Photography Courtesy of Maya Romanoff Luminous and shimmering with an ethereal appeal, mother of pearl is an opulent, natural material found in the iridescent lining of a mollusk shell. Distinguished by a delicate, pearlescent finish, this material boasts unique textures, natural veining, and mysterious movement that ensure each piece is…
Photography Courtesy of Shutterstock Embroidery is the art of using needle and thread, yarn, or fine wire to decorate a material. A practice that is as far reaching as it is old, embroidery methods have been found on every continent but Antartica and the craft continues to be practiced by…
Utilitarian, ubiquitous, and undoubtedly robust, concrete serves as a sleek, stalwart design element and is the most used manmade material on earth. Its usage worldwide, ton for ton, is twice that of steel, wood, plastics, and aluminum combined. The versatile material is irresistibly sleek and sturdy with a surprisingly stylish…
For centuries, metal has been popular in architecture and interior design. While metal details such as faucets and drawer pulls have been used for centuries, and embossed tin ceilings gained popularity in the early 20th century as a cost-effective substitute for elaborate plaster ceilings that were seen in Europe, we…
Photography Courtesy of Shutterstock More than 500 years ago, Venetian builders in the Friuli region invented terrazzo in order to make use of marble remnants left over from posher projects. Drawing on ancient marble mosaic styles, these tradesmen began to set irregular fragments of discarded stone into clay to build…
Although there has been evidence of kiln fired bricks since 4400 BC, new opportunities with technology and a resurgence in popularity of having exposed brick has led to a variety of brick types over the last few decades. Today, two types in particular—thin brick and extruded brick—are often utilized by…
An aesthetically appealing, silvery-white metal that is accessible, lightweight, durable, and infinitely recyclable, aluminum is an abundant and versatile material that is favored for an array of end applications, which range from design and architectural uses such as decorative detailing, structural elements, and construction to automotive and aviation design. While…
An all-purpose material with an expansive array of uses, tried-and-true wool textiles have been turned to throughout history. With common types that include merino, cashmere, and mohair, wool is a textile fiber obtained from sheep and other animals including alpacas, llamas, camels, goats, and more. Utilized for many interior applications—from…
Bamboo showcases sustainable qualities, nuanced natural textures, and hardwearing characteristics that make it ideal for an array of design applications. Acclaimed for its design-forward aesthetics, physical strength, and environmental benefits, bamboo is becoming increasingly popular as a material in architecture, interior, and industrial design. Bamboo’s broad selection of interior uses…
One leather alternative is made from the Nopal cactus (also known as prickly pear). It’s free of toxic chemicals, plasticizers, and is partially biodegradable. From leaves and mushrooms to plants more, an expanding array of innovative and eco-friendly leather alternatives exists. Our article on innovations in traditional hide leather explores…
Photography Courtesy of Moore & Giles Leather is a luxurious, soft, and durable material that’s been used by human civilizations since at least 2200 BCE. But leather is also a warzone—that is, between those who believe hide leather is a fantastic, sustainable material and those who would argue to the…
Photography Courtesy of Fellert Although plaster has been used since the ancient world, acoustical plaster has been gaining momentum in the industry over the last couple of decades due to its sound absorption properties and seamless appearance. Acoustical plaster has an array of inherent advantages that include flexibility, ease of…
Photography Courtesy of Riad Tile Zellige tiling is a time-tested art form that features fresh textures, rich colorways, and handcrafted charm. The glossy, handmade tiles come in a broad selection of shapes and sizes—though they are most commonly square—and due to the imperfect nature of the glaze no two pieces…
Photography Courtesy of Sien + Co Showcasing a stylish and sophisticated aesthetic achieved through a unique weaving process, bouclé is a heavy textile that holds a rich and intricate history. A staple of midcentury modern design, bouclé fabrics continue to bring cozy texture to upholstered furniture and accents in contemporary interiors.…
Photography Courtesy of TileBar Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is a hard surface flooring material available in a range of shapes, sizes, and aesthetics that can evoke the appearance of authentic wood or stone while providing practical benefits not possible with natural products. Available in a diverse array of different constructions,…
Photography Courtesy of JSI For more than a century, designers and architects have used laminate when looking for surfacing solutions that offer a range of aesthetics. Today, Thermally Fused Laminate (TFL, also known as Thermally Fused Melamine (TFM)) and High Pressure Laminate (HPL) provide cost-effective options. The information that follows…
Photography Courtesy of 3form Plastics have changed the world for better and for worse, but they don’t have to die out with disposable consumer culture. Resins are a family of plastics that began as any of myriad clear to translucent yellow or brown, solid or semisolid, viscous substances, such as…
Photography Courtesy of Shutterstock With climate change a central issue in President Joe Biden’s administration, designers can expect a renewed push to phase out incandescent bulbs in favor of LEDs. The latter, which utilize 70 to 80 percent less electricity than incandescents to produce the same light, are a simple,…
Photography Courtesy of Shutterstock A unique clay that is celebrated for its rich, reddish orange hues, Terracotta has been used in sculptural art, architecture, and pottery for centuries by civilizations across the globe. Holding a prominent place in history, the material’s many modern uses include a diverse range of design…
Photography Courtesy of Shutterstock Low-priced and highly resilient, vinyl and linoleum flooring have both been used by designers and architects for decades. While the two materials maintain many common characteristics and similarities, a number of important differences between linoleum and vinyl exist. The information that follows offers an overview of…
Photography Courtesy of Shutterstock An age-old material made from the fibers of the flax plant, linen is a renewable resource regarded for its soft touch, smooth texture, strength, and durability. As one of the oldest textiles developed, linen can be traced back to ancient Egypt when it was often used…
The Eames House by Modernist Architects and Designers Charles and Ray Eames. Photography Courtesy of Shutterstock. Reinventing the relationship between space and aesthetics, the Modernist design style emerged at the turn of the 20th century as a celebration of composition and materiality achieved through transparency, technology, and efficiency. Guided by…
The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association is known as BIFMA, and its namesake furniture standards are widely known across the design industry, but little understood. The confusion primarily exists around what the organization is, and what its standards mean for the products being specified and purchased. BIFMA is not…
The Secession Building. Photography Courtesy of Shutterstock Like many styles in the late 19th through 20th centuries, the Vienna Secession was a rejection of the traditional conservative style that was prevalent throughout art, architecture, and design. Begun by notable artists and architects Gustav Klimt, Joseph Maria Olbrich, Koloman Moser, and…
Second Bank of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photography Courtesy of Shutterstock Inspired by the symmetry, simplicity, and proportions of ancient Athens temples, Greek Revival architecture became a dominant design style in the United States and Northern Europe during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Strong columns, gently…
