SURFACE AND FINISH

"Surface and Finish" is a comprehensive guide to the very latest inmaterials technology, which has entered a whole new dimension in the lastfew years. Alongside tried-and-tested surfaces and finishes that havegraced our interiors for centuries - fine hardwoods, polished stone,carpets and rugs - are exciting innovations that stretch our understandingof what a material can be. Concrete that is light and translucent; fabricthat responds to its environment by lighting up; tiles that can be movedfrom place to place at will. What it is, where to get it, what to do withit - each material has its own comprehensive, accessible entry enablingyou to fill your home with the very best of what is on offer. The book isdivided into four parts, opening with a section on classic natural andcomposite materials including wood and stone, brick, ceramic, and carpet.The next two sections deal with crossovers from industrial to domestic -building materials that have been refined and updated for home use fromglass, concrete and metal to rubber and tiles. The final section isdevoted to sustainable materials, as we are all increasingly aware of theenvironmental impact of our choices, and looks at wood alternatives, ecoglass, recycled fabric and natural textiles. Throughout the book, smartdesign, photographs of contemporary interiors and detailed close-ups ofeach material make this as visually inspiring as it is unfailinglypractical.