FLEUR CARSON, HEAD OF KEY ACCOUNTS, FORBO FLOORING SYSTEMS

Posted in People, Products on 12 June, 2017

Tonje Odegard from SPACE spoke to Fleur Carson of Forbo Flooring Systems to get an INSIGHT into flooring…

Flooring is such an essential element of any building. How has flooring developed in the last decades in terms of designs, methods, technology and trends? Fleur Carson of Forbo provides Tonje of SPACE with some insight…

From a design point of view, how has flooring developed?

With advancements in technology, flooring has evolved a lot over the last decade – especially when it comes to choice. From a variety of colours, patterns, materials and formats available, there are endless opportunities for specifiers to create a unique flooring design.

For example, with the introduction of different modular formats like squares and planks, designers are able to create a variety of floor designs, such as the classic herringbone and half drop patterns, all with a contemporary twist.

From a material point of view, how has it developed?

Sustainability is still a key concern within the hotel industry; floors are part of the indoor environment in which people live, meet and work, so it is vital that specifiers opt for products that can enhance the comfort and health of individuals.

Forbo’s new Marmoleum Solid collection is authentic in nature and provides the foundation for creating pure, distinctive and modern spaces. Building on its exemplary natural ethos, Marmoleum remains the most sustainable resilient flooring product available and its new Cocoa range supports this profile further by introducing a new natural raw material: upcycled cocoa shells from a Dutch chocolate producer.

How do you bring aesthetics into something as fundamental as flooring?

Historically, flooring may have been one of the last elements of an interior design to be considered, but now it is a vital component. In fact they can enrich the overall interior scheme and enhance the end user’s experience, thanks to the extra-sensory nature of some of the floor coverings available. For example, there are products that incorporate clever textures and designs, which not only feel nice underfoot but also add a 3D visual interest, generating an emotional response. Forbo’s Flotex Vision ticks all of the boxes when it comes to specifying a visually interesting floor covering; it offers a unique range of high definition digitally printed designs.

In terms of design trends, what kind of changes and patterns have you seen?

When it comes to hotels, textile floor coverings are still a big trend for corridors, open spaces and smaller meeting areas – especially textiles that offer a textured aesthetic. Textured floor coverings are not only a great way for designers to add depth to an interior design, but they also help with appearance retention; they’ll remain aesthetically pleasing for longer.

However in guest rooms, we have noticed a big shift towards the specification of resilient floor coverings, such as Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) – thanks to its practical benefits and opulent aesthetics. For example, Forbo’s Allura Flex collection consists of detailed designs and in register embossing, which emulate the grains and natural colour variations found within wood and stone elements. This allows designers to create realistic floor coverings in a cost effective way.

forbo-flooring.co.uk