Take a closer look at that door, countertop, cabinetry, wall, or table, and you might be surprised to discover that it’s actually surfaced in laminate. The material has made a comeback, and not only because it offers great value, durability, and cleanability. Today’s laminate comes in colors and styles — including more realistic simulations of natural materials — for every application and setting. Leading the way is a century-old manufacturer inextricably linked to the invention of the original high-pressure laminate: Formica Group.
The forward-thinking brand recently explored the movement to disconnect from technology, unwind, and be still — and translated it into the newly launched SurfaceSet™2016 collection. Comprising three carefully curated lines, each with a distinct personality, the collection is all about getting back to the basics, keeping it real, and inviting the outdoors in.
© Scott Dorrance
Seasoned Planked Elm
Raw: Harmony Between Nature and Our Day-to-Day Lives.
Taking cues from nature, the Raw palette is defined by soothing, mellow tones that ground us and instill a sense of Zen, from almond and truffle to amber and terra-cotta. As the name Raw suggests, the styles in this line are detailed, discriminating, and genuine, and include wood grains and pure textures: Seasoned Planked Elm recalls warm salvaged wood with a hand-scraped appearance, for instance, while White Twill evokes the subtly striated and clean look of a simple grasscloth textile.
© Scott Dorrance
White Greek Key
Saturate: Bold. Bright. Electric.
Loaded with character and movement, the Saturate line boasts an eclectic fusion of styles, colors, and patterns, some of which are like a journey down retro lane through fresh eyes. The classic Greek Key motif, for one, gets an update in designer Jonathan Adler’s rendition, which presents it as a crisp, diagonal pattern in both sophisticated neutrals and vibrant tones. New eye-catching hues in the Saturate group include Clementine orange, the near-teal Infinity, the deep, dark Nocturne, and rich Blackened Bronze.
© Scott Dorrance
Reclaimed Denim Fiber
Unfiltered: Drawn From Nature and Inspired by the Earth.
Emphasizing the mantra “less is more,” the Unfiltered palette is simple, stripped down, and authentic, comprising cool hues blended with subtle warm tones. It’s a marriage of nature and the man-made world: Charred Formwood replicates the much-admired architectural material of concrete, but with a rustic wooden grain; Reclaimed Denim Fiber incorporates actual reclaimed denim, giving the surface true-to-touch realism; and Jonathan Adler’s White Malachite evokes the natural formation patterns of the sliced mineral stone in a fresh, modern color.
Download the free SurfaceSet™ 2016 lookbook to get inspired by concepts and applications ranging from hotel room headboards and retail store fixtures and furniture to restaurant bar tops and tabletops.