As the architecture and design world convened in Chicago for this month’s NeoCon 2019, the annual industry trade show once again showcased the best in everything from contract furniture and textiles, to lighting and materials. In a crowded field of global design debuts, Chemetal‘s new Moving to Mood collection was a quietly compelling standout.

This new collection of seven metal designs is all about mood. Featuring a predominantly neutral palette, Moving to Mood draws on darker colourways with subtle metal undertones to create the luxurious ambiance of time-honoured metals like brass, bronze, copper and zinc.

Eschewing pattern, Moving to Mood makes its presence felt with the subtle richness of layered metal designs. While pattern isn’t completely negated – there is some repetition in these new materials – the emphasis is now on full sheet moods, whether in printed or hand created designs.

“Design professionals use Chemetal in so many different ways, and pattern, with all its geometries, can get in the way of that,” says Chemetal President and Creative Director Geoff Schaefer. “If a designer wants a slightly iridescent brass or a darkened bronze for a featured wall, background panel or accent, these new metal designs are ideal.”

Subtle iridescence, trending right now, is found in the new design Chemetal #621 Fugue Aluminum, a designer favourite at NeoCon. Implying both split personality traits and the melodic interweaving that define “fugue,” this design can at first appear as a light brass with playful blueish green undertones. When the eye moves to the side, it darkens to a more masculine brass tone. It’s a cool effect.

“Besides mood, this new collection is inspired by historical civilization building metals from the tool-making metal ages,” says Schaefer. “The material names, like Empire, Civilization and ProtoDynastic reflect that vision. Of course, we named one ‘Moon Patrol,’ after an ’80s video game, because it looks lunar but unlike the Moon, this surface has a lot of life on it.”

The combination of subtle sheen and slightly reflective surfaces elevates each of the seven designs, accentuating the presence – and mood – of metal. The designs all use aluminum as a base metal and are available in a standard size of 4′ by 8′.

For Massachusetts-based Chemetal, the new collection is the latest in a growing portfolio of over 100 metal designs and laminates. The second generation family-owned business makes many of its designs in-house – deep brushing and aging, darkening and adding patinas by hand and machine. The company also sources the best metal designs from top producers in North America, Germany and Japan. Ideal for vertical and light duty horizontal use, Chemetal is specified and installed in a wide range of mostly commercial interior projects in hospitality, retail, corporate, signage, furniture, restaurant, and arena environments.

With Moving to Mood, Chemetal has continued its focus on both mood and neutral tones. The company is already producing varying shades of darkened linear and ambient metal designs in aluminum, brass and copper.  Moving to Mood expands this portfolio to offer the design community greater choices, and an easier way to specify and install metals. All of which should put everyone in a pretty good mood.

This content was published by Azure on behalf of Chemetal.