The Dream
Following the best traditions of the upper echelons of England’s nobility, the owners of this Grade I Listed building were tastefully renovating a wing of the ancestral family seat to accommodate the practical needs of a young family whilst maintaining a style and quality in keeping with the work of preceding centuries. This particular room was a 1400ft² family Kitchen/Breakfast room. The floor needed to complement the purpose-made cabinetry and sit comfortably in its exceptional setting.

The Challenges
Colour schemes ran hand-in-hand with the finishes to the cabinetry and the floor finish needed to be practical, easy to maintain and ‘children friendly’. Whilst a large room, this was divided into several sectionsand board sizes had to work for both long and short runs. Significant preparation work was required to the concrete subfloor; underfloor heating was installed and long term access was required to central heating pipes and services. Care was needed in setting finished floor levels to avoid impacting on the picture windows and window shutters. Transitions to the deep skirtings and architectural mouldings were also critical.

The Solution
An Engineered European oak floor in Hardwax Oiled, Beaufort finish was selected with 200mm (8”) planks and a textured surface. Ventilation grilles were incorporated and access panels were formed using the floor boards; solid oak pellets and a matching colouration compound were supplied to allow semi-permanent fixing over areas of significant heat whilst retaining ability to reinstate the floor should emergency access be required.