Colorful Escapes: How One Designer Turned a Convention Center into a Fantastical Desert Dream
To break away from the ordinary, designers are embracing bold, vibrant expressions. At the forefront of this movement is the Fantastical trend—an unapologetic celebration of color, creativity, and escapist joy. Think feel-good palettes, color drenched spaces, and nostalgic whimsy designed to spark the senses and excite the soul.
We’re exploring what Fantastical really means and how one designer used customized flooring to transform a convention center into a vibrant and whimsical homage to the Utah landscape.
What Is the Fantastical Trend?
Rooted in emotional design and sensory stimulation, Fantastical is a joyful rebellion against the beige, the bland, and the practical. It's a trend defined by:
- Reimagined classics in super-saturated hues
- “Feel appeal”—multisensorial textures that focus on feel as well as look, like bouncy jellies or layered, playful patterns
- Color-drenched spaces that activate emotion and energy
- Playful contradictions like colorful minimalism and playful utilities
- Escapist aesthetics to soothe stress and spark curiosity
More than just a visual vibe, Fantastical responds to a cultural moment—where cost-of-living stress, remote work, and social isolation have us all craving spaces that feel a little more magical and joyous.
Designing with a Fantastical Vision: Imagination Running Free in Utah
When Alyssa Daquilante, interior designer at Simpson Coulter Studio, took on a refresh of the Dixie Convention Center in St. George, Utah, she wasn’t handed a detailed brief. It was actually quite the opposite:
“They literally were just like, ‘We're going to let you run with it.’”
That open door became an opportunity for Alyssa to lean into her signature, whimsical aesthetic—and to embrace the Fantastical vibe wholeheartedly. Working within a space defined by brown cement walls and a dated layout, she knew the flooring needed to do some heavy lifting.
Her vision? Draw inspiration from Utah’s natural beauty—its iconic red rock formations and golden-orange sunsets— then reinterpret it through layered, expressive flooring.
Her ask? A custom twist on an existing Milliken pattern.
Bold, Custom, and Completely Milliken
Alyssa was drawn to the Milliken hospitality collection "Artmade" because of its organic layering and flowing patterns that mimicked the curves of Utah’s canyons.
“The carpet felt like rock formations—flowy, soft, but bold. I wanted to bring that landscape inside.”
However, using a standard pattern would have meant compromising her vision, so she gathered paint swatches that captured the essence of a Utah sunset and reached out to her Milliken rep to explore customization options. Together, with the Milliken design team, they strategically placed each color, creating a masterpiece of earthy neutrals accented by vibrant shades of orange, teal, and yellow.
“I think you guys deserve an Emmy. You turned my Pinterest board into reality in days.”
Vision to Reality: The Dixie Convention Center
St. George, Utah is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., and its convention center needed a serious update to match. Alyssa’s vision would give the space a modern energy—turning institutional drab into playful sophistication. But she would need to help her client visualize her idea in their space. That’s where Vision Lab came in, allowing Alyssa to show her client how the design would truly come to life within the convention center's unique setting.
Alyssa was able to iterate on color combinations and see digital renditions of the carpet within a snapshot of the actual room. "The ability to show the client what the room would actually look like with the new carpet was a game changer. People who aren’t in the industry struggle to envision designs at that scale. Being able to see it brought everything together and really sold the idea."
And the best part?
“It makes people feel something. It makes them feel good.”
With the flooring acting as the “star of the show,” Alyssa balanced boldness with intention—keeping walls neutral and letting the floor do the talking.
Why Milliken Embraces Fantastical Design
In a world that often feels heavy, the Fantastical trend reminds us that spaces can be uplifting. Fun. Emotional. Beautiful. At Milliken, we believe great design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating environments that resonate.
We love giving designers the flexibility to take risks, push boundaries, and bring joyful trends like Fantastical to life through customizable print flooring.
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