Innovation in the Polish market

The inspiration for decorative wall panels were floor panels that use a click connection and enable self-assembly without the need to engage a specialist. Our solution is based on the patented click 2G® technology, already used in our plant.

We wanted to introduce to the European market a product that would be an alternative to traditional solutions – says Dariusz Piotrowski, Vice President of Melaco. – The more so because there were inquiries about a similar product, mainly among our Scandinavian customers, especially from Norway. So the idea emerged to create decorative panels with a full range of colours, also available to consumers from Poland and other countries. We purchased the VALINGE INNOVATION AB license entitling us to use the 2G® profile in our boards’ joints and started production.

Also read: Panels decorative DESIGN SOLUTIONS ™ – the solution that kitchen designers have been waiting for

Decorative plates or ceramic tiles?

For the first time, DESIGN SOLUTIONS™ decorative panels were presented to a broader audience in 2018, during the Interzum fair in Cologne. At that time, prototypes of the boards were created, to which we adapted the appropriate range of colours. The idea was that the patterns of the panels should differ from those that consumers can find in stores when choosing ceramic tiles. The collection included motifs inspired by stone (Plaza stone, Carrara marbel_glossy, Argentinic graffio), concrete (Oxid grey, Concrete black), metal and fabric texture (Modernism Warmgrey, Fiore platin, Vintage Copper).

At first, our idea was to create an alternative solution for the kitchen – comments Dariusz Piotrowski. – We made sure that DESIGN SOLUTIONS™ panels met the requirements related to their use in the kitchen, that is, we provided them with increased resistance to moisture and temperature. We also chose patterns, and over time we also supplemented the product with finishing strips.

Also read: Decorative panels DESIGN SOLUTIONS™ – news in our offer

Our product drew the attention of Komfort company, which offers high-quality equipment elements, including an assortment for the kitchen. At the moment, DESIGN SOLUTIONS™ panels are already available in over 30 Komfort shops in Poland and in over 20 other shops. This list is constantly expanding. In order to better show consumers the possibilities offered by decorative wall panels, Komfort stores included them in the presentation at their service points. Customers can see how the panels look on the wall and how they are installed.

Kitchen renovation without a professional?

It is the assembly, apart from the colours and strength parameters, that is one of the greatest advantages of this product. The 2G® click connection technology enables independent and intuitive positioning of the panels on the wall. It can be mounted on a grate or directly on the wall with the use of mounting adhesive – without first chipping off old tiles. DESIGN SOLUTIONS™ decorative panels will cover every imperfection and even out the wall, thanks to which the renovation of the room may take less than a day.

Initially, the panels were available in a version with joining on two edges in the dimensions of 1300 x 620 cm. In the next stage, we also introduced four-edge click-profiled panels in the 1300 x 600 cm format, thanks to which the product has become even more functional – you can easily fill any kitchen niche, for example under the eaves, with it.

Does all this make consumers reach for this product willingly?

Wall panels are not a commonly used solution – explains Dariusz Piotrowski. – In Poland, ceramic tiles are still more popular, although this may change in the face of rising raw material prices and costs of construction and assembly works, which force many people to look for less expensive solutions. For example, by not using a professional. In such situations, DESIGN SOLUTIONS™ panels can prove themselves and it is with this message that we try to present them to consumers. We strive to make kitchen wall panels a commonly used solution.

Not only for the kitchen

Although they were created with kitchens in mind, decorative wall panels can also successfully decorate a living room, bedroom or home office. In order to make the panels more attractive and to meet the consumers’ strong habituation to ceramic tiles, we started work on diversifying our collection of patterns. For this purpose, we have decided to include the MICRO MILLING ™ technology in the production process, which enables the application of a pattern in the form of a milling cutter on the surface of the plate. This will allow the panels to look similar to ceramic tiles and stone structures and will introduce a wider range of colours to our collection. DESIGN SOLUTIONS™ panels will therefore meet the needs of consumers even better and will fit into any home space.

There is a lot of potential in this product, which is not fully used today – says Dariusz Piotrowski. – Consumers approach new solutions with caution, so at the moment we make every effort to ensure that our product gains the trust of customers. We hope that DESIGN SOLUTIONS™ panels will soon be of interest to customers on the market who, for various reasons, want to use the most economical solutions. That is, those that will not only reduce the costs of purchase or assembly but also those that will be a durable solution for years while ensuring a modern look of the room and meeting demanding tastes.

Also read: Design Solutions™ decorative panels. A universal solution for stylish interiors