May Pattern – Botanicals

May Pattern – Botanicals

Did you know? The natural beauty of flora and fauna has inspired many Formica^® Laminate patterns since 1951.

Humans have always looked to the natural world for design inspiration in their living environments. What we now call biophilic design represents a longstanding reverence for nature’s ability to bring serenity and calm to interior spaces. 

Here’s a look at the botanical patterns Formica Group has introduced in the form of laminate for commercial and residential spaces over the years. 

1951: Fernglo (1st version) – Brooks Stevens designed the first plant-themed décor.

1965: Willow – In-house Formica^® laminate designer Bob Ford based this concept on hand-drawn trees in architectural plans.

1965: Fernglo (2nd version) – Ford used a fern botanical woven in a twill or linen fabric for a small-scale design.

1967: Fleurette – The spring flower Tweedia inspired this two-stage design of an abstracted five-petal image. Pastorale was introduced the same year in Spring and Autumn colour ways that used a cyanotype process. 

1980: Woodland – Ford combined several graphics to create this altered, reduced botanical art of dandelions and flowers with hand-draw accents designed to look like the forest floor.

1982: Grey Daisy was a hand-drawn pattern created in the UK. It was launched in a variety of colours, including Pink, Green, Grey, Golden, Yellow and Autumn.

1987: The Flora series was introduced, including Almond and Rose Ash. Print designs and vintage French botanical art inspired these patterns showcasing simple, abstracted floral elements. The drawings were combined with a graphic texture to produce a two-colour print which was intentionally off register to produce a dimensional effect. 

1996: Fallen/Frosted/New Leaves – These large, layered leaf patterns ranged from an orange Fallen Leaves version to the softer Frosted and bright New Leaves colourations.

Learn more about the Formica Laminate Botanicals series in this video: