Huge bespoke carpet fitted to world’s largest cruise ship

The Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International, has been fitted with an impressive 55,000 square meters of custom-made carpet. The vessel set sail on its inaugural voyage from Florida with a crew of 2,350 and 7,600 passengers.

A Northern Ireland-based carpet company was commissioned to design and produce this massive flooring. The project required a staff of 660 skilled individuals who crafted bespoke carpets for each of the ship's 2,805 staterooms and 40 dining establishments. There are a total of 75 distinct designs throughout the ship - significantly more than found in other cruise ships. The designs range from sophisticated dark patterns in dining areas to bright blue and white ones in children’s play areas.

This undertaking was a significant challenge to the workers responsible for creating intricate patterns that adorn various sections within the massive ship. The company’s bossed believe the team delivered outstanding results that serve as a testament to Northern Ireland's exceptional talent in carpet making.

The average home in the Chester and North Wales area is considerably smaller than a cruise ship, but can also benefit from quality carpets that both look good but are also practical to keep clean and maintain. Like Royal Caribbean International, households can commission bespoke unique carpets, although these come at a higher cost than standard carpet options.

A local carpet retailer in North Wales or Chester offers a wide selection of luxury carpets in shades and patterns to suit every décor style.

AI assists traditional carpet weaving

Traditional carpet weavers in Kashmir, India use a code system to produce carpets with intricate traditional Talim designs.

This process starts with a drawing of the carpet pattern, which a Talim expert translates into a code that is written on long horizontal strips. The carpet weaver then uses these strips to guide their work on small sections of carpet. To make a whole carpet requires hundreds of these code segments to be used.

The problem with this method is that it is easy to make small mistakes, which are difficult to spot until the error is seen in a completed section of the carpet. Rectifying these mistakes is very time consuming. Artificial intelligence (AI) software is now used to create the Talim code, which checks and eliminates errors. The carpets are still made by hand, but are much quicker to produce thanks to the AI system taking care of the coding process.

Mehmood Shah, the Kashmir director of Handloom & Handicrafts, commented,

"This innovation in handmade carpets is not to disrupt the essence of artistic carpets, it's just to speed up the process - designs being available now at a speed.”

Carpets at a local carpet retailer in North Wales may be influenced by traditional hand-woven designs, but are often made on machines. Computer systems help the carpet manufacturing process, but AI does not have a major role. Humans design carpets, but it is possible in the future that artificial intelligence and robots will take over both the design and manufacture of carpets.

Which flooring type is most pet friendly?

Experts from the website Catster.com have published guidance on the most suitable flooring for homes with cats. These tips argue that the ideal floor should be resistant to moisture and difficult to scratch with sharp claws.

Although tiles are waterproof and scratch-resistant, the grout between them can be porous and the smooth surface can cause pets to slip. Therefore, tiles are not practical in most living rooms.

Concrete floors offer good resistance against scratches and moisture, but require expensive work if there is a rough concrete subfloor that needs aesthetic upgrades. They also need periodic resealing and can crack over time.

Vinyl or laminate flooring may be the best option for humans with pets. Both materials come in various colours and styles that match a variety of room décor styles, and installation is easy. However, many laminates are not waterproof unless you purchase water-resistant types, while vinyl is waterproof but prone to scratching by sharp claws.

Karndean luxury vinyl tiles provide durable hygienic protection from scratches through their K-Guard+ technology. Textured tiles prevent sliding accidents caused by slippery surfaces.

According to Catster's experts, luxury vinyl tiles outperform laminates as they are easy to clean, stain-resistant and waterproof. They can be installed in any room and are cleanable with wet or dry methods. However, quality laminate flooring with water-resistant protection is a good, less expensive alternative for homes with pets.

To find pet-friendly luxury vinyl tile in the North Wales area, visit your local high-quality luxury vinyl tile supplier.

Popular carpet design trends to keep an eye on

Carpet designers Leah Manwaring and Debra Ryan have recently discussed emerging carpet design trends which are frequently being used in the hospitality industry. These trends are expected to impact the design options available to residential customers at local carpet retailers in North Wales.

Local Natives is a design style inspired by African art and culture that features animal prints and earth tones. Combinations of multiple layered patterns reflect the rich diverse African traditions.

‘Metaverse’ is a style that fuses luxury and technology, with light aesthetics inspired by minimalism. Reflective surfaces add a sense of multiple dimensions in this contemporary style, while recurring circle and sphere motifs symbolise unity, the connection of all things.

New technology is designed to create the feel and look of hand-tufted luxury, but instead made by machines at a fraction of the cost and time of handmade carpets. The thinking behind this is to make premium quality tufted carpets more affordable if carpet manufacturers adopt this technology.

It is anticipated that many carpet designs for the year 2024 will be influenced by ecology and nature. The fusion of glistening sunlight on the ocean, together with natural tones, undulating contours and fluid organic shapes, create patterns that evoke a sense of harmony with nature. Woollen carpets featuring designs inspired by natural elements is intended to create an organic ambience, while also promoting environmentally friendly practices.

These carpet design trends are being developed to tell unique stories and embrace cultural heritages and the wonder of nature, all while using the latest technological advances in carpet manufacturing.

2024 flooring trends to inspire your next home renovation

At the beginning of each year, interior designers predict interior design trends that will impact home refurbishments. Several 2024 flooring trends are expected to inspire those installing vinyl or laminate flooring in Chester and North Wales homes.

Patterned geometric

Architect Andrew Pharis has noticed a demand for floors that feature geometric patterns. Instead of laying vinyl planks horizontally, make chevron or herringbone patterns using contrasting shades of laminate flooring.

Red oak laminate

The most popular type of laminate flooring is light oak, but many prefer bolder shades. Red oak laminate is popular for achieving a Scandinavian feel to a room.

Large format

Large format vinyl tiles are currently in high demand due to their reduced number of joints and numerous waterproof options, making them an ideal choice for use in bathrooms.

Chequerboard patterns

According to interior designer Ashley Biscan, the chequerboard pattern flooring has experienced a resurgence in popularity. While the traditional style features black and white vinyl tiles, more subdued colour schemes can also be utilized for an understated aesthetic. For instance, gray tones with black achieve a modern look.

Wood look

Laminate flooring that looks like wood is a more affordable alternative to solid wood flooring. More and more vinyl flooring manufacturers are also attempting to achieve this look. Elizabeth Vergara, founder of Vergara Homes, believes wood alternatives such as Karndean wood are a great option as they are hard wearing and versatile, making them suitable for many areas in the home.

For the best choices in flooring for your home this year, visit a reliable flooring retailer today.