Karndean Commercial to Champion Inclusive Design at Clerkenwell Design Week 2025

Karndean Commercial, a trusted supplier of luxury vinyl flooring, is set to showcase the power of inclusive design at Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 with its immersive installation, Designing for the Senses. This thought-provoking exhibit will highlight how neurodiverse design can create environments that cater to a wide range of cognitive and sensory needs.

The UK’s leading design festival, to be held in London’s famous design district on 20-22 May, CDW25 is a must attend event in the industry’s annual calendar and is set to feature the latest design developments, leading brands and emerging talent.

Renowned for its design innovation, Karndean Commercial will be demonstrating how their portfolio of products can support a more inclusive built environment. through a thought provoking installation at its Clerkenwell Green showroom. Featuring a blend of quiet relaxing neutrals and bold stimulating patterns supporting neurodivergent individuals experiencing hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity respectively, the installation demonstrates how designing for the senses can celebrate difference and improve lived experience for everyone.

Richard Allen, commercial sales director at Karndean Commercial, said: “One in seven people in the UK identify as neurodivergent and experience the world in ways that can vary greatly from neurotypical individuals. Neurodiverse conditions include autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, an increasing number of people are living with neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

“As designers of the built environment, shaping people’s day to day experiences, we have a responsibility to ensure that all users feel comfortable through the creation of inclusive environments where those who experience and process the world differently are recognised and where every individual will feel comfortable. Hypersensitive and hyposensitive design are essential considerations in creating neuro-inclusive environments that cater to individuals with different sensory processing needs, creating environments that benefit the wellbeing of everyone.”

The British Standards Institution introduced guidelines for designing inclusive environments in 2022. PAS 6463 Design for the Mind: Neurodiversity and the Built Environment Through the Different Elements of Sensory Perception presents detailed guidance on how to accommodate for neurodiverse needs through the consideration of sensory needs, from lighting and acoustics to thermal comfort and wayfinding.

Flooring is one of the largest continuous surfaces in a space so its design and material choices can play a pivotal role in creating neuro-inclusive environments. Karndean flooring is designed to authentically reproduce the natural beauty of the world’s most precious woods and stones and so is ideal for creating a biophilic look to complement either calming or stimulating interiors, but without the time consuming maintenance requirements of natural materials.

Karndean’s RIBA approved CPD seminar, Designing Neuro-Inclusive Environments with Flooring, investigates how neurodiversity and neurodegenerative conditions can be accommodated in the built environment by catering to various sensory and neurological processing differences. The key topics covered by the seminar include the British Standards Institution guidelines PAS 6463 and its implications for architecture and interior design, how a selection of real life projects puts this theory into practice and how neuro-inclusive spaces can support the latest fire safety regulations and facilitate evacuation in an emergency situation.

Richard Allen explained: “We’ll be running a taster of our latest RIBA approved CPD seminar during this year’s CDW festival. The session is ideal for anyone looking to understand how individuals with neurodiversity conditions experience interiors and learn how to create thoughtful spaces that allow everyone to thrive.

“Having attended the seminar, designers and specifiers will be able to confidently consult with neurodiverse user groups and stakeholder communities, learn about their lived experience and so fully involve them in the design process, resulting in a superior outcome. We are already taking bookings for our neurodiversity CPD and encourage you to secure your place early, as we expect high demand following this year’s festival"

Karndean Commercial’s Clerkenwell Green showroom will be open throughout CDW25, 20-22 May. Visitors will be able to explore the flexibility of Karndean flooring and meet with dedicated commercial specification managers. Register for your pass at clerkenwelldesignweek.com

To find out more and register your interest for the Designing Neuro-Inclusive Environments seminar visit karndean.com/cpd.

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How do your products and services enhance interior design projects?

At Amtico, we believe that flooring is the canvas for any inspiring design – after all, every floor has a story. We empower designers with various tools – from our CAD design service to the online room visualiser and technical support – that help bring creative visions to life. Our LVT products give designers the freedom to shape projects with creativity and enthusiasm, whether through striking laying patterns, intricate bespoke designs or our wide choice of Wood, Stone and Abstract decors. We work closely with interior designers to curate environments that balance aesthetics, function and durability, offering a unique blend of design freedom, technical support, and a wide range of high-quality products.

What value does your specialist sector add to the industry?

Flooring sets the tone for both the look and functionality of a space. Our expertise in LVT allows us to offer solutions that not only elevate interior schemes but also address key challenges in commercial environments – from hygiene and maintenance with our antimicrobial protection to acoustics and safety with special backing layers and enhanced slip resistance. We work hand in hand with designers, offering comprehensive, tailored support to ensure that every project balances style with robust performance in any environment.

How do you work with interior designers?

We see every project as a collaboration. Our design and support teams work closely with interior designers to unlock creative possibilities – whether it’s exploring our extensive LVT collections, like Signature and Spacia, or developing bespoke flooring solutions tailored to unique briefs, including custom laying patterns, logos and brand colours. Designers can access our room visualiser tool anytime to experiment with different styles and product combinations in their own space. At the same time, our dedicated specification and technical support teams ensure projects run smoothly from concept to installation. We also offer CPDs and ‘lunch and learns’ and host events that provide insights into not just flooring trends and innovations but also the wider industry, supporting designers at every stage of their journey and making them feel valued and supported.

What has been your most significant company highlight or success from the past year?

2024 was a landmark year for Amtico as we celebrated our 60th anniversary – six decades of pushing the boundaries of flooring design and craftsmanship. We also refreshed the Amtico Form collection, which brings authentic wood aesthetics to commercial spaces while offering more manageable maintenance and installation than natural materials. Looking ahead, we remain committed to sustainability, ensuring our products keep inspiring and supporting the evolving needs of the industry.

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

Design is more human-centric, with a growing focus on creating inclusive, engaging environments. Interior designers are considering the sensory experience of a space – from textures that encourage interaction to colour choices that influence mood. Neurodiversity also shapes design thinking, with more emphasis on flexible, adaptable spaces that cater to a range of needs. The way we design floors plays a role in all of this, whether through thoughtful zoning, tactile finishes or the calming effect of natural-inspired materials.

How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead?

How we experience spaces is changing, and designers are responding by prioritising wellbeing, sustainability and adaptability. We expect to see an even greater focus on biophilic elements, materiality and multi-sensory design, ensuring spaces feel welcoming and safe. Sustainability is also becoming more transparent, and designers are looking for materials with strong environmental credentials to tell a positive, authentic story. Flooring will continue to be a crucial part of this conversation, helping to define spaces that support both people and the planet.

Is there anything new you are excited to be working on?

There’s always something exciting happening at Amtico! We’re continually developing new products, researching trends and refining our design approach. While we can’t reveal too much just yet, we have some exciting product launches in the works – and you might just spot us at a key industry event later this year. Watch this space!

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How do your products and services enhance interior design projects?

The focus of our services is all about returning it to its original condition. It could be that a client is having a kitchen refit and wants to keep their existing stone floor. Or a new section of stone is being added to the property in an extension and the older stone needs to be refinished to match. It might even be as simple as the stone needing a refresh after a renovation project is complete. Occasionally we are even called in to rectify damage caused during a build, or an installation issue. Our goal is simply to help you to make sure that natural stone is a feature of your projects.

What value does your specialist sector add to the industry?

Outside of the services that we provide, we are passionate about providing guidance on how to care for stone. Our Athena Aftercare guide was developed in 2022 in response to requests for advice on how to keep the stone surfaces we restored looking as good as when we left. This is now distributed by stone suppliers and fabricators and is available for anyone who specifies or installs stone. Knowing how to care for stone is essential as soon as it is installed – and it’s not difficult if you know how. Stone is durable and so the only way to ensure its timelessness is by looking after it from day one.

How do you work with interior designers?

As well as providing restoration services for projects with existing stone surfaces, we are also always on hand to offer advice. Being the people that see the stone in situ – and so often with avoidable issues – we are well placed to give an independent review. Our expertise are often called upon when selecting stone to comment on the suitability and note any specific care that the stone might need. We are always happy to review photos of stains, cracks and marks too and advise on the restorability. We want to make sure that anyone who chooses to use natural stone can enjoy it forever, whether they embrace the patina that develops over time or invest in professional maintenance to see it elegantly endure.

What has been your most significant company highlight or success from the past year?

Achieving our SBID accreditation! This is a significant step in our journey as it shows that the industry is keen to learn more about natural stone. We are hopeful that the guidance we provide can help Interior Designers to make more informed choices when using natural stone. It is the most bespoke material that you could work with and so misunderstood. We are hoping that we can change that narrative and help more Designers to specify stone in their projects.

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

We have seen an increase in clients wanting to change the finish of their stone – from polished to honed or vice versa. This could be due to the tile only being available in a certain finish, or simply because the customer has changed their mind. This is one of the cool things about stone that lots of people don’t realise. You can change the finish at any point. This is common with worktops as a honed finish can be seen as a little more practical. Although it’s not actually more hard wearing, a matte/velvet finish will show scratches and marks a lot less obviously and make it a popular choice.

How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead?

There is a huge focus on sustainability and quite rightly so. This is moving away from just looking at the carbon footprint or embodied carbon but also considering how to make a design timeless. Stone fits in well to this ethos. Not only does is outperform its counterparts in many measures of sustainability but it is also durable and restorable. Most importantly, it never goes out of fashion. A limestone floor will look as good with today’s pantone of the year as it does with next years.

Is there anything new you are excited to be working on?

We’ve always got lots of projects on the go as our average job size is 2-3 days. This high turnaround always keeps us on our toes. Intermingled with this, is a few large projects and some historic and prestigious properties that we’ve submitted quotes for more recently. You’ll have to keep an eye on our socials to see how we get on!

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One of the questions we are most frequently asked after we restore someone’s natural stone is: how do I keep it looking like this? It is this that led us to develop Athena Aftercare.

It's a concise guide explaining how to care for natural stone without needing a professional. Looking after natural stone shouldn’t be hard, expensive or time consuming. It is all about having the right advice from the moment it is installed.

Natural stone has been used in building for centuries so there is no denying that it is durable. With the right care and attention, it can also look beautiful for year to come. Being able to restore, repair and recycle stone also means that it is a great choice for anyone looking to build with sustainability and longevity in mind. After all, natural stone will never go out of fashion, so your limestone floor will always be on trend no matter how many times you change your furniture style, redecorate or renovate.

Floors Facts

With each client that we see, we will spend around half an hour discussing the exact cleaning regime that we would recommend for their specific natural stone floor. The advice that we would give to someone with 150sqm of tumbled limestone who lives in the countryside with 3 dogs and a smallholding is slightly different to someone with a polished marble hallway in Central London. However, the basic principles are the same and we have simplified this into wet and dry-cleaning recommendations.

Dry Cleaning
Stone flooring does not need to be wet-cleaned everyday in fact we would advise against it. It is important though to regularly sweep the floor to remove dirt, dust and debris that could easily scratch the stone surface. We advise against using a vacuum and recommend instead sweeping the floor. This is much quicker and efficient compared to vacuuming and doesn’t run the risk of scratching the floor.

Wet Cleaning
One of the tricks with wet cleaning is not to over-wet the floor. Frequent use of a steam cleaner for example can damage the stone. When mopping the floor, it is also key to ensure that you do not let the dirty water dry into the floor. Especially with an open textured or pitted floor that is protected with an impregnating sealant.

The most important thing to remember when cleaning a natural stone floor is to use the right cleaning detergent. Many household cleaners are not stone safe as they contain acidic ingredients. Others will contain highly alkaline ingredients which can damage the sealant. PH neutral cleaning products will emulsify the dirt without risking damage to the sealant or the stone surface. For our clients, we recommend the range by Fila which are also eco-friendly and VOC free.

Bathroom Basics

The good news is that when it comes to bathrooms, the rules are the same. Ensuring that only pH neutral cleaning products are used is of the utmost importance. It is worth considering other cleaning fluids used in the bathroom and how they could impact the stone. For example, bleach used to clean a toilet could damage a marble floor and many glass and mirror cleaners are acidic too. A little caution when cleaning can go a long way.

Probably the most important thing to be aware of with natural stone in a bathroom is the impact that even water itself can have. In a hard water area and the pH of the water is not 7. This means that water that is left to pool on a sink or drip down the walls of the shower, will leave hard water deposits on the surface that can eventually etch the surface of the stone. We always advise clients to cleaning the shower and bath area daily. The easiest and most effective way is to spray the walls and floor of the stall with a stone-safe cleaner, then squeegee down after everybody in the home has taken a shower for the day. It is vital not to be tempted by limescale removers that are commonly available in the supermarkets as these will damage the stone surface and require professional restoration.

Worktops Wisdom

As with bathrooms and floors it is essential to regularly clean your marble worktop but to do so only using a stone-specific pH neutral cleaner. As marble is acid sensitive, the key is to try and keep the exposure to acid as minimal as possible. Vinegars, wine, lemon and anything that you might cook with that is acidic needs to be kept on a tray or plate or just away from the worktop altogether. If an acidic spill does occur, then we would advise to blot this rather than wiping it as this will just spread the damage. The chemical etching caused by acid on marble is almost instant and so the damage is done at this point. There will be little that you can do yourself to rectify this, but it can usually be restored to look like new.

Final Thoughts

Choosing natural stone over a man-made surface is an investment. If you bought a designer pair of shoes you would take the time to put them back in the box after each wear and if you bought a sports car, you probably wouldn’t take it through the car wash. For those who want their stone to continue to age elegantly, then just a few steps can keep it looking stunning. For a PDF copy of Athena Aftercare to share with your clients please email info@athenastonecare.co.uk or visit www.athenastonecare.co.uk for more guidance and advice.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.