Industry Leaders Leverage the Power of Colour in Commercial Interiors
From offices to hospitality venues, colour can transform environments, making them more inviting and dynamic. We explore how industry leaders from Boss Design, Camira Fabrics, Ulster Carpets, Newmor Wallcoverings, and Mullan Lighting are harnessing the power of colour. Their insights reveal how thoughtful colour application can evoke emotional connections and enhance guest experiences.
Mullan Lighting, The Glasshouse, The Montenotte Hotel, Cork
Boss Design and Lyndon supply a broad range of commercial sectors from office to hospitality. We caught up with Ceri Lovett, their Creative Director to understand his approach to colour. He said,
“Whether its hospitality or office, we’re witnessing a melding of cultural touchpoints resulting in softer palettes. As furniture makers it’s essential we consider how textures, materials and finishes impact colour. Our aim is craft inviting destinations that draw people in and encourage them to stay – that goes for all the sectors we supply. It’s vital we create the right ambience and an emotional connection, so people feel they own the spaces they inhabit.”
Boss Design
Camira has a reputation for getting it right when it comes to colour forecasting, so when their head of creative, Lynn Kingdon told us there is no such thing as ‘new’ colour we were keen to know more. She explained,
“It is the combinations of colours that make colours look new. We are very conscious that colour often comes first in interior design, therefore it is up to us to create inspirational textile palettes that designers will want to invest in.”
Camira Fabrics, Elemental from their 2024 Colour Manifesto
As a brand that places sustainability at its core, we know that Camira are super selective when it comes to raw materials, so it was great to hear they take the same approach when it comes to colour. Their latest collaboration with colour futures studio, Luminary Colour, sees the launch of their ‘Colour Manifesto’, specifically created to provide enduring colour inspiration for designers and specifiers.
Lynn Kingdon said,
“The ‘Colour Manifesto’ supports designers with colour schemes that will transcend time. Camira is less concerned with trends – more about shaping sustainable interiors that won’t go out of style. The classic colour and fabric combinations, including our iconic bestsellers Blazer, Yoredale, Main Line Flax are influenced by nature and architecture and have a timeless quality to them that contributes to their elegance.”
Luminary Colour, founded by creative director, Anna Starmer, has been guiding global colour direction for more than 25 years. Anna collaborates with a wide network of dyers, creatives, and colour experts to research the future thinking that will shape colour and materials.
Camira, Humble Pizza
Ulster is one company that isn’t bound by colour trends, as their focus is on providing custom solutions to their clients. We caught up with Anthony Hickman, Head of Design at Ulster Carpets, and Joyce McIvor, Contract Sales Director UK & Ireland, to understand more.
Ulster Carpets, Icon of the Seas – courtesy of Royal Caribbean International
Hickman said,
“Our investment in technology allows us to weave 25 colours on every loom. We have no need to promote ready to weave collections but instead provide our clients with ultimate freedom and flexibility. As a family-owned business committed to UK manufacturing, we are continually investing in our plant. We offer designers a great starting point with three tuft boxes, the newest box of neutrals and accent colours incorporates subtle nuances in response to the shift from cool greys to warmer hues.”
With significant investment at their headquarters in Portadown, Ulster’s reputation for delivering outstanding carpets across the globe is secure. The addition of 10 new high-speed PSYLO™ looms to their already impressive weaving capabilities has increased capacity further.
Based in London, McIvor adds,
“Our open-door policy allows designers to have easy access to our team. We have an extensive library of 4,000 tufts in our London Design Studio in Clerkenwell as well as an extra 3,000 in our Dyehouse in Portadown. This is a fabulous resource for designers, but it is only a starting point as there are no restrictions to the colours we can create for your project.
“Our minimum production run is attractive at only 200sqm and we only dye the yarn required for the project to reduce waste. With our expertise in colour and design we can adapt to meet each project’s needs. For example, for Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Europe we cleverly used 25 colours to create unique palettes for each carriage while on the Icon of the Seas cruise ship we created over 75 different designs in a wide range of different colours.”
Ulster Carpets, Orient Express, Photography by Ludovic Balay – courtesy of Belmond
Pattern powerhouse, Newmor Wallcoverings is well known for their design and colour expertise, as each year we interview Rose Campbell, their Head of Design and Marketing to hear what she’s included in their annual trend report. As part of our focus on colour, we thought now was the perfect time to ask why producing a trend report has become so synonymous with Newmor’s brand and learn more about the process she goes through.
Newmor, Cotton Candy from their 2024 Trends
Rose Campbell explained,
“I’ve been creating trend reports for over 20 years. I love seeing new creative ideas and literally find inspiration everywhere so collating it into a trend report is actually quite therapeutic, and a chance to make sense of all the beautiful and interesting things I’ve seen throughout the year. And, although I separate my research by year, I often identify emerging colour palettes and design styles that become more established over time”.
Newmor, Sugar and Spice from their 2024 Trends
Manufactured and designed in the UK, Newmor Wallcoverings are one of CIUK’s longest members, Campbell adds,
“The trends report provides the creative direction for our new collections. Newmor are strong believers that our collections should have longevity so they can be specified with confidence. The work we do upfront helps us to be more effective, so rather than adding lots of nuanced colours which result in splitting sales, we refresh our stocked ranges every few years, ensuring they stay relevant. This combined with our digital capability allows Newmor to be reactive whilst providing a solid stocked offer”.
We asked new CIUK member Mullan Lighting, how lighting can shape the ambience and mood of commercial spaces. With over 860 standard lighting designs and the ability to customise elements or create fully bespoke fixtures, Mullan Lighting are experts in creating versatile collections which can transform environments and perceptions of a space.
Mullan Lighting, Private Chalet, Courchevel, French Alps
Co-Founder, Edel Treanor said,
“We offer a diverse range of lighting to suit various aesthetics and design needs. In commercial settings, bespoke lighting options allow designers to use light fixtures as key design elements, bringing together the overall aesthetic.
“Fixture colour and style play a crucial role in establishing a brand’s identity and enhancing the overall atmosphere of a space. The right lighting temperature is key to creating human-centric designs that support well-being and productivity. Incorporating different light temperatures and layers—such as ambient, task, and accent lighting—ensures a versatile and dynamic environment.”
It’s clear that Mullan Lighting’s diverse range of customisable fixtures provides the flexibility needed to achieve these goals, offering solutions that not only meet functional needs but also elevate the aesthetic appeal and branding of any commercial space.
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