insideKENT Magazine Issue 101 - September 2020 | Page 62

HOME+GARDEN
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FLOORING CONT.
The Natural Wood Floor Company
Oak Aged Parquet Ebony Oiled
Kraus LVT
Ingleton Walnut
The Natural Wood Floor Company
Oak Antique Brown Lacquered
Bathrooms
Kitchen and bathrooms have many
of the same needs, namely that it
should be easy to clean, durable, and
be able to withstand the tests of time,
including spillage of bathroom
products, water spray and it’s humid
environment. Carpets are somewhat
of a gamble in bathrooms; while they
make for a lovely cosy atmosphere,
they also retain moisture, and are
prone to staining. So if you have a
household full of potty training
children, or a poorly ventilated
bathroom, this may be a decision to
avoid. Solid wood is also not
appropriate for any environment with
high humidity due to the likelihood
of it warping, making solid wooden
floors a no-go in most bathrooms.
Because of it’s incredible versatility,
experts are once again endorsing LVT.
The slight spring in the tiles allow for
comfort under foot, and the vast range
of designs mean that depending on
your style LVT can make a bathroom
feel cosy, homely and inviting, or fresh,
crisp and clean. Whatever vibe you
are going for Jeni Brookes, UK sales
director of QEP suggests using
Kraus LVT (www.krausflooring.co.uk)
for all your bathroom floor needs.
This particular LVT is 100%
waterproof and designed to be easily
cleaned with a mop, ‘Kraus LVT also
has a unique UV and durable wear
layer to prevent floor discolouration,
stains and scuffs. It’s a maintenancefree
flooring that includes an
impressive 25-year residential
guarantee.’ This is a flooring that is
designed to last, so is perfect if you're
looking to give your bathroom a onetime
make-over.
Living Room
Ah the living room, most people’s
favourite room in the house, a room
designed for relaxing, snacking and
enjoying some chilled family time,
while playing a nerve-testing board
game, or catching up on the latest
must-watch TV show together. This
is a room to kick off your shoes, grab
a glass of wine and unwind after a
stressful day of work and chasing after
the kids. But what kind of flooring is
best used in a living room?
Though carpets may be the material your mind immediately jumps to, they can
actually be a tricky business in very lived-in living rooms, particularly ones with
young children and pets. Due to the amount of foot traffic, food and beverages,
and furry animals that will be waltzing in and out of this room all day long,
carpets can easily lose their fluffy warmness, and turn into coarse, food stained
abominations. Muddy foot and paw-prints are also inevitable when you live in
the world's capital of unpredictable weather, and with autumn and winter just
round the corner, everything from leaves to snow will likely be tracked right into
your living room, making easy to clean flooring a top priority to homeowners.
We propose the best solution to these everyday hassles to be natural wooden
flooring. Wood floors bring a perfect warmness to the room, plus the blank slate
a wooden floor offers allows the opportunity to use your imagination, and inject
some bright colours, wild patterns or fun textures into the room, courtesy of a
rug! The layering effect of a rug will make the room feel cosy and warm, while
also being an interesting eye-catcher - just be sure to position it away from any
potential spillage liabilities!
insideKENT chatted to Peter Keane, the director of The Natural Wood Floor
Company about his thoughts on why wood floors are perfect for any household.
‘Wood flooring is a great choice, both from a style and practically perspective.
This is a floor that combines easily with other popular materials, including stone
and metal, and is great for injecting personality into any size space. Perhaps the
best news for family homes is that engineered wood flooring is very easy to keep
clean. Simply use a gentle mop and some mild detergent. Another big benefit
of engineered wood flooring is that it can be sanded down and refinished numerous
times over its lifespan.’ These engineered boards can even be used with underfloor
heating, so for anyone suffering with perpetually cold feet, have no fear, you will
be snuggly whatever the season!
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