Introduction When you refer to decorating a room it does not only mean adding some accessories it refers to dressing the room with different finishes. Decorating a room is also a way to get very creative and experimental. There are a variety of different wall and floor finishes you can used within interior design. Wall finishes used for the interiors are quite delicate and need maintenance. The new contemporary trend has brought about great deal of increase in the usage various types of wall finishes for the aesthetic purpose. Concrete, masonry wall may be left exposed or plastered. Wood or metal stud walls can support a variety of finishes.
PART 1 Wall finishes
Wallpaper has seen a resurgence in popularity within both the residential and commercial interior design markets. There is a wide range of patterns, finishes and print qualities of wallpaper to offer the designer an endless choice. Wallpaper also now offer enhanced durability, colour fastness, finishes and customising opportunities never before available. The digital revolution with digital print and production methods allows the production of wallcoverings which are easier, cheaper and cleaner to produce than previously.
Wallpaper is composed of the following The decorative layer, the top layer, is comprised of inks and a protective polymer coating applied to the top of the intermediate layer. Normally the thinnest layer, the decorative layer is usually the major reason a wallcovering is chosen. The intermediate layer, or the ground, provides the surface upon which the decorative layer is printed. It also provides the background colour which, while often an off-white, can be any colour depending upon the design. The substrate or backing is the portion of the wallcovering that goes against the wall. This backing can be of a wide variety of materials ranging from woven and nonwoven fabrics to lightweight paper products.
The following terms are often applied to wallpaper. Washable means that a wallcovering can withstand occasional sponging with a prescribed detergent solution Scrubbable means that a wallcovering can withstand scrubbing with a brush and a prescribed detergent solution Stain resistance is the ability to show no appreciable change following removal of different types of stains such as grease, butter, coffee, etc., after a set period of time Abrasion resistance is the ability to withstand mechanical actions such as rubbing, scraping or scrubbing Colourfastness is the ability to resist change or loss of colour caused by exposure to light over a measured period of time Peelable means that the decorative surface and ground may be dry peeled leaving a continuous layer of the substrate on the wall which can be used as a liner for hanging new wallcovering Strippable means that the wallcovering - complete with the substrate - may be dry peeled
Wallpaper Pulp Wallpaper This is the cheapest type of pattern wallpaper. It is easy to hang and strip of although care needs to be taken when hanging to avoid over stretching them. Vinyl Coated A pattern printed on to a thin skin of vinyl (plastic) with a paper backing behind. Vinyl papers are easy to hang and fairly easy to strip. They are quite tough and washable making them ideal for use in kitchens and bathrooms.
Vinyl Wallpaper Tougher than vinyl-coated wallpaper as the vinyl skin on the front of the base paper is thicker. Hanging Vinyl wallpaper usually involves pasting the wall and then hanging the wallpaper on to it, stripping them off can be difficult. Vinyl wallpaper is tough, washable and ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. Flock Flock wallpaper is one of the oldest types of wallpaper used, the pattern consists of fibres which feel and look like velvet. Traditionally flock wallpaper have been used widely in pubs, clubs, restaurants etc., but can be used in any home.
In Situ Vinyl back Wallpaper Romantic Vinyl pattern Feature wall Contrasting pattern Simplistic emboss Metallic vinyl
Wood Panelling Wood panelling is an effective and sustainable way to add warmth to a space. The panels consists of a series of thin sheets of wood framed together by strips of wood. The vertical strips are know as stiles and the horizontal one as rails. Wood panels include solid lumber panelling, wood veneer panelling and plastic laminate faced wood panelling. Solid wood offers durability and creates texture. When using wooden panelling, as with all wood products, it is best to avoid excessive moisture and direct sunlight. Solid wood reacts to the environment it is in; wood fibres expand and contract in reaction to the moisture in the environment. Direct sunlight may also degrade finishes and wood colourants. If the panelling will be exposed to excessive direct sunlight, it is adviced to use a UV inhibitor in the finish.
Wood panels in situ Wood panels add extra dimension and décor to interiors. They can also be painted to fit in with the colour scheme.
Leather This leather has excellent acoustic and thermal insulation properties and even has a surprisingly high fire rating. The main stipulation is that it should always be installed by an experienced and reputable company Laminate The first laminate, Formica HPL was invented in 1913 as an insulating material. The material was made of layers of special paper, impregnated with resin and bonded under high pressure and temperature. Laminates today are suitable for almost every application, from bathrooms to living rooms. wall-panels produce some of the most innovative designs.
Mirror Fabric Fabrics like wool, linen, cotton, burlap and grass cloth are used. they require back coating as a barrier to prevent adhesive from bleeding through fabrics face and to improve dimensional stability. Mirror finishes can come as a panel, tile or as a mosaic. They are excellent at covering open shelving, defining awkward spaces, brightening dark or narrow rooms, screening laundry areas and many other applications. Mirror always make a room seem larger and can be used to correct any less than perfect proportions. The image on the left show a Large mottled antiqued glass panels backed in fabric to create a specialist mirrored glass effect. http://rupertbevan.com/antiqued-mirror-glass/wall-panelling/
Mirrored and fabric finish in Situ
Paint Most paints actually have three main components called the pigment, the binder, and the solvent. (The binder and solvent are sometimes collectively called the vehicle.) There are also typically a number of additives to improve the paint's properties in various ways, depending on where and how it's going to be used. Paint is available in a variety of finishes and a vast range of colours. Dulux, Crown, Farrow & Ball and Fired Earth all have specialist colour mixing services available. Paint is available in the following finishes: Primer, Undercoat, Matt, Silk, Eggshell, Gloss, Satin, Metallic
pigment, The pigment refers to the colour of the paint. Metal compounds such as titanium dioxide ( white pigment) iron oxide (creates yellow) and chromium oxide (green) are mixed together to create the colour of paint. binder, The binder acts as a glue to bind pigment particles to one another, but also to make them stick to the surface being painted. Binders are made from natural oils such as linseed oil, but most are now made from synthetic plastics(originally they were made from rubber, which is why we still talk about "latex paints" today). solvent. The solvent is used to make the pigment and binder into a thinner,more easily flowing liquid that will spread evenly (that's why paint solvents are sometimes called thinners). The solvent evaporates when paint dries.
Popular paint finishes and their uses Matt: This type of interior paint has a non-reflective surface and is usually used on interior walls and ceilings. It is particularly useful for camouflaging small bumps, cracks, or other imperfections, as this finish does not reflect light Eggshell Finish: If you can picture the very low sheen of the shell of an egg, you have an idea of how an eggshell paint finish will appear. With only a slight hint of shine or gloss, it is recommended for walls and ceilings and may be lightly cleaned (unlike matt finish paint) Satin Finish: Satin finish paint has a smooth, velvety look with a bit more gloss. It is most often used for windows, doors, trim or ceilings, but can also be used as wall paint. This is particularly suitable for children s rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, or in areas with high traffic flow Gloss: High gloss paints have an almost reflective quality, and although not widely used on walls in home interiors, they are popular for adding a dramatic look on cabinets, trim, and furniture or in very formal and very contemporary settings. This finish will magnify any surface imperfections therefore very careful preparation and sanding is essential before painting with high gloss paints
3D Wall panels 3D Wall panels are a new, high quality, artistic, durable and environmentally friendly product taking interior design to a new level. With a design concept originating in the United States 3D Wall Panels marks the beginning of a new trend of wall furnishings. Feature walls no longer need to be restricted to a mere splash of colour. Small tiles Optical illusion Dramatic patterns Fretwork
Wall Panel in Situ Wall and Floor Finishes
Venetian plastering Venetian plaster can be applied to almost any sound surface giving a beautiful and luxurious finish. Venetian marble plaster is built up using plasters of lime paste or putty with varying grades of marble flours giving a range of different finishes. Unpolished style Traditional look Modern
Graffiti Graffiti is writing or drawings that have been scribbled, scratched, or painted on a wall or other surface, often in a public place. Graffiti range from simple written words to elaborate wall. As graffiti/street art became more main stream in the late 1990s, youth oriented brands such as Nike, Red Bull and Wieden Kennedy have turned to graffiti/street artists to decorate walls of their respective offices. This trend continued through 2000's with graffiti/street art gaining more recognition from art institutions worldwide.
Graffiti in situ Bright accent Artwork Feature wall
Living wall - Living walls, or green walls, are self-sufficient vertical gardens that are attached to a free-standing frame or to the exterior or interior of a building. They differ from green façades (e.g. ivy walls) in that the plants root into a structural support, which is fastened to the wall itself. The plants receive water and nutrients from within the vertical support instead of from the ground. Green walls clean interior air space and also offers insulation from ambient noise. http://www.biotecture.uk.com/living-walls/
PART 2 Floor finishes
What is a Floor Covering? Floor covering is a term to generically describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface. 25
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Wooden Flooring Wood flooring is any product manufactured from timber that is designed for use as flooring, either structural or aesthetic. Wood is a common choice as a flooring material due to its environmental profile, durability, and restorability. Hardwood ( includes ash, elm, oak, walnut) typically deciduous Solid hardwood floors are made of planks milled from a single piece of timber. hardwoods are generally expensive and are available in the form of solid boards, planks of varying widths, as well as in shorter strips or blocks that can be pieced together in different patterns to create parquet flooring. Softwoods (Includes cedar, cypress, fir) typically coniferous as a group are less varied than hardwoods and are typically pale, close grained and knotty. Softwoods are less dense and must be treated before use to ensure they do not rot. Softwoods can be used to great effect as a flooring material. In particular when used as tongue-andgroove matched boards. 28
Engineered Veneer & Laminate Floors use a thin layer of wood over a core that is commonly a composite wood product. Laminate Wear layer A clear, top layer that provides resistance to stains and fading, Design layer A high resolution, highly-detailed photographic image. Inner core high-density fibreboard (HDF) made from wood fibres fused with resin. Backing A barrier backing that protects the floor. 29
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Solid Wood and Engineered wood https://vimeo.com/143667680 31
Carpet A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of pile attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or fibres such as polypropylene, nylon or polyester. 32
Carpet Wall and Floor Finishes 33
Carpet Wall and Floor Finishes 34
Carpet 35
Carpet -Hardwearing 36
Variants of Pile and loop Technique Frieze style is a cut pile technique but the fibres lay randomly 37
Variants of Pile and loop Technique Twist style is a cut pile where the fibres are twisted 38
Variants of Pile and loop Technique Blush pile where the fibres are longer 39
Flotex - A unique textile floor covering that combines the hard wearing and durable characteristics of a resilient floor with the quality, warmth and comfort of a carpet. - Flotex is a strong and hygienic floor, and being completely waterproof, it is also the only truly washable textile floor. - Available in both sheet and tile formats. - There are a wide array of colours and designs of Flotex offered. 40
Linoleum, Also called Lino, a material consisting of a canvas backing thickly coated with a preparation of linseed oil and powdered cork. It is made of organic materials and is purportedly non-allergenic in nature, high quality linoleum is still in use in many places (especially in non-allergenic homes, hospitals and health care facilities). 41
Vinyl Modern vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring and versions of those products sold since the early 1980s. Vinyl is composed of coloured polyvinyl chloride (PVC) chips formed into solid sheets of varying thicknesses (3mm is most common) by heat and pressure. In installation the floor tiles or sheet flooring are applied to a smooth, levelled sub-floor using a specially formulated vinyl adhesive or tile mastic that remains pliable. Printed Wood Effect Tile/Stone Effect Inlaid Wood Effect 42
Concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate (sand) bonded together with a fluid, cement which hardens over time. - Polished concrete is concrete that has been treated with a chemical densifier and ground with progressively finer grinding tools. - The grinding tools are usually progressive grits of diamond grinding cup wheels and diamond polishing pads. - It is considered a good sustainable flooring option because it makes use of the materials already present. https://vimeo.com/116264520
Types of floor Tiles - Porcelain (glazed and unglazed) - Ceramic - Natural Stone (Travertine, Marble, Slate, Granite, Limestone) 44
Porcelain Tiles - Porcelain tiles are ceramic tiles commonly used to cover floors and walls, with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5 percent. They can either be glazed or unglazed. - Although porcelain has been used for making tiles for many years, only modern production methods and quantities has made the porcelain tile available for the average householder in recent years. - Porcelain is denser and therefore heavier to handle than other ceramic tiles. For this reason, it is generally more expensive. Being harder, it is more difficult to cut and drill, which can hamper fitting and increase costs. 45
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Ceramic Tiles Simply explained, ceramic tile is tile made of clay that is shaped and then it is fired in a very hot kiln. In earlier times, the production process was that unglazed tile was fired once while glazed tile was fired twice. 47
Porcelain V s Ceramic Although they look the same, the main difference between ceramic and porcelain tiles is that a porcelain tile is denser and less porous than a ceramic tile. In simple terms this means a porcelain tile is much more hardwearing and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, the extra density is a result of a slightly different manufacturing process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h1tw8earhk 48
Natural Stone Tiles Travertine - Travertine, a derivative of Limestone, is a formed sedimentary rock. Absorbs oils and other liquids. It also easily stains and is not recommended for areas such as a kitchen or bathroom. Marble - Luxurious and naturally detailed, Marble is a sought-after stone that adds glamour to any interior space. Although marble remains relatively expensive, advancements in cutting methods have made this material more economical and accessible. Marble is porous and sensitive to chemicals therefore requires sealing once installed. Slate - Known for its versatility and durability, Slate is a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor use. It is very resistant to stain but a sealant is still recommended. Granite - The hardest and most durable natural stone, Granite is extremely hardwearing, making it a popular choice for flooring throughout the home. It is resistant to most chemicals with the exception of oils which can penetrate the stone. 49
Natural Stone Tiles Limestone - Limestone is a, naturally warm stone that is available in a variety of colours depending on the region or country in which it was formed. Limestone varies in hardness. Some dense limestones can be polished but the high shine of a marble or granite cannot be achieved with limestone. Colour tones are typically neutral. Limestone is porous, soft, and chemically sensitive. It is easily etched by acids, including soft drinks and juice. Absorbs oils and other liquids and is easily stained. Limestone needs to be sealed on installation and sealed regularly to keep the look. Cork Cork is a natural sustainable product. Cork adds warmth to interior spaces and is comfortable underfoot as well as providing acoustic and insulation properties. Cork is vulnerable to water damage therefore sealing is required. Cork can also easily be dented where heavy furniture is placed for example. Sunlight can also 50