While our job as a design publication is to introduce you to the latest and greatest product offerings on the market, once you’ve had your hands on these products and incorporated them into your projects, you know how good they look and how well they perform in real life. That’s exactly why we asked you to cast your votes for Readers’ Choice: Best Products of 2011.
And you made your voices heard—loud and clear! From flooring, wall coverings and desk systems to seating, textiles and surfacing materials, thousands of votes were cast to determine this year’s “Best Of.” Voting was extremely close in several of the product categories—a testament to the high number of fantastic new products that were showcased in the pages of the magazine this year.
As A&D professionals who are intimately involved in product specification for commercial projects in an array of markets, we truly value your input and participation in this program. Rest assured, we will continue to provide you with comprehensive product coverage—both in print and online—in 2012!
FLOORING | SEATING | GLASS ELEMENT | DESK SYSTEM | TEXTILE | LIGHTING | SURFACE MATERIALS | CONFERENCING | KITCHEN+BATH | WALLCOVERING | TABLE | GREEN PRODUCT | Q+A
WINNER:
Tandus Flooring | Urban Nature
Tandus Flooring’s Urban Nature is a collection of five patterns rooted in historic Japanese art and architecture that interpret the emotions and cultural nuances of Japan’s rural countryside—from cherry blossoms and tea houses to bamboo forests, lily ponds and terraced rice fields. Patterns coordinate across scale, free-form figures and geometry to allow multiple space considerations and smooth, intuitive transitions. For more information, go to www.tandus.com.
WINNER:
Allsteel | Gather
Allsteel’s Gather is a collection of practical furnishings intended to boost idea sharing and productivity. More than half of the series, which includes seating, tables and storage, incorporates dual functions. For instance, the Linger lounge-type chair also features a seat back designed to allow another individual to lean against or perch atop it. Gather stands out because of its distinctive visual forms, but is absorptive and able to work in any space. For more information, go to www.allsteeloffice.com.
WINNER:
Guardian | DiamondGuard High-Endurance Glass
DiamondGuard® High-Endurance Glass from Guardian resists scratching, smudges, gouging and staining thanks to its extremely low coefficient of friction. Its carbon-infused toughness also makes it appropriate for applications often deemed too risky for ordinary glass, including standard display cabinets, entry partitions, table and desktops, countertops, interior walls, kiosks, escalator railings and elevator cabs. DiamondGuard glass is virtually invisible, chemically inert and requires no special cleaning. For more information, go to www.guardian.com/guardianglass.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Nathan Allan Glass Studios | Stax Radius
The 5+ Collection by Michael Graves | Skyline Design
WINNER:
Allsteel | Involve
Involve is Allsteel’s distinctive interpretation of the blended workstation concept, featuring a collection of furnishings that can be composed into functional environments where interaction and the sharing of information are supported. Involve includes freestanding desks, an extensive offering of casegoods and banquette-like seating that can be configured independently to create private offices, open plan interiors and a range of corporate landscapes. The series can be paired easily with Allsteel’s Terrace DNA or Stride lines. For more information, go to www.allsteeloffice.com.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Teknion | Livello Workstations and Tables
Herman Miller | Canvas Office Landscape
WINNER:
CF Stinson | Lumina
Presented by CF Stinson, the Lumina Collection is Patty Madden’s first collection of woven textiles. The collection is based on the play of light and features bright, metallic yarns. The five styles in the collection— Aura, Spark, Lucent, Radiance and Glimmer—reflect Patty Madden’s signature amorphous, fluid geometric patterning. Lumina is also bleach cleanable, has high abrasion resistance and features the GreenShield soil-resistant treatment. For more information, go to www.cfstinson.com.
WINNER:
Humanscale | Horizon
Humanscale’s Horizon is a sleek, high-performing LED task light created by designers Peter Stathis and Michael McCoy. Horizon overcomes the weaknesses of conventional LED task lights by offering brilliant color and excellent light distribution in a slender profile. Floating a radically thin sheet of light above the desktop, Horizon’s technology uses a number of high-intensity micro LEDs that surround several layers of polycarbonate and optical films to create an ultra-wide footprint of warm, glare-free light. For more information, go to www.humanscale.com.
WINNER:
Silestone Volcano Series | Cosentino
The unique surface texture of Cosentino’s Silestone Volcano Series creates a contemporary matte look and feel. Using a new technology to apply a lightly indented effect to the quartz surface, Volcano makes a stylish design statement in any space. Influenced by European design trends, the subtle molten-rock texture of the surface creates depth and inspires new possibilities for stunning residential and commercial applications. For more information, go to www.silestoneusa.com.
WINNER:
Arcadia Contract | Rendezvous Conference Collection
Designed by David Ritch and Mark Saffell of 5D Studio, Arcadia’s Rendezvous Conference Collection is a study in minimalism, with simple, modern forms providing a broad range of flexibility and style. Readily accommodating small multi-use spaces, large multimedia presentation rooms and everything in between, the Rendezvous Collection is abundantly functional and creates a welcoming environment for gatherings of every kind. For more information, go to www.arcadiacontract.com.
WINNER:
Neo-Metro | Ebb Concept
The Ebb Concept by Neo-Metro, now available in customized LED patterns, is designed for maximum impact. Industrial-gage recycled stainless steel supports a softly lit resin top, which can be custom-cast to any hue. In addition, the signature solid surface resin countertop is now cast using a more eco-responsible resin that contributes to LEED points. The versatile Ebb Concept doubles as a basin and a luxurious source of light in restaurants, hotels and nightclubs. For more information, go to www.neo-metro.com.
WINNER:
Trove | Hundun
Hundun is one of four designs in Trove’s Spring 2011 collection, which reflects the natural world with the company’s signature scale and unconventional color palette. Each design is available in five colorways and measures 12 feet high and 67 inches wide. All Trove patterns may be applied to a range of substrates, including the company’s innovative STONEGROUND wall“paper” (made from stone powder and natural resin), commercial grade wallpapers and window films. For more information, go to www.troveline.com.
WINNER:
B&N Industries | Cantilever Tables
Bold and architectural, B&N Industries’ Cantilever tables virtually float off one another, making a strong impression for merchandising. With the ability to adjust horizontally in various positions, using each table beneath the other for support, these tables promise to make a statement and become the focal point in any department. For more information, go to www.bnind.com.
WINNER:
Smith & Fong Co. | PlybooStrand Bamboo Plywood and Flooring
Smith & Fong Co.’s newest line of FSC-certified PlybooStrand bamboo plywood and flooring is urea formaldehyde-free, earning it Indoor Advantage Gold and FloorScore certifications. Plywood panels are available in 3/16-inch, ½-inch and ¾-inch thicknesses; flooring is available in 3/8-inch and 9/16-inch thicknesses. Both applications are offered in Havana, Sahara and Neopolitan finishes. For more information, go to www.plyboo.com.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Peter Pepper Products | REMIX Receptacles
Kelly-Moore | Enviro Coat and Green Coat Paints
WINNER:
Encore Seating | Flurry Stack Chair
“The secret to my success is my perfect combination of style, strength and versatility. My frame is lightly scaled and deceivingly delicate, yet I’m strong enough to hold up in some pretty tough environments.” For more information, go to www.encoreseating.com.