2018 Product Guide: Interiors

In the age of social media and HGTV when trends are changing more rapidly than ever, home buyers want their interiors to be a canvas that’s flexible enough to evolve with the times. According to a recent NAHB Home Design trends report, both designers and buyers have become increasingly detail oriented over the past year when it comes to designing for the indoors. In contemporary, traditional, and transitional homes alike, light and warm palettes continue to reign, and buyers are returning to natural materials that are both durable and complementary to a variety of residential interior design styles.

Paint manufacturers—including Benjamin Moore, PPG Paints, Sherwin Williams, Olympic, Kelly-Moore, and Glidden—all made Color of the Year selections that range from light, subdued purples to darker grays and taupes, which pair particularly well with another mainstay for 2018—interior shiplap. Whether painted white or left natural, shiplap, such as AFP’s charred wood panels, is a growing trend that earned notoriety through being the interior accent of choice for the stars of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. When painted white, the wooden pieces add visual interest by either providing subtle texture or adding a statement detail if applied in the raw.

The soft and organic materials palette also sets itself as a complementary canvas that embraces other popular trends for 2018, including mixed-metal hardware and fixtures, such as new knobs and pulls from brands like Emtek, Top Knobs, and Hardware Resources.

Buyers are also paying more attention to ceilings, a formerly overlooked focal point in homes, by adding wood details, paint, or custom designs. At ground level, the NAHB reported that larger tile sizes, which have fewer seams and offer a cleaner look, are growing in popularity. In response, manufacturers such as Porcelanosa are increasing their standard offerings to include oversized pieces measuring as large as 10” by 59”. Wood floors, either very dark or very light, are being paired with pale walls and cabinets to create add a touch of brightness and make spaces feel larger, warmer, and more welcoming.

Flor
Flor’s Spring 2018 collection was designed around the idea that adding a bit of color can pull a room together. Offered in soft hues, the geometric carpet tiles feature simple, striking patterns. Mined & Yours (shown) adds a touch of gilded glam with ashy metallics that are sustainably manufactured and add subdued shimmer without taking center stage. The collection comes in gray or pigeon with silver accents in four standard sizes as well as custom cuts.

Porcelanosa
Seedwood by Porcelanosa is a wood-look tile that conveys the elements of natural hardwood in a luxe porcelain finish. Available in a large 10-inch-by-59-inch size, its manufacturing process imitates handcrafted results, reproducing the details of wood knots. The product is offered in four series with different color options and each corresponds with a complementary accent wall tile option. Each tile features natural matte, shaded finishes, and a total of 11 colors. The technical properties of porcelain tile make the product ideal for high-traffic areas, according to the manufacturer.

Kichler
Kichler’s new Cuyahoga Mill pendants and chandeliers pay homage to the past by shedding light on salvaged materials. For the collection, the company sourced wooden beams and posts from locations such as an abandoned horse farm in Kentucky and a former distillery in the Midwest. Local artisans work to both remove imperfections and highlight others—such as naturally weathered corners, patina finishes, and authentic nail markings. Available as a five-light pendant or five-light linear chandelier, Cuyahoga Mill repurposes the disused materials into fixtures that complement an array of design aesthetics.

Walker Zanger
Inspired by Art Nouveau–era design of the 1920s, Walker Zanger’s Ellington collection fuses stone with inlaid metal to create elegant, geometric tiles that recall the vibrant Art Deco architecture of New York and Paris. The designs pair metalwork in brass and chrome with marble and limestone. The Jacque, Pierre, and Savoy tiles (shown here) were named for and patterned after signature hotels and destinations from a time when jazz legend Duke Ellington entertained. The collection offers a sextet of patterns composed of four stone options (cotton, ebony, Carrara, and cinder) and three metals (brass, copper, and stainless steel).

Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore designed Century, the company’s first soft-touch matte finish, to feel like a soft leather glove. Conceptualized as a tactile experience with paint, the collection’s 75 hues, which range from mid-tones to dark shades, are exclusive to the product. Century is made only in small batches and is available in premixed gallons or in 4-ounce samples. The collection’s palette draws inspiration from natural elements such as minerals, gems, spices, and plants.

Emser Tile
Designed to celebrate Emser’s 50th anniversary, Nuovo adds a sophisticated touch to interiors through form and texture in a glazed ceramic wall tile. Featuring shadow and dimension, the product’s distinct large-scale geometry is enhanced with small-scale etched and combed details that refract light and complement other textures. Four patterns, each in large-format 12-inch-by-35-inch panels, come in cubic white, princess white, royal white, and zelda white.

Belwith-Keeler
Among the highlights of Belwith-Keeler’s 2018 collections is the reintroduction of the Vale design from the Belwith Products archives. Vale sports an exaggerated concave shape with a gentle slope that provides a distinct nod to midcentury modern design while remaining relevant to several modern decorating styles. The knobs and pulls, which are being re-released in honor of the company’s 125th anniversary, first appeared in 1953.

Mohawk
RevWood Plus flooring combines the look of wood with the toughness of laminate. RevWood planks offer impressive, reliable durability that resist stain, scratches, and dents and are 100% waterproof, the company says. Spills, accidents, and tracked-in stains are kept on the surface for quick, easy cleanup thanks to Uniclic MultiFit technology, the industry’s leading glueless locking system. RevWood Plus also features All Pet Protection & Warranty, which covers all pet accidents.

Hafele
International storage system designer Hafele has unveiled an Italian-style organizational system that doesn’t sacrifice aesthetics for functionality. Coloma sports a sleek and stylish design that cleverly hides mounting hardware and brackets behind either shelves and drawers or narrow, vertical mounting channels. The system allows for three-way adjustability (up and down, in and out, or side to side) and is compatible with the company’s signature wardrobe tubes that allow clothing to hang as though in suspension. Hardware is available in either silver or oil-rubbed bronze finishes.

Ortal
Designed to meet new, more stringent building codes, Ortal’s Lyric fireplaces are simple to install and compatible with several wall finishes including wood and fabric. Using the company’s “cool wall” technology, the Lyric fireplace uses a technique of heat release that expels the heat inside the cavity allowing the wall surrounding the fireplace to remain cool. This allows owners to install a TV or artwork directly above the fireplace to further enhance the decor. For easier servicing, the heat barrier screen around the fireplace can be easily removed for repair or cleaning.

Emtek
Emtek has expanded its crystal cabinet hardware series to include satin brass bases. The new finish adds a touch of brilliance on its own, or it can be coordinated with existing hardware and accessories to create an on-trend, mixed metal look. The crystal knobs are available in a variety of styles ranging from the multifaceted, traditional Old Town knobs to contemporary, square pieces in tinted glass, which are perfect for a bathroom or walk-in closet. The satin brass finish joins the other base options, which include polished brass, French antique, oil-rubbed bronze, polished nickel, satin nickel, pewter, flat black, and polished chrome.

Koncept
Designed by California-based lighting design company Koncept, the new Z-Bar pendant light—which has won 37 international design awards over the last year—works as a modular system consisting of linking LED “light bars”. The suspended pendants can rotate 360 degrees and connect to number of configurations to create a pattern customized to fit a unique space. The bars hang from a discreet support system that eliminates unnecessary wires to maintain a sleek silhouette. The pendant can be used to shine direct light over a gathering space or table, or can stand alone to add a modern, dramatic touch to any room.

Mannington
Revive from Mannington is a luxe resilient vinyl collection of seven unique patterns (Deco, Hive, Lattice, Empire, Filigree, Penny Lane and Union Way) that offer a more budget-friendly way to achieve the bold tile looks that have gained renewed interest with consumers. The award-winning Deco features a dramatic large-format pattern detailed with symmetrical intertwined florals. Lattice, another sheet in the collection, sports a small-scale Art Deco basketweave pattern, and combines the look of natural Carrara marble with colorful insets in a style that’s both classic and contemporary. The more modern Hive (shown) resembles limestone in an updated take on the classic honeycomb pattern.

2nd Ave. Lighting
An accent luminary designed in a glamorous gold finish, the Corsica chandelier features a circular frame lined with hundreds of clear and amber faceted crystal beads shaped to simulate the movement of water droplets.
The piece’s hardware and components are cast in a transparent gold. Custom crafted in the company’s Yorkville, N.Y.–based manufacturing facility, the chandelier is available in custom sizes and styles, as well as in other metallic options.

UFP-Edge
UFP-Edge has introduced a charred wood shiplap and board product that has been designed for a variety of interior design applications, including accent walls, ceilings, column and beam wraps, and wainscoting. Using an ancient Japanese technique, the charred wood is crafted from high-quality lumber that has been carefully burned to highlight its natural woodgrain pattern and texture, then sealed with a satin-clear coat finish for durability.

Top Knobs
Inspired by mid-century minimalism, the Lynwood Collection includes 306 pieces in seven series that include knobs, pulls, cup pulls, and backplates reminiscent of those found in furniture and architectural styles from the mid 1930s to the mid 1960s. Named for neighborhoods in Texas, Virginia, Arizona, and Colorado that are known for their mid-century architecture, highlights of the collection include two appliance pull shapes and rectangular backplates featuring open backs. Each Lynwood piece is available in six finishes: ash gray, flat black, brushed satin nickel, honey bronze, polished chrome, and polished nickel.

Meridian Brick
Authintic is Meridian Brick’s response to the growing popularity of thin brick veneers. Composed of the same VOC-free, 100% fired clay as Meridian’s full-bed depth offerings, these bricks are 3 inches thinner and 70% lighter than their traditional counterparts. The product is suitable for both interior and exterior applications, including ceilings, exterior gables, and accent walls. Authintic comes in 39 color and size options in addition to made-to-order custom options.

Hardware Resources
Created especially for older homeowners, Hardware Resources’ Elements cabinet hardware features decorative knobs and pulls designed to allow ample clearance for the hands of people with various disabilities. Three sizes of high-arch pulls in the Aiden style (shown) fuse transitional design with age-friendly functionality, and coordinating T-knobs offer an easier grip on drawers. They come in brushed oil-rubbed bronze, brushed pewter, polished chrome, and satin nickel.

Progress Lighting
As part of of Progress Lighting’s recently introduced collection of 28 new ceiling fans, the 72-inch Vast model is ideal for use in large indoor areas and outdoor covered areas. A white opal shade complements a variety of finish options, including brushed nickel with chrome accents, antique bronze, or white with chrome accents. The unit features a dimmable LED light with a 3,000K color temperature and comes with a hand-held remote that easily controls dimming and speed function.

PPG
Designed for volume home builders, PPG’s Builder Performance interior latex wall and ceiling paints offer high-quality finishes and color consistency for routine touch-ups. The company states that the product removes the guesswork from color-matching previous paint jobs, and its application characteristics make it easy to apply by spraying, brushing, or rolling to provide a uniform, flat finish that hides tape joints and surface imperfections. The palette includes PPG’s top 10 neutral hues in a low-odor finish.