The Inaugural FCNews Style & Design Competition recognizes industry achievements in new product development and design. The program builds on the legacy of programs like the Award of Excellence—now in its 28th year—the Best of Surfaces contest and the FCNnovation awards. “Everybody knows that style and design are the main drivers of consumer purchases, so, what we decided to do was acknowledge those manufacturers that are stepping up their style and design game,” said Steven Feldman, FCNews co-publisher.
Carpet
Carpet has undergone a rather stark transformation in recent years thanks to technology advancements that allow mills to develop aesthetically pleasing designs all while maintaining durability.
Indeed, the days of beige blandness have given way to striking patterns and bold colorations. “When homeowners rediscover the true beauty that quality carpet makes versus what they may have experienced in the past, lightbulbs go off,” said Gabe Gerges, divisional vice president, builder single and multifamily, Southwind.
Today’s broadloom styles are increasingly used to make stair runners, hallway runners and area rugs in custom sizes and shapes— often with a flair for fashion. As Christine Zampaglione, senior marketing director for Stanton, noted: “The desire to infuse decorative pattern and add a sense of layered luxury throughout the home continues to be in high demand.”
Highlighted here are some of the winners of FCNews’ Style & Design Awards, honoring those pushing the boundaries of design.
FABRICA: HABITAT
Color takes center stage with EnVision Nylon by The Dixie Group. EnVision Nylon carpets boast an expansive spectrum of distinctive colors as well as custom dyeing options to match exact preferences. Fabrica’s Habitat is an example of this. Habitat is an antelope motif made with EnVision nylon, produced on tailored loop tufting and beck dyed to create a striking palette of 24 colors.
ANTRIM (STANTON): FENG SHUI
The Antrim brand, originally known for dense, chunky, undyed wool textures, has been an evolving force over the last 17 years. From refined, structured flatweaves to high-end synthetic fibers, the breadth and depth of Antrim’s offerings run deep. Feng Shui, the latest example, offers bold linear motifs that create a striking, dense and cozy loop pile. This visual is designed to captivate with its distinctive patterns.
Resilient
Resilient flooring has been the fastest growing and top earning flooring category for years. When it first burst onto the scene it was the segment’s performance that really made it stand out in a crowd. It stole share from nearly every other category for its sheer strength. Hardwood, for instance, lost to resilient’s superior dent/ scratch resistent while ceramic tile shed share due to resilient’s ease of installation and affordable price points.
Today, however, resilient flooring—in all its iterations—stands out for an entirely different reason. Yes, it’s performance attributes still keep consumers coming back, but it’s the category’s new found design prowess that keeps it in the headlines.
From digitally printed, large-format planks to PVC-free and recyclable lines, resilient flooring manufacturers have pulled out all the stops to take the category to the next level. Following are some makers of resilient that have gone above and beyond to snag the gold.
CORETEC TILE
COREtec Tile offers a premium blend of style and functionality. Crafted with innovative performance and design technology, these luxury vinyl tiles capture the look and feel of natural stone with remarkable realism while offering COREtec’s proven durability. Homeowners can enjoy benefits such as enhanced chip and crack resistance and quick, grout-free installation that traditional tile and stone.
JOHNSON: CELLAR HOUSE
Blending the elegance of real hardwood with the durability of SPC technology, Cellar House delivers a flooring solution that’s both budget friendly and visually striking.
Designed to handle the demands of daily life, the series features a robust 20- mil wear layer, is crafted from 100% virgin vinyl, includes a premium attached foam underlayment and is FloorScore certified for healthier indoor air quality.
SOUTHWIND: AUTHENTIC PRIME
Southwind’s Authentic Prime was introduced in 2024 and is equipped with all the advantages of WPC, plus all the features that consumers want. It comes in an oak-inspired line of six colors. Planks are hefty 12mm x 9 x 60 with a 20-mil wear layer and Diamondized finish for added protection. Authentic Prime also delivers an authentic look and feel with embossed-in-register surface and painted bevel.
MOHAWK: SOLIDTECH PREMIER WITH HDX
With Signature HDX, SolidTech Premier precisely captures the design of natural wood with artistic precision. The 75 layers of texture are transferred to each flooring plank, providing a multidimensional beauty that can be seen and felt. SolidTech Premier with Signature HDX showcases beautiful and sought-after oak styles with a variety of rustic and clean visuals, along with unique, true white visuals.
Laminate
For decades laminate flooring has been lauded for its ability to replicate natural materials such as hardwood, stone and tile. The category’s ability to fool even the most seasoned experts has only continued to improve in recent years thanks to innovations in technology. Advancements in digital printing, texturing and embossing—plus the application of more realistic beveled edges—have contributed to the category’s allure.
Interior designers and decorators around the country say their clients often request laminate floors that mimic hardwood because it offers the warmth and character of real wood without the maintenance requirements. Another plus is consumers are able to achieve a wood “look” without the higher material and installation costs typically associated with real hardwood.
Following are some design-centric laminate flooring collections that stood out in FCNews’ Inaugural Style & Design Awards competition.
CALI: MAVERICKS
The new Mavericks collection from Cali was a show-stopper at the 2024 winter markets and is still turning heads today. Based on a super-long, 86-inch x 9-inch-wide board platform with a total thickness of 14mm, the product is a meticulous recreation of an authentic hardwood plank. A natural matte finish, rich colors and intricate oak grain textures deliver realism for consumers looking to enhance their living spaces.
STANTON: NUVOLUX, NUVOMAX
Stanton aims to redefine elegance and sophistication in interior spaces with the new NuvoLux and NuvoMax laminate collections, products inspired by the grandeur of natural woods and materials. The designs are carefully curated and designed with innovative textures, authentic colors and durable finishes. The stylish collections boast 24 colors covering the visual gamut from light coastal looks to warm earth tones.
BHW FLOORS: WATERFRONT
Looking to build on the success of its Kingston Collection, BHW Floors is raising the stakes with its new Waterfront laminate line. These eye-catching planks measure a whopping 9 3/8 inches wide x 87 inches long and boast state-of-the-art EIR technology for added realism. The initial line consists of eight European white oak looks. The product is constructed on a 10mm + 2mm format with an attached IXPE pad.
Wood
hile hardwood arguably remains the industry’s most aspirational product, there’s no denying the segment has ceded market share to competing categories such as LVT, rigid core and even laminate. The irony here is many of those competing segments are doing their absolute best to replicate the coveted visuals and traits of real wood—all at a fraction of the price of the genuine article. Where wood has the advantage, however, is no two boards are exactly alike (from a purely aesthetic standpoint, anyway) and it’s the only category that has demonstrated an ability to add value to a home over time.
The latest hardwood flooring offerings cited in FCNews’ Inaugural Style & Design Awards special issue encompass all those desirable attributes and so much more. These run the gamut from the insanely popular European white oak floors to domestic hickory, maple, pine and even some tropical exotics. And, of course, the wide/long trend and low-gloss matte finishes prevail.
Following is a closer look at some of the products that stood out from the pack.
SHAW: REGATTA TEAK
Shaw Floors stepped outside the box with Regatta Teak, a sub-species of the teak used in decking on ships and high-end furniture. Defining attributes include subtle variation—a mix of heartwood and sapwood—as well as hints of a black mineral streak. Two colors—natural with a slight honey stain as well as a walnut stain—are available.
HALLMARK: SERENITY
The Serenity collection is crafted from a cleaner grade of hardwood, offering a refined and uniform appearance that enhances its natural beauty. With 7.5-inch-wide planks in lengths up to 7 ft, 2 inches and subtle wire-brushed textures, this collection showcases the elegance of select hardwoods. Serenity also offers a palette of natural colors.
Tile
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are unmatched in their design versatility, offering endless possibilities for customization and creative expression. These materials can replicate the look of natural stone, wood or even fabric with stunning precision, giving homeowners and designers a wide array of options to suit any aesthetic.
Advances in digital printing technology have taken the design potential of porcelain and ceramic tiles to new heights, allowing for intricate patterns, textures and color variations that were once impossible to achieve. Whether you’re aiming for a sleek, modern look or something more rustic and traditional, porcelain and ceramic tiles offer a level of flexibility that makes them ideal for any design vision. Beyond visual appeal, porcelain and ceramic tiles are also still known for their practical design benefits.
Following are some of those tile manufacturers that have merged both style and design to take home the FCNews hardware.
EMSER: RADIANT
Radiant integrates porcelain tiles with LED lighting to create a stunning and creative look. Emser Tile introduced a new patented drainage system developed from 3D extruded designs to offer up Radiant. These tiles not only elevate the aesthetics of any space but also ensure superior functionality. What’s more, Radiant features a unique anti-slip finish. The R11 anti-slip finish is designed to suit high-traffic outdoor areas.
DALTILE: DIVINIUM
When luxury is a design essential, Divinium is a top choice. A porcelain and ceramic wall and mosaic collection, it is available in an assortment of sizes: 3D ribbed 8-inch hex, 6 x 18, 3 x 12 picket, 1 x 6 mosaic and the basketweave mosaic. Customize your design with the confidence of Defend, powered by Microban, which eliminates 99% of the bacteria on the tile’s surface. Is is suitable for floor, wall, countertop and shower floor applications.
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