Project Spotlights

A Bold Coastal Renovation at the Smurf House

The Smurf House is a bold, design-led renovation that effortlessly blends playful interiors with practical, considered living.  Discover how thoughtful material choices, expert craftsmanship and bespoke detailing transformed this property into a truly memorable space – designed not just to impress, but to be lived in, and enjoyed time and time again.

Broadleaf Worn Oak Vintage Parquet flooring laid at Smurf House

THE PROJECT

Located near the sought-after coastal town of Salcombe, The Smurf House is a standout renovation led by Katie Woods of @comedowntothewoods.

Originally two poorly combined properties, the house was completely reimagined into a high-end holiday home designed to deliver both impact and functionality – a place where laidback luxury meets coastal cool.

The vision was ambitious from the outset: to create a Soho House-inspired interior with bold architectural features and a strong design identity. The approach was to “go big or go home,” transforming the property into something truly unique.

The property is packed with standout features and distinctive design moments including a bespoke curved staircase, a “gin terrace” with a slide to the garden, a home bar, games room, secret doors, and fully wheelchair-accessible downstairs accommodation (an often-overlooked but essential element of inclusive design).

Plank and parquet floors are both beautiful, but if you like both and don’t know which to choose, the following might help you.

Plank floors are quicker and easier to install than parquet, which means that they will be less expensive to install. They are also a simpler DIY option. That said, parquet floors have an undeniable wow factor, and create a feature all on their own. This is one of the reasons that they are such a popular choice for hallways, which can often be difficult to furnish due to their size and the need to be able to move through them freely.

Herringbone parquet is also a great solution for unusually shaped rooms such as L shapes or those entered from more than one direction, as the pattern works both ways, whereas plank floors tend to look better in one direction or another.

Plank and parquet floors are both beautiful, but if you like both and don’t know which to choose, the following might help you.

Plank floors are quicker and easier to install than parquet, which means that they will be less expensive to install. They are also a simpler DIY option. That said, parquet floors have an undeniable wow factor, and create a feature all on their own. This is one of the reasons that they are such a popular choice for hallways, which can often be difficult to furnish due to their size and the need to be able to move through them freely.

Herringbone parquet is also a great solution for unusually shaped rooms such as L shapes or those entered from more than one direction, as the pattern works both ways, whereas plank floors tend to look better in one direction or another.

THE BRIEF

For us, the brief was clear: supply a luxury wood flooring solution that complements the home’s bold interior design whilst performing in a high-traffic holiday let environment and stair treads to match.

As a luxury rental property, the interior needs to strike a balance between beautiful aesthetics, real life practicality and long term durability. It also needed to be cohesive and flow naturally from one space to another. This made the choice of flooring particularly important, as it would need to function as both as a design feature and a practical foundation for the home.

Plank and parquet floors are both beautiful, but if you like both and don’t know which to choose, the following might help you.

Plank floors are quicker and easier to install than parquet, which means that they will be less expensive to install. They are also a simpler DIY option. That said, parquet floors have an undeniable wow factor, and create a feature all on their own. This is one of the reasons that they are such a popular choice for hallways, which can often be difficult to furnish due to their size and the need to be able to move through them freely.

Herringbone parquet is also a great solution for unusually shaped rooms such as L shapes or those entered from more than one direction, as the pattern works both ways, whereas plank floors tend to look better in one direction or another.

Plank and parquet floors are both beautiful, but if you like both and don’t know which to choose, the following might help you.

Plank floors are quicker and easier to install than parquet, which means that they will be less expensive to install. They are also a simpler DIY option. That said, parquet floors have an undeniable wow factor, and create a feature all on their own. This is one of the reasons that they are such a popular choice for hallways, which can often be difficult to furnish due to their size and the need to be able to move through them freely.

Herringbone parquet is also a great solution for unusually shaped rooms such as L shapes or those entered from more than one direction, as the pattern works both ways, whereas plank floors tend to look better in one direction or another.

Broadleaf Worn Oak vintage parquet at the Smurf House, Salcombe
Broadleaf Worn Oak vintage parquet at the Smurf House, Salcombe

THE SOLUTION

worn oak vintage parquet

Our Worn Oak Vintage Parquet was the ideal base for the layered, characterful interior of the Smurf House, acting as a unifying element that grounds the more playful design features whilst adding warmth and continuity throughout the space.

Each of our Vintage Parquet floors is gently aged to create the worn edges and naturally distressed patina reminiscent of a time-worn floor. The result is a floor that feels like it has always been part of the building’s architecture. In this project, it brings a subtle depth and gravitas that beautifully balances the contemporary interior, achieving a look that feels ‘traditional with a twist’.

The gently distressed look also offers a practical advantage: in a busy holiday home environment (with dogs, children, and frequent guest turnover), everyday wear is inevitable, but here it becomes part of the floor’s charm, rather than detracting from it. Any marks and dents will only enhance its beauty over time.

The colour of Worn Oak is a subtle combination of deep grey and soft bronze. The grey picks out the grain of the timber to give it a gently worn look, but the overall tone of the floor is versatile and works beautifully as a foundation for bright colours and fun patterns.

Laid in a classic herringbone pattern, the floor introduces a sense of heritage and craftsmanship to the Smurf House, and adds visual rhythm across the expansive open-plan kitchen and living area. The end result is a space rich in character, with a timeless, effortlessly lived-in appeal.

Bespoke SOLID OAK STAIR cladding

One of the most impressive design features of the property is its stunning bespoke curved staircase – like a functional sculpture carved into the heart of the home.

To ensure a cohesive look, we manufactured bespoke solid oak stair treads, colour-matched precisely to the beautiful parquet flooring used throughout the ground floor. This coordinated approach is particularly effective in open-plan homes, where continuity of materials enhances the overall sense of cohesion and quality. Colour matching the flooring and the stair parts makes the staircase feel fully integrated within the design of the home as a whole, rather than a standalone element.

Each tread was handmade at our workshop by our joinery team using templates taken by the on-site build team to ensure a precise fit. Individually crafted to measure, the treads also feature a bullnose return – an essential detail for the exposed edges of the open-string staircase.

They were then carefully colour matched to the floor and sealed with two coats of our durable hardwax oil finish. This not only protects the colour but also provides a practical, hard-wearing surface designed to withstand high levels of foot traffic. The completed treads were then delivered to site ready for installation by the project’s build team.

Our bespoke oak stair treads offer a simple and cost-effective way to transform an existing staircase structure into a beautifully finished oak feature, combining durability with refined design.

Broadleaf Worn Oak stair treads at the Smurf House, Salcombe
Broadleaf Worn Oak stair treads at the Smurf House, Salcombe

durable, practical and beautiful

As a rental property that will host a high turnover of guests, the flooring and stair treads needed to be robust, easy to maintain, and capable of ageing gracefully over time.

Our Worn Oak oak finish delivers on all fronts, combining durability with a beautifully time-worn aesthetic that only improves with use. It isn’t light oak, but it isn’t dark either, making it a practical, forgiving choice for busy spaces where day-to-day wear is inevitable. Its subtle blend of tones and gently distressed patina also helps to disguise marks and dirt, ensuring it continues to look its best between stays.

This project is a great example of how considered material choices can elevate both the look and longevity of a space. By combining characterful design with durable, practical solutions, the Smurf House strikes the perfect balance between style and functionality, creating a home designed to be enjoyed by many without compromising on quality.

Client: The Smurf House and Katie Woods

Broadleaf Worn Oak vintage parquet at the Smurf House, Salcombe
Broadleaf Worn Oak vintage parquet at the Smurf House, Salcombe
Broadleaf Worn Oak vintage parquet at the Smurf House, Salcombe

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