Decoding the Design Dictionary: The Striated Carpet and How it Adds to Your Space

When designing a space, it can be difficult to translate what the final, real life outcome will look like. As designers, we pull samples of fabrics, paint colors, tile materials and other finishes, with professional knowledge of how these features will come together to create a space that our client will love. But often times, the samples we’re provided fall short of being able to translate our vision.

A great example of this is the difference between the look of a striated carpet sample, and the final installed product. But before we can explain why we love using striated carpeting, we have to decode this design term. In doing so, we will seek to omit the many tongues that we as architects and designers tend to forget are not a part of everyday dialogue!

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Striated carpeting when seen in a sample (like the one above) lacks luster. However, when installed, the striped and streaked material creates a sense of dynamism that can drastically impact the flow and feel of a space.

Check out four defining features of the striated carpet that we executed in our projects.

1. Striated carpets create a dynamic illusion of movement

ERM 4

Environmental Resource Management Space. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

The striae in the carpeting we chose for sustainability consulting agency ERM are strategically broken up rather than continuous, giving off the effect of stripes speeding by. This plays off of the static blocks of color that splash the walls, adding a dynamic flare to the space without being too bold or distracting.

2. The striations in the carpeting create a sense of texture, elevating the visual quality of the room

Tech Target Reception. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

Tech Target Reception. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

Notice how the striated carpet in this reception area for technology media company Tech Target both add texture and reflect the company brand, all while elevating the visual aesthetic of the room. Had we chosen a static carpeting, the space’s point of entry would not provide as bold of a first impression. The strategically placed direction of the striae also act as a guide, drawing users into the space toward the monumental stair.

3. The lines in the carpet draw your eye from one end of the room to the other

NVIDIA 1

Nvidia Cafeteria. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

This is especially helpful in a high traffic room such as this dining area we designed for technology company Nvidia. By choosing carpeting with one continuous striae, we force users to narrow their line of vision, allowing them to focus on available seating areas far beyond the point of entry. This is also helpful for guiding the eye to display areas located at either end of the room. We also reinforced the company brand by choosing a pattern that mimicked their corporate colors.

4. When placed strategically, striated carpet can create path finding routes and elongate a space

Liquidnet Boston Space. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

Liquidnet Boston Space. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

We used two tones of striated carpeting in our Liquidnet Boston space to differentiate static spaces from traffic areas. The darker carpeting draws users around the perimeter track of the open environment, while the lighter carpeting outlines the main work area. The two tones then come together through their continuous striae which help to visually elongate the space and denote the panoramic views.

Striated carpeting is a great design feature. The key thing to remember is not to judge a carpet by its sample. Once installed, the difference is dramatic and the final result is aesthetically premier.

Written by Isobelle Hemmers
Edited by Scott Kligerman, Senior Associate at Visnick & Caulfield, LEED AP, and Burt Visnick, Senior Principal at Visnick & Caulfield, AIA, IIDA, NCARB
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