Mid East inspired flooring fusion sets the trend, says top Italian interior designer

The days of toned-down neutral flooring finishings are fading fast, explains Nunziati and today's move is towards colour, pattern and texture.

'The trend has shifted from Northern European inspired cool, minimalistic finishes to a layering of colours and textures, a greater sense of warmth and luxury inspired by the Middle East and Africa,' said Nunziati.

The creative Italian, who has worked on some of the leading hotels and residential developments in Europe and Asia, believes flooring sets the tone of a room - the look and feel. But beyond the appearance, he says, the decision on which flooring material to choose should be based on how a room is used.

Nunziati, who is working in Dubai - the visionary, cosmopolitan heart of the Arabian Gulf - exclusively for a new luxury developer is expecting to get design inspiration from DOMOTEX Middle East 2007, the specialised carpet and floor coverings exhibition, which on its debut last year was the fastest-selling and largest launch exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in the last 27 years.

'This year's show in June is already selling faster than expected with 80% of the 2006 exhibitors re-booking and most of the industry's market leaders committed,'

explained Angela Schaschen, Managing Director, Messe Middle East, the regional representative of Deutsche Messe Hannover, one of the world's top three trade show organisers, which is behind DOMOTEX.

According to Nunziati specialist trade shows offer the opportunity to exchange ideas and the latest design developments. 'As a designer I strive to balance both form and functionality. At the moment hard surfaces in an array of colours and finishes dominate the flooring design world. For me wood and parquet flooring, laminated coverings, and ceramics provide some of the most versatile interior design possibilities. The latest trends include deep textures with metallic finishes and tiles using semi precious stones as accents and borders.

'With flooring I am aiming to create a harmonious grouping of complimentary spaces, creating architectural consistency and leading the eye comfortably through the location,' said Nunziati.

Although newer materials like cork and bamboo are increasingly popular, carpets are still the world's best selling flooring with Nunziati preferring depth and texture. 'Soft flooring, especially rugs, offer so much versatility, functionality and an opportunity to stamp a personality on a space,' he says.

DOMOTEX Middle East is a truly international show, explains Schaschen: 'Last year two thirds of our exhibitors were international and with newcomers for 2007 from Italy, Saudi Arabia, Canada, France, Germany and Iran, extended exhibition space to five halls and 18,000 square metres, we are striving to perpetuate the success stories of our parent and sister shows in Hannover and Shanghai in the Middle East.'

DOMOTEX HANNOVER, which premiered in 1989, has become the largest trade fair for carpets and floor coverings worldwide. Over 44,000 trade visitors flocked to the latest four day event in Hannover, Germany from 13-16 January 2007, to see 1,360 exhibitors and their products from 59 nations. International visitor attendance was particularly significant with 26,300 visitors from outside Germany, including 61 percent from Europe.

Trade professionals attend DOMOTEX HANNOVER to gauge the market and, more specifically to learn about the latest innovations and trends and do business there. 71 percent of this year's trade visitors belonged to senior management. The exhibitors were extremely impressed and pleased with the show, saying that it delivered the high volume and calibre of business leads they had anticipated going into the event.

'Many exhibitors are looking for the long established DOMOTEX brand leadership in quality and expo expertise to help open up new markets and business trading opportunities. DOMOTEX Middle East is a must attend event for all serious decision makers looking for growth and the latest developments and trends in the floor coverings industry,'

said Schaschen.

DOMOTEX Middle East will be held at the DWTC in the United Arab Emirates from 11-13 June 2007. The show has the official support of the UAE Contractors' Association, the Association of Professional Designers, the Government of Dubai, the Department of Economic Development and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. It is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates Group.