Formica rededicated itself to its geometric-patterned roots during it's 100th anniversary celebrations at the International Builders Show and Kitchen & Bath Industry Show this year, but that doesn't mean it moved away from its more refined collection inspired by natural materials. On the contrary, the brand that launched the high-pressure laminate category is expanding its 180fx Collection to include four new full-scale patterns designed to replicate wood.
Formica representatives say the new patterns reflect a consumer trend toward furniture design that celebrates the natural beauty of wood in form and scale. "Dramatic, expressive woods are celebrated much like rare, exotic granites were 10 years ago," says vice president of marketing Amy Gath. "For this latest 180fx introduction, our designers modeled the Black Walnut Timber pattern after raw wood planks in which each slice of tree is treated as a dramatic piece of art. With advanced printing technology, we successfully captured the beauty and rarity of the species, minus the associated expense and high-maintenance qualities."
The new introductions include:
Black Walnut Timber in a matte finish marrying two thick 170-year-old slabs of black American walnut, booked and joined down the center with walnut dovetails to create a realistic woodgrain laminate with a five-foot expanse. The styling balances natural brown with subtle red and yellow tones, and is balanced with realistic linear cathedrals and a crossfire-figured grain.
Rainforest Brown in Formica's Etchings finish offers a bridge between wood and stone. Theangular design in warm wood tones offers a colorful layout while the rich, brown veining of the serpentinite stone ties into popular wood cabinet colors.
Dolce Macchiato in Etchings finish calls to mind alarge-scale Italian granite, with the detail of the popular Dolce Vita pattern introduced in 2012 and color it in warm wood and coffee tones. Also a crossover option between wood and stone, its sweeping patterns are broken with crystalline quartz structures and coordinate with many popular cabinetry stains including deep brown, warm cherry and golden maple.
Jet Sequoia in Etchings finish ismodeled after oiled, deep-toned soapstone, and serves as a true-black version of the popular sequoia patterns introduced in 2011 – Soapstone Sequoia and Slate Sequoia – with finely drawn, intersecting veins of white and gray.
See an extensive slideshow of all four patterns above. Formica | 800.367.6422 | formica.com
