Trends 2006/2007 - Materials heart and soul

Emotions in Wood

Simple Scandinavian designs and Nordic styles – Emotions in Wood is ideal for all those who love this sort of ambience. The materials in this home environment are dominated by beech, teak and rosewood. Processing offers a range of options for compressed, glued, painted or recycled wood products, with rattan and bamboo the favourite materials for round shapes. The inspirations for this style come from Alvar Aalto, Hans Wegner, Klaare Klint, Bruno Matthson and Frank O. Gehry. Natural materials dominate this interior design, e.g. cotton and linen, open in look and reduced in design. Plus, dobby and shaft fabrics, fancy linen-effect yarns, batist, nattés, etamine and cotton twill – all expressed in granular, dry and textured finishes. The patterns used include minidesigns, stripes, checks, pen and ink drawings and Scandinavian handcrafts. The colours are derived from nature and influenced by the tones of wood and linen – misty and soft with touches of very light and very dark browns.

Reflections in Metal

This home scene is dominated by straight lines and masculine architectural features. It is created for people with edges and corners – and a preference for glass and metal. A further characteristic is the constant reference to modern industrial design and current architectural ideas. The design godparents of this style are Marcel Breuer, Eileen Gray, Mies van der Rohe, Ron Arad, Herzog & de Meuron, Future System and Rem Koolhaas. The Reflections in Metal fabrics are very experimental. Here the synthetic look dominates with polished surfaces combined with open effects and special finishes. Lots of high-gloss single colours with transparent effects, Ausbrenner prints, net looks, sandwich effects and double-face. The designs follow the basic geometric concepts with large, linear forms. The colours, too, follow the same basic ideas and are full and powerful. Intense blues and pure.

Elegance in Textile

Elegant comfort, a passion for stylish combinations and the linking of traditional fashions with modern forms. Those who enjoy these values prefer fabrics and leather as the expression of the inner self. The masters of this style are Joe Colombo, Tom Dixon, Jasper Morrison, Pierre Paulin and Ulmeda. The materials – silk, wool and leather – reflect a rich and opulent look. Elegance in Textile is enhanced by woven effects such as sherly, brocade, taft, moiré, jacquard and satin. But also in vogue are bouclé, tweed and chenille effects, velour, velvet, cord, borders and embroidery. Characteristic of the designs are grand productions inspired by Art déco. Large ornaments and flower and fairytale motifs also form part of the rich repertoire of this style. The colours are dark and full for a brilliant matt look in which caramel plays a leading role. They are inspired by silk and wool. white dominate the colour nuances. The entire impression is dominated by steel and a synthetic look.

Dynamic in Plastic

Another style, another credo. Those who favour this home environment like things to be colourful. We discover a festival of colours. A 60’s and 70’s revival is here, spiced with a pinch of new technology – combinations of plastic and new manmade materials with wood, steel and fabrics come together to make a creative, modern and dynamic home style. The inspirations come from Verner Panton, Enzo Mari, Shiro Kuramata and Jana Arfield. The fabrics include standard basic materials as well as mixed wovens. They are overprinted and decorated, e.g. with beadwork, sewn-on animal motifs, applied folklore motifs and borders. Embroidery helps achieve a 3-D effect. We also find plasticised materials, foam-backs, bonded fabrics, crochet look, coarse woollen embroidery, handmade products and experimental techniques. The designs are full of imagination and have the folklore of Mexico, Brazil, Hawaii etc. as their source of inspiration. Gimmicks and American advertising inspirations serve as motifs for print designs. Op-art, pop-art and African hand-print looks are just as well represented as influences from film, theatre and sport. The colours are lively and intense. Clay is important as the basis for the design. Touches of red attract the eye and throughout there is a hint of humour.