INSIDER INSIGHT
THE VERSATILITY OF PATTERNED FLOORING
TRENDS There’s a lot of interest in patterned flooring and in surface design in general, believes Mark Findlay, founder of vinyl flooring specialists Harvey Maria. ‘Floors are no longer an afterthought; they’ve become an integral part of interior design and are now seen as a key feature,’ he says. Harriet Goodacre of Topps Tiles agrees: ‘We often associate patterned flooring with Victorian-era design and for good reason; they are famed for their use of refined yet intricate patterns in the home to bring an air of timeless luxury.’
CARPET COMEBACK Until recently, carpets tended to be plain, neutral and for the bedroom only, but patterned carpets are now coming back into favour, and moving into the living room and dining room, too. In the right hands, patterned carpet designs are akin to introducing a work of art into a room and setting a strong design tone. Think of the floor as the room’s main canvas, says Lorna Haigh of Alternative Flooring. Lisa Conway of Brintons agrees: ‘We believe that a design scheme should start from the floor up, with the carpet being the basis for all the design choices,’ she says. ‘Pattern and colour have been brought to the forefront to create a statement.’ A heavily patterned design is a bold decision, but if you love it, go for it, recommends Lisa. ‘It will withstand room renovations for years to come because you can pick out different colours and design details to carry through to the wider scheme.’
USING PATTERN TO ZONE Patterned flooring can successfully be used for zoning and defining of areas, and this is particularly useful in schemes that focus on one large open-plan, multi-use room. This can mean either changing the type of flooring or introducing a pattern. If it’s a tiled floor, a subtle approach would be to change the shape of the tile to mark out a breakfast nook, dining space, walk-in pantry or playroom area.
SMALL-ROOM TREATMENTS Patterned floors work well in smaller spaces such as bathrooms. Where a busy pattern on a wall might be overwhelming, introducing a pattern on the floor with a mosaic or encaustic tile can add interest without taking over the space. ‘We often use boldly patterned or brightly coloured carpets in small rooms or forgotten back stairs – they liven themselves up when you introduce something unexpected and strong,’ says interior designer Adam Bray.
ESPECIALLY “PATTERNED TILES, FLOORS, ARE
FORGIVING AND PRACTICAL
BUT THEY CAN ALSO
VISUALLY LINK SPACES,
CREATING A CONTINUOUS
VISTA BETWEEN THE
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR”
SOPHIE COLLER, managing director, Kitesgrove, kitesgrove.com