The Krystal Weave SHEER Collection

The Krystal Weave SHEER Collection is Kova's way of dressing up the window. With its subtle sparkle and lighter weight, this collection allows soft summer breezes to enter while keeping out harsh sunlight.

-Luna Textiles (): Urban Couture Collection

Luna Textiles' Urban Couture Collection is a broad collective of six fabrics ranging in application from upholstery to drapery, and in content from wool and cotton to Trevira CS.

Luna Textiles: Le Bon Cote

Le Bon Cote, which translates to "the bright side," is a fitting description for this ensemble of upholsteries. Two striped patterns and a classic solid create a versatile collection at moderate prices.

-Maharam: Layers by Hella Jongerius for Maharam

Layers Garden, Layers Park and Layers Vineyard, available in a combination of single and double layer variations. Wool felt, the foundation of Layers, provides a textural complement the intricate needlework of the single layer variations. Hand-cutting creating windows of pattern that reveal an under layer of either tonal or contrasting wool felt.

Maharam: Ply

By Luisa Cevese is comprised of interlocking yarns encased between layers of polyurethane. Variations in the color of the substrate, coupled with jute, chenille and tweed yarns yields striking differences: low-contrast combinations accentuate texture, and high-contrast variations add an optical twist.

-Mayer Fabrics : Alexander Julian Collection

Mayer Fabrics introduces the "Alexander Julian Collection" featuring seven exclusive fashion-inspired fabrics: Button Down, Herringbone, Necktie Stripe, Play on Plaid, Almost Argyle, Perfectly Paisley and Cravat.

Mayer Fabrics: Transitions

Mayer Fabrics also introduces "Transitions," a collection of textural, high performance fabrics inspired by classic architecture that incorporate both traditional and modern design elements into beautiful, well-priced looks.

-Momentum : Enso

Enso consists of four Eco-Intelligent sustainable, cradle-to-cradle patterns that gracefully blend functionality with ecologically intelligent design.

Momentum: Crypton Green

Crypton Green collection is made of 100% recycled polyester. Four unique patterns designed to meet the most stringent environmental requirements with all the same benefits of Crypton.

-Pallas Textiles : Shadowgraphs

Shadowgraphs is a contract textile fabric collection that translates photographer Zeva Oelbaum’s ghostly, dreamlike images from the garden into lush, dimensional fabrics in rich colors inspired by nature.

-Teknion : Sustainable Uphostery Collection

Nine new recycled polyester seating textiles and three 100 percent wool patterns are applicable across all Teknion seating products to address a broad range of styling areas throughout the office.

-Textus : Bamboo

Bamboo is contract upholstery made of bamboo fiber. Natural and 100% biodegradable, Bamboo boasts a luxurious softness, unique patina, and antibacterial qualities that epitomizes sustainability in design.

-Victor : eco by design

Retro Action and Metropolis are 100% Eco Intelligent� Polyester seating fabrics in Victor’s new eco by design series, designed and colored to be interactive in an office environment.

Materials

-3 Form (4094); 100 Percent

100 percent is an exciting new design-driven material with a minimal environmental footprint. Made entirely from post -consumer recycled HDPE, it is waste transformed into high-design, engineered panels.

Play

3form Play is a designer’s sandbox letting the designer directly manipulate materials like colorful capiz shells, rustic palm husks and delicate sticks into customized patterns within the medium of ecoresin.

Wood

3form wood. Glowing, formable wood? Transform a library, a concert hall or office with 3form’s innovative new redefinition of wood.

-Agio Imaging / Studio Z Textiles (8-1017); GlassPix

GlassPix, Agio Imaging’s new digitally printed architectural glass designed by Studio Z Textiles, provides functional yet creative space delineation in today’s open workspaces, where art isn’t limited to walls or halls. GlassPix artfully transforms glass surfaces into creative canvases of color and patterns to customize windows, table tops and office furniture privacy screens. More than a visual privacy screen, GlassPix is an innovative marriage between digital printing technology and the colors, patterns and textures inspired by sophisticated textile design. As art, GlassPix helps stimulate human creativity; as architecture, it encourages personal collaboration.

-Arc-Com (1194); Sumatra, Longwood, Terazzi

Arc-Com is pleased to introduce three patterns from the Arc-Com Wall Surfaces Studio, Sumatra, Longwood and Terazzi.

A large-scale multi-colored vertical pattern, Sumatra draws its inspiration from natural materials such as bamboo and reeds. This organic decorative design is offered in a sophisticated color palette appropriate for hospitality as well as other interior surface applications.

Capturing a realistic interpretation of wooden lattice, Longwood has an innate reflective quality that evokes the wonderful luster, texture and grain of woven wood. Available in 19 natural wood-inspired colorations, Longwood is suitable for cross market applications.

The wonderfully scaled textural design of Terazzi emanates the look of an aged surface with its distinct crackling and veining characteristics. The stunning palette, available in an array of metallic and non-metallic finishes, makes this exquisite pattern appropriate for all markets.

-Joel Berman (1173); The Imprint Collection

The term imprint refers to the process of imparting a mark or pattern on a surface. Adorning the surface of glass panels with decorative textures characterizes Joel Berman Glass Studios’ glass. The Imprint Collection of new scalable handcrafted kiln-cast glass textures is Joel Berman Glass Studios’ new standard glass collection, and the new measure of excellence in textured glass. The Imprint Collection includes two new textures: Stria and Nuveau. Always looking for new ways to expand the boundaries of glass design, Joel Berman brings to the world of textured glass a new functionality: scalable pattern designs. Nuveau, for example, is an organic texture that appears as a pattern of closely proximate carvings oriented horizontally. On a small scale, the form is roughly 2-3” in length, �” wide and 3/16” deep. The texture is easily discernable at near distances. Joel Berman Glass Studios offers the ability to ‘scale up’ the texture such that the imprint is much larger and can be discerned from greater architectural distances. Scalability offers designers and architects the ability to achieve the desired effect from textured glass regardless of the scale of the project.

Piovera

Piovera is the newest signature coated glass texture by Best of NeoCon 2005 award winner, Joel Berman. Deriving its name from pioggia, Italian for “rain”, and vera, meaning “true” in French, Berman’s Piovera glass texture captures the essence of true rain. Piovera expands the boundaries of glass design with a revolutionary new application technique involving a specially modified coating. When applied under precise manufacturing conditions, the coating bonds structurally to the glass surface. The result is a beautiful transparent finish that gives the appearance of gentle rain on glass. The coated surface is durable and easy to maintain. Suitable for custom fabrication in a variety of interior applications Piovera is ideal for partition and boardroom walls, office side light panels, balustrades, wall cladding, moveable walls and doors, and more.

Stones

Joel Berman Glass Studios Ltd. is also pleased to introduce Stones, the latest addition to the Bricks, Boards and Sticks Collection of handcrafted kiln-cast textured glass, at NeoCon 2006. Winner of the “Best of NeoCon 2005” award, the Bricks, Boards and Sticks collection was recognized for its unique and inspired theme based on abstractions of organic building materials forming the designs for new multi-dimensional cast glass textures. The newest texture, Stones, builds on this theme, adding a new dimension to the collection. Reminiscent of stone as a traditional building material, Stones’ translucency offers the design community new possibilities in glass surfacing. Stones, like all of Joel Berman Glass Studio’s kiln-cast glass textures, can be custom designed into a variety of interior and exterior applications including partition and boardroom walls, office side light panels, balustrades, wall cladding, moveable walls and doors.

-Lamin-art (); Abac�

Abac� is a new decorative surface manufactured using recycled (post-harvest) banana fibers. The fibers create a totally organic and uniquely dimensional design.