The last few years have seen traditional parquet flooring make a strong comeback with a far greater variety of timbers, colours and finishes available. Our Palladio parquet flooring range, for instance, is available in traditional timbers such as Oak and Maple as well as many exotic and fashionable species such as Wenge and Merbau, making it a versatile option for all types of interior. But this resurgence coincides with another major development in flooring – under floor heating. Here we take a look at how these two trends can be combined to create flooring which is beautiful, practical and comfortable.
Parquet Flooring – Explore our Palladio range here.
Why Under Floor Heating?
The popularity of under floor heating began in the 1980’s and 90’s around the same time that many homeowners were moving away from carpeting and towards alternative flooring options such as tiles and solid wood flooring. The fashion for tiled floors was significantly influenced by the experience of Mediterranean holidays – but while a cold tile underfoot may be appealing when temperatures are in the 30’s, it is another matter when walking around a UK home in the middle of January. Under floor heating offers the warmth and comfort of carpeting with the looks and practicality of hard surface flooring. And it is also economical – being far cheaper to run than putting on the central heating, for instance. Under floor heating has the additional benefit of being virtually maintenance free as it fully protected by the flooring above it so is unlikely to ever suffer damage.
In addition, the running temperature of under floor heating is much lower than that of conventional hot water radiators. This makes it compatible with renewable heat sources such as solar thermal or ground source systems which may struggle, especially in more northerly countries, to deliver high temperatures during winter, but can much more easily achieve the modest 25 degrees or so required for under floor heating. So as well as the comfort factor, a key driver for the growth of under floor heating is the burgeoning interest in renewable energy systems for the home.
Once the use of under floor heating was well established for tiled floors, it was then a logical step to want to use under floor heating with solid wood flooring too, but initially this was problematic. Unlike tiles, wood will expand when warmed and shrink when cooled. Within the normal temperature range of a centrally heated home this is not a problem, but if exposed to excessive or direct heat wood can warp, resulting in an unstable or uneven floor.
But recent advances in wood floor manufacture, laying techniques and the under floor heating technology itself means that it's now possible to combine some types of solid wood flooring with under floor heating . In particular, Naturally Wood’s engineered floors and Palladio Parquet Flooring range are both suitable for laying over either electric or water borne under floor heating systems without risking damage to the timber.
Installing Palladio Parquet Flooring with Under Floor Heating
The key to installing our Palladio flooring over an under floor heating system is the sub-floor i.e. the layer of material between the under floor heating element (which is usually already encased in some type of scree) and the top layer of parquet. For the Palladio range a plywood sub-floor is required, which we can install as part of the overall flooring project if not already present.
Provided this sub-floor is in place there is no restriction in the design of parquet flooring that may be used, from traditional Herringbone or Basket Weave, to a more modern strip design, as well as our parquet panels. Because there is good separation from the heating element and a very even distribution of heat via the plywood sub-floor, all types of timber may be used, providing clients with an enormous choice of looks from the palest Canadian Maple to the darkest American Black Walnut. This also means that any parquet borders or motifs that a client may desire are equally compatible with under floor heating.
With the correct sub-floor in place, the parquet blocks or panels are then glued to the sub-floor with a suitable adhesive. Using adhesive both prevents inadvertent damage to the under floor heating system and is crucial to the final stability of the floor.
While this gives a general view of the installation procedure we assess each project individually to ensure exactly the right type of sub-floor and adhesive is used depending on the particular type of heating system among other factors.
Is Your Floor Suitable for Parquet Flooring and Under Floor Heating?
Each project is unique so it is vital to ensure that your plans for under floor heating and solid wood flooring are feasible. Naturally Wood can provide a no obligation site visit to assess your project, as well as guide you through the range of design options available.
Parquet Flooring – Call us on 020 8508 2555 or use our contact form
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Legacy Antique Panels: An Eco-friendly Option for Antique Wood Flooring
Legacy Antique Panels from Naturally Wood Floors are the ultimate choice for those wanting genuine, antique wood flooring. Available in a variety of designs and in a wide range of colours and finishes, our antique panels are created by sourcing reclaimed timber which is then hand constructed into panels and carefully finished, again by hand, to produce distinctive antique flooring.
Because our antique wood flooring is naturally aged, it has a beautiful, rich colour. The level of wear or distressing can be emphasised or de-emphasised as required by altering how we sand, fill and finish our panels.
Here we will describe our antique wood flooring range in more detail and show how it can be used to create authentic antique flooring in both modern and period properties.
Legacy Panel Designs
Our Antique Panels are usually one square metre in size and are available in Chantilly and Versailles patterns.
The Chantilly design is an interwoven square design, with the squares running parallel to the border:
Chantilly Classic Waxed Finish
The Versailles design is also an interwoven design, but arranged diagonally to the border:
Versailles Period Waxed Finish
Legacy Panel Textures
Working with these two panel designs, a wide range of different final effects are possible depending on the level of sanding, filling, staining and finishing applied. We have three textures available: Period, Classic and Refined.
Our Period texture gives the most worn, aged surface, achieved by rounding off any hard corners and edges, while our Refined finish involves carefully sanding down surface irregularities to produce a smoother, sophisticated, elegant floor, with our Classic texture lying in between.
Versailles Refined Waxed Finish
Our panels are made from oak, an extremely versatile timber which allows a wide range of colour choices from light mid-tones to very dark tones. Because all our panels are hand finished, we can work with our clients to achieve the exact colour and effect they are looking for, to produce a bespoke floor which perfectly enhances their project. The range of colours and finishes possible means that our Legacy Panels are sought after for both modern and period properties.
Distinctive Flooring for Large and Modern Spaces
For modern homes, with spacious living rooms or extensive open plan areas, often the challenge is to pull a large space together, give it some character and make it feel like a comfortable living area. Our Legacy Antique Panels can help to break up a large expanse of floor, while the richer colours of our antique wood flooring gives depth, richness and warmth.
Whatever texture you choose, this handmade product makes a stunning design statement.
Authentic Flooring for Period Properties
Our Legacy Antique Panels are, of course, ideal for achieving an authentic period feel in older properties. Many period properties have, over the years, been given modern or otherwise inappropriate flooring and it often falls to the restorer to find and install flooring which is more in keeping with the age of the property. In a restoration project, there will often be other considerations beyond simply choosing a floor of the right period, such as matching
other flooring, ceilings, fireplaces, skirtings, doors and so on – so being able to specify an exact finish is essential.
It is also common to want to add extensions to period properties and owners often go to great lengths to ensure that both the architecture and the interior decor are closely in keeping with the period and character of the original property. For this type of project, our bespoke, hand finished Legacy Antique Panels offer the perfect way to achieve exactly the effect required.
Additional Advantages of Legacy Antique PanelsApart from achieving a unique and distinctive finish, our antique flooring panels offer several additional benefits:
An eco-friendly choice – As well as producing flooring which is beautiful and distinctive, using our Legacy Antique Panels is also a very eco-friendly choice, since not a single new tree needs to be felled to produce them. This is truly the ultimate sustainable flooring.
Easy to install – Our panels - which have already been prefinished before they leave our workshop -- are very quick and easy to install, with no messy sanding or staining needed on site.,.
Stable and hardwearing – Our panels are around 23.5mm in thickness (with some natural variation due to the nature of the timber). As well as producing a floor that looks as if it has already been there for decades, this is flooring that will last for many decades more. So wherever it is installed it is likely to become the legacy flooring of the future.
Legacy Antique Panels - click here to view our range of products or call us today on 020 8508 2555 to speak to a member of our team.
Because our antique wood flooring is naturally aged, it has a beautiful, rich colour. The level of wear or distressing can be emphasised or de-emphasised as required by altering how we sand, fill and finish our panels.
Here we will describe our antique wood flooring range in more detail and show how it can be used to create authentic antique flooring in both modern and period properties.
Legacy Panel Designs
Our Antique Panels are usually one square metre in size and are available in Chantilly and Versailles patterns.
The Chantilly design is an interwoven square design, with the squares running parallel to the border:
Chantilly Classic Waxed Finish
The Versailles design is also an interwoven design, but arranged diagonally to the border:
Versailles Period Waxed Finish
Legacy Panel Textures
Working with these two panel designs, a wide range of different final effects are possible depending on the level of sanding, filling, staining and finishing applied. We have three textures available: Period, Classic and Refined.
Our Period texture gives the most worn, aged surface, achieved by rounding off any hard corners and edges, while our Refined finish involves carefully sanding down surface irregularities to produce a smoother, sophisticated, elegant floor, with our Classic texture lying in between.
Versailles Refined Waxed Finish
Our panels are made from oak, an extremely versatile timber which allows a wide range of colour choices from light mid-tones to very dark tones. Because all our panels are hand finished, we can work with our clients to achieve the exact colour and effect they are looking for, to produce a bespoke floor which perfectly enhances their project. The range of colours and finishes possible means that our Legacy Panels are sought after for both modern and period properties.
Distinctive Flooring for Large and Modern Spaces
For modern homes, with spacious living rooms or extensive open plan areas, often the challenge is to pull a large space together, give it some character and make it feel like a comfortable living area. Our Legacy Antique Panels can help to break up a large expanse of floor, while the richer colours of our antique wood flooring gives depth, richness and warmth.
Whatever texture you choose, this handmade product makes a stunning design statement.
Authentic Flooring for Period Properties
Our Legacy Antique Panels are, of course, ideal for achieving an authentic period feel in older properties. Many period properties have, over the years, been given modern or otherwise inappropriate flooring and it often falls to the restorer to find and install flooring which is more in keeping with the age of the property. In a restoration project, there will often be other considerations beyond simply choosing a floor of the right period, such as matching
other flooring, ceilings, fireplaces, skirtings, doors and so on – so being able to specify an exact finish is essential.
It is also common to want to add extensions to period properties and owners often go to great lengths to ensure that both the architecture and the interior decor are closely in keeping with the period and character of the original property. For this type of project, our bespoke, hand finished Legacy Antique Panels offer the perfect way to achieve exactly the effect required.
Additional Advantages of Legacy Antique PanelsApart from achieving a unique and distinctive finish, our antique flooring panels offer several additional benefits:
An eco-friendly choice – As well as producing flooring which is beautiful and distinctive, using our Legacy Antique Panels is also a very eco-friendly choice, since not a single new tree needs to be felled to produce them. This is truly the ultimate sustainable flooring.
Easy to install – Our panels - which have already been prefinished before they leave our workshop -- are very quick and easy to install, with no messy sanding or staining needed on site.,.
Stable and hardwearing – Our panels are around 23.5mm in thickness (with some natural variation due to the nature of the timber). As well as producing a floor that looks as if it has already been there for decades, this is flooring that will last for many decades more. So wherever it is installed it is likely to become the legacy flooring of the future.
Legacy Antique Panels - click here to view our range of products or call us today on 020 8508 2555 to speak to a member of our team.
Monday, 8 April 2013
FSC and PEFC Timber Flooring From Naturally Wood
At Naturally Wood, we supply and install a number of FSC and PEFC timber flooring products suitable for a variety of residential and commercial applications. This allows us to do our part to help preserve future supplies of many important wood species, as well as meeting the needs of our many customers who would like to choose sustainable flooring for their home or business.
But what exactly is PEFC and FSC timber flooring? What does it mean to us at Naturally Wood to be supporting these schemes? And, most importantly, what does it mean to our customers to be able to choose a sustainable flooring option?
What Are FSC and PEFC?
The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) are both schemes designed to promote sustainable forest management.
Both schemes aim to:
Broadly speaking, most of the world's larger certified forests belong to the FSC scheme which operates worldwide, while a large number (over 8,000) of smaller or privately managed forests belong to the PEFC scheme, which operates mostly in Western Europe.
Because Naturally Wood sources a wide variety of species from all over the world we are certified members of both schemes. In addition, we also actively seek to source timber certified by other schemes, especially for more exotic species. For instance, we have BRIK (Badan Revitalisasi Industri Kayu, or Indonesian Institute for the Revitalisation of the Timber Industry) certification for our Indonesian Merbau timber.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
As a company that can trace its roots back to the 1900's, sustainability is something that means a great deal to us. Timber is the raw material on which our business is based, so it is most definitely in our own interests to promote the use of forestry methods which will ensure a continued supply into the coming centuries and at a price which will ensure it remains affordable to homeowners and businesses.
We also hope that, as an old and well established flooring company, we can lead by example and help to uphold the integrity of the wood flooring industry and encourage other companies to follow suit, as well as encouraging customers to be more aware about where the timber for their floor has come from.
Customer Demand for Sustainable Flooring
We are also extremely mindful of the growth in demand from our own customers for sustainably and ethically sourced wood. For many of our clients, part of the appeal of a solid wood floor is an appreciation of wood as a natural product and a concern for the natural environment typically goes hand in hand with that.
Installing a timber floor has a definite feel good factor which goes far beyond its practicality or even its looks. By choosing sustainable FSC or PEFC timber flooring our customers can enhance this feel-good factor, knowing that instead of depleting the world's resources, they have done something positive to protect the environment that produced their timber.
Personal preferences aside, many companies now have an ethical procurement policy which requires them to take into account sustainability issues when buying products and services for their business. For companies with this kind of policy, it is vital for them to ensure that their timber has been produced in an eco-friendly and ethical way, making PEFC or FSC timber flooring a natural choice. To help companies fulfil such procurement requirements we can supply full Chain of Custody traceability.
Our Range of PEFC and FSC Timber Flooring
Many of our products are available with FSC or PEFC certification, including floors in our Fusion and Palladio Parquet ranges, as well as prefinished floors from our Creations range.
Please speak to our team for further information.
FSC Timber Flooring – contact us now to find out more about our FSC and PEFC certified products.
But what exactly is PEFC and FSC timber flooring? What does it mean to us at Naturally Wood to be supporting these schemes? And, most importantly, what does it mean to our customers to be able to choose a sustainable flooring option?
What Are FSC and PEFC?
The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) are both schemes designed to promote sustainable forest management.
Both schemes aim to:
- Ensure replanting and careful management to ensure continued supply.
- Protect and enhance the ecological habitat created by the forest, thus protecting many rare or endangered species.
- Restrict the use of chemicals harmful to humans or to the habitat.
- Ensure respect for Indigenous Peoples and other communities present in or around the forest.
- Ensure basic rights and working conditions for forestry workers.
Broadly speaking, most of the world's larger certified forests belong to the FSC scheme which operates worldwide, while a large number (over 8,000) of smaller or privately managed forests belong to the PEFC scheme, which operates mostly in Western Europe.
Because Naturally Wood sources a wide variety of species from all over the world we are certified members of both schemes. In addition, we also actively seek to source timber certified by other schemes, especially for more exotic species. For instance, we have BRIK (Badan Revitalisasi Industri Kayu, or Indonesian Institute for the Revitalisation of the Timber Industry) certification for our Indonesian Merbau timber.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
As a company that can trace its roots back to the 1900's, sustainability is something that means a great deal to us. Timber is the raw material on which our business is based, so it is most definitely in our own interests to promote the use of forestry methods which will ensure a continued supply into the coming centuries and at a price which will ensure it remains affordable to homeowners and businesses.
We also hope that, as an old and well established flooring company, we can lead by example and help to uphold the integrity of the wood flooring industry and encourage other companies to follow suit, as well as encouraging customers to be more aware about where the timber for their floor has come from.
Customer Demand for Sustainable Flooring
We are also extremely mindful of the growth in demand from our own customers for sustainably and ethically sourced wood. For many of our clients, part of the appeal of a solid wood floor is an appreciation of wood as a natural product and a concern for the natural environment typically goes hand in hand with that.
Installing a timber floor has a definite feel good factor which goes far beyond its practicality or even its looks. By choosing sustainable FSC or PEFC timber flooring our customers can enhance this feel-good factor, knowing that instead of depleting the world's resources, they have done something positive to protect the environment that produced their timber.
Personal preferences aside, many companies now have an ethical procurement policy which requires them to take into account sustainability issues when buying products and services for their business. For companies with this kind of policy, it is vital for them to ensure that their timber has been produced in an eco-friendly and ethical way, making PEFC or FSC timber flooring a natural choice. To help companies fulfil such procurement requirements we can supply full Chain of Custody traceability.
Our Range of PEFC and FSC Timber Flooring
Many of our products are available with FSC or PEFC certification, including floors in our Fusion and Palladio Parquet ranges, as well as prefinished floors from our Creations range.
Please speak to our team for further information.
FSC Timber Flooring – contact us now to find out more about our FSC and PEFC certified products.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Prefinished Flooring Unit Open For Business
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.
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.
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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