Amtico returns to Clerkenwell Design Week in 2026 with The Amtico Retreat, marking its first appearance at the festival in seven years. Taking over Paxton Locher House, the British flooring designer and manufacturer presents a space designed to offer a more considered pace within one of the industry’s most high-energy design events.
Clerkenwell Design Week is known for its energy, with installations, talks and experiences unfolding across the district. Rather than stepping away from that intensity, Amtico reinterprets it – creating an environment that balances activity with moments of pause, allowing visitors to slow down, reset and engage more meaningfully, in a way that suits them.
The concept is underpinned by Amtico’s guiding theme for Clerkenwell Design Week – where beautiful spaces grow through collaboration, creativity and choice – brought to life through a series of interconnected spaces and experiences. It centres on creating a calm, open and welcoming environment that works for a wide range of needs, recognising that not everyone engages with or experiences spaces in the same way. From the moment of arrival, the layout of Paxton Locher House guides visitors through a more intuitive journey, encouraging them to stop, interact and spend time within the space rather than moving quickly through it.
Inside, the experience unfolds through a series of interconnected spaces that bring together Amtico’s core themes of collaboration, creativity and choice. The Amtico in-house design team will create sector-focused displays styled to reflect real commercial environments across workplace, retail and hospitality. These life-sized, moodboard-style compositions combine flooring with furniture, lighting and material palettes, demonstrating how pattern, colour and texture come together within a scheme.
A more hands-on approach will run throughout the three days, inviting visitors to engage directly with materials. A collaborative luxury vinyl tile (LVT) display will evolve over the course of the event, allowing visitors to reposition individual LVT elements and explore how subtle changes in colour, wood or stone can transform the overall feel of a design in real time.
Alongside this, Amtico will also demonstrate its bespoke design capabilities, showing how ideas move from initial concept through to fully realised flooring outcomes.
While the focus is on experience, specification remains integral. Across the installations, Amtico’s core collections – including Spacia, Signature, Form and Décor – will be used to demonstrate how flooring can be adapted and combined to suit different environments.
From standard designs to fully bespoke outcomes, the emphasis is on flexibility, allowing designers to bring their own ideas to life. This extends beyond aesthetics, with performance enhancements such as acoustic backing, slip resistance and bio-attributed materials able to be layered onto designs without compromising the overall scheme.
With over 60 years of design and manufacturing expertise in the UK, Amtico is bringing together creativity, collaboration and choice. At Clerkenwell, this will be expressed through a space that is as much about how people feel as how things look.
“Clerkenwell Design Week is always busy, exciting and full of inspiration, but with that constant buzz, there isn’t always space to pause and take it all in,” says Emma Hopkins, Commercial Marketing Manager at Amtico. “With The Amtico Retreat, we want to create a space that feels like a bit of a reset – somewhere people can step into, slow down and spend time in a way that works for them. It’s about allowing visitors to engage on their own terms, whether that’s through conversation, creativity or simply taking a moment to pause. Through our luxury vinyl tile flooring collections, we’re showing how materials, pattern and design can shape how a space feels – encouraging people to connect, create or take a moment out. It’s not about stepping away from the energy of CDW but offering a different way to engage with it.”
Amtico has curated a programme of workshops, talks and informal sessions running throughout Clerkenwell Design Week, designed to encourage visitors to engage in different ways – whether through hands-on making, conversation, or moments of pause.
Tuesday 19th May - 11 am - 12 pm - Fold & Flourish: Origami Planters Workshop (bookable via Eventbrite) A gentle, hands-on session where visitors can create a miniature origami planter paired with a living succulent – a quiet, tactile way to start the day within the Retreat. Hosted with Origami Est. Click here to register
- 2 pm - 4 pm - ‘Create your own’ LVT artwork sessions (drop-in) An informal creative session where visitors can experiment with materials and produce small, take-away art pieces designed as reminders to take a moment of calm.
Wednesday 20th May - 11 am - 1 pm - ‘Create your own’ LVT artwork sessions (drop-in)
- 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm - Seminar with Dr Craig Knight: Sex and Work and Rock & Roll (bookable via Eventbrite) An interactive seminar exploring the relationship between identity, performance, and workplace culture, and how design can better support people in the spaces they use. Click here to register
- 5 pm - 9 pm - Unwind at the Amtico Retreat (drop-ins welcome, booking recommended) An evening of relaxed networking with drinks, music and a curated cocktail menu inspired by the space. Click here to regsiter
Thursday 21st May - 10 am - 10:45 am - Bespoke Breakfast Briefing (bookable via Eventbrite, drop-ins welcome) An informal session with Amtico’s design team exploring how ideas move from concept to fully realised flooring designs, over breakfast. Click here to register
Throughout the week, drinks will be available daily, encouraging visitors to step inside, take a moment to pause and spend time within the space.
Practical information The Amtico Retreat @ Paxton Locher House, 8-9 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R what3words: ///quench.tribal.quick
About Amtico
Headquarters in Coventry, UK, we extend exceptional customer service and comprehensive warranties worldwide, driven by a passion for creating enduring floors that truly inspire. As part of the Mannington family since 2014, we leverage the expertise of over 600 global flooring specialists, serving clients in more than 90 countries. Our integrated lineup of luxury vinyl tiles offers complete solutions for demanding commercial and residential spaces. Our pioneering efforts in efficiency, waste reduction, and material innovation fuel boundary-pushing product development. At Amtico, we don’t just create floors; we create the foundation for exceptional living and working environments.
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At Clerkenwell Design Week 2026, Karndean Commercial will unveil a dedicated exploration of how flooring can enhance wellbeing, safety and comfort in contemporary spaces. Centred around the launch of the renewed Opus collection, the showcase demonstrates how material choice influences how people feel, move and behave in the built environment.
“Designing for wellbeing is about creating spaces that work with people, not against them,” said Richard Allen, VP of sales for commercial at Karndean Designflooring. “The new Opus collection brings natural calm, reliable safety performance and enduring style together in a way that directly supports healthier commercial environments. Across the design community there is a growing understanding that spaces actively influence stress levels, clarity and emotional balance, and Clerkenwell Design Week gives us the ideal opportunity to explore these ideas together.”
At the heart of the preview is the expanded Opus collection, featuring 31 wood and stone designs, including ten new additions. Each design has been carefully crafted to reflect the grounding, restorative qualities of nature while offering 36 plus wet PTV slip resistance for confidence in busy commercial settings. The palette introduces subtle textures, natural tonal shifts and flexible formats to support a wide range of applications, from hospitality and workplace to education and leisure.
As wellbeing becomes a central priority across commercial design, there is increasing awareness of how spaces shape emotional comfort, movement and sensory ease. Designers are placing new emphasis on materiality, flow and clarity, recognising that natural finishes, intuitive layouts and tactile surfaces can reduce stress, support focus and create environments that feel calm and effortless to navigate.
“Each new design started with a genuine material; from reclaimed oak and prime white oak to dolomite, marble and terrazzo,” added Richard. Every surface has been developed to capture authentic character while creating spaces that feel calm, comforting and emotionally supportive. The collection celebrates the role flooring plays in shaping atmosphere, encouraging clarity, relaxation and confidence in everyday environments.
A newly introduced sensory installation within the Karndean showroom at 20 Clerkenwell Green will allow visitors to experience how texture, tactility and product composition can influence emotional comfort, focus and ease of movement. The space highlights the growing role of sensory-led design in creating supportive, inclusive public environments and illustrates how flooring contributes to overall wellbeing.
Karndean will also host a series of wellbeing-led activities across the week at 20 Clerkenwell Green (by The Old Sessions House), encouraging visitors to explore the relationship between energy, creativity and restorative design. Each activity reflects the principles behind the new Opus collection, emphasising movement, sensory experience and the emotional benefits of thoughtful material choice.
Visitors can create their own nutritious smoothie using pedal-powered bikes. This energising, movement-focused experience connects to the way Opus supports natural flow and ease of movement through commercial spaces.
A mindful drop-in session inviting guests to blend their own scents and craft a personalised candle. This calming workshop mirrors the emotional warmth, sensory ease and restorative qualities found in the Opus palette.
A relaxed morning with barista coffee, pastries and the Karndean commercial team. Visitors can explore the new Opus collection, discover the brand’s approach to wellbeing and discuss how flooring contributes to comfort, clarity and the emotional tone of a space.
With the launch of the new Opus collection and the introduction of a sensory-led showroom experience, Karndean reinforces its position as a design partner focused on creating healthier, safer and more intuitive commercial spaces. The Clerkenwell showcase brings these principles to life, transforming product performance into an experience that designers can see, touch and feel.
About Karndean Designflooring
Karndean is a global supplier of commercial and residential luxury vinyl tile flooring. We’re an industry leader in flooring design, offering a wide range of colours, textures and finishes, helping you create unique looks that are both stylish and practical; guaranteed to last. We see flooring differently. We travel the world in our quest to bring you exceptional floors that inspire and delight. From the ancient forests of Europe, to the remote Australian outback, we seek out expressive and intriguing forms in the natural world to influence our unique floor designs. By combining original features with cutting edge design, we create beautiful floors that bring your vision to life and take our clients on an endless journey of design discovery.
Karndean Designflooring, the UK’s trusted supplier of luxury vinyl flooring, has played a leading role in the transformation of Scotsdales Garden Centre in Cambridge. Working closely with Trevillion Interiors, Stanley Bragg Architects and Cadman Flooring, the refurbishment introduces a warm, design led customer experience crafted to withstand exceptionally high footfall and continuous daily use.
The redevelopment forms part of a long-term strategy to elevate the centre’s visitor journey, requiring clearly defined customer zones, intuitive navigation and a specification that could deliver both aesthetic quality and enduring commercial performance. Karndean’s Prairie Oak from the Art Select collection was chosen for the main concourse and seating areas, offering natural warmth, design versatility, and proven resilience in high traffic environments. Installation was completed by Cadman Flooring over an eight-week programme.
The design introduces three customer zones; grownup, casual and family, each with its own identity while remaining part of a cohesive whole. Given the open plan scale of the building, the flooring played a fundamental role in guiding movement and supporting spatial clarity. A full plank herringbone layout was used through the main concourse to create a strong directional cue, contrasted with parquet style patterns and straight planks in the seating areas to give each zone a distinct character without interrupting overall flow.
“Durability and aesthetic was a tough ask on such a scale with demanding footfall,” explained Frances Blackham, design director at Trevillion Interiors. “Karndean provided the design flexibility we needed. The herringbone layout choreographs movement subtly and beautifully, while parquet and straight planks with inserts create three clearly identifiable areas.”
The finished scheme blends refinement with practical performance. Prairie Oak’s warm, natural tones complement the garden centre’s organic identity, while the precision of the installation elevates the overall retail environment. Engineered for long-term durability, the floor withstands trolleys, high visitor numbers, and regular cleaning, maintaining a consistently high-quality appearance.
“The herringbone layout adds depth and elevates the interior beyond a standard retail fitout,” said Kieran Cadman, director of Cadman Flooring. “The detailing supports customer movement across the space, and the product performs exceptionally well in such a busy commercial environment.”
Reflecting on the collaboration, Richard Allen, VP of sales for commercial at Karndean Designflooring, added: “Scotsdales is a perfect example of how flooring can shape both the function and experience of a commercial space. Prairie Oak was selected for its authentic character, warm palette, and long-term performance. We are proud to support Trevillion and Cadman Flooring with a product that brings natural beauty to a demanding environment while standing up to the rigours of daily use.”
Karndean Designflooring, the UK’s leading supplier of luxury vinyl flooring, announces the launch of its first gluedown collection with enhanced acoustic performance. Available from April 2026, Knight Tile Quiet has been developed to support wellbeing and create safer, calmer spaces in today’s shared residential environments by reducing disruptive noise that affects how people behave, perceive risk, and move through a space, making everyday environments easier to navigate.
Five best-selling Knight Tile designs; Lime Washed Oak, Grey Limed Oak, Dutch Limed Oak, Pale Limed Oak and Russet Character Oak, will be available for fast turnaround with all existing Knight Tile designs available in the enhanced format with a minimum order quantity, enabling design continuity across large-scale projects without compromising on acoustic performance.
“Noise has a profound impact on how people feel in their homes,” says Richard Allen, commercial sales director at Karndean Commercial. “In shared residential environments, we know that excessive noise can affect wellbeing and overall mental health.
“So, with quiet flooring fundamental to wellbeing, we have developed our Knight Tile Quiet collection specifically to meet the requirements of build-to-rent, purpose-built student accommodation and multi-residential developments. Knight Tile Quiet makes it easier for designers and contractors to meet acoustic standards while creating spaces that feel calm, comfortable and genuinely liveable.”
Today, acoustics matter more than ever in private rental developments with noise consistently cited as a leading cause of tenant dissatisfaction, directly influencing retention and long-term asset value. In addition, the recently introduced Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has placed greater emphasis on housing quality and habitability, increasing scrutiny on how developments manage issues such as noise transfer.
The new Knight Tile Quiet collection delivers impressive impact sound reduction, meeting the latest technical requirements effortlessly and invisibly, and so improves living conditions for renters and reduces potential complaints. Manufactured with an integrated IXPE acoustic backing and independently tested to achieve up to 18dB sound reduction, this product exceeds building regulations Approved Document E sound reduction requirement of 17dB and helps projects meet the specifications for BREEAM certification.
By integrating an acoustic layer within the product, Knight Tile Quiet reduces the need for additional underlays or secondary subfloor treatments, delivering cost efficiency in high-volume developments. Measuring 915mm x 152mm with a 3mm thickness and 0.3mm wear layer, Knight Tile Quiet incorporates its enhanced acoustic benefits without additional bulk, providing the flexibility to specify Knight Tile standard or enhanced technical specifications interchangeably as required in each space.
Beyond acoustics, the new Knight Tile Quiet format retains all the advantages that have made Karndean’s Knight Tile range a trusted choice where aesthetics, durability and affordability are equally important. Offering a convenient range of on-trend wood and stone designs with reliable and waterproof performance and easy maintenance for demanding environments, Knight Tile and Knight Tile Quiet are the versatile choice for design-led, budget-conscious residential projects.
Backed by Karndean’s technical expertise, product warranties and comprehensive specification support, Knight Tile Quiet delivers quiet confidence for every floor, helping architects, designers and specifiers balance compliance, wellbeing and design appeal in the spaces people call home.
In commercial interiors, the mood has shifted. Recent years have pushed designers to think less in fixed palettes and more in lived experience – spaces that feel calmer, work harder, and flex with the way people move, gather and spend their time.
Since the Spacia luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring collection was first launched 21 years ago, the way commercial spaces are designed and used has changed significantly. Amtico’s Spacia has evolved with that reality in mind. Rather than treating the update as a trend reset, the design team reviewed Spacia through the lens of how projects are being specified today across key commercial sectors, including build-to-rent, workplace, hospitality and leisure, retail, education and healthcare. The result is a collection built around considered materials, subtle character and genuine versatility – designed to make specification clearer and simpler, not restrictive.
Woods now take the lead in the evolved Spacia collection, reflecting the pull towards warm, natural interiors. This is not about loud colour; the story is in the detail: softer Scandi-inspired tones, smooth natural oaks with gentle tonal movement, more expressive grains where knots add character, lightly treated weathered finishes and a return to richer, darker woods influenced by mid-century and heritage interiors. Across these styles, the emphasis is on texture, variation and a grounded, easy-to-live-with feel – qualities that translate across different commercial settings and shifting trends.
The evolution of Spacia Stones follows the same measured approach. Classic stones and soft textures provide familiar, versatile foundations, while embedded concrete designs and a more playful terrazzo offering introduce zoning, rhythm and visual interest in larger commercial spaces. The focus is on natural-looking surfaces with longevity – designs that sit comfortably within contemporary interiors now and still make sense later.
Alongside the design evolution, Spacia has been structured to remove unnecessary complexity for specifiers. Availability across plank and tile sizes has been simplified, every wood design is now available in a parquet option – bringing the total to 140 parquet designs, offering designers greater consistency and flexibility.
Designed for demanding commercial environments, Spacia LVT features a 0.55mm wear layer and is supported by a 10-year commercial warranty. The collection can also be specified with optional enhancements, including Acoustic backing, Spacia Safety for enhanced slip resistance, and Amtico Bio, using bio-attributed PVC – allowing designers and specifiers to balance design intent with practical performance requirements.
Stocked in the UK and ready to deliver, the evolution of Spacia reflects a simple idea: when projects move quickly, and briefs are increasingly complex, the most valuable floors are the ones that quietly make everything easier – without losing the design story.
From 19 to 22 January 2026, the Hannover Exhibition Center will once again become the international meeting point for the flooring and interior finishing industry.
Join Dr. Vanessa Brady (OBE), Founder of SBID, for an engaging talk: How Interior Designers Are Redefining Inspiration and Trends. At 1:15pm, 19 January, Hall 20, booth D70.
SBID Members earn 2 x CPD points for attending!
Francine and Trevor Luker, Directors of Element7, have given their insights into the industry.
Born on the Chelsea Embankment in the early 1990s, Element7 began as River Flooring - a name that soon evolved, like our vision, into something greater. Inspired by the seven elements of nature, we became Element7, with wood - our most treasured material - as the seventh. From the start, we set a new benchmark in luxury flooring, pioneering wide-plank designs engineered for radiant underfloor heating - a first in the UK. Innovation and craftsmanship have defined us ever since, from the introduction of grey hardwood floors to exquisite parquet patterns, bespoke creations, and finishes that stand the test of time. In 2016, we opened our flagship 5,000 sq. ft. showroom beside the Chelsea Design Centre - one of the largest flooring spaces in Europe. Here, expansive installations showcase the beauty and versatility of our collections, while our expert team guides each client through an exceptional design journey. Today, Element7 is synonymous with timeless design, innovation, and the finest wood flooring in the world - chosen by visionary architects, leading interior designers, and discerning clients across the UK and beyond.
At Element7, every product and service is designed to elevate exceptional interiors.
Uncompromising Quality - We specialise exclusively in luxury projects, delivering unrivalled quality, longevity, and prestige. Each floor is crafted from the finest materials, meticulously sourced in Italy and finished to perfection. Every installation is backed by our 25-year guarantee, a testament to enduring excellence.
Tailored to Your Vision - Designers can choose from our curated collections or create entirely bespoke finishes - from custom stains and treatments to unique plank widths and lengths - ensuring every floor is as individual as the space it enhances.
Sustainably Sourced - Our wood is responsibly and sustainably sourced, appealing to eco-conscious clients and supporting green building standards without compromising on beauty or performance.
Precision Installation - Our expert installation teams deliver flawless results - from perfect alignment and grading to seamless joints - ensuring superior performance and durability while preventing issues such as gapping or buckling.
The engineered wood sector is more than a source of materials - it’s a driver of innovation, sustainability, and creative freedom. Today’s designers have an unprecedented ability to experiment with texture, colour, and pattern, tailoring each Element7 floor to the unique character of their project. Engineered wood offers seamless integration with glass, steel, porcelain, and concrete - allowing for bold, contemporary interiors that balance warmth and modernity. Sustainability lies at the heart of this progress. At Element7, we are proudly PEFC and FSC certified, upholding the highest environmental standards that define modern architecture and design.
At Element7, we partner closely with interior designers to bring their creative visions to life - offering expertise, inspiration, and a fully bespoke service from concept to completion. Our 5,000 sq. ft. Chelsea showroom showcases large-scale floor installations (9-12 sqm) in a range of species and tones, allowing designers and their clients to truly experience the scale, colour, and grain of each wood. We provide both small samples for mood boards and larger pieces for presentations, helping designers seamlessly integrate our products into their concepts. We work hand in hand with each designer to select or colour-match wood flooring that perfectly complements their project. Our team also conducts pre-installation site visits to ensure optimal conditions and long-term performance. Beyond installation, we support our clients with tailored maintenance guidance, care kits, and a professional repair service - ensuring every Element7 floor remains as timeless and beautiful as the day it was installed.
Our standout achievement in 2025 is establishing a presence at The Design Centre in New York. We are thrilled to be collaborating with premium New York designers and architects on a series of exciting U.S. projects, bringing Element7’s luxury flooring and bespoke expertise to a new international stage.
We’re noticing a clear shift from cool greys toward warm browns and earthy tones, creating interiors that feel natural, inviting, and timeless. Clients are increasingly drawn to artisan-style wood with character - surfaces featuring knots, hand-scraped textures, and distressed finishes that celebrate the natural beauty of the material. Longer and wider planks remain highly sought-after, offering a seamless appearance that highlights the wood’s grain and elegance. Classic patterns such as chevron and herringbone continue to be popular, alongside intricate inlays and borders, adding bespoke detail and sophistication to luxury spaces.
This year, the focus on wellbeing and comfort continues, with homes designed not just for aesthetics but for liveability and warmth. Warm tones paired with natural textures remain popular, while interiors become more personalised, blending styles and materials to create spaces that feel truly lived-in rather than staged. We also see more adventurous design features, with floors and ceilings treated as canvases for artistic expression. Sustainability is now non-negotiable - clients are seeking materials that age beautifully and endure, allowing them to invest once in quality products that stand the test of time.
At Element7, we are passionate about collaboration. We’re currently working with select designers to create curated Element7 Collections tailored to each designer’s vision. We’re also excited to partner with other companies in the premium interiors sector, enabling us to deliver comprehensive luxury interior solutions to designers and architects, combining expertise, quality, and innovation.
About Element7
For over 27 years, Element7 has set the benchmark for luxury engineered hardwood flooring, delivering bespoke flooring solutions for ultra-prime residential and commercial projects worldwide. Trusted by leading design professionals, Element7 specialises in wide-plank flooring, parquet, and fully customised designs—often incorporating unique materials such as ceramics, leather, and metal. Renowned for its design-led approach, exceptional craftsmanship, and close collaboration with clients, Element 7 offers flooring innovation for those seeking rare, timeless quality.
Natural stone is an investment and with the right care and maintenance, it will last forever. Athena Stonecare will bring the guide to life in this online webinar and explore some common mistakes that could easily be avoided. Become more confident in specifying stone by equipping yourself with some insider expertise.
Sessions: - Wednesday 1st October, 12pm - Friday 17th October, 12pm
SBID Members earn 4 x CPD points for attending!
Spaces are limited
British flooring manufacturer Amtico has added nine new floor designs to Designers' Choice, its ready-to-specify luxury vinyl tile (LVT) collection that is specially created by the in-house design team. The seven new combinations of laying patterns and LVT products translate three macro trends - Restorative Spaces, Soft Utilitarian and Nostalgic Reset - into design-led, high-performance floors for commercial projects.
Designers' Choice is curated by Amtico's designers, they have combined precision cut laying patterns with Woods, Stones, Colours and Abstracts from the Signature collection, carefully chosen and influenced by the team's research into colour, material mix and spatial trends.
"Designers' Choice distils months of research into palettes and combinations that are balanced, beautiful and instantly usable," says Sarah Escott, Design Manager at Amtico. "This year, we've leaned into the emerging trends for Restorative Spaces, Soft Utilitarian and Nostalgic Reset, blending Woods, Stones, and even Burnished Metals to give specifiers and designers impactful floors in an easy, 'off the rack' solution."
Nostalgic Reset shows in the retro styling of: DC633 Lune Small in Packwood Stone and red wine-hued Stucco Roselle, the sculptural semi-circle design is playful yet sophisticated. DC630 nods to vintage patterns with Check in oversized Tay Oak squares - pair with a gold stripping border for added elegance. DC629 pairs Chantilly Weave in a bold two-tone Bordeaux Oak and Buxton Oak design to re-energise the heritage weave pattern, making it perfect for boutique lounges and bars. DC631 is a classic black and white Check in statement Bianca Classic Marble and Nero Classic Marble. DC635 is a throwback to mixed wood grain floors with a Small Parquet laying pattern in five tones from cool, scandi-inspired Wharncliffe Oak to warm, golden Rotterdam Oak.
Restorative Spaces can be seen in DC637, which combines Large Parquet in five Stones Waterloo Concrete, Wilmcote Limestone, Ratley Stone, Ilmington Stone and Coombe Stone for a pared-back, utilitarian feel. Experience textural calm with DC634, Small Parquet in a three-Wood blend with Clowes Oak, Buckingham Oak and Wharncliffe Oak to bring biophilic comfort to workplaces and hospitality.
Soft Utilitarian shines through in DC632, which features statement Gatsby Square Large where Russet Burnished Metal meets Darley Oak for dramatic effect. The Soft Utilitarian design works beautifully as a rug feature or zoning, the hyper-realistic Metal's pearl pigments and clever layering create the illusion of real weathered metal, providing a dramatic contrast to the Darley Oak. DC636 is a five-Wood design in Large Parquet, featuring a layered mix of rustic oaks for social, multi-functional spaces, such as hospitality and build-to-rent, with a Soft Utilitarian feel.
Designers' Choice makes it easy to specify impactful, patterned floors interior designers simply choose the 'DC' code of the design they want, then the Designers' Choice laying pattern is precision cut in the Coventry factory from Amtico's premium Signature LVT. For projects that demand a unique twist, specifiers can step up to Endless Possibilities, which feature an 'EP' code: keep any DC laying pattern but swap in products from the Signature collections. For example, Large Parquet in three-colour Stone combination. Then, preview designs instantly using Amtico's online Room Visualiser, starting with the product or laying pattern - users can also upload a photo or drawing to see how it will look in the actual project.
Amtico Signature LVT has a durable 1mm wear layer, a 20-year commercial warranty and antimicrobial protection against bacteria and viruses. Made-to-order in Coventry, Signature can also be specified as Amtico Safety flooring, which meets the verified EN13845 enhanced slip resistance standard, as well as Amtico's bio-attributed PVC for a lower-carbon option.
At Clerkenwell Design Week 2025, Karndean unveiled a powerful installation exploring how flooring can support neurodiverse individuals. Using the principles of neuro inclusive design, the experience highlighted how the built environment can meet both hypersensitive and hyposensitive needs—through calm, stimulation, and the thoughtful transitions in between.
“Designing for neurodiversity is about more than accessibility. It’s about recognising and celebrating difference,” said Richard Allen, sales director at Karndean Designflooring. “Flooring plays a vital role in shaping how people feel, move, and focus in a space.”
One half of the installation was designed to soothe. With soft wood grains, low contrast matte finishes and a muted, biophilic palette, the space showed how calm environments can support those sensitive to sensory input. A cocooning arch form added a sense of safety, ideal for settings like quiet rooms or waiting areas.
In contrast, the other half stimulated the senses with bold geometric flooring, vibrant colours, and varied textures. Designed for those who seek stimulation to stay focused, this zone echoed the energy of play areas, gyms or breakout spaces. Every detail encouraged movement, curiosity and engagement.
Linking the two was a staircase that gradually blended calm and bold elements, demonstrating how transitional spaces like corridors and hallways can help people move comfortably between sensory states. Step by step, the flooring shifted in colour and texture, serving as both a practical and conceptual bridge. “Many environments are unconsciously designed around neurotypical experiences,” said Richard. “But inclusive design must consider the full sensory spectrum, and we believe flooring can be a powerful tool to do just that.”
The installation included talking points to spark reflection and conversation. It supported Karndean’s wider mission—empowering designers with the tools and knowledge to create inclusive spaces. Their RIBA approved CPD, Designing Neuro Inclusive Environments, offers practical guidance on how to integrate neurodiversity into every stage of the design process.
With one in seven people in the UK identifying as neurodivergent, and only one in three feeling comfortable disclosing it at work, there is a clear need to design spaces that support different ways of thinking and being. Flooring, often the most visible and tactile element in a room, plays a significant role in that experience.
“By combining insight, design guidance and products that bring calm and clarity to a space, we’re proud to support the growing movement toward more inclusive, human centred environments,” added Richard.
Karndean’s installation was more than a visual showcase. It brought inclusive design principles to life and reaffirmed the brand’s role as a trusted partner for designers committed to making a real difference.
To find out more and register your interest for the Designing Neuro Inclusive Environments seminar, visit karndean.com/cpd.
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