4 Steps to Commercial Carpet Care for Improved Health

Maintaining a clean and healthy environment should always be a top priority. With Covid-19 still affecting our daily lives, it should now be priority Number One.  

For designers, architects and facility managers, this brings an increased level of responsibility.  Today, more than ever, these professionals must be highly knowledgeable of a product’s role in creating healthy spaces.  

Previous blog articles show how carpet plays a critical role in creating healthy interior spaces. Carpet is effective at trapping airborne particles, such as dust and pollen, thus improving indoor air quality.  It also provides a higher coefficient of friction than a smooth or hard surface product, which can reduce slips or falls.  

Like any other product, whether it’s a hard surface such as LVT or a carpet, your floor covering must be properly maintained. When this is done, it brings additional health benefits. It also enhances its performance, look and longevity.  

Carpet Care Requirements for Covid-19 

When it comes to carpet’s role in preventing the spread of COVID-19, it’s important to know the facts and a few definitions.   

A Wall Street Journal article, “How Exactly Do You Catch Covid-19? There is a Growing Consensus,” sheds light on research about the virus’s transmission.  Citing numerous experts, the article states “It’s not common to contract Covid-19 from a contaminated surface, scientists say.”

The CDC also supports this claim.  On its website, it states that the “transmission of novel coronavirus to persons from surfaces contaminated with the virus has not been documented.”  In fact, the “transmission of coronavirus occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets than through objects and surfaces, like doorknobs, countertops, keyboards, toys, etc.”

Nevertheless, it’s wise to take every precaution to remain safe from viral transmission.  The CDC cautions: “Current evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19…”

Of course sanitizing and disinfecting are not the same. Carpet, because of its properties, can be sanitized. Sanitization, as defined by dictionary.com “is the act of making something free from dirt, germs, etc., as by cleaning or sterilizing.” Disinfecting is the “act of cleansing of infection” with the intent “to destroy germs.”  

4 Quick Steps for Commercial Carpet Maintenance

Properly maintaining a commercial carpet does not have to be a time-consuming or costly proposition. There are several steps that you can take that will keep the surface as clean as possible for maximum health benefits. These include:

Step 1. Adopt a Maintenance Plan

Any good maintenance plan requires taking a strategic approach. Your carpet maintenance plan is no different. First, start out by using a floor plan to mark the different areas where there is carpet in your facility.  From there, you should identify the level of foot traffic each area experiences.  Entry ways, for example, will have higher foot traffic than a seldom-used office. 

Once you know your building’s foot traffic patterns, you can tailor a carpet care schedule.  ShawContract suggests vacuuming 1 time per day in high traffic areas such as entrances and break rooms. Low-traffic areas, such as private offices, only need vacuuming 2 times a week.  

Step 2. Use Proper Vacuuming Techniques

According to the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), regular vacuuming is one of the most proven ways to keep carpet clean. Doing so regularly also ensures your carpet will continue to trap airborne particles and allergens, enhancing the air quality of your commercial space. In fact, 80 to 85 % of dry soil can be removed by proper vacuuming.  The CRI recommends several tips for effective vacuuming, including vacuuming in both directions and vacuuming slowly.  ShawContract also has a list of carpet maintenance tips, as well as a suggested schedule for carpet care in commercial spaces. 

Step 3.  Don’t Skip the Basics

Whether your building has a hard surface, a soft surface or a combination of both, any flooring type requires regular maintenance. Basic steps that should not be overlooked include:  

• Stop Dirt at the Door — Place mats outside and inside building entryways to capture dirt and other particles before they enter the interior of the building. 

• Catch Debris in High-Traffic Areas — Place textured mats underneath desks and in popular lounge areas, where there is a higher level of foot placement during the day. These mats will catch excess debris before it gets into the carpet.

• Ventilate —  Try to ventilate your space with fresh air as often as possible by opening windows and doors. 

Step 4. Use the Best Equipment and Resources

A carpet is a significant financial investment. It also serves as an important design element.  And, as we’ve learned, it also supports healthier and safer interiors for occupants.  Protect this investment by following the steps above. And be sure to use CRIs’ Seal of Approval products, such as carpet cleaners, pre-spray and extraction products. 

Additional Resources

For more information, be sure to visit the Zeftron website to learn how a premium fiber like Zeftron nylon provides commercial carpet with exceptional performance, style and sustainability benefits.

To receive weekly educational content, follow Zeftron on our social channels. We cover commercial carpet trends, color theory, and inspiring design projects. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

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Slips & Falls: Carpet Health and Safety

Safety, health and wellness are priorities today. This is especially true when it comes to commercial interior spaces.

In our last blog, we provided examples of how carpet can actually improve indoor air quality.  When it comes to safety, carpet can also play a leading role in reducing slips and falls.

Preventing Slips and Falls

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, an estimated 700,000 to 1 million people fall annually in U.S. hospitals alone.  Other research cited by the National Floor Safety Institute indicates that “falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits, representing the leading cause of visits (21.3%).” Additionally, the NFSI says the CDC reports that “approximately 1.8 million people over the age 65 were treated in an emergency room as a result of a fall.”

So what are the causes of these incidents? Research from the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) identified four main causes of slip and trip accidents.  Each cause cited by the NHS is related to the floor covering. The four causes they cite are:

1. Slippery/wet surfaces caused by water and other fluids
2. Slippery surfaces caused by dry or dusty floor contamination
3. Obstructions (both temporary and permanent)
4. Uneven surfaces and changes of level, such as unmarked ramps.

 What is a Carpet’s Coefficient of Friction?

Generally speaking, carpet, because of its construction and material, can better mitigate slips and falls when compared to a hard or smooth surface. This is because carpet typically has a higher coefficient of friction (COF) rate than a hard surface. A COF is defined by the Global Floor Safety Network as “a mathematical term used to describe the effect of dragging one substance (shoe sole material) over another (flooring surface). This coefficient is a measurement of the relative ability of various surfaces to resist the sliding or slipping of the selected material.”

A blog article titled, “Friction and Floor Safety,” written by a regulatory compliance expert, provides more insight: “Typically, rough surfaces like brushed concrete or carpet have a higher COF than smooth surfaces like polished marble, tile or wood. Dry surfaces also generally have a higher COF than wet ones. When you’re trying to decrease the likelihood of slips and falls in your workplace, increasing the COF of walking surfaces is often part of the solution.”

Experts, however, caution that designers, facility managers and other specifiers of commercial flooring products should be knowledgeable about a product’s COF.  In fact, a report by the Center for Healthcare Design states:  “It is important to realize that multiple factors contribute to the slip resistance of a floor.” The report provides several factors designers and others should know about when it comes to the slip resistance of floors.

Because it can be difficult to determine how to achieve the recommended COF for a space, NFSI and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) jointly published a set of standards to provide guidance for facilities that want to quantify the safety of their walking surfaces.

Selecting the Right Floor Covering

Knowing that slips and falls are prevalent – and costly – in commercial interior settings, selecting the right floor covering is essential.  Carpet, with a typically higher COF than other surface options, should be a strong consideration. When specified and installed correctly, it can contribute to a safer workplace or other commercial interior space.

Please return to our blog soon.  We’ll be adding more information about carpet’s role in creating healthy and safe environments.

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Selecting the Right Flooring for Back to Work

As businesses begin to welcome employees back to the workplace, safety and wellness are top of mind.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued guidance to assist with the reopening, and states: “Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by cleaning and disinfection is an important part of reopening public spaces that will require careful planning.” 

To be sure, designers and facility managers are faced with multiple challenges in creating the “new” workplace for today.  They are looking at everything from innovative lighting technologies that can kill mold and fungus to adding sleek new desk dividers that create division between co-workers.  

One area of the workplace that should not be overlooked is the floor covering.  Typically the largest usable surface area of any commercial interior, it can impact occupants’ health and safety.

Better Employee Health Through Improved Indoor Air Quality

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2-to-5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. 

There is a misperception that carpet does not contribute to improved indoor air quality. Independent studies, however, show carpet can actually improve an environment’s IAQ. For example, a 2014 published study – “A Comparative Study of Walking-Induced Dust Resuspension Using a Consistent Test Mechanism” – shows a carpeted floor produced fewer airborne particles than other hard surfaces when walked upon.

A separate study in 2012 showed that when carpet is cleaned in a traditional manner, it significantly decreases the amount of airborne allergens. Presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology conference, it was published under the title of “Properly Cleaned Carpet OK for People with Asthma.”

So how does carpet improve IAQ?  According to Carpet and Rug Institute, both of these studies – and similar ones – highlight carpet’s inherent ability to “trap allergens and other particles so they can be easily vacuumed away.”  Smooth or hard surface floors, conversely, allow dust and other allergens to collect and then re-circulate into the breathing zone.

According to the Asthma Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), more than 50 million Americans experience various types of allergy each year.  Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S., and are is the most common health issue affecting children.  

With its ability to sequester allergens and other particles, carpet can play an important role in creating healthier spaces – whether for offices, schools or hotels. 

What’s Next: More Carpet Advantages for Health and Safety

Beyond improving indoor air quality, carpet is proven as a low emitter of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Studies show that it can prevent slips and improve acoustics. These advantages are essential for today’s Covid-19 built environment, where enhancing occupant wellness and safety must be the first priority.   

Our next blog topic will be on VOCs, followed by slip prevention and acoustics.

So check back with us frequently. In the meantime, please let us know if you have any questions or if we can provide more information.  

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Resources for Designers Navigating COVID-19

With the design industry in various stages of uncertainty and even suspension, we know that many professionals are searching for opportunities to better meet their work needs and further their craft. We’ve pulled together a list of resources from various organizations  that can help with the variety of the challenges designers may be facing today. 

ASID’s COVID-19 Resource Links Webpage

ASID has a comprehensive COVID-19 webpage with links to reliable, industry-leading sources reporting on Coronavirus updates in real time. These links are categorized by the topics of business, government and inspirational stories, and provides helpful information for everything from small business loans to navigating Internet security.

Hospitality Design Magazine’s Webinar – Current State of the Hospitality Industry

Gain a deeper understanding of the current economic outlook for the hospitality industry in this free webinar, currently housed on Hospitality Design’s website. An industry leader discusses U.S. hospitality renovation and construction projects, how they are being impacted by the pandemic, and what this means for hospitality industry professionals moving forward. 

Contract Magazine — Multivitamin Blog

Contract is putting faces to the design industry with its new blog, the Multivitamin. In each blog post, a designer muses over their thoughts on the current state of events, their experience working from home, how they manage their team or business, and what personal projects they are spending time with. These casual, thoughtful articles are a great way to feel connected with other members of the industry and remember that we are all in this together!

Interior Design — DesignTV

For those of us who are searching for design inspiration and a way to feel connected with the industry as a whole, Interior Design magazine’s newest initiative is a great place to turn. DesignTV offers free, varied video programming with industry leaders. These presentations and discussions feature topics such as working from home, designing for wellness, finding creativity and more. These daily episodes are only half an hour to an hour long, making them a great addition to your afternoon workflow. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Workplace Resources Guide

This comprehensive webpage has scores of information relating to small business resources and supporting your team with financial assistance. Plus, they regularly host free webinars on topics such as managing mental health during COVID-19.

Facebook’s Small Business Grant Program

This social media giant is offering up to 30,000 grants to businesses with between 2 – 50 employees that have experienced challenges relating to the pandemic. This grant is a great opportunity to assist with ongoing business costs and employee support during a time of uncertainty.

Massive Open Online Courses

For those of us who are in a holding pattern and may have some extra freetime to use on personal education, Artsy has compiled a list of free university-level art education courses that can be completed online. These fascinating classes cover topics like Ancient Egyptian Archeology, Avante-Garde art history and Photography Basics, and may present the opportunity for inspiration in future design projects.

Have you come across any other useful resources for design professionals? Please email us your thoughts at timothy.blount@shawinc.com or connect with us on social at @ZeftronNylon.

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Spring Color and Pattern Trends Sweeping Commercial Interior Design

The First Day of Spring is one of the most transformational moments of the year. We pack up our winter clothes, open our windows, and let the warm air and floral blooms shift us towards the mindset of lighter, longer days.

This year, Spring feels a little bit more stressful than usual due to the coronavirus and our current state of events. Although we will all be spending more time working from home and less time socializing, design innovations and trends will persist with the seasonal change.

In welcoming a new Spring, we tend to think about aesthetics and environments becoming brighter, fresher and bolder. But every Spring is different! What will 2020 hold in terms of colors, patterns and design trends?

We’ve done our research, and we’re excited to share some major trends that are going to be shaping commercial design this year – from hospitality and offices to everything in between.

Three Spring Color Trends Leading the Way for 2020

Bright and bold color choices will dominate this season:

In keeping with Spring tradition, we’re seeing bright and bold colors trend this season. Statement colors such as scarlet red, chive green, coral pink and saffron yellow have all made an appearance in architectural projects, product design, and even across fashion runways. Three months into 2020, we’re also seeing Pantone’s Color of the Year, Classic Blue, achieve mainstream popularity in almost every facet of pop culture and design.

Two-tone color combinations create a cohesive yet funky feeling:

In accordance with our bright and colorful trend, many spaces are being designed with two-tone colors. Two-tone design typically involves pairing a light and airy shade with a darker color to help ground the room. For example, Chive Green can be paired with a Pastel Green to create a digestible yet energizing environment. Designing in two-tone is the latest iteration of color blocking, which many designers will know was invented in the 1940’s and has been revived in the age of Instagram.

Natural color combinations are everywhere:

While statement colors are making quite the splash this Spring, there’s certainly another major trend shaping design: natural color combinations. As the world continues to grow more chaotic due to current events, we’re seeing a prevalence in color groupings that stimulate relaxation and provide a sense of escape for visitors. Natural color combinations this Spring involve light beiges, blues, greens, grays and purples. This is in keeping with Zeftron’s Serenity Spa color trends prediction, and creates the ideal environment for healthcare spaces where calm and serenity are needed most.

Spring Pattern Trends Taking Over 2020

Biophilic patterns mimic nature and promote relaxation:

Biophilic design, or the practice of incorporating more nature into space, color and shape, is taking interior design by storm. The evidence is clear that biophilic design stimulates happier feelings and more productive tendencies among building occupants. So if you’re a fan of the biophilic trend, you’re in luck! We’re seeing it reflected in this year’s biggest Spring patterns across carpets, wallpapers, and fabrics. Examples include repeating lines, dots, and wave patterns that mimic nature expression.

Neon tropics create a bright and eye-catching aesthetic:

Bold colors, abstract design and overlapping imagery are combined in one of the most memorable design trends of this season: neon tropics. This bright trend embodies many designers’ goal to create something memorable and unique for their clients that feels like a one-of-a-kind experience. We’ll be seeing neon tropics replicated as statement pieces such as carpets, wall paper, and upholstery across hospitality spaces this Spring.

Mix and match geometric patterns create intrigue:

The final major pattern trend that is sweeping Spring 2020 design is mix + match geometry. This niche, eye-catching pattern is a combination of biophilic influences mixed with color blocking. This pattern can be utilized as an accent or as an all-encompassing aesthetic for a space, to create something that feels intrinsically 2020.

With so much uncertainty in the air this Spring, and the unknown state of our industry in the next few months, focusing on trending colors and patterns is a great way to infuse inspiration into this season. 

In particular, color and pattern trends this Spring are pointing the way towards unique, bold and authentic spaces that tell a story. How are you planning to incorporate these trends in your commercial designs this year?

Let us know your thoughts by tagging us on social at @ZeftronNylon.

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How the Color Red Can Energize Your Design

The color red is one of the visual staples of our intentionally designed world (it’s a primary color!), yet it is also a highly powerful color that can create a multitude of feelings, depending on how it is utilized.

For example, to many, red represents energy and action. For others, it symbolizes romance, passion and glamour. It can elicit a sense of patriotism or religious devotion. Red can even represent anger or stress, depending on the setting.

In the wake of Valentine’s Day, when the color red is synonymous with the celebration of love, we’re taking a look at this highly emotional color and how it can be used in impactful ways in different commercial design applications.

Hospitality and Dining

Because of red’s association with energy, it can be an appropriate color choice for a hospitality environment that wants to express a sense of bold design. Bright pops of red can stimulate excitement among guests when paired with the right combination of furniture and decor. 

When utilizing red in a hospitality dining space, red can actually enhance appetite and conversation among guests. Designers often opt to include red booths or lighting accessories in restaurants for this reason. In more casual dining spaces, a bright red encourages excitement and fun; in high-end spaces, a dark red creates a feeling of intimacy and an enveloping atmosphere.

In a hotel setting, adding red elements to a lobby or guest room can result in a luxury look. Primary red carpets and draperies can elicit the feeling of “old hollywood” design when paired with retro furniture pieces and high-quality materials such as silk. Alternatively, an autumnal red can result in a natural, relaxing hotel design when paired with wood, metal and stone materials – especially when incorporating natural light and indoor / outdoor accessibility.

In particular, the addition of dark red in hospitality spaces is a major trend for 2020. As we identified in our Color Trends 2020 outlook report about which color combinations are going to be driving design this year, there is a renewed focus on rich, glamorous and bold color combinations that reflect the opulence of the Roaring Twenties. This combination includes regal reds, blues, and dashes of metallic colors that create a feeling  of high energy in hospitality environments.

Commercial Office Design

When it comes to an office or workspace setting, red is a visually stimulating color that can infuse energy and spark productivity, when used intentionally.

Many individuals may find the color red to be overbearing in an office space when used excessively – think all red walls in a small room. Because of this, designers will find success utilizing red as a pop of color in an otherwise neutral room. A bright red burst of color can include a red chair, small red accents in a wall paper, or a red picture frame – these can all be used to trigger a sense of much-needed energy during the day.

Red can also be utilized in concentrated spaces throughout an office to enhance team energy in group settings. A specific room in a commercial office with a focus on the color red can signal a shift in gears for those who enter from more neutral-toned rooms, creating a great space for collaboration, brainstorming and teamwork. 

Educational Design

Red is one of the most popular color options for use in educational spaces. Red’s energizing nature is a great way to encourage physical activity and excitement. In the sports arena of educational institutions, red can be found in locker rooms, gyms and stadiums. Because it pairs well with natural colors such as wood, it’s also a great color addition for a space that relies heavily on this material such as a basketball court.

Red is also regarded as one of the most reliable colors to use in a classroom setting, due to its ability to stimulate the brain, spur action and even improve performance. In primary schools, combining a bright red with other bright colors such as blue, yellow and green can evoke a sense of playfulness that children find intriguing. In university applications, utilizing a dark red carpet or stadium seating can stimulate energy while enhancing concentration.

Are You Red-y To Use Red?

The color red is a highly versatile design tool that designers can harness to make their designs stand out from the rest. Whether it be a hospitality, office or an educational application, red’s many shades and strengths can be used to encourage certain emotions, activities or thought patterns within a space.

To learn more about how you can utilize different shades of red  in commercial carpet products, reach out to Zeftron!

And to download our Color Trends 2020 Report, click here!

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ZEFTRON’S COLOR TRENDS 2020 IS HERE!

What will be the colors driving commercial interior design in 2020?  We’ve got some answers!

We are proud to announce a new design inspiration resource for commercial interior designers and tastemakers: The Zeftron Color Trends 2020.

Our Color Trends 2020 is a compilation of major color themes emerging for the year ahead.  Curated from a variety sources, it offers designers a chance to explore, ponder and ultimately create new designs that are on point with the color trends soon to be taking place across office, hospitality and other commercial interior settings. This is sure to encompass interior design trends, including popular interior paint colors and carpet choices in 2020.

Here’s our color vision for the year ahead….

Country Comfort Collection – Defined by warm, natural and inviting hues, this color palette sets the tone for comfort, inspired by old world architecture and the warmth of rolling fields.  As residential design continues its influence on the contract market, these muted earth, wood and sunlight tones create spaces that feel more like home than a work environment.  

Eclectic Edge Collection – Glamorous, bold and exciting, this collection embodies the fearlessness in design that is pushing the boundaries today.  Reminiscent of the opulence of the Roaring Twenties, colors of the Eclectic Edge Collection are reflected in dashes of golds, metallics and regal reds and blues. The collection creates a sense of majesty and unbridled energy for hotel design and other hospitality environments.

Serenity Spa Collection – We need serenity in our fast-paced, deadline-driven, technology-fueled world.  The Serenity Spa Collection creates a sense of relaxation with harmonizing shades inspired by nature’s most serene destinations.  Soft blues, grays and greens bring pale blue skies, ocean breezes and open fields to life in this light and airy compilation. Colors within the Serenity Spa Collection are ideal for healthcare design and other spaces where calm, restoration, wellness and serenity are needed most.  

Download the Color Trends 2020 

We invite you to view the entire Color Trends 2020.  Our PDF booklet contains the three main color themes identified for 2020.  It also includes inspirational mood-board images, design ideas and tips, and the specific Zeftron colors that can bring your commercial design ideas to life!

Let your inspiration and creativity to flow free:  Download your free booklet here!

Explore More Color Resources 

As a premium nylon supplier for commercial carpet, we understand the critical role color plays in designing spaces – spaces that evoke emotion, connection and a strong sense of place.  We hope Color Trends 2020 ignites a creative spark to fuel design possibilities for commercial carpet made with Zeftron nylon.

Start the new decade off with a bang!  Access more color tools and design inspiration by visiting http://www.zeftronnylon.com

And let us know what you think of our Color Trends 2020.

Zeftron Nylon Brings New Art-Inspired Encore Hospitality Carpet Collection to Life

Our mill partner, Encore Hospitality Carpet, debuted their new Montage Collection at this year’s Boutique Design New York. Inspired by art in its various forms, styles, and techniques, Montage consists of more than 30 new broadloom carpet designs in multiple colorways and patterns. Featuring the exceptional color quality for which Zeftron is known, and manufactured with Encore’s state-of-the-art Colorpoint and Infinity technologies, the collection offers sophisticated and contemporary styles for guest rooms, corridors, and public spaces.

A Masterful Collaboration

Encore’s product design team skillfully utilized Zeftron to bring its vision for the Montage Collection to life. Only Zeftron – with its complete color palette of more than 120 colors and its easy-to-use styling flexibility – could create the desired look of the collection. Montage’s patterns showcase an all-encompassing appreciation of art, from modern graphic structures to previously hidden, but now unearthed and discovered masterpieces. A truly unique mosaic of patterns and motifs, all designs within the collection incorporate elements of curated pieces obtained over time, displayed to inspire and be enjoyed by others.

Montage’s sophisticated color palette reflects a focus of warm greys and indigo. Some of the colors chosen from the Zeftron palette include Blue Stone, Midnight Orchid, Marshwood, Puritan Grey, Sand, and Cedar. The colors bring a mid-century modern aesthetic, combining a richness and masculinity with soft feminine touches from lighter earth tones. Accents of blush tones in both brick rusts and nude beiges highlight the designs with visual layering.

“While art might be one of the simplest ways to express creativity and individual expression, it is often the most impactful,” said Encore Hospitality Carpet Creative Director Lisa Herreth. “The Montage collection was designed to create comforting hospitality spaces, with plush, impactful carpet embellishing the environment. And, just like art, the patterns and motifs can be subtly incorporated into any commercial space as an alluring backdrop or can stand alone to make a bold, attractive statement. Whatever the need, Montage can serve as a designer’s muse.”

With its passion for the arts, Encore is donating a portion of each Montage style specified to The Dreaming Zebra Foundation, a public charity that provides art and music supplies to children and young adults throughout the world.

Personalization and Performance

Custom colorations are available to personalize the design scheme for virtually any hospitality and commercial space-based on desired aesthetic or budget.

The Montage styles are available in various ounce weights to suit a variety of project performance and budget requirements. Further, Zeftron backs all Montage styles containing Zeftron yarns with lifetime warranties. Montage products can also contribute to LEED points since Zeftron is an MBDC Cradle to Cradle certified brand that comes standard with a minimum of 25 percent recycled content in every color.

Designers wanting more information can visit the Encore website. And to learn more about the high-quality Zeftron colors that made the collection possible, visit our Colorline page.

 

5 Unexpected Fall Colors to Inspire Your Next Design

As October creeps toward November, fall is in full force. Even in the South, where summer is reluctant to release its humid grip, the colors of the new season are beginning to emerge. And what colors! This change of season is one of nature’s most spectacular shows. The leaves change, shortening days soften the sun’s light, and approaching holidays put us all in a cozier mood. It’s the perfect inspiration for a design made to comfort and inspire feelings of warmth. But while browns, oranges, and reds may jump to mind when thinking of fall, there’s more to the season’s palette than these tried and true shades. Here are five less expected colors that fall has to offer.

Grass: For many, fall means football. And while your front lawn may be fading to a soft brown or yellow, in stadiums across America, fields both natural and artificial are showing their proud colors. Whether it’s high school games under the Friday night lights, college football Saturdays, or tailgating on Sunday, football fields are a big part of what makes fall special. And it allows us to hold onto this soothing natural shade a little longer before winter blots it out.

Regal Blue: As the year draws to a close and days grow shorter, darker skies greet us as we wake up in the morning and twilight approaches earlier in the evening. But rather than mourning the loss of daylight, celebrate the beautiful, deep blue that lends autumn a moody, even spooky air. This velvety shade adds an instantly lush vibe to any design that uses it.

Citrine: When you think of fall yellows, you might imagine deep golden hues that seem to glow from within or bright citrus shades with hints of orange. But the sun lighting these scenes has its own soft yellow light. It slips through clouds to fall on leaves drifting to the ground. It will grow even more pale as winter approaches. But for now its buttery beams are like Golden Hour all day long.

True Burgundy: While the turkey may steal the show at Thanksgiving, we have to highlight the most colorful dish on the holiday table: cranberry sauce. This lusciously saturated shade captures the mood of the season with rich undertones of red and purple. Add it to your next design for a pop of color that toes the line between intense and subtle.

Sundried: We couldn’t really talk about fall colors without some shade of orange or red, and this rusty color is the best of both worlds. It also perfectly taps into the trend of warmer colors that we’re seeing in design right now. It can easily stand out against beige or taupe neutrals or blend with other shades of red, orange, or yellow.

What are your favorite colors of the season? How do you like to incorporate them into your designs? Share with us in the comments and learn about Zeftron’s extensive range of colors here: http://www.zeftronnylon.com/Design/collections.aspx

Zeftron and Marabella Partner To Create a Custom Rug for Renowned Boston Area University

A renowned Boston university’s business school recently renovated its lobby atrium with a bold look intended to create a more contemporary looking space. The university turned to Marabella to create a unique, custom-designed rug for the space.  Yet this rug was no “ordinary” rug.  It needed to withstand the atrium’s heavy foot traffic, work seamlessly alongside a hard surface and match the space’s overall design aesthetic.

Standing Up to Extreme Foot Traffic

Because of its location, the atrium endures constant foot-traffic from students, staff, and visitors. This heavy usage meant that the flooring needed to be durable and easy to clean.  Key to this was to have a rug product with a highly dense construction, pile height and a nylon of the highest quality.

With these requirements, it made perfect sense for Marabella to partner with Zeftron.  Only Zeftron offers superior styling and construction flexibility. Additionally, Zeftron’s tumble autoclave heat-setting generates a denser product with more bulk, providing the durability and performance essential for the new atrium.

“Marabella is committed to providing the best quality product to meet any flooring requests from our customers. In creating this unique, custom rug, we knew that Zeftron would be the only nylon that would provide both the vibrant color palette and the durability needed for the space,” shared Cindy Keasler, Designer and Project Manager at Marabella Carpets. “We’re proud to deliver a rug fit for this high profile and high traffic area that is essentially bulletproof, stain-resistant and brings an amazing creative element to the space.”

Fashioning the Perfect Rug

Instead of a traditional broadloom carpet covering the entire atrium, the school wanted a unique, customized rug that would cover a majority of the space, integrating with some hard surface areas. Although Marabella typically creates rugs that are 12’ broadloom, to best suit these requirements, they determined that four identical 20’x20’ rugs would provide the perfect result. For each custom rug, they constructed two 12’ rugs, seamed together. They then removed two feet from each piece to achieve the right dimensions. The final cut (vs. loop) product was created on a CYP machine, with a face weight of 45 oz. Backing included an action back, followed by a non-skid back, with vinyl edging. Special care was taken to prevent the rug from rolling up and causing tripping hazards.

Vivid Patterns and Bold Colors

Marabella offers a variety of vibrant patterns in cutting-edge styles. The school’s designer selected one featuring bold geometric shapes and figures. To curate a custom color combination and make the pattern pop, the designer then chose from a Zeftron pom set made up of our entire 125-plus full-spectrum of colors. The school’s colors of red and green became the lead hues, while accent colors of black, blue, ecru, and yellow harmonized with the primary colors, while balancing out the stronger hues. When the custom colors and the exciting pattern came together, the result was a modern, contemporary, and as Keasler put it, “funky” combination that neatly reflected the school’s spirit.

“We wanted to blend more useful furniture with a bold look to counter-act the traditional design of the building. Marabella and Zeftron allowed us to quickly create a custom flooring solution to meet not only our design aesthetic but also withstand the high traffic of the space,” shared the university’s designer.

Putting the Customer First

Neither Marabella nor Zeftron specializes in rug products. Yet both share an uncommon “customer-first” approach to finding the right solution. This mindset—coupled with Marabella’s exceptional design and manufacturing expertise, and Zeftron’s superior nylon—made this unique project a major success.

To learn about our extensive and rich color palette and how commercial carpet made with Zeftron can help you achieve the perfect look for your next project, visit our Design Process page.