Laminate flooring continues to be a fashion-forward option as evidenced by the number of Surfaces 2005 exhibitors showcasing hand-scraped, exotic and other high-end looks.
It will be wall-to-wall business on nearly a half-million square feet of exhibit space as the industry's preeminent event, Surfaces 2005, kicks off later this month at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas.
New eye-catching designs will mingle with the more traditional approaches as rug manufacturers from all over the world gather Jan. 20-23 for the Atlanta Area Rug Market. Manufacturers set to attend say displays on the show floor will demonstrate that even the most impressive technological advances in manufacturing have not crowded out the demand for hand woven, finely crafted product.
Laminate is a constantly evolving flooring product. From glueless installation systems and micro beveling to embossed-in-register textures and joint-sealant advances, laminate is a bellwether of emerging floor design trends and technologies.
As time goes on, resilient flooring manufacturers are taking advantage of advances in technology to offer products that feature visuals and textures closer and closer to the appearance of their natural counterparts. Resilient flooring can come close to mimicking the look of a range of flooring types -- whether that surface be stone, ceramic or wood.
Cork, at the risk of stating the obvious, is a versatile flooring material. Not only is it a naturally sustainable resource -- a key selling point as the green movement builds steam -- it also can be incorporated into flooring applications in multiple ways.
Window treatments, both hard (blinds, shutters and shades) and soft (curtains and draperies), account for a large chunk of the home-construction market. More manufacturers and buying groups are gearing up programs that offer window treatments as an add-on to businesses that are traditionally in the market to sell floor coverings.
This summer's Atlanta International Area Rug Market, Scheduled for July 11-14 at AmericasMart Atlanta, will showcase small manufacturers' and prominent mills' latest area rug designs, from traditional rectangles to specialty squares, octagons and rounds. Fueled by consumer demand and a growing awareness of style in the marketplace, one of the growing trends in area rugs design is the move from traditional rug looks to contemporary and transitional patterns.
Recyclable materials, green products and sustainable floors have become the watchwords for most commercial interiors. With the U.S. Green Building Council and its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification paving the way -- and with manufacturers making green products more readily available and cost effective -- commercial design firms are champing at the bit to incorporate environmentally friendly floors in their interior designs and, by extension, bring them into their clients' workplaces.
