Surface manufacturer Neolith hosted a panel discussion to consider the future of residential and commercial design, during London Design Festival.

Creating Space for the Future considered timelessness and its role in sustainable design, as well as the importance of the designer and selling the story to consumers.

Chaired by interiors editor, Pip Rich, the panel welcomed 2024’s Scottish lifestyle influencer of the year, Wendy Gilmour; senior designer for Bristol-based kitchen company Husk Freya Gibbons; and interior director and partner of commercial design firm, Blacksheep Toni Black.

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Toni Black of Blacksheep commented: “Everyone has a take on timelessness. But for me, timelessness is about being forward-thinking and more responsible, rather than leaning into a particular aesthetic.

“It can mean repurposing timber from a derelict home or using suppliers that will provide long-term maintenance for products, such as re-upholstery of furniture in ten years’ time.”

She added sustainability should be sold to the customer as part of a narrative and that designers being more responsible in their selection of materials is the key to the industry becoming more sustainable.”

Sharing her view, Freya Gibbons likened the decisions consumers make when buying a new kitchen are not too dissimilar to the principles of buying a new outfit in today’s eco-conscious world.

“Ultimately, certain elements of the kitchen, such as appliances or worksurfaces, are like jeans. You want them to be here in many years’ time and they hold an outfit together. So, this is where it’s worth investing.

“Some customers want to embrace the new. Others want the comfort of a gas hob. It’s our job as designers to get them excited about ways their new kitchen can be more sustainable.”

The panel discussion was held in the Moley Robotics’  showroom, clad in Neolith, which features an AI-powered kitchen, so naturally turned the attention of the panel to the role of technology in design.

As an owner of Neolith sintered stone worktops in her own home, Wendy Gilmour detailed how she feels she is an early adopter of design advancements, opting for a completely invisible hob in her family kitchen.

She said: “As a consumer, research is everything. It would have been easy for me to listen to my designer and take the straightforward route of an induction hob. But I knew I wanted something different.

“Thanks to the community I have created online ,through my Instagram account, I was able to speak with a follower in Germany for advice on an invisible hob, which was great as information was so scarce.

“Fast forward to today and I am chopping and heating up pans directly onto my Neolith surface!”

Rounding up the discussion Toni Black said she believed consumers were looking for a “home feeling” and comfort when they step into a hospitality space, a sentiment which was backed up by Freya Gibbons who added that “the home will never go out of fashion.”

UK senior sales manager for Neolith UK Ross Stewart said: “We organised this event to facilitate insightful conversation and to connect further with our partners.

“We’re delighted that such forward thinking panellists joined us to discuss these topics. Neolith is a product that can be used fluidly across commercial and residential design applications, but it’s rare we get to ear how these two industries directly influence each other.

“Neolith, as both a product and a sustainability concept, has a strong affinity with discussions about the future of design thanks to its world leading approach to circularity that is actively pushing the industry forwards.

“It is not just a surface, but a challenge to the status quo, which is evident in our recently awarded Cradle2Crade certification.”

Neolith also debuted its new Atmosphere range for the first time in the UK, since it launched in September, which has already been shortlisted for multiple awards.