Boutique Design New York (BDNY) is the leading trade fair for the US hospitality design industry.
Based in the Jacob K. Javits Center “for two high-energy days each November, it’s the curated, creative event of the industry—bringing designers, architects, purchasing agents, hoteliers, owners, and developers together with inventive manufacturers of design elements for hospitality interiors for a highly curated experience.”
Events like these give us the opportunity to engage with the interior design community and allow us to showcase our outstanding talents and services.
This year’s show featured some strong design and color themes, the most evident being that of nature. From beautiful botanical themes using leafy greens and delicate flowers to organic structures with influences of earthly elements.
Textures played a key role in adding depth and warmth to spaces. Wool and leather led the way for textiles while elements of gold and metallic added a touch of glamour.
Not only did this theme dominate pattern and texture but also color.
Warm earthy muted tones were used to create spaces of zen while pops of blues and greens were used to create biophilic settings.
Our own stand was influenced by nature thanks to the bespoke floral carpet design that was specifically created for BDNY. The design showcased the high levels of our design capabilities and our ability to add vibrant, eye-catching color.
If you were unable to attend BDNY and are keen to know more about what we can offer, please get in touch with our US team here.
Biophilic design continues to be a hot trend that more and more designers are tapping into by using Ulster’s Design Portal.
With an increased focus on the environment, biophilic design seeks to combine the modern built environment with our fundamental need to connect with nature.
This concept was the inspiration behind Natura, Ulster’s latest Contract Stock range, and is being increasingly used for carpet designs in hotels, casinos and cruise ships.
Design Portal features over 10,000 designs. To find the latest Biophilic designs, simply use the keyword search by typing in Biophilic or Biophilia, or you can click on Collections to view our curated Biophilic Collection.
All the designs can be recoloured to suit the project you are working on. Our virtual tuft box has both standard and neutral options, meaning you can recolour a design from a choice of over 650 colours.
When the world’s leading interior designers say #inspireme Design Portal is the perfect place to start.
Across the hospitality industry, sustainability has quite rightly become a hugely important topic and nowhere is that more evident than in marine projects.
At Ulster Carpets, we are committed to building a sustainable future by manufacturing in an ethical manner that reduces our impact on the environment.
We have already demonstrated this commitment with significant investment in our state-of-the-art Dyehouse and Energy Centre and the creation of our own recycling hub to convert waste carpet into luxury underlay.
We are set to take this even further with the introduction of new technology which will ultimately make our patented weaving process more energy efficient.
Unlike other manufacturers who outsource various elements, we spin and dye all our own yarn as well as design and weave every carpet. Having this level of control gives us the freedom to develop greener manufacturing processes.
This is mirrored by the end product – a wool-rich carpet for your cruise ship.
Whether your choice is a bespoke design or from the contract stock range, the journey to your luxury carpet starts with selecting the right wool. We use high quality wool shorn from sheep across Great Britain, Ireland and New Zealand that produce the strongest and highest grade of fleece.
This rapidly renewable material is regrown in 12 months, providing Ulster with a sustainable supply of high-quality raw material. Our carpets are a blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon – a combination that offers optimal performance and longevity under intense usage in marine environments.
That balance is also factored into our preferred backing option for cruise ships that includes a green poly backing with a minimum of 50% recycled content.
All our environmental commitments are backed by our various ISO and IMO certifications as well as to the Green Label Plus program.
These are just some of the steps that we are taking to improve our sustainability. Looking ahead, across all aspects of the company, we continue to research new alternatives to increase this even further.
Find out more about how we meet our environmental and sustainability responsibilities here.
Influenced by the play of light and shadow at midnight, these eye-catching carpet designs are taken from our online gallery, Design Portal.
In terms of designs and colours, Design Portal offers an abundance of choice and a plethora of inspiration. Packed full of over 9,000 designs, this digital archive is easy to use, with designs collated into specific categories and collections.
You also have the option to search using either keywords or design numbers to help you find the right style for you.
All designs can also be recoloured to suit the project you are working on. Our virtual tuft box has both standard and neutral options, meaning you can recolour a design from a choice of over 650 colours.
Continually updated with designs created by our designs teams across the world, you can save your favourites for future reference or upload recoloured designs into your personal folder. You can also have access to any bespoke designs created for you by Ulster.
When the world’s leading interior designers say #inspireme Design Portal is the perfect place to start.
Ulster’s Contract Sales Manager, Francoise Kergoat, recently took part in La Pause – a lunchtime webinar by NEWH Europe. If you were unlucky enough to miss it, we thought we’d look at some of the topics that she covered.
MISSING OUR CUSTOMERS
Our European sales team has missed out on meeting our customers face-to-face recently, which has been tough.
“We don’t like the situation but we have adapted to meet the needs of our customers,” says Francoise. “Like La Fontaine’s Fable of The Oak and The Reed we have had to be flexible and resilient.”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
One topic that every manufacturer has to consider is the environment. Francoise is a keen advocate of the sustainable processes undertaken by Ulster.
The development of our Dyehouse has been an integral part of our commitment to meeting our environmental and sustainability responsibilities.
“This is an area that we have been very proactive in,” Francoise explains. “We were the first textile manufacturer to be accredited to ISO 14 001-2015. We have also improved our industrial processes to divert 100% of our post industrial waste away from landfill.
“Then, of course, there is the fact that we use wool in our carpets, which is a rapidly renewable material that can be recycled.
“But we aren’t stopping there and we’ve opened a new Recycling Hub where waste carpet will be recycled into Axfelt Triple Layer Underlay. We will continue to review every aspect of the company to reduce our impact on the environment. I hope my children benefit from the fact that we take the planet’s health so seriously.”
THE PERFECT FIT
When asked why Ulster is such a good fit for the hospitality sector, Francoise outlined three major areas – skills, service and reliability.
The stunning ballroom at Intercontinental Paris, Le Grand Hotel.
“We have highly skilled teams at every level of the company,” explained Francoise. “Our designers are some of the best in the world and we have developed technology to allow them to translate their artistry into your carpet designs.
“After all, a carpet for the hospitality sector is a technical product, so it is key that we respond to meet these needs.
“Secondly, we provide high levels of service. Using our experience, we can anticipate a lot from the initial stages of a project right through to final installation and maintenance.
“We offer a full design and planning service and we can provide a range of resources, including our online archive, tuft boxes and bespoke samples.
“Finally, we are reliable. Our integrated manufacturing process puts us in complete control of every aspect from selecting, spinning and dyeing the wool to the bespoke design and, of course, the weaving. As a consequence, we are reactive to your needs.”
DESIGN COLLABORATIONS
The partnership approach at Ulster is an important part of our success and, as Francoise outlines, it is why interior designers, architects, managers and owners love working with us.
Collaboration forms part of our creative process.
“When guests start booking their holidays again they will want their trip to be special. That is why design is essential as it makes your venue unique. Our experience on working on hotels, casinos and cruise ships across the world means we understand the unique requirements of the hospitality industry. You are offering an experience for your guests and our designers will help your flooring be part of that.”
THE FUTURE
Now, more than ever, owners will be looking for a return on their investment and that is why they will look to Ulster for high quality flooring that will look better for longer.
Francoise said, “We listen to our customers and react to their needs. We have developed our services and offer a strong mix between woven and tufted carpets to meet a wide range of needs.
“Our bespoke design service is as popular as ever and is perfect for those venues that want the wow factor. For projects that require a fast turnaround within a strict budget, then we have a comprehensive Stock Contract Collection.
“As we control our manufacturing processes we can continue to develop new ranges and new technology. We have continued to add new products during the pandemic and we’re excited about our forthcoming launches in 2021!”
CLICK HERE to learn more about our design services.
With some of the world’s leading carpet designers based in our offices across the world, every day we create what we call ‘The Art of Ulster’. This concept is about utilising the large canvas that flooring offers to create statement designs.
Ballrooms and lobbies are the perfect example of this, giving our designers the space to create impact aesthetics that pop with colour and texture. But even in smaller spaces, such as corridors, our ability to match designs to the required space means that you don’t lose your ability to leave a lasting impression.
The bespoke service also allows us to complement the interior design theme and provide a continuity that takes visitors on a journey from the front door and right through your venue.
By talking, listening and understanding, our designers have been able to build up strong relationships with leading interior designers, architects, specifiers and venue owners. This partnership approach has resulted in stunning designs.
Of course, having great designers is only one essential element of the Ulster service. We are able to translate their inspirational designs onto carpet by using a patented weaving system. Our weaving technology allows for unlimited design possibilities without the need for a repeating pattern.
The perfect combination of design and manufacturing capabilities puts at a unique advantage over other carpet manufacturers and is the reason why the Art of Ulster can be found in the world’s leading hotels, casinos and cruise liners.
CLICK HERE to take a look at some examples of the Art of Ulster in our Project Gallery or why not be inspired and explore our Art of Ulster gallery on Design Portal. You have to be registered to enjoy the benefits of Design Portal – CLICK HERE to find out more or to log in.
At Ulster, we have some of the best carpet designers in the world and, as the highly talented Ali Gamal proves, his artistry isn’t just reserved for creating stunning flooring… take a look below!
Ali, one of our team based in the Middle East, studied Fine Art and, as these examples of his work demonstrate, his talents help to elevate our carpet designs to a unique level.
Ali explores wide-ranging themes through his art and this collection has been inspired by events that affect human life. This emotive work is awash with vivid detail and colour and exhibits Ali’s wonderful talents.
This same creative flair helps Ali work with our clients to translate their vision into reality. Flooring offers him a large canvas to work with and Ali can use this space to create designs of delicacy and subtlety as well as those which are majestic and impactful.
Design is at the very heart of Ulster’s work and our customers enjoy the fact that they have the opportunity to work with such talented artists.
Ulster Carpets have worked on hotels, casinos and cruise ships across the world and Ali is one of a team of talented designers who are able to transform carpet into works of art.
As designers and manufacturers of wool rich bespoke carpets, we have always been in the business of creating sustainable products that enhance any space both in terms of aesthetics and quality.
As industry pioneers we continually review our processes to find more efficient and sustainable ways to manufacture luxury carpet, helping our clients to meet their own sustainable goals.
Wool is a rapidly renewable material as well as luxurious and versatile, at Ulster we use only the best wool sourced from Britain, Ireland & New Zealand. Wool fleece re-grows every 12 months providing a constant supply of high quality raw material. Naturally stain repellent, flame resistant, non combustible and easily cleaned, wool is both sustainable and a safe choice.
There are many health benefits from including wool within indoor spaces. Research shows that wool carpets effectively trap dust and allergens in its top layer. Its natural filtering effect makes it perfect for people with asthma or allergies. Naturally absorbing humidity and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a wool-rich carpet will provide a cleaner, more comfortable space to sit back, relax and breathe in.
Alongside the comfort of their guests, 1 Hotel is a brand whose focus, as with Ulster, is also on prioritising sustainability, environmental protection and community engagement. On their website, Barry Sternlicht their CEO & Chairman says
“I wanted to capture the beauty of nature in a hotel and commit to safeguarding it as best I can, a responsibility that I believe we all share. It’s 1 world. But 1 is more than a hotel – it’s a philosophy and a platform for change.”
Organic, raw, natural and reclaimed materials are therefore an important part of any design brief they develop. From using reclaimed driftwood as wall coverings, plant walls and green spaces to details such as ditching plastic key cards in favour of recycled wooden tags & providing hangers made from 100% post consumer waste.
Therefore commissioning bespoke wool rich carpets from Ulster for their 1 Hotel South Beach, Miami was an obvious choice. A retreat wholly inspired by its natural surroundings, namely the 600-feet of beach along the Atlantic Ocean, Ulster’s creative team took inspiration from these elements to create the texture and look of wood grain, echoing the driftwood and natural materials in the interior of the hotel. The bold yet calming pattern moves though the hotel pulling all the strands together of this sustainable & luxurious hotel.
As a company, Ulster were delighted to be part of 1 Hotel’s vision, where our beautifully crafted product plays a role in delivering a sustainable experience without compromising on quality or artistic flair.
Learn more about Ulster’s sustainable business | View the beautiful carpets they have designed and manufactured across the globe.
Have you ever wondered why you feel so calm when entering into a beautiful room with blue accents or so refreshed in a green bioliphic inspired room?
It’s likely to be because of colour psychology in interior design, closely connecting colour to our emotions.
Colour selection plays such an important role for our design teams at Ulster. Therefore we want to share with you some secrets to colour selection and the psychology between colour in interior design and wellbeing.
Did you know colour has the power to raise or lower our heartbeat, affect our sleep and even influence our overall wellbeing? An incredible amount of research has been undertaken into the psychology of colour and the impact it has on our health. Let’s face it our wellbeing is more important now than ever – in all areas and aspects of our lives.
“Rooms should not be put together for show, but to nourish one’s own wellbeing.”
Albert Hadley, Interior Designer
PONANT Le CHAMPLAIN
W Hotel Muscat
4. Crystal_Mozart_Penthouse_Entrance low res
Ritz-Carlton Berlin RGB Den of Heaven
Grand Central Hotel, Belfast
Writing on behalf of Hotel Designs, brand strategist Emma Potter says, “Hotel interior design is deeper than simply decorating, colour schemes have the ability to cleverly transform and/or evoke emotions and designing with purpose as a whole will result in space that is more functional, more inviting and more appropriate to the guests checking in.”
Colour psychology is used as a powerful interior design tool that arguably has more of an impact on the mood of a room than any other factor. Emma Potter explains “Interior designers and hoteliers put a huge amount of effort into the hues they choose to decorate a space, be that a lobby, restaurant, bedroom or lounge area, as they appreciate the effect colour has on their consumers’ emotions. In order to create an appropriate scene for a certain target audience, it’s worth understanding the science of colour psychology and the tremendous ability it has to change entire moods.”
Colour selection is a critical part of the design process at Ulster Carpets; it helps create depth and breathe life into what has been imagined. With over 650 colours to choose from plus the ability to custom dye to find that elusive shade, Ulster’s creative team can help enhance an interiors designers scheme from the floor up.
Thanks to Ulster’s unique advanced weaving technology we have total design freedom allowing our designers to maximise their colour usage to suit every brief. Matthew Weaver, a Senior Field Designer at Ulster, says “Adding colour into carpet really brings the floor to life. It can be as simple as choosing a signature colour from the clients design scheme to unite the carpet with cushions, artwork and wallpaper. Whether it’s a calming soft blue tone in a spa area alongside neutrals or a bold infusion of orange and teal in a restaurant, colour adds value and completes the story.”
Mood boosting colours
Take a look at what Hotel Designs have put together:
Some may argue that using neutral colours(beige, cream, grey) will appeal to a broader market. While white may be a natural choice for a Greek Mediterranean style hotel, some people may associate white with cleanliness, whilst others may associate it with hospitals. Either way, white will significantly brighten up a room and will help to reflect light and colour.
Green typically symbolises growth and harmony, which is extremely grounding and brings us back to nature – think rolling countryside surrounded by lush leafy trees or blossoming flowers and open spaces. It is often associated with evoking a feeling of peace, trust and tranquillity, and it helps to reduce feelings of anxiety, whilst stimulating love, balance and harmony in the body. The ideal choice for rural hotels, some would argue. But it can also be injected into urban hotels to add flair, vibrancy and electricity.
Blue symbolises trust and tranquillity, is often considered a calming colour, and goes well with grey and white to create a Scandinavian style. It’s reminiscent of flowing rivers, the ocean and the sky. The blue blossom of forget-me-nots help to stimulate mental clarity and creative expression, so floral arrangements also need to be considered from a design perspective. Perhaps the ideal choice for hotels by the sea or near water.
Oranges and reds symbolise energy, fire and passion, they resemble a sunset which represents creativity and emotion wellbeing. Mixing these colours with black would create a dramatic, mysterious ambience, perhaps lending themselves to Moroccan or Arabian interiors. However, where natural light is not in abundance, it may best to keep black to a minimum.
