Each year, i+s eagerly awaits hearing back from our audience via our Readers’ Choice Awards. And with nearly 2,000 responses this year, the readership definitely delivered.
Readers’ Choice is pulled together from the year’s Sources pages, asking what products designers love and why. The following pages highlight 2016’s winners, the nine best of the best plucked from the vast well of industry leaders.
Best Carpet
Interface | World Woven Collection
Honorable Mention:
Mannington | Intrinsic Collection
Best Surfacing Material
Cosentino Group | Trilium
Honorable Mention:
Formica Group | dECOLeather
Best Textile
CF Stinson | Concentric, Blip, and Outlander
Honorable Mention:
Brentano | Gem
Best Lighting
Visa Lighting | Petal OLED
Honorable Mention:
Juniper | THIN Chandelier
Best Furniture
National Office Furniture | Farrah
Honorable Mention:
SitOnIt Seating | Novo
Best Flooring
Metroflor | AspectaOne
Honorable Mention:
Capel | Simply Gabbeh
Best Wallcovering
Versa Wallcovering | Lorenzo
Honorable Mention:
Carnegie | Artform
Best Details + Décor
Slyde Charging Solutions | Divyde 2.0
Honorable Mention:
Think Fabricate | Wall*nut Hexagons
Best Architectural
Poppin | Series A Privacy Panel
Honorable Mention:
Roll-A-Shade
BEST CARPET
Inspired by classic woolen textiles and the histories of international weaving techniques, the World Woven Collection by Interface features nine styles with eight colors each, creating an interlacing story from around the world. Made with 100-percent recycled content nylon, the
collection was introduced in the NeoCon Preview.
interface.com
BEST SURFACING MATERIAL
Earlier this year Consentino Group launched Trilium as an add-on to its Dekton offering. Trilium is made from recycled materials in a proprietary production process. The product is unique in that its darker hues with rusty undertones create a visual texture with variations reminiscent of aged and oxidized stainless steel.
cosentino.com
BEST TEXTILE
i+s first introduced readers to CF Stinson’s new products in May 2016 in anticipation of NeoCon. Each selection offers its own standout visuals and a unique aesthetic all its own: Blip, featuring a bold, tweed texture; Concentric, with fine lines that intertwine for a geometric design; and Outlander, a modernized wool visual.
cfstinson.com
BEST FURNITURE
Originally gracing the pages of the i+s May NeoCon Preview, National Office Furniture’s Farrah has only become more beloved over the last half a year. The chic silhouette features facetted legs which don’t detract from the overall effect, but rather give the chair a luxurious feel. Readers raved, “Very nice design!” and “I love this chair!”
nationalofficefurniture.com
BEST LIGHTING
Highlighted in the October issue of i+s, the Petal OLED pendant from Visa Lighting is suggested for use both individually and in combination for a bold design feature. The blooming bud fixture is available in uplight or downlight models. Accent colors or effects can be integrated by controlling each OLED panel. Truly a work of art, one voter commented that Petal OLED is “a beautiful sculpture.”
visalighting.com
BEST FLOORING
Following the successful launch of AspectaTen in 2015, Metroflor introduced AspectaOne as a value product that offers enhanced design options including 24 x 24-inch tiles in bold colors and square-edge, distressed planks. One reader noted that AspectaOne serves up “great design and fantastic growth opportunity.”
metroflorusa.com
BEST WALLCOVERING
Lorenzo by Versa Wallcovering stood out thanks to its 3D effect and sophisticated embossing. The visual changes based on lighting and
viewpoints. Lorenzo is offered in 15 colors and is made of low-VOC 24 oz. vinyl on Osnaburg backing. It is also NSF/ANSI 342 certified.
versawallcovering.com
BEST DETAILS+DECOR
Divyde 2.0 by Slyde Charging Solutions offers a solution to two common issues in the modern workspace: access to outlets for charging and storage space. Divyde 2.0 includes four USB ports, two power receptacles, and a key or combination lock to provide a safe space for devices that are being charged. One i+s reader called the product “ingenious,” noting that Divyde 2.0 “offers safe, lockable storage and solves the problem of charging my electronics.
I love it.”
thinkfabricate.com
BEST ARCHITECTURAL
Creating a buzz for its simple yet innovative and quirky designs, Poppin unveiled the Series A Privacy Panel as a sound solution that also facilitates areas of personal space in today’s open office layouts. A pinnable surface allows users to personalize a work area with photos, calendars, reminders, etc. Series A is available in a range of lengths from 27 to 57 inches to coordinate with the Series A Double Desk.
poppin.com