Vibrant floral patterns, voluminous textures, and vivid colour combinations reflect a trend that asserts not only a physical expression of contrasts, but also a multicultural philosophy, which is a consequence of globalisation. The exotic is back, and at Connections by Finsa we are focussing on how to translate this into your projects through the Explore trend.
If last month we delved into the rise of the artesan trend through the Master trend, this time we are discovering Explore as a natural aim of the combination of cultures and maximalism. The celebration of diversity is a pillar of this approach, which addresses the possibilities of designing with an open mind. The complete freedom of creating unusual combinations and playing with contrasts, from chromatic to textural, plays out before our eyes. How has exoticism played out in interior design? The most notable events on the international interior design scene showed us recently: Maison&Objet through the jungle and the tropical, and Casa Décor using paradise and oversized furniture. Recently, the prestigious magazine AD located graphic patterns and florals in Polynesia, with a certain naïve style inspired by Gauguin. One style that explains and complements Explore is boho chic, taken from the 1950s and fashion trends from the last few years. Boho chic mixes the bohemian with exuberance, allowing for free colour choices and combinations, and making textiles the protagonist.
Focussing on the way in which the Explore trend can be applied directly, when it comes to colours, the palette is clearly influenced by patterns: vibrant blue, sunny yellow, mandarin, intense green, and scarlet red tones allow for strong and unbeatable colour combinations. These tones are blended with a broken neutral white and intense black to achieve balance.
Exotic office furniture?
As interior architect Carlos Rubio explains in this article, the Explore trend highlights “the use of sustainable, recycled, recyclable, or non-toxic materials”. Wood veneer fits this philosophy perfectly, and has the added bonus of having several uses. And, if we give an exotic touch to this fashionable material by adding the finishes offered by treating it as technical wood?
The combination of both factors results in a piece of furniture that is innovative both in its appearance and use: the office furniture CROSSING by the Italian company Mariani.
CROSSING is designed to be functional in a work environment thanks to its structure which is comprised of a chipboard panel laminated in Palisandro wood and side supports covered in leather or hide. It breaks with formal nature of office furniture “because of the richness offered by exotic wood over a standard finish”, Mariani explains. It’s designed to be used in “exclusive surroundings, like studies or VIP rooms in which you would want to convey the feeling of exclusivity”, they say.
After seeing that even the most formal environments can be given an exotic and exclusive touch, are you brave enough to dive into Explore? Let us know what you think in the comments or on social media using the hashtag #ConnectionsByFinsa.
