Both Durapalm Deco and Linear Line Panels Were Specified Across Four Student Housing Projects for The Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah, GA – Sept. 1, 2020 – Durapalm Deco and Linear Line panels were specified as standout interior finishes for four student housing projects at The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), according to Trang Vu, associate designer, SCAD Design Group.

The most prominent installation, the SCAD Forty residence hall, a 14-story student housing tower that celebrates SCAD’s 40^th anniversary, features Deco palm panels inside elevators, in elevator lobbies and other interior spaces as part of a modular panel-based system along with Fry Reglet trims and reveals.

The SCAD Forty tower is constructed of structural precast concrete and punctuated with large expanses of curtainwall glass systems. Given the predominance of concrete, steel, and glass in the building materials palette, SCAD Design Group was interested in incorporating natural and tactile materials at the human scale.

“Smith & Fong’s Deco palm served as the perfect panel product applied in high-traffic gathering

spaces, lobbies, and near the elevators,” Vu said. “The rich, dark and modelled colors and texture of the palm provides a much-needed contrast to the cold concrete and glass, but still remains a neutral back-note to the vibrant artwork, furniture, and accessories featured in all SCAD interiors.”

Deco panels are used in other dormitories across the campus, including Ruskin Hall and Herstand Hall. SCAD is also currently installing the Linear Line collection in its newest student housing project, Victory Village.

SCAD Design Group is the internal architecture and interior design office of SCAD. The SCAD Forty residence hall was designed in cooperation with Lamar Johnson Collaborative, Mackey Mitchell Architects, and was constructed by Clayco.

“The Savannah College of Art and Design is the most prominent design school in the South,” Smith & Fong founder and CEO Dan Smith said. “We’re delighted the college’s interior design group chose Durapalm for not one but four different student housing projects.”

All Durapalm carved wall and ceiling panels are manufactured in the USA with imported and domestic materials. Panels are Class C fire-rated and surpass the requirements under CARB II formaldehyde emissions standards utilizing (ULEF) resins. Finished dimensions are 0.75”x47.75”x95.75”. Durapalm panels can contribute to USGBC’s LEED^® credits for Low-Emitting Materials and Biobased Materials.

About Smith & Fong

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. based company to manufacture and import laminated bamboo products under the Plyboo brand. Entering the palm market with the Durapalm brand in 2000, today Smith & Fong’s products are distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability, innovation and great design. For further information call 866-835-9859 or visit us at durapalm.com.

 

 

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Dynamic Textural Surfaces and Palm Finishes Provide a Striking and Fresh Aesthetic for Architecturally Designed Spaces

San Francisco, CA – June 22, 2020 – Sustainable interior finishes pioneer Smith & Fong Co. today announced a new range of Durapalm carved wall and ceiling panel systems for 2020; the first of several to be launched this year.

Derived from the patterns and designs of Smith & Fong’s popular Plyboo Linear bamboo panel collection, the Durapalm products take on a deeper more exotic look, owed in part to the unique color and texture of the palm material itself. The dynamic look and feel as well as the rarity of palm interior products makes this exciting line perfectly suited to a wide array of commercial interior applications, including retail, hospitality and commercial office.

This range of eight includes the colors Mandalay, Desert, Darjeeling, Kashmir, Bitteroot, Simla, Colonial, and Rangoon.

“The palm look is hard to describe because it is truly in a class of its own. It is sort of at the crossroads of midcentury-modern meets tribal-tropical,” said Smith & Fong CEO Dan Smith.
“It is really a striking aesthetic and enables a business or a homeowner to convey their message in a fresh, eye-catching medium.”

All Durapalm carved wall and ceiling panels are manufactured in the USA with imported and domestic materials. Panels are Class C fire-rated and surpass the requirements under CARB II formaldehyde emissions standards utilizing (ULEF) resins. Finished dimensions are 0.75”x47.75”x95.75”. Durapalm panels can contribute to USGBC’s LEED® credits for Low-Emitting Materials and Biobased Materials.

About Smith & Fong
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. based company to manufacture and import laminated bamboo products under the Plyboo brand. Entering the palm market with the Durapalm brand in 2000, today Smith & Fong’s products are distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability, innovation and great design. For further information call 866-835-9859 or visit us at durapalm.com.

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Reflecting the US Version, English Site Focuses on Palm Flooring and Panels

San Francisco, CA – May 27, 2020 –Smith & Fong Co. today announced the launch of durapalm.co.uk, a new United Kingdom-facing website for its Durapalm line of palmwood flooring and plywood products, according to company founder and CEO Dan Smith.

“We are very excited to launch our United Kingdom-based Durapalm site,” Smith said. “This will enable us to better serve the architecture and design community there as well as the general public interested in learning more about the this beautiful and sustainable building material.”

Smith & Fong was the first US company to manufacture, import and market palm flooring and plywood products to the North American market. And its Durapalm line is now a center of renewed design and innovation for 2020 and beyond, reaching markets beyond North America.

“London is a world center for architectural and design, and the broad reach of its work and influence will find relevance in the palm aesthetic,” Smith said.

Smith & Fong has been exploring the potential for palm as a sustainable resource as well as a design relevant material for nearly 20 years. Over this time, it has developed and refined the process of working with this globally relevant resource.

About Smith & Fong Company

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in the San Francisco bay area, Smith & Fong Co. was an early pioneer in the laminated bamboo industry with its Plyboo-branded product line. The company began working with palm in the early 2000s under the Durapalm brand. Today Smith & Fong products are distributed throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas.

Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability, innovation and great design. For further information call +44 (20) 81582313

Search…
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Plyboo UK
, email info@durapalm.co.uk, or visit us at durapalm.co.uk.

 

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New Display Package is Free to First 10 Dealers to Sign Up for the Durapalm Flooring Line

San Francisco, CA – April 29, 2020 – Sustainable interior finishes pioneer Smith & Fong Co. today announced the launch of a new dealer program for retailers of its award-winning Durapalm line of palmwood flooring.

The new retail program includes a circular display that merchandises Smith & Fong’s new Durapalm flooring styles for 2020. The display is compact and eye-catching with its distinctive palm-leaf top and relatively small showroom footprint.

“Durapalm is a wholly unique product within the greater flooring industry in that
it is arguably the only palm option commercially available,” Smith & Fong founder and CEO Dan Smith said. “It’s durable, attractive and one of a kind. We affectionately call it ‘the affordable exotic.’”

Smith & Fong is providing dealers a merchandising package that includes the display, six display sample boards, hand samples and brochures. The company’s website is a one-stop shop for all information on the product and lists all dealers nationally at durapalm.com.

“And the first 10 dealers to sign-up will receive the package free of charge,” Smith said. “This is a great time to add an exciting new product line.”

Smith & Fong has explored the potential for palm as a renewable resource for almost 20 years. Over this time, they have refined their sourcing and processing of this vibrant, sustainable material. Produced and fabricated in both India and China, Durapalm flooring can contribute to USGBC LEED^® credits for Low-Emitting Materials and Biobased Materials.

 

About Smith & Fong

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in the San Francisco bay area, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. based company to manufacture and import laminated bamboo products under the Plyboo brand. Entering the palm market with the Durapalm branding in 2000, today Smith & Fong’s products are distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability, innovation and great design. For further information call 866-835-9859 or visit us at durapalm.com.

The New Styles, Now Available in Click-Lock, Reflect the Company’s Renewed Focus on Palm Interior Finishes

San Francisco, CA – April 6, 2020 – Sustainable interior finishes pioneer Smith & Fong Co. today announced the introduction of six new colors to its award-winning Durapalm line of palmwood flooring.

Smith & Fong was the first US company to manufacture, import and market palm flooring and plywood products to the North American market. And its Durapalm line is now a center of renewed design and innovation for 2020 and beyond, according to company founder and co-owner, Dan Smith.

“We have worked hard to develop a strong supply of high quality palm from our sources in India. And the success of this has enabled us to develop the next generation of palm flooring products, including rich new colors and textures, the convenience of click-lock installation and sustainable eucalyptus or bamboo core materials, which provide superior stability,” Smith said. “These six new colors are exciting addition to our range of modern floor finishes and just the beginning of a long line of new styles and innovations in this versatile and durable material.”

There is nothing else on the market that looks like a Durapalm product. It truly is unique in the world of flooring. “We like to refer to it as ‘the affordable exotic,’” Smith said.

The new Durapalm flooring colors for 2020 are as follows:

• Reef expresses the tonal range of palm, with sunburst patterns, deep notes and dynamic grain.
• Lava Stone captures the dance of earth and water, a pattern that reflects the subtle tones and textures found in weathered stone.
• Black Sand draws from the mystique of a forgotten, black-sand beach somewhere far away.
• Tropical Dusk is inspired by the last glimpse of sun as the tropical night descends.
• Brushed Tusk brings to mind sun-bleached driftwood, sand and fossils, which were the inspiration for this unique style.
• Island Starscape finds inspiration in a tropical night sky, blue/grey tones against an infinite darkness.

Durapalm flooring is available in both click-lock floating or traditional tongue and groove profiles. Planks feature a thick, Durable palm wear layer over a sustainable, plantation-grown eucalyptus or stranded bamboo core. Dimensions are 9/16” x 3.5” in random lengths from 16” to 60”.

Smith & Fong has explored the potential of palm as a natural renewable resource for almost 20 years. Over this time, it has refined its sourcing and processing of this vibrant, sustainable material. Produced and fabricated in both India and China, Durapalm flooring can contribute to USGBC LEED^® credit for Low-Emitting Materials.

About Smith & Fong

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in the San Francisco bay area, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. based company to manufacture and import laminated bamboo products under the Plyboo brand. Entering the palm market with the Durapalm branding in 2000, today Smith & Fong’s products are distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability, innovation and great design. For further information call 866-835-9859 or visit us at durapalm.com.

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San Francisco, CA – Bamboo and palm interior finishes manufacturer Smith & Fong today announced the launch of Simla, a new hybrid panel derived from both coconut and sugar palm, according to company founder and CEO Dan Smith.

“The history and culture of India offer wonderful inspiration for new designs and motifs in palm,” Smith said. “Simla is a colonial era hill station in the foothills of the Himalayas that functioned as the summer capital during British rule. It is today still sprinkled with lovely old wooden cottages from this period, and the design we have chosen is reminiscent of some of the weathered siding and interior paneling of these homes.”

Simla is fabricated using a 100% Indonesian coconut palm core with face and back veneers made of Indian sugar palm in the DecoPalm™ motif. The panels, manufactured at Smith & Fong’s longtime Formosa facility, utilize 100-percent formaldehyde-free adhesives and are finished in either hand-rubbed polyurethane or natural oil.

The panels work particularly well for interior applications using Smith & Fong’s Monarch wall-cleating system. Also good for cabinetry and fixturing, Simla’s look is flexible with a linear relief pattern and Deco design face. This motif works well for both modern and contemporary or even tropical residential or commercial interiors. The panels come in dimensions of either 3/4” x 36” x 96” (19mm x 915mm x 2438mm) or 3/4” x 48” x 96” (19mm x 915mm x 2438mm).

Smith & Fong first began exploring palm as a resource 15 years ago. Since then it has refined its sourcing and processing of this vibrant, sustainable wood. Produced and fabricated both in the United states and abroad, Simla palm panels can contribute to USGBC LEED^® credit for Low-Emitting Materials. These panels come standard with a Class C fire rating, but can also be ordered Class B.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in San Francisco, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. based company to manufacture and import laminated bamboo products under the Plyboo brand. Entering the palm market with the Durapalm branding in 2000, today Smith & Fong’s products are distributed throughout the Americas, Europe and the Middle East and Asia. Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability, innovation and great design. For further information call 866-835-9859 or visit us at durapalm.com.

 

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San Francisco, CA – Pioneering bamboo and palm interior finishes manufacturer Smith & Fong today announced it has commercialized a line of palm dimensional lumber, according to company founder and CEO Dan Smith.

The palm lumber, milled at Smith & Fong’s manufacturing operations in India, complements the company’s bamboo dimensional lumber, which was launched in 2013 and has proven to be a popular material among woodworkers and finish carpenters.

“As we develop a new range of palm finishes such as flooring, plywood, veneer and paneling, we wanted to give the woodworking public a chance to explore the material too,” Smith said. “The applications for this material are limitless.”

Smith said palm is an ideal material for freestanding furniture pieces, casework and can be laminated into blocks or square dowels and turned on a lathe. Additionally, the lumber can be sliced into thin veneer and applied to a plywood base for further fabrication or veneered and laminated in a form press. “The possibilities are truly endless,” he said.

Smith & Fong’s palm lumber is offered in many shapes and dimensions. The hard, dark wood comes from only certain parts of the palm stem, and the core is soft and pulpy. Rendering palm into a hardwood-like state produces a wider range of dimensions than a regular hardwood or softwood tree might. For this reason, the company offers everything from a small block 1.75” thick x 4” wide x 8” long to a 1.5” x 3.5” x 97”; in essence, a standard 2”x4”. This enables hobbyists, woodworkers and serious custom furniture builders access to sizes that match their projects.

Initially Smith & Fong will offer black palm lumber with a look that’s similar to wenge or ebony. The black palm has a rich dark tone with lots of grain variation and figure wood. “This is what really sets palm apart from other woods,” Smith said. “Palm, in fact, is not a wood in the tree sense of the word and therefore does not have growth rings that define its grain and look.” In the future, the company will also offer coconut palm. “The starting point for us in offering a new wood is that its resources are plentiful and not on any endangered species list, and that harvesting and processing the material renders a win-win for everyone in the supply chain.”

Smith & Fong first began exploring palm as a resource 15 years ago. Since then it has refined its sourcing and processing of this vibrant, sustainable wood. Although there is a wide range of locations globally where palm can be sourced, Smith & Fong has focused its most recent efforts on India and is committed to growing its operations there.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in San Francisco, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. company to manufacture bamboo flooring for sale in North America, offering its initial product under the brand name Plyboo® in 1993. In 1996 the firm began producing bamboo plywood, followed by coconut palm flooring and plywood products in 2000. Today, the company’s products are distributed and sold throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability through innovation. For further information call 866-835-9859 or visit http://plyboo.com.

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San Francisco, CA – Pioneering bamboo and palm interior finishes manufacturer Smith & Fong Co. today announced the launch of Malabar, the latest in its growing line of Durapalm palm wood design offerings, according to company founder and CEO Dan Smith.

Inspired by the Malabar Coast, a fabled region of southwest India with 6,000 years of trade and cultural exchange with Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia, the Malabar panel is the second in a series of Durapalm panel designs derived from the Indian landscape.

“Our materials come from the rural fabric of the Indian subcontinent where the palm grows natively and is very much a part of daily life there,” Smith said. “By working with local palm suppliers, we are able to select colors and grain patterns that inspire our new designs.”

The Malabar pattern comprises a series of offset, ovalesque carve-outs that evoke the

traditional carving techniques and motifs of the region. The panel measures ¾” x 36” or 48” x 96” and is surface-treated with either a hand-rubbed poly or natural oil finish.

The rich warmth of the palm material, coupled with designs inspired by the Indian cultural landscape, make these panels an exciting addition to any interior design project. Applications include walls and ceilings as well as cabinetry, fixtures and furniture pieces. “Our Durapalm products have been used in residential, commercial, retail and hospitality environments for more than 15 years,” Smith said. “And we are very excited to bring these new designs to the market.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in San Francisco, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. company to manufacture bamboo flooring for sale in North America, offering its initial product under the Plyboo® brand in 1993. In 1996 the firm began producing of the first bamboo plywood products, then followed by durapalm® palm flooring, plywood, paneling and veneer products in 2000. Today, the company’s products are distributed and sold throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability through innovation. For further information call 866-835-9859 or visit https://durapalm.com or http://plyboo.com.

 

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San Francisco, CA – Pioneering bamboo interior finishes manufacturer Smith & Fong today announced the launch of Brushed Tusk, the latest in its growing range of palm floor offerings, according to company founder and CEO Dan Smith.

“Brushed Tusk is the first in a series of product designs inspired by the culture and landscapes of India,” Smith said. “Our materials come from the rural regions of India where the palm grows natively, and it’s very much a part of daily life there. By tapping into existing palm supply chains we are able to select colors and grains for our new designs.”

Brushed Tusk is ideal for both residential and commercial environments due to its durability, but the company reports Durapalm finishes have been used in a wide range of applications including retail, education, libraries and even government interiors. “I don’t want to limit Brushed Tusk or any Durapalm product to just my own vision,” Smith said. “I have been amazed at how the creative community embraces our materials to create new and exciting interiors.”

The dimensions of this initial offering of Brushed Tusk flooring are 1/2” x 3-1/4” x random lengths up to five feet. The flooring will be in stock by mid-February 2017, and the company plans to release a new palm offering every three months going forward, Smith said.

Smith & Fong first began exploring palm as a resource 15 years ago. Since then it has refined its sourcing and processing of this vibrant, sustainable wood. Although there is a wide range of locations globally where palm can be sourced Smith & Fong has focused its most recent efforts on India and is committed to growing its operations there. “It is an exciting time to be working in India,” Smith said.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in San Francisco, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. company to manufacture bamboo flooring for sale in North America, offering its initial product under the brand name Plyboo® in 1993. In 1996 the firm began producing bamboo plywood, followed by coconut palm flooring and plywood products in 2000. Today, the company’s products are distributed and sold throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability through innovation. For further information call 866-835-9859 or visit http://plyboo.com.

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San Francisco, CA – Pioneering bamboo interior finishes manufacturer Smith & Fong has relaunched its Durapalm.com website dedicated to growing range of premium flooring, paneling and plywood products manufactured from reclaimed palm wood.

The website showcases new offerings in flooring and panel designs, including new colors, textures and finishes. “We are really excited about what we have to offer in this new line of palm products,” said Smith & Fong CEO Dan Smith, who is heading up the company’s palm program.

“Our first range of palm flooring included a coconut palm in flat grain and later we added the edge-grain, which is a linear look,” Smith said. “Since then we have expanded to other species of palm, lamination orientations, texturing, stains and finishes.”

As depicted on the new site, the Durapalm line has added new carved designs adapted from the Plyboo Reveal Collection. In addition to playing with the Reveal designs, Smith said the company is exploring different core options, including coconut palm, sugar palm and bamboo that will add variety and excitement to the new panel line.

The company first began exploring palm as a resource 15 years ago. Since then it has refined its sourcing and processing of this vibrant, sustainable wood. “We have learned a great deal these past few years and we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get some great new looks to market,” Smith said. “We continue to believe palm and the palm aesthetic has a lot to offer the design world and beyond. There will be a demand for this underutilized and bountiful global resource.”

Although there is a wide range of locations globally where palm can be sourced, Smith & Fong has focused its recent efforts on India.  “We started with a branch office in Bangalore last year and have expanded from there. India is a great place to do business and we are having a lot of fun,” Smith said.

Palm is different from woods like oak and maple in a few important ways: It does not project growth rings like a tree and is soft and pulpy at its core, and moisture and nutrients are drawn up through the soft core to feed the palm and to produce fruit. “The hardwood-like material in fact comes from the perimeter of the stem and requires special equipment and rendering techniques to extract the best wood,” Smith said.

Palm has a unique grain and texture that can vary depending on what section of the palm stem the material is cut.  Geography, soil and weather conditions can also play a factor.

“For this reason, palm offers a wide palette to work from and we find this both intriguing and inspiring from a design perspective,” Smith said. “Look for some great new colors and textures in palm for the new year.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in San Francisco, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. company to manufacture bamboo flooring for sale in North America, offering its initial product under the brand name Plyboo® in 1993. In 1996 the firm began producing bamboo plywood, followed by coconut palm flooring and plywood products in 2000. Today, the company’s products are distributed and sold throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Smith & Fong is committed to sustainability through innovation. For further information call 866-835-9859 or visit http://plyboo.com.

 

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