Flooring - The Foundation of Interior Design

Now we may be biased, but in our view flooring is the foundation of any interior design and if you get it right everything that follows will be more successful. Not only is flooring typically one of the largest features, but it also takes the most wear over time and is integral to both the atmosphere and acoustics of any room.

This is why wood flooring has been so widely used in prestigious interiors since the birth of interior design. Unlike other flooring materials wood is naturally warm and inviting; it is also uniquely adaptable and can be cut, selected, coloured and textured to create or complement just about any style imaginable offering huge scope for design. 

Wood is also timeless - somehow, whatever their style, wood floors that were fitted centuries ago are just as appealing as those on offer today. It also evolves beautifully - some of the most stunning wood floors are those which are centuries old, which is why reclaimed and distressed wood floors are so popular - we yearn to recreate the universal appeal of those worn over time by the passage of thousands of feet. With high quality modern wood finishes like hardwax oil it takes a lot less work to keep a modern wood floor looking good than it once did, but they can still evolve beautifully over time and with a little simple maintenance get better and better with age. 

And now it is easier than ever to choose a beautiful wood floor. Even 25 years ago beautiful wood floors were a specialist product, to be fitted by craftsmen and finished in situ to the individual specification of the client. Now beautiful wood floors are as readily available and easy to install as cheaper alternatives.

Engineered wood floors are no longer just poor cousins to their solid wood counterparts and now include high quality options as well as cheap and cheerful alternatives. Solid wood floors are no longer inherently more risky than engineered alternatives as advances in timber drying and machining have revolutionised their stability. 

So, if you are considering a wood floor, remember that it will probably outlast every other item in the room, and that it will take more wear. Buy the best that you can, ideally from an expert who can talk you through the process and make sure you get the right wood floor for your needs. Get the foundation right, and the rest should be easy.