35 New Laminates Find Their Perfect Match With the New Colorbox Concept

Coordinating colors, patterns and woodgrains bring depth and dimension to interior surfaces

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Aug 02, 2010, 11:34 ET

CINCINNATI, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Great design doesn't come out of a box, but Formica Corporation's 35 new high pressure laminates (HPL) demonstrate that great designs can fit into one by introducing the new Colorbox concept.

"The latest HPL colors were developed with the Colorbox concept in mind," said Gerri Chmiel, Senior Design Manager for Formica Corporation. "We've packaged coordinating solids, optical solids and patterns with harmonizing woodgrains into nine different Colorboxes that layer color, texture and dimension to create visual interest."

Global collaboration, qualitative research with nearly 60 designers and a quantitative survey of hundreds of industry professionals identified the following trends that drove the HPL design development:

*Wood* – Ranked as the top trend, the Architect and Design community considers wood laminate as a realistic and functional design choice
*Menswear* – Classic and highly usable, subtle optical solids and classic patterns are workhorses with the ability to be mixed and matched in many ways
*Weave* – A modern introduction of woven patterns, whether manmade or organic, is in high demand
*Graphic* – Focused mostly on architectural and organic elements, these inspirational patterns grab attention, communicate from a distance and are simply fun
*Color + Texture* – Texture is key to achieving the dimension and realism that the A&D community desires, adding drama and depth to an otherwise flat color

Solid Color Extension

Seven "Newtrals" – new neutrals – in complex shades of chameleon browns, beiges, greens and grays, reflect the emerging "less is more" attitude. Efforts to be more conservative and make color selections for the sake of longevity are becoming more prevalent. These seven "Newtrals" are available in Matte, Sculpted^™ or MicroDot^™ finishes. Each of the solid colors is the foundation of the Colorbox Concept – where solid colors coordinate with optical solids, patterns and complement woodgrains.

5342 Earth
5443 Possum
5344 Seed
5349 Fossil
2297 Terril
1097 Citadel
1903 Cafe

Two optimistic colors in brighter and cleaner hues round out the solid color extension:

2013 Fiesta
7966 New Burgundy

Patterns Extension

The Optical Solids and Graphic Patterns add 16 new colors in four new series: Warp and Weft, Geo, Strand and Dogbone.

Optical Solids are subtle, timeless and versatile. While appearing to be a solid color from afar, a closer look reveals subtle menswear and weave details.

In weaving, warp and weft fibers take on different qualities when threaded through the loom and are the inspiration for the two new weaves:

Warp Pattern – Stronger and more graphic in nature
Weft Pattern – Softer and more subtle

In true Colorbox fashion, the following new Warp and Weft patterns are "textured" complements to the Solid Color introductions:

	5875 Neutral Weft	5879 Cafe Weft
	5876 Fossil Weft	5880 Earthen Warp
	5877 Seed Weft	5881 Chocolate Warp
	5878 Possum Warp	5882 Citadel Warp

Graphic Patterns are fun, inspirational and compelling, focusing mostly on architectural and organic elements and influences. Whether breaking down patterns to the cellular level or viewing them from 30,000 feet, they convey depth and complexity while remaining usable, evoking a tactile quality and inviting touch.

Strand Pattern – Originally introduced in 2008, Strand creates a graphic yet organic pattern through the play of criss-crossed straight lines
- 6306 Wenge Strand
- 6307 Burnt Strand
Dogbone Pattern – A playful, geometric featuring dog bone-like shapes seen in modern sculptural and architectural wall installations
- 5281 Dogbone White
- 5283 Dogbone Storm
Geo Pattern – Inspired by the structure created by crossing and meandering lines on a map, the orderly yet chaotic Geo models the network of roads, interstates and rivers from a bird's eye view
- 5270 Geo White
- 5272 Geo Folkstone
- 5273 Geo Citadel
- 5274 Geo Fossil

Woodgrains Extension

Wood ranks as the top trend for architects and designers in North America. More than ever before, laminates are compelling wood alternatives as advances in printing, style and texture closely mimic the qualities of real wood. At the same time, laminates meet the design community's need for engineered wood looks and colors that may not always be available in nature.

Ten new woodgrains support the Colorbox concept and fall into three categories: New Classics, Usable Exotics and Modern Engineered and are offered in three finishes:

*Naturelle^™ (NT)* – This subtle straight grain ticking creates a realistic natural wood look in a low sheen finish reminiscent of a dry wax; it gives wood a natural, clean and modern look
*Artisan^™ (43)* – This finish achieves the hand-rubbed oil look used by craftsmen to produce fine wood surfaces in which high gloss finishes enhance rich color and detail
*Matte* (58) – This hardworking finish – perfect for education, healthcare and retail – keeps surfaces attractive under harsh working conditions

New Classics

5486-NT Classic Walnut
5487-NT Oiled Walnut
5885-58 Craft Oak
5887-NT Millennium Oak
5886-43 Sorrel Cherry

Usable Exotics

5481-43 Oiled Olivewood
5488-NT Smoky Brown Pear
5489-NT Espresso Pear

Modern Engineered

5883-58 Pecan Woodline
5884-58 Chestnut Woodline

Formica Corporation continues to lead the industry with innovative designs and green building solutions. Formica® brand high pressure decorative laminates have received FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Chain of Custody certification and are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified.

About Formica Corporation

Founded in 1913, Formica Corporation, part of the Formica Group of companies, is a leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of innovative surfacing products for commercial and residential applications. For more information about Formica Corporation, its products, special programs and promotions, visit www.formica.com or call 1-800-FORMICA.

About Formica Group

Formica Group is a global group of companies consisting of Formica Canada, Inc., Formica Corporation, Formica de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Formica IKI Oy, Formica Limited, Formica S.A., Formica S.A.S., Formica Taiwan Corporation, Formica (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Formica (Asia) Ltd., among others.

Please Note: Formica®, 1-800-FORMICA, and the Formica® Anvil Logo are registered trademarks of The Diller Corporation.

A Fletcher Building Company

For information, contact:
Bill Roush	Laura Phillips
Formica Corporation	Vehr Communications
(513) 786-3162	(513) 381-8347 (w), (513) 325-9985 (c)
[email protected]	[email protected]