SAN FRANCISCO—Pioneering bamboo and palm interior finishes manufacturer Smith & Fong Co. 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.
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.”
