Here at Bentley, we continue to raise the bar on sustainable design and manufacturing transparency. The latest in an impressive lineup of sustainability achievements, all carpet products manufactured by Bentley now carry Declare®labels and have achieved third-party verified LBC Red List Free status through the Living Building Challenge (LBC), one of the world’s highest performance standards for healthy buildings. LBC Red List Free products disclose 100% of ingredients to 100 ppm and do not contain any Red List chemicals of concern.

“We choose to manufacture in California where some of the most rigorous environmental legislation in the country is adopted, setting Bentley apart from others in our industry. All of our carpet products have been PVC-free for decades. And as very early adopters of environmentally responsible manufacturing, it is our culture to continuously invest in process and practice improvements,”said Holly Holton, global director of sustainability for Bentley. “This latest achievement—publishing LBC Red List Free Declare labels for every carpet we manufacture—strengthens our ability to provide our customers, and theirs, with superior, sustainable products.”

Part of the International Living Future Institute, Declare labels are widely understood as the “nutrition label for products,”providing essential information to designers and consumers about where a product comes from, what it is made of, and where it goes at the end of its useful life. In addition to the LBC Red List, the Declare label demonstrates alignment with other requirements within the Living Building Challenge and Core Green Building Certification, as well as LEED®and WELL certifications. These requirements include ingredient disclosure thresholds, VOC content and emissions, embodied carbon, and responsible sourcing.

As a California-based manufacturer, Bentley has been at the forefront of sustainable development and progress for 45 years. The company is dedicated to designing products, seeking solutions and aligning with partners that lower its chemicals of concern and carbon footprint, while also addressing the intersection of climate change and economic and social inequities. 

Manufactured in the only LEED EB-OM Gold certified carpet mill, all of Bentley’s carpet products are PVC free, antimicrobial free and PFAS free, as well as Cradle to Cradle Certified, NSF®-140 certified, and CRI Green Label Plus certified. In addition to carrying Declare labels and achieving LBC Red List Free status, all carpet products carry third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs). To learn more about Bentley and its sustainability commitments and achievements, visit https://www.bentleymills.com/sustainability/. 

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We’ve also partnered with Gretchen to develop inspiration palettes focused on trending colors and perspectives for 2024, a curation of four unique color combinations and themes we’ll be seeing throughout commercial design in 2024, in look, feel and practice. Each trend—Tart, Heirloom, Flare and Mythos—balances warm and cool colors, and brings a fresh twist to familiar and classic design choices. 

Take a closer look at our 2024 trends and color inspiration.

Trend 1: Tart

Tart showcases a thirst for freshness. The sour taste of green apple on your tongue, or if you’re in the mood for savory, your first bite into a gin-soaked olive. Variable green accents add a punch of flavor to your palette regardless of a warm or cool neutral foundation.

The warm and cool accents in this palette are derived from desaturated tones of green which yield rich and savory flavors. Pair with burnished metals like pewter, brass or bronze.

Trend 2: Heirloom

Heirloom represents the familiar feeling of torn denim or the softness of a hand-pieced quilt passed down through generations. It’s a jean jacket you’ve had since college where the elbows are bleached from the sun and worn thin from years of wear. It’s a trusted colorway that can always be relied upon.

This trend is drawn to the balance of warm and cool product, one that is a true workhorse in any collection. Pairs beautifully with muted tones of amethyst and subtle accents of cornflower blue, which add a purple(ish) warmth to this traditional palette, making it contemporary and fresh for a new year of specification.

Trend 3: Flare

Flare brings a new and authentic take on terra cotta, an accent that has been popular in the past few years. Rooted in a warm neutral palette with bursts of burnt mahogany, the burnt orange is further scorched for richer saturation and significantly more textured.

Its roughness and readiness makes Flare a perfect pairing with warm woods and corrugated metals. And if you’re feeling spicy, Rust can also pull from cayenne pepper or warm cinnamon flavors.

Trend 4: Mythos

Our final trend, Mythos draws on a mediterranean palette dating back to antiquity. Bleached neutrals and green marble textures showcase a richness rooted in mythology. An olive branch as we move into 2024, Mythos pairs perfectly with natural stone textures and concrete for a modern yet earthy palette that conjures the sound of broken marble underfoot as you hike to the acropolis in Athens.

While these four design trends are all unique, they find common ground in freshness and balancing color with your neutrals. We’re excited to see how color continues to evolve and help shape design choices across the A&D industry—in 2024 and beyond.

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As a freelance multi-disciplinary artist, Gretchen Wagner systematically explores the unique qualities and interpretations of color in art and design. She continues to evolve her creative practice with studio GRETCHEN WAGNER, her independent studio in Atlanta, and holds a MFA in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

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San Francisco is known for its rich culture, natural and built environments, and the way it leaves people wanting more every time they visit. That’s why, when it came time to redesign the Harvey Milk Terminal at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the desire was a custom design that makes every layover feel like “home.” 

Bentley has sustained a long and healthy relationship with SFO; Bentley products were installed in the International Terminal for 15 consecutive years. After the 15-year life, the product still looked new. When replacing the carpet to achieve a new overall terminal aesthetic, Mauricio Avella, SFO architect, said “I wish I had never pulled the Bentley out of the terminal. I got 15 years of life out of it, and now I am only getting 3-5 years with competitive products.”

SFO sees 42 million travelers annually. The Gensler and Woods Bagot design teams knew any flooring options would need to stand up to peak performance, aesthetic, and sustainable standards. 

Capturing the City’s Spirit

Every custom design process begins with inspiration. Tasked with inviting each traveler into the Bay Area’s culture and environment to experience the edge of land, air and sea, the design teams drew inspiration from the region’s natural environments. Local minerals and spices in particular informed the product’s pattern, texture and color palette. Numerous colorways were created, with some variations having more golds, while others had more hints of paprika. This way, just like walking the shores of San Fransisco, the traveler would be met with unexpected but delightful surprises in the eccentric colors shaping the city. 

The final design celebrated the environment of Northern California, capturing exploration and discovery throughout the areas many natural beauties. While some experiences are based on speed and efficiency, others reflect quiet and relaxation. The design approach paired hard lines with soft edges, reflecting the duality of the social ethos of the Bay Area community. 

The custom carpet pattern had to showcase the movement of the city and to provide a palette where the bold yellows, golds and purples could live in harmony. This design incorporated a blend of two different products and patterns, tocreate a thoughtfully designed floorplate that provides depth, while also creating a non-repeating pattern in order to make future replacement of individual carpet tiles an easy process. 

A Beacon of Sustainability

The demand for sustainable solutions in San Fransisco is high and requirements had to be met to maintain those standards. Bentley is proud to not only adhere to (and exceed) the stringent requirements of California manufacturing, but we are constantly furthering sustainability efforts beyond the necessary compliance in order to be a good corporate citizen, all while providing products made with premium fiber and backing solutions in order to offer a lower cost of ownership, ease of maintenance and a longer life cycle. 

Operating in the world’s first LEED EB Gold O+M manufacturing facility, Bentley takes a step ahead to maintain sustainable manufacturing and products. If SFO was to showcase its city and all of its attributes, it had to craft this terminal with a sustainable foundation in mind. 

The final result provided a Terminal designed with both the user and the city in mind. Travelers are met with an engaging space that evokes the excitement of the culture, landscape and natural beauty that San Francisco has to offer. Each space was created with sustainable materials that will stand the test of time and keep the space looking fresh years down the road. And, with Bentley’s custom design process, the carpet provided is as unique as the city itself. 

 Offering this high-end tailored custom solution is part of the Bentley process. To explore custom colors and patterns, reach out to your local Account Executive to explore your perfect match. 

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Band pageantry is the art of colorfully costumed performers moving in choreographed formations with lighting and special effects all precisely timed to music. It’s a big show! The key is coordinating all the elements—from the boldest action to the smallest details.

Drumline and Pageantry follow those cues. Drumline is bold and dynamic. Offered in Carpet Tile only, Drumline brings a big rhythm to the floor. Pageantry, wraps those bold elements in a range of strong neutrals to balance and complement. And because it is available in all the Bentley formats including Carpet Tile, EliteFlex 6 ft Cushion, and Broadloom, Pageantry combines with Drumline to cover all types of floors with a true continuity in color and a broad variety of scale and movement.

Hear the whistle blow? Let’s march!

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The opportunities are vast and exciting; yet, new challenges are emerging for students and teachers alike to maintain focus and facilitate meaningful group learning. The following are four key considerations for how flooring selection can help to optimize learning for your future classroom. 

1. Quieting the Classroom 

Students in all settings need environments conducive to learning. Classrooms should be designed for listening and engaging; study spaces should be calm and quiet. And yet, these environments are typically full of unintentional distractions—from physical noise to “loud” finishes, including furniture in flashy colors or flooring featuring bold patterns. Choosing soft neutrals and calming colors can help set the intention of focus for a space. Keeping patterns simple and “quieter” allows the teacher more flexibility to turn the space into what’s needed for learning in that environment. 

Our multi-layered EliteFlex 6ft Cushion can be a huge differentiator in creating physically quieter spaces, as it helps to absorb excess noise in your space. Opting for soft design materials and using supportive carpet with cushion backing contributes to improved acoustics, and that in turn supports attention span and productivity and absorption of information and other content.

2. Space and Purpose Designation 

The basic elements of color and pattern allow for the creation of small zones within a larger collaborative space to designate various types of learning. For example, the reading nook must signal calm and focus to a student, whereas an arts and crafts zone should invoke engagement and creativity. Flooring in these spaces can designate those intentions. 

3. Sustainable Design 

Many new facilities must abide by strict sustainability standards and may have net zero goals, and it’s more important than ever to specify products with the health of students in mind. This requires that designers and specifiers choose products that are PVC free and abide by industry certifications and standards such as red list, HPDs and EPDs. All Bentley carpet products are made in this way along with cradle-to-cradle certification, LEED certification, and so much more so you can choose the product that works without worrying about the materials you’re putting under children’s feet. 

4. Durability and Maintenance

Durability and maintenance are, and always will be, a cornerstone of education design. Teachers shouldn’t be worried about tripping on loose carpet tiles, and maintenance staff can’t spend hours cleaning up spills. Education design is made for learning, and the materials used should be long-lasting and easy to maintain. Durable performance and ease of maintenance meet the functional needs of these demanding spaces while providing the color and pattern options needed to create function. When choosing products, look for ones that meet sustainability standards with moisture tolerance, premium fibers with soil resistance and strong construction.

Open, collaborative learning environments are the future of education design, but when done without these considerations in mind, they can lead to distraction and confusion among students. Using high quality products and materials is the first step to a quieter and more focused classroom, while space designation and flexible design create an inclusive space. 

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As a California-based manufacturer, Bentley has been at the forefront of sustainable development and progress for more than 40 years. The golden state has long led the nation in establishing and meeting rigorous and ambitious “green” standards and goals. It set the first economy-wide greenhouse gas limit and is committed to 100% renewable energy by 2045. It was also the first to require a statewide carpet recycling program design and implemented by carpet manufacturers with CalRecycle oversight—leading to the creation of the California Carpet Stewardship Program, which continues to achieve or surpass its goals, including and beyond recycling rate performance. The California carpet recycling rate has more than tripled since 2015, according to CARE (Carpet American Recovery Effort).

Simply put, just by way of operating and manufacturing in California, Bentley is inherently more environmentally responsible than others in the industry. The standards are high—and we keep them there. However, success requires partnership, which is why Bentley purposefully and strategically aligns with those who share our passion and commitment for the same. 

Closing the Loop on Carpet Manufacturing with Aquafil

Aquafil is one such like-minded partner. The only company in the world that produces regenerated nylon (ECONYL® nylon) from 100% waste, including carpet waste, fabric scraps, fishing nets and more. Aquafil sources the carpet waste from its four carpet collection facilities across the U.S., each of which play a vital role in diverting waste from landfills. Bentley recently had the opportunity to visit the Aquafil Carpet Collection Center located in Anaheim, Calif., seeing first-hand part of the reclamation process that regenerates nylon into ECONYL® yarn, a 100% regenerated and regenerable nylon. 

Bentley proudly manufactures many of its carpet products with ECONYL® nylon, including the soon-to-launch Camera Ready—the newest addition to the Modern Curator Collection. 

We choose not to make our own nylon in house. Rather, we rely on and purchase from the absolute experts in the field of yarn manufacturing, like Aquafil. Why does it matter? By working with the marketplace to source the finest yarn, we remain nimble. We ensure our standards – in quality, performance, service and sustainability – stay where we need them: high.

Bentley strongly believes that “where it’s made matters.” Who we partner with matters just as much. Aquafil is at the forefront of sustainable innovation—and together, we’re producing products the A&D community loves and the planet accepts.

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Here’s how it goes: 

I enjoy the research. Trying things and remembering things that piqued my palette. I’m known to ask what is included in a dish. I like to think about flavors mixed and mingled together to create something new or mimic something that made me swoon. When shopping, I visualize the colors I want to include and make selections accordingly.

But I really don’t like following rules—unless I’ve made them for myself, acquired through previous efforts (read: mistakes) or from those cooks in my life I hold in high regard, notably family and friends. So, no recipe books for me. (Obviously this is why I don’t bake.) I don’t revel in cooking shows, although any time spent with Stanley Tucci is time well spent. 

What I do like is following my intuition,  reconciling the elements and my experience to bring it all to the table. Simple and pure ingredients in unfussy combinations. Flavor must reign. Speed is preferred. And I know order of priority and process is critical to delivering every dish, right on time. 

In the end, the composition of a delicious meal or an engaging space is a design practice. With consideration for assembling all the perfect elements to achieve your vision and delight those who will enjoy it.

“If I weren’t involved with food, I’d be working in architecture. Design is that critical to me.”

– Alice Waters, famous for creating the farm-to-table movement

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Savor the local food scene while mingling with your A&D community friends and peers. Join us for artisan appetizers and craft cocktails at The Kitchen (216 N. Clark), Monday evening June 12 at 6:00 CT. We’ll save you a seat at the chef’s table.

Because every ingredient matters.

The exquisite meal. An idyllic space. Both provide health, comfort and joy. Likewise, the designer and the chef. Each are masterful creators—artisans crafting sophisticated experiences with the simplest of ingredients. Catering to our most basic needs while satisfying our secret desire to indulge. Handpicking each detail to tease the palette with bold yet intentional flavors. By intuition or by recipe, good food is like good design. It replenishes, energizes, calms. And Bentley is serving it all with the Culinary Collection, our featured product launch and Chicago showroom experience.

There’s plenty more on the menu. Keep scrolling!

In the Market: Our Latest Launches

Culinary Collection

Indulge in sustainable style with the Culinary Collection’s three signature products. On the Block makes an impact with its deep texture, reminiscent of the nicks and grooves of well-worn butcher block—marks of the creator at work. Bringing spice to any space, From Scratch features a bold, large-scale, multi-directional pattern, while Serve It Up is more reserved. Its accessible style and pattern remind us that there’s elegance in simplicity. Savor it. 

Long Story Short

Every space tells a story, and Long Story Short should be part of yours. Simple in style and sophisticated in texture, this new addition to Bentley’s commercial carpet library is the ideal foundation for the design experience you envision. Long Story Short is purposefully designed to complement any interior and coordinate with many products from Bentley’s library of classics and modern masterpieces.

Classic Rock LVT

KISS to Heart. Kansas to Boston. Stix to the Rolling Stones. However you define the genre, Bentley just added a new release to your greatest hits: Classic Rock LVT. Inspired by the timeless look of terrazzo, this raw yet refined pattern grounds the company’s luxury vinyl tile offering, which features foundational wood, stone and concrete finishes. 

In the Community: Our Annual Commitment

In addition to introducing our latest products, this time each year we also launch a social impact collaboration with an organization and mission close to our hearts—and to our community in/around Los Angeles. We share these stories with you not for donations (if you feel compelled to, please do!) but for inspiration. Our hope is for you to be moved to find similar organizations with like-minded values that are making a difference where it matters most: where you work, live and play. 

In 2023, Bentley pledges financial and volunteer support to Homeboy Industries, the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. With deep roots in Los Angeles, Homeboy Industries provides training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community, such as through employment in restaurant, bakery, catering and food donation kitchens city-wide.

Did you miss us in Chicago? We won’t let you go hungry. Reach out to your local Bentley rep or browse our product pages to order samples. For media inquiries, connect with Gabby Apuzzo at sternbentley@sternstrategy.com.

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The exquisite meal. An idyllic space. Both provide health, comfort, and joy. 

The designer. The chef. Masterfully creating with simple, true ingredients. Catering to our most basic needs and our secret desire to be spoiled. Handpicking each detail first to replenish the soul, then to tease with unexpected spice.

The Culinary Collection presents three signature styles designed to satisfy your hunger for these essentials. On the Block makes a mark with deep texture, evoking the random nicks and grooves that line a well-used butcher block. From Scratch brings spice to any space with its large-scale, multi-directional pattern, while Serve It Up is more accessible in style and pattern—a good reminder to savor simplicity. 

Sustainably sourced and made, products in the Culinary Collection are manufactured with Bentley Premium Nylon. As always, all Bentley carpet products are PVC-free. 

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When things go your way, take the ride and enjoy! Three new carpet styles from Bentley—Lucky Break, Victory Lap and Windfall—put the odds in your favor, designers. Mix and match the three scales for a winning combination in any space or specify each on their own. Whichever way you roll, there’s no risk, only rewards.

Upping the ante on performance and sustainability, all three styles are constructed with Bentley Premium solution-dyed nylon with designers’ choice of PVC-free backing systems. The carpet tiles are offered in 18-inch by 36-inch planks and 24-inch squares, and share a proven palette of warm and cool neutrals. 

Competitively priced, Lucky Break, Victory Lap and Windfall are also part of Bentley’s Fast Track portfolio; orders of 1,500 square yards or less will be ready to ship within 10 business days. 

All Bentley carpet products are Cradle to Cradle Certified, NSF® 140 certified, CRI Green Label Plus certified and are produced in a LEED®-EB:OM Gold-certified manufacturing facility. Along with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs), these products also carry Declare® labels and have achieved Red List Approved status through the Living Building Challenge. 

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