Interior design has always recalled history. Rooted in a study of color, texture, proportion and light, the craft of interior designers is building relationships between architectural elements to create a sense of harmony. The latest interior design trend to capture this rhythm in design is fluting — a set of grooves or vertical channels that create a texture-rich decorative surface. Fluted detailing traces back to ancient woodworking practices and was popularized in the classical period. Known to promote the interplay of shadow and light, fluted columns dominated ancient Greek and Roman architecture. During the Art Deco movement, fluted detailing permeated interior design, the decorative arts, and architecture. Today, fluting has been revived! Fluted wood, fluted stone, fluted plaster, fluted glass … most materials can be fluted. We’re coveting the trend and excited to bring a bit of flair to our interior remodel projects. Currently, we’re working on a kitchen remodel with fluted wood cabinets, and are exploring ways to integrate fluted texture into other areas of the home. Check out some of our design inspiration.
Our favorite Italian purveyor of luxury stone, Salvatori, has mastered fluted detailing in every corner of the home. Nothing is off limits. Floors, walls, vanities, bathtubs, drawers, shelves, wash basins. Photos: Salvatori
On this side of the pond, Artistic Tile blends the moodiness of marble with the elegant lines of fluted detailing. Check out their fluted tile collection, which comes in two color ways. Photo: Artistic Tile
For kitchen design inspiration, we turned to Rowson Kitchens. They cleverly used Corian solid surface to create a curved silhouette with the desired fluted effect. Photo by Studio Weir for Rowson Kitchens
We’re digging the fluted glass cabinet door of UK-based Life Kitchens. Their Structured collection layers textures, creating many focal points. Photo: Life Kitchens for Living Ltd.
Sneak peek. Our Newport Beach kitchen renovation will be a composition of rich layers and textures. We’re getting swanky with materials. We’re pairing fluted wood cabinets with either quartz or marble, and using a mirrored tile as backsplash. Plus, we’re adding fluted detailing for the fireplace. The house, once owned by an Art Deco loving actress, inspired the use of honed stone dimensional tiles from Artistic Tile. We’ll let you know when the bar is open for cocktails and the fire is softly burning! Elevation: Studio SHK