Latest Trends in Finishes and Design Materials

In the next years, the commercial interior design world will see more innovative solutions in trying to create dramatic interiors that stand out. It will also be a time when a return to nature will continue to push forward materials such as wood and cork. Here are only a few of the latest trends in finishes likely to inspire interior designers in the near future.

Photo above: Luxury 2 Stone Design Module from Lithos Design

Whether used as wall treatments or curtains, these CABLE felt decorative acoustical panels serve two purposes. First, they work as sound insulators. Second, they create a dramatic effect combining an unexpected material with a pleasant 3-D undulating shape. Designed by Anne Kyyrö Quinn, the panels are made of 100-percent wool material.

Coming from Lithos Design, the Luxury 2 stone design modules achieve a rich visual effect with their circular incisions dressed in gold leaf. The company offers other choices, from engraved cascading graphics to flowing designs flaunting an artisanal look.

Cork as wall treatment seems to be at the top of the latest trends in finishes, due in part to its natural look, its excellent sound absorption and thermal insulating properties, as well as its moisture-resistant and hypoallergenic nature. Made of 100-percent Portuguese cork, the Coral Cork wall tiles sold by AmCork offer a seamless look and showcase the natural fiber, for a unique and warm interior.

Photo: AmCork

The cement tiles from 3form put a new spin on an apparently less glamorous material. Reinforced with glass, the cement becomes lighter and is shaped into decorative wall design modules.

The textures and creative designs of the ATI’s MirroFlex™ 3-D wall panels and ceiling tiles give interiors depth and character.

Photo: ATI Decorative Laminates

Different twists on classic solutions may be the answer in the near future. Bare walls masterfully treated with paint can lead to spectacular results, able to create just the right ambiance. Using paints by Modern Masters, M&M Bender Designer Wall Finishes created a patina and metallic surface finish with a definite old-time feel that invites to contemplation.

Photo: Pinterest

Finally, a feast for the eyes. Made of blocks crafted from salvaged wood in the Brothers Dressler’s workshop, the Lululemon storefront in Yorkdale Mall (Toronto) was designed by Quadrangle Architects into an impressive art installation. The blocks capture the beauty of wood and its natural palette.

Photo: Brothers Dressler

Photo by Clay Stang via Brothers Dressler

Please take a look at our Before and After images of selected projects from 2016 HERE.

If you are thinking to open up a new business or in a process of rebranding and remodeling your existing business, contact us to get a free consultation from Mindful Design Consulting. Click HERE to price your project design.

Also, take a look at the “Branding By Interior” e-book, the only book written on this subject at this time. It brings insight into how you can turn your business into a market-dominating competitor by using human cognitive responses.