Scandinavian countries are some of the happiest people in the world according to the United Nation’s World Happiness Report.

For 2022, Finland took first place, Denmark second, Norway sixth, and Sweden seventh globally.

They also happen to have a few interesting cultural concepts about cultivating a sense of well-being.

You may have heard about hygge (pronounced “hue-gah”), which has been the subject of numerous articles and books such as “The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking”.

Hygge promotes a certain quality of “cosiness, togetherness and well-being” and encourages one to appreciate the simple pleasures of life.

Or maybe you’re more familiar with the Swedish concept of LAGOM (pronounced “lah-gum”), which occupies the harmonious spot between moderation and happiness— “not too much, not too little, but just the right amount”.

Lagom, like hygge, is part of everyday life and its ethos is instrumental in crafting an inviting space that sparks happiness and inspires relaxation.

These consistent high-ranking positions are a testament to the lifestyle factors ingrained into the Scandinavian psyche.

From delighting in feelings of comfort and contentment to ensuring homes are designed in a way that instils calm, there are several things to learn from Nordic culture for a more balanced and happy life.

Is it a coincidence that the restorative nature of Scandinavian aesthetics has taken the design stream by storm?

Marked by understated elegance and functionality, Scandinavian design can evoke a varied palette of feelings that boost happiness and support well-being.

 

A Scandinavian design approach that promotes happiness

Our homes are powerfully symbolic—and intimately linked to our inner narrative and mental state of mind.

Surprisingly, everything from the type of materials we use indoors to how much sunlight filters through the space can greatly impact your mental and physical health and define your daily experiences, whether you’re aware of it or not.

There’s something wholesome about Scandinavian design that helps you attain a haven of comfort and a relaxed sense of being.

It strikes a perfect balance between effortless minimalism that provides a wonderfully serene living and functionality without the intention of sacrificing beauty.

The following are three essential features of Scandinavian design:

• Warmth

Northern Europe’s winters are long, dark, and brutal, while summers are short. As a result, a significant portion of life takes place indoors. Creating a home that’s cosy and inviting is focal to Scandinavian design—a lot of thought is given to what one places around them and how.

Highlighting your home’s best features while maintaining a clean aesthetic can create a warm haven that feels charming, lived-in, and intimate. Infusing your personal style to a base of soft warm tones, layered tactile fabrics, and natural finishes not only creates visual interest but also adds warmth to a Scandinavian-inspired space.

• Simplicity

The Nordic design continues to be recognized and appreciated for its simple form, despite the appearance of other interior aesthetics packed with decorations of fashionable trends.

There is nothing superfluous about it—Scandinavian design entails stripping interiors back to basics by combining good design with clearly defined function and a healthy restraint. This ultimately helps craft a space that is both relaxing and complete.

• Inspiration from nature

Establishing harmony with one’s environment and embracing an unencumbered lifestyle are the hallmarks of Scandinavian design. For this reason, organic and natural materials, shades of nature, and lots of light and circulation are central to creating environmentally conscious and socially innovative designs that complement the art of living well.

Bringing the outdoors in reflects the Nordic countries’ relationship to the natural world. Nature finds its way into the home via lightened wood that fits with a neutral colour palette, organic fabrics such as cotton, linen and wool and indoor greenery.

Open and bright design schemes

Scandinavian design has flourished to a new depth of austere beauty and a penchant for simple forms and open-plan spaces.

Designed to maximize light at every turn, Nordic design favour settings that highlight craftsmanship over ostentation. As a result, clutter that limits the circulation of light and air and impractical furniture pieces that are highly ornate are less sort after.

Rather than serving a single function, open-concept spaces accommodate a variety of activities, help one reconnect with feelings of freedom, and foster family togetherness.

Scandinavian design encourages homeowners to think minimal but not bare and incorporate more balance by creating a kind of design that will bring a sense of joy and comfort—not to mention hold up against the pressures of everyday life.

Function coupled with an emphasis on quality over quantity provides a very refined strain of modernism that appeals to many people wishing to create a home that is simple, finely crafted, devoid of visual clutter, and exudes enduring timelessness.

 

Quality and sustainable materials

Today, Scandinavian design is primarily concerned with exhibiting life balance and originality, minimalism and ergonomic function—all of which translate to a simple way of life that instils a sense of joy and contentment.

Taking steps to become more “low-impact” and more attentive and proactive about the consequences you’re having on the environment is one of the most notable Scandinavian influences.

The art of happiness and comfort thrives on doing more and better with less—less waste, less energy, less consumption—whilst thinking more seriously about sustainable options for living.

This entails not only lowering plastic use and carbon balancing non-responsible practices, but also pursuing more sustainable products and sources.

Using finishes such as sustainably sourced wood flooring and digging further back in the supply chain to ensure ethical production processes is a great way to get the ball rolling.

The use of wood in Scandinavian design

Scandinavian design principles encourage the use of environmentally friendly materials produced from sustainable sources.

As a result of the desire to lead happier and fulfilled lives, there is always a renowned relationship between the internal environment and nature.

Friluftsliv (pronounced free-loofts-liv), an ancient Norwegian philosophy that translates to “free air life” (or “open-air living”), reminds one of the connections with the earth. When applied to the way we design our spaces, the concept focuses on bringing the outside in and it’s often seen in the deliberate use of natural materials like stone, wood, leather and hemp.

To say the Scandinavian way of designing places immense significance on wood would be an understatement. Walk the breath-taking Nordic forested vistas and it becomes apparent that timber is celebrated in Scandinavian culture and has a strong influence on design.

Warm wood tones found in teak and oak are the order of the day for walls, ceilings, cabinetry, and furniture. Pine that’s carefully greyed down with special oil to reduce its yellow tone is very much a part of the home. Wood that’s painted white is also a popular element of choice as it perfectly creates a bright, clean backdrop.

Just as colour is capable of affecting a person’s psychology, natural wood features help to convey a sense of Friluftsliv all year round. Using timber flooring not only invites life and the beauty of nature into our homes, but numerous studies also reveal that the presence of wood invokes feelings of warmth and authenticity, stimulates the senses and heightens overall wellbeing, and alleviates the stress and anxieties of everyday life, reminding us of the colours and textures of the great outdoors.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to embrace a happier life as your welcome sign and turn your home into a comfortable, calm retreat from the always-on realities of modern-day life, tapping into a Scandinavian lifestyle may be what you need to restore order and balance.

Its design concept combines functionality and beauty and promotes a simple and sustainable way of life whilst harmonising a space into one that’s serene and restorative.

Creating an atmosphere and an experience within the environments that we inhabit rather than focusing on excess is the foundation of Nordic culture.

Hardwood and Softwood, these two kinds of wooden flooring present big differences. Both are great flooring choices, but each have their own characteristics. Here’s an explanation of both to help you make an informed choice for your wooden floor.

Understanding hardwood vs softwood flooring

You may expect this to be the density of the wood and how it feels, but surprisingly it isn´t. Wood is classified as either soft or hard depending on the tree that produced it and the structure of the seeds of the tree.

 

The differences in the hardness of the wood can be quite varied for both hardwood and softwood. In most cases hardwood tends to be harder than softwood, but not always. The best example of this is balsa wood, which although extremely lightweight, is classed as a hardwood. Likewise, yew is a hard softwood.

Hardwood flooring 

Deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves seasonally) produce hardwood. These trees are known as angiosperms and any fruits they produce have a hard shell, drop to the ground, and are not air-borne, such as acorns.

The most common hardwood trees are alder, beech, oak, walnut, teak, hickory, walnut, mahogany, maple, and balsa.

Hardwood features

• durable (but not always)
• low maintenance
• costs slightly more than softwood (the harder the wood the more expensive it is)
• good fire resistance
• closed grain
• low sap content

Hardwood flooring is often used for solid wood flooring. It is considered to be a long-term investment because it’s long-lasting and comes in so many choices as a wooden flooring solution for any home, whether modern or traditional. It’s easy to care for and doesn´t scratch easily.

Softwood flooring

Softwood comes from evergreen trees (which have leaves all year round) and are known as gymnosperms. The seeds of these trees aren´t covered and tend to be lightweight and distributed by the wind, although they may have fruits that fall to the ground.

A good example of this is the pine tree, which drops pines but whose seeds are also scattered by the wind, which means wide distribution of new growth due to germination. Other species of soft wood trees are spruce, fir, cedar, juniper, redwood, and yew.

Softwood features

• less expensive than hardwood
• a lighter colour
• higher sap content
• loose grain
• poor fire resistance

Pine flooring is a popular choice as a softwood floor, but is less resistant to damage from shoes with spiked heels, pet paws, and general wear and tear.

However, it’s still a popular choice for wooden flooring and enhances any room that doesn´t have too much heavy traffic (living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms).

 

Some words of advice

The difference in hardwood and softwood flooring isn´t in the name or the density, it´s the structure and origin of the tree. When it comes to choosing a wooden floor, consider which will suit your home and lifestyle better – hardwood or softwood.

Generally speaking, most of the flooring sold in the UK is European Oak, this is because of its natural beauty, durability and colour finishing potential.

Pine makes also a great option for domestic floors or cladding in any premise.

Wood grade shouldn´t be confused with quality, which refers to the end product after it’s undergone the manufacturing process. In other words:

• Grade is the natural look of the wood (knots, streaks, shakes, wane – i.e. all its natural features that haven’t been changed by man.)
• Quality is the finished wood after it’s been altered (length, width, depth, finish, colour)

 

So the two characteristics used to define wood are quite different. They can be mixed too.

For example, a lower grade wood can be manufactured to the highest standards and therefore deliver top-quality flooring, whilst wood of the highest grade, if poorly manufactured, will equally provide a poor quality floor.

What are the main Wood Grades?

The four principal grades used within the timber industry are A-D:

 

• A = Prime/Clear Grade
• B = Standard/Select Grade
• C = # 1 Common
• D = # 2 Character/rustic/sapwood/natural

Some Words of Advice

• The grade of the wood you buy for your wooden floor indicates its visual appearance. Wood grade shouldn´t be confused with quality, which refers to the end product after it has undergone the manufacturing process.

 

• The most cost effective way to improve a grade e.g. ‘A cleaner version of character grade’ is to buy more than 10% waste material, this way the floor can be graded while being installed. This would be more cost effective than paying extra for select grade for example.

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For centuries, we have been able to find unique ways to add depth and character to the interior of our building’s.

Wood flooring is loved by many because of how it effortlessly lends itself to a range of spaces, as well as its natural, timeless and longer-lasting attributes.

Parquet flooring is constructed from the creative arrangement of small wooden pieces to form geometric patterns.

The patterns can be designed into any representation in order to add a dramatic effect to the room.

This flooring style is a true definition of unique sizes, shapes and a striking finish.

And because it has been around for centuries — initially found in older castles and the home of the wealthy across Europe — its popularity has the same longevity as the material used to build it.

Today, it can be incorporated in virtually any internal space, and remain a sign of quality and craftsmanship in both residential and commercial properties.

What Is solid parquet flooring?

This is a natural timber floor constructed from solid wood blocks.

Unlike the standard floorboards which are milled or carved out of a tree, a solid parquet is a flooring option with very thin wood pieces assembled together.

Solid parquet wood flooring is a favourite option among property owners who are what you would call “lovers of the real thing”, and is especially suited for modern, contemporary and transitional settings. It provides longevity, it’s attractive, and gives your home an expensive, chic appeal.

What is engineered parquet flooring?

Manufacturers create engineered parquet flooring from at least three plywood-like layers, overlaid with hardwood.

This means the finished product has a similar quality and appearance to real wood.

Once installed, it is the top hardwood veneer that your feet will stand on, and it is what engineered parquet owes its looks to.

This floor type is manufactured to withstand the effects of moisture and heat, an attribute that gives it an advantage over solid parquet.

Depending on changing moisture and temperature levels, wood in its natural state expands and contracts.

Due to its dimensional stability, engineered parquet flooring is suitable for applications where underground heating is used, or in challenging spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms where moisture is pretty much always on the rise and fall.

Which of the two floors is best for you?

Choosing between the two relies largely on the construction and where in your home you are putting your new floors.

Because it is 100% real wood, moisture and heat can distort solid parquet.

When it expands and contracts, floorboards push slightly up against each other and then fall back into place.

This need not present a major problem if it occurs only to a minor extent. Where it indicates a serious issue is when expansion and contraction is excessive.

The reaction due to a change in humidity level causes unsightly gaps in the floor, and at worst, boards that are cupped or bowed.

Not only does this result in disproportion in the wood plank, but it also means that your floor potentially becomes draughty and uncomfortable underfoot.

The magic in engineered wood parquet is its structural strength and stability.

If you desire flooring that is virtually immune to the effects of changing temperatures and moisture, then this is your best bet. When it comes to stability, engineered flooring wins because you can lay it even in waterlogged rooms with confidence.

In regards to aesthetics, if you prefer a classic, traditional flooring choice with a longer lifespan and larger value, you can’t go wrong with solid parquet floors.

Similarly, if you`re after a natural, rustic appearance, it’s hard to get it elsewhere other than in hardwood parquet flooring.

Engineered flooring effortlessly finds its place in most modern real estates, producing the required comfort with a hint of tradition from their hardwood layer appearances.

Additionally, it offers a diverse range of timber species, colours, finishes and parquet styles to suit an array of design aesthetics.

Lastly, new and improved technology has made solid parquet flooring a whole lot easier to fit than it was a couple of centuries ago; however, there is no denying the fact that engineered is a complete breeze.

Because each board comes with the parquet pattern you’ve selected already, it means you can have your room looking fantastic quicker than you dare imagine.

Conclusion

The beauty and charm of parquet is a surefire way to accentuate the splendour and timeless flair of an interior space. Both solid and engineered parquet wood flooring is an amazing asset to any interior environment. They offer flexible design, longevity, sturdiness and added value in a way that far surpasses other flooring finishes.

In order to really reap all these benefits and more, it’s crucial that you understand what each type of floor has to offer and select one that is most suitable for your project. To top it off, engage an experienced and efficient contractor who will lay the foundation for your parquet wood flooring that you will enjoy for years to come.

Dark wood floors have been a hot trend for quite some time now; simply because they struck the right note with most wood lovers.

At the same time, light hardwood is chic and fashionable — a refreshing backdrop for bright colours and a gorgeous addition to any scheme.

Selecting the right wood colour is a big decision.

If you’re trying to choose between light and dark wood flooring, below are the main aspects you may need to take into account.

The Style of the Room

If you are redecorating the whole room and replacing all furnishings and accessories, then this gives you more scope with your flooring choice.

If it’s new floors for existing furniture and decorative accents; it’s crucial to think about the overall look of the room with both a dark and a light flooring option.

Light hardwood floors complement a room with dark and heavy furniture — and can add a cheerful, airy and modern appeal to it.

Dark floors can transform a room with neutral walls and furniture into a cosy relaxation area.

It really shows off the rich details and the beauty of the natural grain patterns that aren’t as apparent in light options.

The size of the Room

Light hardwood floors will open up the room and lend a more spacious appeal; therefore, they are more suitable for smaller spaces.

On the other hand, dark hardwood flooring will anchor a large space and provide a warmer tone; hence it’s suitable for open floor plans.

It’s essential to give great thought to the overall visual appearance and illusion you desire for your interior space.

The amount of Natural Light in the Room

The last factor to take into consideration is the amount of natural light the room gets.

If the room has limited natural light then consider light floors as a better option to make it appear brighter —dark colours tend to have a dimming effect.

Boldly venture into dark hardwood flooring if you have plenty of natural light.

The novel interpretation of the vintage-inspired décor introduces soulful details from various eras — think mid-century furniture, bold botanical wallpapers, statement antiques, repurposed wood flooring and bold geometric accents, just to name a few.

Trend forecasters predict that vintage accents and finishes will make a huge comeback this year, embodying the same elegance and charm but more flexible than their traditional counterparts.

These materials and accents that are synonymous with design ideas of the past can help emphasize storytelling inside our interior spaces — bringing comfort, beauty, sentimentality, and timelessness all at once.

Understanding the vintage style

Driven by nostalgia, designing and decorating in a vintage style helps express individuality and sparks our innate need for a connection to previous memories and experiences.

This means incorporating pre-contemporary biomorphic furniture in curvy shapes, accessories and colour palettes that take influence from trends of past decades to create a sense of history in the space we inhabit.

Whether you want grandeur or simple elegance, vintage design encompasses a wide array of details that stretch throughout history.

It merges inspirations from various styles including mid-century, shabby chic, French-country, art deco, and industrial interior aesthetics.

It also varies significantly depending on the period in focus — for instance, one particular vintage design style that has been influential throughout the years evokes a sense of nostalgic ambience and old-fashion charm associated with the 1940s and 50s.

Defining characteristics of vintage design as a whole include curved furniture pieces crafted from wood, rattan and upholstered plush fabrics, prominent use of an earthy colour palette with touches of bold retro shades, raw surface finishes like wood and exposed concrete, biophilic accents such as leafy plants as well as wallpaper and soft furnishes in bold geometry patterns.

Designing sustainably with vintage accents

Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen environmentalism become one of the burning mainstream topics in design.

Fast design, which promotes simple and carefree solutions meant to endure for a few years before being discarded, has given way to responsible environmental behaviour that taps into the realm of objects and materials built to last a lifetime.

While the industry pursues cautious production practices and promotes recycling, the growing appeal of vintage and sustainable decor heavily resonates with the Millennial generation.

Making use of what’s already there, paying homage to the skills of the yesteryears and appreciating quality that stands the test of time is a “trend” that’s lighting the way ahead and expected to pick up steam as we move forward.

1- Use vintage accents with a timeless look

Essentially, vintage and sustainable design bridge the gap between aesthetics and functionality whilst creating a place that has an immediate comfortable feel.

As more people turn away from throw-away elements, there is a growing favour for timeless vintage accents that add character and warmth to living spaces.

Designing with pre-loved furniture, lighting, mirrors, artwork, Berber-style rugs and soft finishes is not only a far more ethical way to shop, but they can set the tone for a characterful aesthetic that’s hard to come by with modern pieces.

There is something truly special about natural fabrics that help in achieving a vintage feel.

Natural fabrics… think cotton and linen, always feel more authentic and less uniform.

If you have plenty of antiques to use in your design, you can pick only those that exhibit a timeless and sophisticated appeal.

Contrasting materials and textures are always a fantastic idea to bring depth, dimension and dynamism into the space, particularly when working with a neutral colour palette.

2- Introduce contrast with geometric and organic shapes

Being confident in the way you set up your space can be what sets your vintage decorating from the rest.

The contrasting use of geometric and organic shapes has always been a fixture of vintage design.

If you’re looking for brilliant ways to channel both hard-edged and soft, round shapes — think hexagon, herringbone, squares, and florals — that evoke a sense of movement; wallpaper, parquet wood floors, ceramic tiles, curvy furniture, sculptures, rugs and throw cushions are just a few ideas to consider.

A classic mid-century boxy-looking sofa paired with a round coffee table or armchairs with organic lines creates a unified look with a sense of intrigue.

Similarly, if your existing space is adorned by angular furniture pieces, then update the look by replacing a piece or two with something softer to create a vintage design finish with variation instead of a catalogue of coordinated furnishings.

3- Create a fascinating look with neutral and bold accents

A neutral colour scheme has a strong presence in vintage design and is a great way of creating an interior space with timeless appeal.

Unlike 60’s trendy orange and brown interiors or the 80’s pastels, a newer take on a neutral palette invites the use of soft beiges, greys, and whites to create an inviting ambience that has lots of natural materials and textures.

Whilst neutrals may be prominent when designing with vintage and sustainable accents, this historical aesthetic does not shy away from the use of bold hues.

In fact, pops of bright colour can be introduced deliberately to add personality to the scheme of things.

One way of crafting a balanced look is to keep the basics neutral and opt for bold accents in the form of rugs, curtains, and wall art.

All kinds of colours work red, yellow, burnt orange, navy blue and forest green — as well as metallics such as gold and bronze to further elevate your overall look.

3- Old meets new: modernize with artwork and other décor elements

When achieving a timeless vibe, consider keeping things fairly current with art and other decorative elements.

Doing so, regardless of the time period of your architectural features or furnishings, is absolutely fair game in crafting an interior that feels reflective of today’s lifestyle while allowing the individual charm of every element to receive equal appreciation.

Have fun mixing the old with the new!

An antique furniture piece under a modern art piece on a crisp white wall allows the eye to travel from one design element to the other, deeply admiring the style of each.

A rustic wood floor under clean-lined contemporary furniture can produce a juxtaposition that looks incredible and very current.

Picking wood flooring for vintage and sustainable design

One of the benefits of using timber flooring is to deliver the warmth, comfort and authentic beauty you need in your interior space while reducing environmental impact.

With many sustainable wood flooring options, you can easily find those that match your overall aesthetic.

As we mostly start the design process from the ground and go upward, it’s easy to see how wood flooring can set the tone for the aesthetic and colour palette we choose as well as the furnishings we introduce into our space.

Antique reclaimed wood flooring has a fascinating way of introducing a sense of history and grandeur in ways that feel understated.

In addition, its rich patina lends a distinctive and timeless character that helps create an enduring space.

Because the material has been given a second life, it makes for an environmentally sound choice that’s guaranteed to last.

Combining charm and detail, wide wood planks are a perfect complement to vintage-styled homes.

The wider planks show exceptionally tight wood grain and include marks, indentations, or other distressed details.

These touches infuse rustic charm and a lived-in feel that’s as unique as your taste.

Reminiscent of classical Victorian buildings, parquet floors are made up of short wooden battens arranged in one-of-a-kind mosaic-like patterns.

Whether you’re intrigued by a herringbone, chevron, Chantilly, or Versailles pattern, this style of flooring not only represents a long tradition of craftsmanship but also provides curated visual inspiration that perfectly highlights a vintage appeal.

Conclusion

From the 1880s to the 1940s to the 1960s and beyond, vintage and sustainable materials and accents introduce us to some of the stunning periods of interior design. Whether you are a minimalist or a maximalist, there is an era of design that caters to your unique taste and offers a timeless quality that’s sure to stand the test of time.

A lot of shapes, finishes, fabrics, and colours used then look just as charming and elegant today. It’s possible to incorporate a few vintage accents and still maintain an aesthetic that feels current and on-trend. Ultimately, vintage and sustainable accents can help create an interior space that’s liveable, functional and stylish.

Engineered flooring consists of an inner core made up of anywhere from 2 to 6 cross layers of plywood, glued together and topped off with a layer of solid wood — the veneer.

These layers run at 90° to one another offering more stability; and are resistant to moisture and changing ambient conditions.

Like solid wood, engineered wood comes in various thicknesses, from 12mm to around 21mm.

When deciding on the proper thickness to purchase, making the right choice can make a huge difference to the end result.

You need to consider various key elements, and these include:

Is the floor being fitted over underfloor heating?

Many homeowners opt for engineered wood flooring if they already have, or are planning to install underfloor heating.

Before any selection, pay attention to the manufacturers’ guidelines or seek the advice of your supplier and heating installer.

Will the floor be fixed directly to the joists?

If you are planning to fit your engineered wood floor directly on to joists or battens, you can expect more pressure to be put on the planks or boards.

It is recommended to use a wood thickness of 21mm to provide stability to a heavier load.

Furthermore, there are other things to take into consideration, such as the centre point of the first joint which shouldn’t be more than 450mm away from the centre point of the next joist.

If there is a greater distance, you may need to use noggins and braces to offer more stability.

What is the best thickness?

Certain areas in the home get a constant beating from heavy traffic and can experience a lot of wear and tear, especially if you have kids and pets.

These areas include the kitchen, hallway and living space.

A 16mm platform is perfect for any subfloor and for underfloor heating. The is no difference in durability, quality or lifespan when compared with thicker floors.

Transitional style has gotten a lot of attention in recent years, and rightfully so.

It’s a highly adaptable aesthetic that, when executed well, can provide the ideal combination of old and modern.

What is a transitional design style?

The transitional design style merges traditional and modern ideas.

If you’ve ever felt like traditional is a little too stiff or modern is too frigid, transitional could be the perfect style for you.

For a truly distinctive look, transitional aesthetic also infuses the following design traits:

• The colour scheme is placid and neutral, with minimal use of accent colours or vibrant patterns.
• Incorporating area rugs, scatter cushions, or throws enhances the spaces’ comfort level.
• Furniture can be used as a focal point to promote comfort or as an accent to elevate the look and feel of the space.
• Solitary use of seamless flooring throughout the interior space.
• The use of accessories is kept to a minimum.
• Even though the two styles are merged, the overall aesthetic is polished and put together.

Using timeless wooden boards to create transitional but unfussy aesthetics is a designers’ approach to well-loved interiors.

For example, wood flooring manufacturers combine its beauty, charm, and natural texture with clean lines and the modern simplicity of wide planks.

The timeless beauty of wood creates a design-forward yet the trend-proof foundation for any space, hence no two floors are alike.

The place of wood flooring in transitional design spaces

Wood has been used for centuries to build both small and large structures, everyday objects, and, most notably, flooring. When craftsmen learned how to process timber, it quickly became the primary material used to furnish all types of interiors.

Despite the growing number of synthetic materials available on the market, we continue to use wood to finish our floor surfaces.

Wood flooring has a character, grain, and beauty that is unmatched and, for this reason, has remained the primary material used by both designers and homeowners? So how does wood flooring fit into transitional settings?

Wood, because of its universal and versatile nature, can be easily combined with other materials and textures. This is evident in transitional design trends and the approach was taken by designers, who are increasingly eager to combine wood with other materials and furnishes to create a more fluid design. As a result, they create stunning and one-of-a-kind interiors that are continuously intriguing.

Reclaimed wood flooring in transitional design

Due to its history, patina, and marks of its previous use, reclaimed wood flooring, which is natural timber acquired from old barns, factories, and warehouses—refined and given a new life—highlights an irresistible old-world charm. It matches up beautifully with different decor ideas, textures, and materials in one space.

Transitional designs like rustic modern design, harness the character and history of older floors to elevate the entire interior design at once.

The warmth of distressed timber boards, for instance, lend a traditional touch to the space, while its wide width and long length, along with classic upholstered furniture, simple but sophisticated decorative objects, and sleekest light fixture, adds to the looks’ contemporary vibe.

Modern wood flooring in transitional design

Likewise, modern wood flooring such as engineered floorboards can add richness and depth to a space but with a more fascinating and approachable feel.

Modern wood flooring, for example, brings in more strong, clean lines that are almost certain to give the space a fresh, updated feel, but match them with classic marble countertops and cabinetry and you’ll be well on your way to a transitional kitchen space.

When designing a transitional interior, it’s imperative that you consider how the space will be used.

Will your wood flooring be more traditional or more modern in style?

Understanding this will help you in deciding on the best wood flooring colours and textures to use.

Conclusion

Traditional elements and modern ideas, such as the combination of symmetry, clean lines, open layouts, and gracious circulation, are essential in the most successful transitional designs.

Materiality is equally important, and in the case of wood flooring, each board is unique and better suited to blend in with other materials and textures in the room.

Natural materials like wide oak hardwood flooring help to anchor the space and add organic character to transitional design.

Because of its graceful and sophisticated nature, wood is often a focal point in the home—and it’s worth investing in the highest quality because it is a timeless material that never goes out of style no matter the changing design trends.

Hill House Interiors is rooted in a simple principle: to create bespoke interiors that are both functional and spectacular. And since its inception, the interior architecture and design firm has managed to build two decades of experience in the forefront of the industry.

From their studio in Weybridge, Surrey, the company provides premium design services for discerning clients worldwide, creating residences from contemporary pieds à terre to classical country estates.

City penthouse apartments, country estates, family homes, show houses, and investment properties are among the studio’s completed work in the residential interior portfolio.

Hill House Interiors projects also extend to boutiques, hotels, restaurants, and even yacht design.

They travel extensively—providing clients with a fully coordinated design and building a solution for new-build or refurbishment projects—with a particular focus on Europe and the South-East, but not entirely.

From London to Monaco, Spain to the Bahamas, New York City to Dubai, Hill House Interiors has a global presence.

Directors Helen Bygraves and Jenny Weiss oversee a team of planners, interior designers, architects, and support personnel—all with a wealth of expertise that set their services apart in the world of exquisite, bespoke interiors.

The creation of high-end design reflects Hill House Interiors’ hallmark style of “Modern Luxury”.

Sourcing the most delectable and rare products and combining this with meticulous attention to detail to produce unforgettable experiences is precisely the service quality that their clients receive and have come to expect.

Combining creative, multi-disciplinary working style, Hill House Interiors take pleasure in their strategy of collaborating closely with their broad client base, with whom they naturally form lasting relationships.

They start on a journey together to realize the client’s aspirations, carefully guiding them through the creative process, from the first consultation through concept design to the thorough creation of the layers that make up the language and character of any scheme.

They consider their unrivalled aptitude to understand the client’s utmost needs and the expertise to meticulously turn these aspirations into reality to be their greatest asset. Inspired by the individuals they design for, each member of the team has a sincere enthusiasm for design, allowing them to provide expert advice and in-depth knowledge of the greatest and one-of-a-kind aesthetics.

As a consequence, key work stages include concept ideas through mood boards, early glimpses into finished projects through photorealistic CGIs, as well as furniture and lighting layouts that are presented with each new phase of the design process.

Their Weybridge Showroom gives everyone a taste of Hill House Interiors’ elegance, and it’s a style mecca for individuals seeking interior design and inspiration.

Accessories, beautiful objects, stunning floristry arrangements and artworks are all on offer—suited for small home furnishing as well as finishing touches for larger projects.

Through smart planning, Hill House Interiors craft some of the most luxurious and innovative interior spaces—combined with couture furniture that spotlight perfection, glamour and timeless elegance.

This is evidently seen in one of their projects, Surrey Family Home. Jenny and Helen’s combination of nature-inspired hues, textural play, subtle use of pattern and an interesting variation in materiality creates both motion and meaning, resulting in a light and bright home that meets a sophisticated bohemian vibe perfect for entertaining family and friends.

The Llawnroc Hotel in Cornwall overlooking a dramatic coastline was in need of a modern upgrade—the design firm worked to create a boutique hotel that seamlessly marries Cornish landscape with contemporary interiors.

The neutral colour scheme; black, brown, taupe, grey and white, was drawn from the oceanfront setting.

All of the building materials—light wooden flooring, reflective wall glass tiles, and brown wave-patterned walls—seem to mirror the natural setting.

Motivated by the need for light, bright interiors, the upper tier of the Chesterfield Hill home gallery was repelled with a stylish pale grey timber—and the team at Hill House Interiors also introduced high gloss finishes, mirrored surfaces and a polished plaster accent wall to create effective light-reflecting surfaces.

To create a unique experience, the split-level living, dining, and kitchen space is connected by a glass railing, burnt orange accents, and an impressive suspended chandelier—all lending a lavish and alluring character to the space.

Conclusion

Committed to delivering spectacular projects with the highest levels of design, Hill House Interiors has changed the face of the ever-evolving interior and architectural industry with their Luxury Modern style.

With a portfolio boasting a diverse selection of projects, Hellen and Jenny together with their talented team create multi-faceted couture interiors—and continue to put a stamp on the homes, hotels, restaurants and yachts of private clients across Europe and the rest of the world.

Drifting in and out of vogue throughout the years, parquet floors have proved that they are well deserving of covering our interior floors.

They are undeniably stunning products of excellent and careful craftsmanship and a true symbol of luxury and opulence.

It is not only thanks to their beauty but their timeless charm, where we are met with warmth, style and appreciation.

Where it all began: Parquet de Versailles

The history of parquet floors dates back to 16th century France, where artisans created elaborate designs by fitting blocks of small wood in geometric patterns with the shapes of the individual blocks being varied in colour and size.

Parquet is derived from the French term “parquetry,” meaning “small compartment.”

These wood floors were used to replace the country estate marble or stone floors that were expensive to install and maintain and caused long-term damage to the timber framework.

At this time triangular parquet floors were glued to concrete and hand scraped before the finish, but later on, long planks with a tongue and groove system were devised, which allowed for more intricate woodworking to take place, making parquet flooring a more extravagant and sophisticated flooring design.

During the 1600s parquet flooring became the epitome of elegance in manor houses and palaces, as well as public buildings, schools and factories throughout France.

It was only in the 1680s when Louis XIV, the King of France, installed exceptional parquet designs: the “parquet de Versailles” pattern at Versailles Palace’s room’s that this prestigious floor type fashionably became a universal trend in Europe.

For the kings home, which took two decades to expand and renovate, was nothing short of prestige and luxury.

He initially had marble floors installed in all new areas, but in the 1670s, the marble floors in the King’s Grand Apartment were leaking and rotting the joists.

Louis XIV decided to replace most of the marble with the parquet de Versailles; a decision that must have had plenty to do with its aesthetics, durability and geometrical sobriety.

Once construction was completed in 1693, architect Nicodemis Tessin writes, “In Trianon, parquetry is quite like paneling. There’s one single room in Versailles which parquet is not by squares, the entire rest is diamond-shaped in the new style”.

Louis XIV’s craftsmen created a special pattern for the Versailles floors, distinguishable by large squares of parquetry, laid on the bias, with interlaced diagonal squares within.

The pattern is still known as Parquet de Versailles and most times it’s in plain oak.

Other motifs were born then when aristocrats all over France were having new parquetry patterns laid in their chateaux. These include examples like the parquets of Chantilly and of Aremberg, as well as the herringbone, marquetry parquets or mosaic parquets.

Parquet floors remained trendy and were a better option to marble for several centuries, until the 1930s, when they fell out of vogue and went into sharp decline, and many contemporary European homeowners enjoyed the comfort of carpeting underfoot.

Many parquet floors were hidden beneath carpets, until the 1980’s when these architectural timber masterpieces were uncovered and restored to their original beauty and rose in prominence again as vintage and timeless floors.

The rise of French parquet in England

Parquetry arrived in England in the 17th century when Queen Mary wanted her official residence; Somerset House (then Denmark House), redesigned in the late 1620s.

The reconstruction and redecoration was overseen by Indigo Jones, who brought a touch of the French style parquet floors within the architectural design.

In the 18th century the French parquet evolved and most notably, herringbone and chevron wood flooring designs were included within buildings where wealthy property owners used lavish designs to display their wealth.

Parquet wood flooring now

Two of the most sought after styles for parquet flooring are the herringbone and chevron patterns.

Unlike the highly polished and intricate square parquet known to be used in previous decades, these two styles are often made from unfinished wood boards.

Herringbone and chevron wood flooring remain a firm favourite with homeowners and have increasingly become uber-trendy in many traditional and contemporary interior settings in recent years.