Practical Parquet Flooring for Period Family Home

Having always dreamed of owning a period property, Elise Dodds jumped at the opportunity to renovate an Edwardian house in her hometown in the North of England and the challenge of restoring to its former glory whilst creating a stylish, family friendly home.

Key to the design was to creation of a large open plan kitchen/living space at the back of the house that would become the hub of the home and a space for the whole family to enjoy. Choosing the right floor for the space was critical. It had to be functional and hardwearing enough to withstand busy family life and cope with inevitable marks and scuffs, but also beautiful, inviting and in keeping with the history of the house.

Our Original Vintage Oak Parquet offered the perfect solution. It’s softly worn edges and gently distressed patina create a floor with an authentic year’s old feel that blends seamlessly with period architecture. The gently aged style also means that any bumps and scrapes will only add to its charm – music to the ears of Elise and any parent with busy little people running around.

We make Vintage Parquet from sustainably sourced, precisely machined, solid European Oak, so it is inherently tough and designed to last at least a lifetime. It is also fully sealed with a durable natural finish that is designed for modern living, so there is no sanding or finishing required after fitting and maintenance is simple.

Elise chose Rich Oak Vintage Parquet, whose chestnut tones created the warm, inviting atmosphere she was looking for and balance the bold rose and plum cabinetry beautifully.  To keep the traditional feel, and to optimise the sense of space, she laid it in a timeless herringbone pattern without a border.

When we asked Elise if she’s happy with the outcome she said “The result is even better than we had hoped for. The real wood is absolutely beautiful. It really brings the whole room together. I can imagine it growing perfectly with our family, looking even better over time!”

When we asked her why she chose to work with Broadleaf she  explained “Broadleaf stood out as providing not only sustainably managed wood, but also a quality product that would last the test of time. They knew their stuff when it came to flooring and were brilliant at providing advice not only on selecting the right floor, but also when it came to fitting and aftercare. It really felt like Broadleaf provided a bespoke customer service beyond others.”

To find out more about our Original Vintage Parquet Flooring Collection and order samples, click here or visit one of our showrooms.

Find out more about Elise’s renovation journey on Instagram: @makemyhomepretty