Naturally Wood Floors are proud to announce the launch of our onsite prefinishing unit, allowing us to supply a wide range of bespoke prefinished flooring. Our new unit can carry out a wide range of floor treatments, enabling architects and interior designers to offer bespoke prefinished hardwood floors to their clients, ready for installation.
What is Prefinished Flooring?
Prefinished flooring is flooring that has been textured, stained and finished prior to being installed at the client's premises. Of course, prefinished hardwood flooring is already available - but usually in textures, colours and finishes decided upon by the manufacturer. This inevitably limits the range of prefinished floors available, with other design combinations being achievable only through onsite bespoke finishing.
Our new workshop allows a client or design professional to obtain prefinished hardwood floors in exactly the timber, colour and finish they desire and to see the finished product prior to installation. Our range of prefinished hardwood flooring will include engineered and solid flooring, to suit a wide range of site requirements, with any combination of texture, colour and surface treatment as follows:
Textures - Choose from brushing, band-sawing or tumbling, to emphasise the grain and achieve exactly the aged, distressed or rustic finish to enhance your project, in your choice of wood.
Staining - Match existing flooring or create the perfect foundation for your project's colour scheme by specifying exactly the colour you need.
Smoke Treatments - We treat the timber in our smoking chamber to darken and enrich the natural colour throughout your chosen wood. While smoking has always been a prefinishing process, our unit allows you to more closely specify the depth of colour achieved, and the wood you want to apply it to.
Surface Finishes - Oiling or lacquering is often the messiest part of the installation process, and requires expertise to apply evenly over a large area. We apply any surface finish you require directly and consistently to each piece of timber.
The result is prefinished hardwood flooring that is already finished to the client's exact specification, ready to deliver to site for fast installation.
The Benefits of Prefinished Flooring to Design Professionals
The flooring trade and those involved in the building and interior design business will already be familiar with the many benefits of prefinished hardwood floors. What we are offering here is the availability of bespoke prefinished flooring. Our unit offers all the ease of use benefits of prefinished flooring combined with all the innovation and exclusivity of bespoke flooring. We expect the availability of bespoke prefinished floors to transform what design professionals can offer their clients.
Less work - Quite simply, our unit allows you to offer a bespoke service to your clients, but without having to arrange for the additional finishing stages to be carried out on site. For flooring installers this means less manpower and skill required to complete a project; for architects or designers it means faster installation for your client.
Time savings - A complex finish with staining and surface treatments, can take as long as or even longer than the installation of the floor itself. And while treatments are drying this often means no other work can be carried out in the area of the new flooring. Prefinished floors mean faster installation, benefiting both the installer and the client. Where the installation of prefinished hardwood flooring is just part of a bigger building or renovation project, this can result in significant improvements to the overall project timescales.
Higher quality and consistency - Texturing, staining and final finishingare all expert jobs which, if not carried out expertly, can result in a less than perfect floor. With our quality checking this never has to be a problem again - you only take delivery of flooring that is perfectly finished and ready to lay.
Cost-effective - While the cost of bespoke prefinished flooring will inevitably be higher than an off-the-shelf product or an unfinished product, these costs are usually offset by the savings made on finishing costs which, depending on the complexity of treatments, could involve several days of skilled labour. Our soon-to-be-launched Creations range of textures, colours and finishes will provide great options in prefinished flooring, for projects where budget is a primary consideration.
The Benefits of Prefinished Floors to the End Client
The benefits to design professionals of using bespoke prefinished floors are of course mirrored in direct benefits to the end client:
Choice - Clients can get exactly what they want, even if it's not something generally available on the market. For clients who are working with architects or interior designers, the desire for perfection is often significantly greater than cost considerations.
Exclusivity - The big appeal of any bespoke flooring is the idea that the resulting flooring is unique. Our new bespoke service allows this level of exclusivity to be available to a much wider range of clients.
Quality - With bespoke hand finishing on site there is always the chance that the finished result isn't exactly what the client expected. Access to bespoke prefinished hardwood floors will allow the exact colour and texture required by the design brief to be agreed on and achieved before any flooring is even delivered to site. Our bespoke prefinished floors mean that quality and consistency is guaranteed before a single strip or block is laid.
Faster, Cleaner Installation - Clients who would normally prefer a bespoke finish previously had to put up with the fact that this would mean a much longer time for installation, as well as the presence of messy stains, oils and lacquers on their premises. Our new unit offers the prospect of a bespoke finish but without the mess and with far less disruption. This can be especially important to commercial and retail projects where each additional day spent on flooring installation can translate into thousands of pounds of lost sales.
"Creations" Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
Imagine if you could source prefinished hardwood floors that can't be found anywhere else and which are at the cutting edge of current flooring design - but at keen prices?
With over fifteen years experience of installing floors for private clients, architects and interior designers, Naturally Wood Floors are uniquely placed to know about upcoming flooring trends and where customer demand is heading. Our new unit allows us to turn this intelligence into a range of exciting new prefinished flooring products that are unique to Naturally Wood Floors, giving design professionals even more competitive advantage and our private clients even more choice. The "Creations" prefinished hardwood flooring range is being developed with an eye to current design moods and will continue to evolve as it is inspired and updated by the changes in trend.
For more information on our range of Prefinished Flooring, please contact us.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Monday, 25 February 2013
Is Your Hardwood Timber Flooring on-trend?
While some people’s idea of the perfect home or office is to have a classic or traditional interior, others like to keep up with the latest styles and fashions, whether they are selecting paint colours or hardwood timber flooring.
Just as trends come and go for furniture and accessories, the same applies to hardwood timber flooring. However, for the most part high quality solid wood flooring is a timeless option for the home and will outlast the current craze. We’ll take a look at some of the hottest interior trends for 2012/13 and see if your hardwood timber flooring will help or hinder your efforts to stay in vogue.
We’ll also examine design trends for the coming year and in each case show the types of hardwood timber flooring that can help make the look work - either to directly follow the trend, or simply allow them to shine.
Hardwood Timber Flooring - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
Design Trends for 2013
Hardwood Timber Flooring - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
Just as trends come and go for furniture and accessories, the same applies to hardwood timber flooring. However, for the most part high quality solid wood flooring is a timeless option for the home and will outlast the current craze. We’ll take a look at some of the hottest interior trends for 2012/13 and see if your hardwood timber flooring will help or hinder your efforts to stay in vogue.
We’ll also examine design trends for the coming year and in each case show the types of hardwood timber flooring that can help make the look work - either to directly follow the trend, or simply allow them to shine.
Hardwood Timber Flooring - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
Design Trends for 2013
- Citrus Colours. Citrus colours are leading the way in fashion, furniture and soft furnishings with tangerine likely to become the hot new trend. Citrus against paler wood will help to keep the effect light and airy, while darker wood will add drama and contrast. If you want to bring citrus colours into your choice of wood flooring, European Oak hardwood flooring has a warm honey colour that darkens with age and this type of hardwood timber flooring doesn’t date.
- Bold Colours - Whereas there was a trend towards stark, white, minimalist interiors, 2013 is thought to predict bolder accessories where everyday items feature more colour and decoration, and even items such as chopping boards, pans and salt and pepper pots come in a wide range of colours. This all adds drama and ‘noise’ to a space which traditional timber helps to calm and offset. However, if you want to add bolder colours into your hardwood timber flooring, Padouk is a great option for this as it is medium to dark red, with hints of black, as is Purple Heart. Another choice for a striking impact is American Black Walnut or Wenge, which are among the darker woods used for flooring.
- Scandinavian Design - Scandinavian design is about more than flat pack furniture! It is about simplicity of form and the use of natural and sustainable products such as natural wood flooring and furniture. The popularity of this design has never really gone away, but now there is renewed interest in all things Scandinavian as a result of a crop of popular TV shows from Denmark and Finland, for example, and timber flooring is a natural choice for any Scandinavian-inspired look. If you want to achieve this look for 2013 consider the lighter woods such as Ash, Beech and Canadian Maple.
- Wallpaper - The wallpaper comeback continues and flourishes, with bolder patterns in small or large spaces. Having a bold pattern on one wall, or in an alcove, gives a room an instant splash of energy. A splattering of pattern makes a space feel more roomy and draws the eye from one room to another. This type of wallpaper demands a subtle and neutral flooring to prevent overpowering, such as strip wooden flooring. If this is the look you want to achieve, consider a light coloured floor such as Beech or American White Oak hardwood flooring.
- Large-Scale Decor - This trend looks to bold or outsize furnishings and accessories to make a statement, with functional items being seen as work of art in their own right, along with sculptures and wall hangings. Wooden flooring can also become one large piece of art - especially boleflooring which does not have straight parallel panels but instead follows the natural growth of the tree, causing a wavy effect.
- Upcycling - This trend is all about getting hold of old products and giving them a new take while improving the quality. One example of this would be our Legacy Antique Panels. Old wood is (reclaimed from residential buildings and transformed into elegant wooden flooring.
- Eclectic Fusion - Mixing natural and man-made products produces an eclectic look. For example you could team modern furnishings with aged and distressed finishes. It is all about being unique rather than copying a single look throughout the home. Oak hardwood flooring, for instance, can be a subtle canvas for your choice of eclectic furnishings, or it can be stained and finished with dazzling effect, to become part of the story.
Hardwood Timber Flooring - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
Friday, 22 February 2013
Responding to Austerity with Natural Wood Flooring
Natural wood flooring is an obvious choice in today’s current climate of austerity; not only because of its obvious aesthetic appearance, but those who invest in quality wood flooring, do so with the knowledge that they have something that will last - not just another 10 or 15 years - but perhaps a lifetime or more.
With the recent announcement from Chancellor George Osborne showing that there is more austerity to come, the trend in the UK to make use of what you have and valuing quality over quantity is set to continue. So there will always be a demand for natural wood flooring and if anything the demand is on the rise.
Here we shall look at how natural wood flooring reflects social and psychological trends in the current UK climate of austerity.
Natural Wood Flooring - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
Eco-Friendliness and Sustainability
Installing cheap or fashionable flooring only to rip it out again in a few years time does not sit well with many homeowners in the current climate. If you have moved into a home that has an existing solid wood floor and intend to keep it that way, or if you are having new natural wood flooring installed, which is likely to last longer than you are - this is more economical in the long run. The current trend is for people to make their choice not just on aesthetics, but also on long term value, which quality wood flooring has always delivered.
Whether you have inherited natural wood flooring from a previous occupier, or are having a new floor installed, solid wood flooring is not all about the longevity of the product, but it is also good for your conscience too. Wood is one of the most sustainable products there is, so by choosing quality wood flooring this is benefiting the environment and not draining the world of its resources. Naturally Wood are certified by both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. Please contact us to find out more about FSC and PEFC products.
Not only this, but looking after solid wood flooring, and restoring an old, well-loved floor, creates a sense of ‘stewardship’ and gives you the knowledge that you are maintaining something for future generations.
Investing In Quality
Ironically, the more austere the times, the more people will value quality over quantity - even if they have to pay more for it. For instance, in the 1940’s when fabric was rationed, you would always choose the best material you could possibly afford - because a single suit would have to last - and it would have to be suitable for many different occasions. Similarly, investing in solar panels for the home is for future gain as it brings with it the prospect of more manageable fuel bills, as well as being economically sound. Quality wood flooring offers a similar balance of worth and savings as once you have had a new floor installed, it will last for the duration and requires minimal maintenance and upkeep.
Wood Flooring Suits All
There is something very unrestricted and egalitarian about natural wood flooring. The type of wood or the finish chosen may give different effects but quality wood flooring can look just as good in a one-bedroom studio flat as in a historic country setting. The beauty of wood is that it comes in so many different shades and variations - red tints, yellow tints, flecks of gold, knotted appearance etc - so it can suit all sorts of interiors from contemporary, minimalist settings to rustic farmhouses.
If you are unsure of which wood type to choose, or how it will look in your home or office, our team of experts at Naturally Wood will be able to talk through the various options with you. We also have a great sample service, so you can see at first-hand how the finished floor will look.
The Honesty of Wood
In an uncertain economic climate, there is a yearning to surround ourselves with materials and designs that are authentic and which we can depend upon. While carpet and laminate can hide a multitude of imperfections, wood has always been an ‘honest’ material - as what you see is what you get.
This is one reason why wide plank flooring is so popular, because it reveals the true beauty of the wood to its full effect - as do our Bolefloor products, with each board following the natural growth of the tree (as opposed to straight, parallel boards). Of course, our Legacy Antique Panels, constructed by hand from reclaimed wood, create a naturally aged, authentic floor that is simply stunning. Similarly, distressed solid wood flooring is also a popular choice in today’s climate, as it contributes to an authentic look.
About Naturally Wood
Naturally Wood supply and install a full range of quality wood flooring and also provide restoration services throughout London, Kent, Hertfordshire and East Anglia.
Natural Wood Flooring - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
With the recent announcement from Chancellor George Osborne showing that there is more austerity to come, the trend in the UK to make use of what you have and valuing quality over quantity is set to continue. So there will always be a demand for natural wood flooring and if anything the demand is on the rise.
Here we shall look at how natural wood flooring reflects social and psychological trends in the current UK climate of austerity.
Natural Wood Flooring - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
Eco-Friendliness and Sustainability
Installing cheap or fashionable flooring only to rip it out again in a few years time does not sit well with many homeowners in the current climate. If you have moved into a home that has an existing solid wood floor and intend to keep it that way, or if you are having new natural wood flooring installed, which is likely to last longer than you are - this is more economical in the long run. The current trend is for people to make their choice not just on aesthetics, but also on long term value, which quality wood flooring has always delivered.
Whether you have inherited natural wood flooring from a previous occupier, or are having a new floor installed, solid wood flooring is not all about the longevity of the product, but it is also good for your conscience too. Wood is one of the most sustainable products there is, so by choosing quality wood flooring this is benefiting the environment and not draining the world of its resources. Naturally Wood are certified by both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. Please contact us to find out more about FSC and PEFC products.
Not only this, but looking after solid wood flooring, and restoring an old, well-loved floor, creates a sense of ‘stewardship’ and gives you the knowledge that you are maintaining something for future generations.
Investing In Quality
Ironically, the more austere the times, the more people will value quality over quantity - even if they have to pay more for it. For instance, in the 1940’s when fabric was rationed, you would always choose the best material you could possibly afford - because a single suit would have to last - and it would have to be suitable for many different occasions. Similarly, investing in solar panels for the home is for future gain as it brings with it the prospect of more manageable fuel bills, as well as being economically sound. Quality wood flooring offers a similar balance of worth and savings as once you have had a new floor installed, it will last for the duration and requires minimal maintenance and upkeep.
Wood Flooring Suits All
There is something very unrestricted and egalitarian about natural wood flooring. The type of wood or the finish chosen may give different effects but quality wood flooring can look just as good in a one-bedroom studio flat as in a historic country setting. The beauty of wood is that it comes in so many different shades and variations - red tints, yellow tints, flecks of gold, knotted appearance etc - so it can suit all sorts of interiors from contemporary, minimalist settings to rustic farmhouses.
If you are unsure of which wood type to choose, or how it will look in your home or office, our team of experts at Naturally Wood will be able to talk through the various options with you. We also have a great sample service, so you can see at first-hand how the finished floor will look.
The Honesty of Wood
In an uncertain economic climate, there is a yearning to surround ourselves with materials and designs that are authentic and which we can depend upon. While carpet and laminate can hide a multitude of imperfections, wood has always been an ‘honest’ material - as what you see is what you get.
This is one reason why wide plank flooring is so popular, because it reveals the true beauty of the wood to its full effect - as do our Bolefloor products, with each board following the natural growth of the tree (as opposed to straight, parallel boards). Of course, our Legacy Antique Panels, constructed by hand from reclaimed wood, create a naturally aged, authentic floor that is simply stunning. Similarly, distressed solid wood flooring is also a popular choice in today’s climate, as it contributes to an authentic look.
About Naturally Wood
Naturally Wood supply and install a full range of quality wood flooring and also provide restoration services throughout London, Kent, Hertfordshire and East Anglia.
Natural Wood Flooring - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Wide Plank Flooring: A Top Interior Design Trend
Wide plank flooring shows that bigger really is better! Hardwood flooring company Naturally Wood are embracing this new design trend. Wide plank floors were historically popular in the grandest of homes but now this form of flooring is enjoying a comeback. Demand for antique flooring such as Naturally Wood’s Legacy range of antique panels - and wide plank floors is growing, not just for large country houses but for contemporary, open plan properties too.
The definition of ‘wide plank flooring’ might mean anything over around 180mm wide and although these floors were commonplace in large properties some 200 years ago, they can also be a stylish option in contemporary homes. Wide plank flooring in modern homes is favoured by many architects and interior designers and specialist hardwood flooring company Naturally Wood can supply planks in widths of up to 500mm and lengths of up to five metres, in their Legacy range of hardwood floors.
Here we shall look at the types of wide plank flooring available through hardwood flooring company Naturally Wood and why this type of flooring is undergoing a revival. It is important to note that the species of wood that successfully function as a wider plank is obviously dependent on the growth habit of the tree and the stability of the timber, which is why Oak is such an obvious choice for wider boards.
Hardwood Flooring Company - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
Why the Appeal of Wide Plank Flooring in Design Today?
Wide plank flooring looks impressive in modern properties or period homes, and follows the current design trend of taking inspiration from vintage themes. The effect is elegant and majestic and there is real beauty in a wide plank floor stretching impressively across a room. It feels more substantial than thinner boards and gives the impression of quality and luxury - just as wider plank floors did in some of the magnificent and imposing properties of bygone ages. Wide plank floors and antique style flooring provide a more relaxed or open feel in a room, which is why they have such an appeal in modern, spacious, open plan interiors.
What is Driving their Appeal?
One of the reasons behind their appeal is that wide plank floors are a twist on something that is already popular: hardwood flooring. Many interior designers, architects, hardwood flooring companies and blogs are bringing to people’s attention the design possibilities of wide plank floors and this has been well received. The interest stems from a variety of reasons, including its visual appeal. Wide plank floors have a very natural look as they show solid wood flooring in its purest state, which is aesthetically appealing.
How is It Being Used?
Naturally Wood hardwood flooring company supply and install hardwood flooring for homes and businesses in a variety of timbers and in any stain or finish. However, a wide plank floor is especially effective when combined with a distressed or aged finish as it produces a more natural, antique style of flooring, which is highly desirable.
Availability of Wide Plank Flooring
In addition to the wider planks available in their Legacy range of solid floors, hardwood flooring company Naturally Wood also supply boards of up to 220mm wide as part of their Fusion range. These can either be filled and sanded (for final finishing on site) or prefinished with oil or lacquer, for ease of installation. Also within this range, Naturally Wood supply and install a fantastic selection of distressed Oak boards up to 240mm wide, and these are available in both natural and smoked engineered oak - and a variety of coloured oil finishes -perfect for creating an antique flooring effect. One of the many wonderful benefits of distressed flooring is that this type of finish enhances the beauty of the wood and gives wide boards in particular, a real depth of character. Distressed or antique flooring is also far easier to maintain as small marks or scratches simply add to the overall character of the floor.
Hardwood Flooring Company - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
The definition of ‘wide plank flooring’ might mean anything over around 180mm wide and although these floors were commonplace in large properties some 200 years ago, they can also be a stylish option in contemporary homes. Wide plank flooring in modern homes is favoured by many architects and interior designers and specialist hardwood flooring company Naturally Wood can supply planks in widths of up to 500mm and lengths of up to five metres, in their Legacy range of hardwood floors.
Here we shall look at the types of wide plank flooring available through hardwood flooring company Naturally Wood and why this type of flooring is undergoing a revival. It is important to note that the species of wood that successfully function as a wider plank is obviously dependent on the growth habit of the tree and the stability of the timber, which is why Oak is such an obvious choice for wider boards.
Hardwood Flooring Company - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
Why the Appeal of Wide Plank Flooring in Design Today?
Wide plank flooring looks impressive in modern properties or period homes, and follows the current design trend of taking inspiration from vintage themes. The effect is elegant and majestic and there is real beauty in a wide plank floor stretching impressively across a room. It feels more substantial than thinner boards and gives the impression of quality and luxury - just as wider plank floors did in some of the magnificent and imposing properties of bygone ages. Wide plank floors and antique style flooring provide a more relaxed or open feel in a room, which is why they have such an appeal in modern, spacious, open plan interiors.
What is Driving their Appeal?
One of the reasons behind their appeal is that wide plank floors are a twist on something that is already popular: hardwood flooring. Many interior designers, architects, hardwood flooring companies and blogs are bringing to people’s attention the design possibilities of wide plank floors and this has been well received. The interest stems from a variety of reasons, including its visual appeal. Wide plank floors have a very natural look as they show solid wood flooring in its purest state, which is aesthetically appealing.
How is It Being Used?
Naturally Wood hardwood flooring company supply and install hardwood flooring for homes and businesses in a variety of timbers and in any stain or finish. However, a wide plank floor is especially effective when combined with a distressed or aged finish as it produces a more natural, antique style of flooring, which is highly desirable.
Availability of Wide Plank Flooring
In addition to the wider planks available in their Legacy range of solid floors, hardwood flooring company Naturally Wood also supply boards of up to 220mm wide as part of their Fusion range. These can either be filled and sanded (for final finishing on site) or prefinished with oil or lacquer, for ease of installation. Also within this range, Naturally Wood supply and install a fantastic selection of distressed Oak boards up to 240mm wide, and these are available in both natural and smoked engineered oak - and a variety of coloured oil finishes -perfect for creating an antique flooring effect. One of the many wonderful benefits of distressed flooring is that this type of finish enhances the beauty of the wood and gives wide boards in particular, a real depth of character. Distressed or antique flooring is also far easier to maintain as small marks or scratches simply add to the overall character of the floor.
Hardwood Flooring Company - Click here to find out more about our solid wood flooring products
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