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Product News
| May 17, 2005 |
Formica Corporation Expands High-Pressure Laminate Collections With Refreshing New Colors, Patterns, Textures |
CONTACT:
Bill Roush
Formica Corporation
(513) 786-3162
bill.roush@formica.com
Formica Corporation Expands High-Pressure Laminate Collections With Refreshing New Colors, Patterns, Textures
New Commercial Designs Reflect Fast-Moving Global Influences and Technological Advances
CINCINATTI (May 9, 2005) - Taking a cue from the global marketplace, Formica Corporation, the leading surfacing industry innovator who monitors design trends from around the world, introduces an array of new high-pressure laminate (HPL) colors, patterns and textures for 2005. Offering a spectrum of trend-forward surfacing solutions for commercial architects, builders and interior designers, Formica Corporation's newest laminates incorporate the latest global influences in colors, exotic wood grains, interesting finishes and modern and retro patterns.
"Our new HPL introductions are the zenith of sophisticated commercial design," says Mario Gonzalez, vice president of marketing for Formica Corporation. "This season's new textural finishes, bold colors, unique woods and highly stylized patterns reflect a new aesthetic optimism that's sure to produce some exciting commercial interiors."
Capturing the look of European dry wax wood finishes, Formica introduces the Naturelle Finish collection, which combines a low-sheen finish with subtle straight ticking to create a realistic wood look for laminates. Naturelle is offered on 10 of Formica's new Woodgrain surfaces, including fine straight grains such as Maple Woodline, Smoky Walnut Woodline and Wenge Woodline; traditional engineered looks such as Cherry Woodcut and Mahogany Woodcut; exotic wood looks such as Zebrano, Ebony and Natural Cane; and on-trend walnuts such as Latte Walnut and Macchiato Walnut.
Formica also introduces their new MicroDot Finish for 2005. MicroDot reflects the growing interest in solid colors paralleled with the exploration of micro-textural details used on perforated metals, fabrics and screens. Subtle concave circles are arranged in a tight grid formation, it features techno-dots that offer a fashion forward look. Suitable for commercial applications such as office furniture, bank buildings, retail or health care settings, it may be used on horizontal or vertical surfaces. It is offered on six existing Formica solid colors, as well as the 10 new solid colors in the 2005 Color Portfolio.
Revved-Up Retro: The Formica Classics Collection
Formica gives a nod to the past with its new Classics Collection, which features two classic 1950s designs - Boomerang and VirrVarr - in updated, kitchy-cool colors with retro appeal.
Boomerang returns with the same whimsical boomerang-shaped graphics depicted in the original 1950s Skylark pattern and the four original colors updated with modern printing techniques - powdery blue Skylark, spa-like Aqua, retro-red Coral and smoky Charcoal.
Formica also refreshes its classic VirrVarr pattern, named after the Swedish word for "tangled" or "criss-cross." Characterized by its casual, seemingly asymmetrical dark, rough-hewn lines against a lighter background, VirrVarr is available in VirrVarr Light Blue, a powdery blue background with dramatic gray lines, or VirrVarr White, which includes a hint of gray lines for a clean, soft, graphic interpretation of the best-selling original.
Graphic Modern: The Patterns Collection
Formica takes graphic modern influences and brings them to life in the form of 10 new HPL abstract designs. The new patterns are an optimistic break from the organic trend. For example, Plastique, a glass-block inspired opaque is offered in Glass Plastique, a lightly tinted blue; Electric Plastique, a vivid green; and Orange Pop Plastique, a fizzy orange that lives up to its name. The Plastique patterns have a three-dimensional depth that challenges the eye to believe the surface is not flat.
Optical solids have long been used in interior design, appearing to be a solid color from afar, but with more textural interest when viewed up close. Optical solids have transitioned to the digital age with Formica's Atomics. Atomic Orange is a usable orange that makes a statement as an accent or as the primary palette and Atomic Turf which is a naturalized green.
Additionally, the new Metal patterns are a line extension of the popular Metal Earth and Metal Ocean patterns introduced in 2003. The 2005 introduction of Metal Sun and Metal Sky continue to bring the elements together, this time above the horizon. Rounding out the Patterns Collection are Mineral Spa, Lava Spa and Blue Spa. The Spa patterns are extremely versatile taking on the look of stone, suede, water, concrete, sand or even a watercolor painting.
Celebrating the Beauty of Wood: The Woodgrains Collection
Wood remains a celebrated surface to designers throughout the world. The Woodgrains Collection adds five, distinct groupings featuring 12 new wood designs. For example, Formica's new Woodline series reflects the popularity of reconstituted wood for commercial applications. A new twist on the straight grain, this refined, thin wood-toned solid becomes the basis of contemporary interiors for a variety of commercial applications including hospitality, health care and financial settings. The Woodline series includes Maple Woodline, Smoky Walnut Woodline and Wenge Woodline. Styled in traditional colors such as Cherry and cherry-stained Mahogany, the Woodcut series is a thicker, more traditional reconstituted wood and includes a rich Cherry Woodcut and Mahogany Woodcut. An extension of the popular Bamboo and Rattan Cane series, Natural Cane is inspired by sun-dried bamboo. Once a classic furniture color in the 1970s, the look of walnut has been modernized and celebrated in the new Walnut series - Latte Walnut and Macchiato Walnut. The new walnut patterns have elegant half cathedrals and a delicate grain and ticking.
Although rare and expensive, exotic woods are sought after by designers to add a dramatic touch to any interior. Striped African exotics like Zebrano and Ebony are recreated in a laminate, adding drama without the high cost. Another exotic, Mahogany is replicated in the Figured Mahogany series that have beautiful large scale burls. The burls, while non-directional, are vertical in nature on new Choco Figured Mahogany and Mokka Figured Mahogany. Formica's Artisan finish creates a look reminiscent of the hand-rubbed oil-finish used by craftsmen to produce fine wood furniture and comes standard on the Choco Figured Mahogany and Mokka Figured Mahogany.
Pure Color: The Color Portfolio
Global interest in refreshing pure color has led to Formica's introduction of 10 new solid color HPL options. Design trends are veering away from natural, earth tones and leaning towards bold colors as reflected in Formica's Color Portfolio Collection. They include Peaceful Blue, a light periwinkle that is the perfect complement to Dark Chocolate, a rich brown inspired by the coffee shop culture; Steel, a European classic; Sol, a golden yellow basic or accent color; Lime, a refreshing citrus; Neon Yellow, a high-impact techno color; shocking Vibrant Green; Grenadine, a punchy red; Cassis, named for the rich purple-hued liqueur; and Organic Green, a soft, neutral color.
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