PERFECT HOMES MAGAZINE ( Editor Stan Israel) ( Editor Stan Israel) | Page 278

Hardwood

Flooring

TOP10
One of the UK’s leading flooring specialists, Ecora have put together
a definitive top 10 list of natural wood floors for 2014. Taking an
in-depth look into the buying trends of their customers Ecora have
also created a consumer guide to choosing wood floors. The guide
goes into great detail addressing all of the things customers need to
consider when selecting the best flooring for their home.
Ecora specialise in providing environmentally friendly and natural
wood flooring and have a wide selection of wood flooring and natural
furnishings at their North London showroom.
For further information visit: www.ecora.co.uk

OAK ORCHARD There is often a stigma
attached to wood floors that are finished
with a natural pigmented coating. In the past
manufacturers used solvent based oils and
lacquers and applied it on too thickly which
resulted in the floor looking very orange and a
bit plastic. Thanks to water-based products
we are now able to achieve beautiful blonde
colour tones that look and feel natural. A
product like Oak Orchard is a classic look
that will sit effortlessly in any interior.
GREY FRENCH OAK This floor is the
perfect option for busy families. The reason
for this is because it has a matt lacquered
finish, which makes it look natural and it
has an anti scratch coat on it, great for kids
and pets! The wide boards at 220mm are
contemporary in design and the dark grey
colour makes this floor look elegant and
because of the hard wearing finish it’s great
for dinner parties and high traffic.
NORTH AMERICAN WALNUT Walnut
is a bit like Marmite. You either love and
embrace it’s natural variation with tones
of reddish brown and blondes streaks
or you don’t. Walnut is often seen as a
contemporary option because it brings with
it richness and glamour in its dark colour.
Walnut is softer than Oak and because of
the colour it does show up scratches easily.
However the natural beauty of this wood
can compare to no other and is often used
in formal spaces such as dining rooms.
DOUGLAS FIR The white washed Douglas
Fir has been a favourite amongst designers

for a long time. Wide boards with extremely
long lengths give a sophisticated, shabby
chic look. There is only one slight drawback
with this floor and that is it’s durability.
Douglas Fir is a softwood and so that means
that it will need an ongoing maintenance
regime to keep it looking it’s best.
OAK CHEVRONS The Chevron pattern
is an easy way to pull new and old designs
together. Chevrons are available in various
sizes, grades and colours. No matter what
specification you choose, Chevrons instantly
add glamour to an interior.
PARQUET DE VERSAILLES These are
wood panels that come in different designs
and sizes. They are usually at the high-end
of hardwood flooring because of the labour
and skill involved in producing these panels
by hand. They have a more traditional feel
about them which can be easily paired with
a contemporary colour and finish to give
a modern twist. The greatest example of
this flooring can be seen in the Palace de
Versailles.
OAK BRENDON BRUSHED By taking
this mid range product and applying a heavy
brush to the material, it has been given a
whole new aspect to this floor. The brushed
effect accentuates the grains on the floor
and gives a lot more texture to the product.
Often when f