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Yellow poplar is probably the third most important hardwood in our Eastern forests, after maple and oak. Much of the yellow poplar today is growing on excellent sites where the American chestnut used to grow in the late 19th century, before blight wiped out these magnificent trees.

As a result, yellow poplar is one of the largest trees in today’s Eastern forests, large in both diameter and height, often more than 3 feet in diameter and 150 feet tall with some 100 feet of the stem without a branch. Yellow poplar is a member of the magnolia family. In fact, from time to time, some lumber from cucumber tree or other magnolia is accidentally included with yellow poplar lumber; such lumber is much whiter in color.

Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is also called tulip poplar and tulip tree. Sometimes, it is called just poplar, which can lead to confusion with the true poplar species including aspen. However, yellow poplar is not related to the aspen poplar or European poplars. The volume of yellow poplar in the forest continues to increase every year in spite of large harvests. 

In fact, yellow poplar has been providing important forest products for North American inhabitants for many centuries. For example, much of the early wooden tableware was made of yellow poplar. Early European settlers used it for log cabins, although decay soon resulted in deterioration.

Yellow poplar has been used for everything from musical instruments to pallets and construction 2x4s, from veneer to particleboard and OSB.

Processing suggestions and characteristics
Density. Yellow poplar averages about 26 pounds per cubic foot at 7 percent MC. 

Drying. Yellow poplar is perhaps the easiest drying species native to North America. Some blue stain can develop if drying is not aggressive enough or if logs or green lumber was stored rather than processed immediately. Shrinkage in drying is 6 percent. Final moisture contents for yellow poplar should be between 6.0 to 7.5 percent MC. 

Gluing and machining. Yellow poplar machines very well. Sharp tools will minimize fuzzing. Yellow poplar is very easy to glue. The softness means that the wood is quite forgiving in gluing.

Stability. Yellow poplar is subject about 1 percent size change running across the grain parallel to the rings (tangentially) for each 3-1/2 percent MC change, and about 1 percent size change across the rings (radially) for each 6 percent MC change.

Strength. Yellow poplar is medium-low in strength and stiffness. The bending strength (MOR) averages 10,100 psi. Hardness averages 540 pounds. Stiffness (MOE) averages 1.6 million psi. 

Color and grain. Grain of yellow poplar is fine and uniform in texture. Sapwood is fairly white with a hint of light tan color with an obvious light green hue. For “show wood” the sapwood is preferred. Heartwood tends to be greener in color. 

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Whenever we do a little reading about the way things were in our industry in the “old days,” meaning the 1920s and 1930s, we find out that one of the major species back then was sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). The name liquidambar is from the common name in Mexico (indirectly from Latin, meaning liquid and amber) in reference to the fragrant resin. 

The yellowish colored sap (technically called gum in a hardwood tree) is exuded from bark wounds and can actually be boiled down and concentrated into a salve that will reportedly cure skin problems and other ailments. 

The tree is common from Missouri to Connecticut and all states south of there, but lumber production is primarily in the southern states.

Even though plentiful, sweetgum lumber is not seen in most sawmills and therefore not seen in most furniture plants. Yet, it is one of my favorite species. I think that it is overlooked as a premium, moderately strong wood.

In the marketplace sweetgum is sold as either sap gum (which is the light colored sapwood) or red gum (which is the reddish-brown heartwood).

Incidentally, the Australian nursery rhyme that begins “Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, eating all the gumdrops he can see.” is not referring to the sweetgum tree, but to one of the Australian eucalyptus trees. However, the expression “up a gum tree” which means “in great difficulty” or “in a sticky situation” is apparently American in origin. There is also an old musical song (circa 1824) that was also danced to entitled “Possum Up a Gum Tree” which was from South Carolina and referred to the sweetgum.  

Processing suggestions and characteristics
Density. Sweetgum has a density of approximately 33 pounds per cubic foot. Sweetgum KD lumber weighs about 3 pounds per board foot at 7 percent MC.

Drying. The wood has interlocked grain and it warps. Flatsawn wood has a tendency to cup. Overall, gum shrinks 8 percent from green to 6 percent MC. Sap gum, like most sapwood, is subject to rapid discoloration by blue stain fungi and chemical gray stain in warm weather. Red gum will honeycomb if dried too quickly.

Gluing and machining. Sweetgum glues fairly easily, but because of the interlocked grain, any change in MC will likely affect surface flatness, thereby affecting glue bond strength. Sanding requires fresh (sharp) sandpaper. 

Stability. Gum shrinks and swells a more than some hardwoods (1 percent size change for a 3 percent MC change). Further, the interlocked grain can cause some unusual shrinkage problems. I suggest 6.5 percent MC to 7.0 percent MC as the target for most users. 

Strength. The strength (MOR) at 12 percent MC is 12,500 psi, Stiffness (MOE) is 1.64 million psi, and hardness is 850 pounds.
Color and grain. Red gum has its own wonderful, busy character often with long streaks of various dark colors and interlocked grain. This interlocked grain creates a long ribbon like appearance, very similar to mahogany. The concern over drying has been blown out of proportion and has led to a negative connotation when sweetgum is mentioned.

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Basswood (Tilia americana), also called linden, is a beautiful, fast growing tree reaching heights of 130 feet. It has a straight trunk, with most of the bole limb-free, thereby producing large volumes of clear lumber. The wood is creamy white, low in weight and strength, and without much obvious grain.

There are three commercially used species of basswood in North America: American basswood, Carolina basswood, and white basswood. The wood is so similar that they are not separated in the lumber market. The natural range of American basswood is widespread, ranging from southwestern New Brunswick to eastern North Dakota to North Carolina. Carolina basswood is found in the southeastern United States, from Virginia to Florida, and west to Texas. White basswood is common in the Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau region of the eastern United States. There can be potential staining problems if shipping lumber before drying, so it may be prudent to purchase basswood from sawmills and drying facilities in the growth areas.

Due to its freedom from odor and taste, basswood continues to be the preferred wood for apiary (bee hives) supplies and other food containers. 

It is also the top choice for wooden Venetian blind slats. Wood carvers also love basswood as its straight grain and low density mean easy cutting. Other “old-time” uses include drafting tables, surveying stakes, tripods, and other related equipment. 
In Europe some of the beautiful religious paintings are framed in basswood, which they call lime. There are more than 25 species of basswood in Europe. 

Processing suggestions and characteristics
Density. Basswood is one of the lightest weight hardwoods in North America. Its density is about 25 pounds per cubic foot or about 2 pounds per board foot, 1-inch thick. A planed piece 3/4-inch thick at 7 percent MC will weigh under 1-1/2 pounds per BF.
Drying. Basswood dries rapidly with little risk of defect except for possible staining. Because many uses for require long, narrow, thin cuttings that must be flat, special attention must be paid to stress relief at the end of drying. Shrinkage is about 7 percent.

Gluing and machining. Gluing is excellent, with the wood’s softness making it very forgiving. Very low MCs and low density mean that pressure needs to applied ASAP after the glue is spread, or a starved joint is likely. Basswood machines very well if tools are sharp. 

Stability. Basswood changes size by 1 percent if the moisture changes by 3 percent MC. This is a higher rate of change than many hardwoods, but basswood’s straight grain minimizes any warping that could occur if the moisture changes.

Strength. The strength (MOR) of basswood is 8700 psi, which is quite low. Likewise, the stiffness is somewhat low, 1.46 million psi,. The hardness is 410 pounds. 

Color and grain. The creamy white heartwood and sapwood are so similar in appearance that it can be hard to tell them apart. The texture is very fine, and the grain is indistinct. Due to variations in color from region to region, and possible staining, a contract should specify the color required to prevent any off-color material. 

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Aspen, also known as aspen poplar, poplar (especially outside North America), popple, trembling aspen, bigtooth aspen, quaky and a dozen other local names, is a wonderful wood for many use. The lumber is primarily from two trees, mainly trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and a little bit of bigtooth aspen (P. grandidentata). Lumber from the two species can be mixed and would not be separated.

Aspen trees are found mainly in Northeastern United States, the Lake States, northward into Canada, and in the Rockies from New Mexico north into Alberta. In fact, aspen is the most widespread hardwood species in North America. Incidentally, in the Rockies, this is major hardwood species. Although the tree is a prolific seeder, most reproduction is by root sprouting. When the roots are disturbed and there is lots of sunlight, new trees sprout with as many as 1 million sprouts per acre.

Aspen wood is lightweight and fairly weak and bendable. But, in spite of these somewhat negative features, the wood is very desirable for many uses including children’s toys, tongue depressors, and paneling and seats in saunas. Why? Because this wood is 100 percent splinterless. 

It can also be used in pallets and for some structural applications. The wood has been widely used locally for log cabins, home and barn framing. Large sized, clear lumber is used for caskets It has also been used extensively for paper manufacturing. 

Aspen was also used for cooking in summer kitchens. The wood would ignite quickly, supplying the needed heat for cooking, but then quickly burn up and not keep the kitchen excessively hot. 

Processing suggestions and characteristics
Density. Dry lumber at 7 percent MC averages about 25 pounds per cubic foot, making aspen the lightest native hardwood. A planed and dry 1 x 6 x 10-foot piece of aspen will weigh only 8 pounds. 

Drying. Drying rates can be as rapid as possible; slow drying initially can lead to blue stain. Shrinkage is around 6 percent, green to 7 percent MC. Because the wood is weak, fuzzing is likely unless it is under 7 percent MC. Oftentimes, final MCs will be between 5 to 6 percent.

Gluing and machining. Aspen is the easiest of all native American species to glue. However, the wood is very absorptive so pressure must be applied ASAP or else the glue will dry out and not bond well. Due to the fuzzing problem tools must be extremely sharp. High speed steel is recommended rather than carbide. Likewise, only fresh sandpaper should be used. A sizing coat or sanding sealer is often used to stiffen the fibers and eliminate the fuzzing problem.

Stability. Once dry and any wet pockets are dried as well, the wood is very stable. It changes 1 percent in size tangentially with a 6 percent MC change (about 30 percent RH change) and 1 percent in size radially for a 10 percent MC change (50 percent RH). 

Strength. Bending strength (MOR) is 8400 psi and the elasticity is 1.2 million psi; hardness is only 350 pounds. Nevertheless, aspen can be used for studs in home building, pallets, and other structural uses.

Color and grain. The sapwood and heartwood are both white. The grain and texture is fine with the annual rings difficult to see. 

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American cherry (Prunus Serotina of the family Rosaceae) continues to be popular with furniture manufacturers especially in residential furniture, particularly bedroom and dining room pieces.

It is a good domestic cabinet wood due to its warm red tone and dramatic grain cathedrals, plus many consumers ask for it by name. It has become popular wood for kitchen cabinets. 

Common names include American black cherry, cabinet cherry, rum cherry, whiskey cherry, wild cherry, Pennsylvania cherry, and mountain black cherry.

American cherry can be finished in a wide range of colors and turns more red with age. 

It is easy to machine. It is not particularly easy to bend, and is prone to splitting when steam bent, unlike ash that is more flexible. 

Black cherry is widely reported to be the largest of the native cherries and the only native cherry to be considered commercially valuable. Found throughout the United States, cherry’s prime growing areas are Pennsylvania and New York. Its range also includes parts of Canada.

Pennsylvania cherry also has the least amount of pitch pockets. Buyers come from all over the world searching for the color, also called pink salmon. If you go farther North, the cherry is bright pink; farther South, it becomes more orange in tone.

Cherry thrives in full sun, so the long-ago practice of clear cutting forests actually helped the supplies of cherry to grow. It has been a popular fine furniture wood since the early settlers discovered its properties. It is especially prized for its beauty and workability, its fine grain texture, and range of figures, which includes curly cherry. 

American cherry grows in the eastern United States and Canada. Its uses include furniture and cabinetmaking, high-end joinery, musical instruments, flooring and boat interiors. It is a favorite for turnery and carving and also is used in pattern making and specialty items. 

Processing suggestions and characteristics
Height/weight. Average height is 50 to 100 feet, with average diameters of 1-2 feet. The average weight is 36 pounds per cubic foot, with a specific gravity of 0.58. 

Gluing and machining. Cherry works well with both hand and power tools and can be glued without problems. For finishing, cherry does well with a variety of treatments.

Stability. Cherry dries fairly rapidly with little degrade. Use care to avoid shrinkage during seasoning. Cherry shrinks about 3.7% radially as it dries. The wood shrinks about 7.1% tangentally as it dries. The tangental-to-radial shrinkage is 1.9%

Strength. The modulus of rupture is 12,300 psi. Janka hardness rating is 950. The modulus of elasticity is 1.49 million psi. Shear strength is 1,700 psi.

Color and grain. When finished, cherry wood is a beautiful salmon pink to red and its color improves with time.

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In North America, the maple species are divided into two groups: soft maple (which includes red maple, Acer rubrum, silver maple, A. saccharinum, and bigleaf maple, A. macrophyllum) and hard maple (which includes sugar maple, A. Saccharum, and black maple, A. Nigrum). Once the lumber is manufactured, it is possible with 10x magnification to separate hard maple from soft maple as hard maples have ray cells of two different widths (seen from the end grain) while soft maples have one width. Soft maple also tends to be softer, lighter weight, weaker and dingier colored than hard maple.

Of the two main soft maples, red maple is about 10 percent harder and 15 percent heavier than silver maple. Red is also stronger and stiffer than silver.

Red maple grows throughout the East Coast, from Florida to Newfoundland and west to Texas and Minnesota. It prefers wetter sites, but grows in a wide variety of climatic and soil conditions. Trees are typically 70 feet high and 24 inches in diameter at maturity.

Silver maple also grows along the East Coast, but is not found commercially in Florida, Louisiana or Texas. The trees are a bit taller and larger in diameter than red and have the largest winged seeds of all the maples.

Although not as strong as hard maple, the name “soft” gives the wrong impression. Soft maple is more than adequate for many uses, including furniture, flooring, cabinets, kitchenware, clothes hangers and the like. 

Red and silver maple also can be used for syrup production, although the good sugar season is earlier and shorter and yields are less than with hard maple. Wildlife also like to browse the trees for food. 

Processing suggestions and characteristics
Density: Red maple weighs about 36 pounds per cubic foot at 7 percent MC. This means that a piece of lumber planed to 3/4 inch will weigh 2-1/4 pounds. Silver maple weighs about 31 pounds per cubic foot at 7 percent MC. Dry, planed lumber will weigh just under 2 pounds per BF.

Drying: There is little risk of checking and warp with proper stacking and drying conditions. Slow drying can develop stain, both fungal and chemical, so aggressive drying ASAP after sawing is suggested. Dry stickers are also essential. Shrinkage averages about 6 percent in width for flatsawn lumber and 3 percent in thickness.

Gluing and machining: Red and silver maple are excellent gluing woods and are very easy to machine. Due to the softness of the wood, very sharp tools work best. Avoid moisture contents over 8.0 percent MC for best machining.

Stability: Soft maples are less responsive to humidity changes than hard. For flatsawn lumber, a 4 percent MC change results in 1 percent shrinkage or swelling. In the radial direction, an 8 percent MC change results in 1 percent size change.

Strength: Red maple has an MOR of 7700 psi, an MOE of 1.39 million psi and surface hardness of 700 pounds. Silver has an MOR of 5800 psi, MOE of 0.94 million psi and hardness of 590 pounds.

Color and grain: The grain is very fine textured with white sapwood. Heartwood is buff colored to darker brown.

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Having spent many years in the world of British heritage fashion and lifestyle brands, my take on interior design is informed by both interiors and fashion trends. I say “informed” as it is helpful to be aware of the zeitgeist, but not ruled by it. A nod to a trend in a room scheme is characterful and adds depth and interest, perhaps an element of surprise and intrigue, but a room that embodies that trend will be soulless and impersonal.

So, identify the trends that speak to you and bring to life your unique personality and I’ll show you how to interpret them using wood floors from Luxury Flooring’s broad collection.

Trend One – Quiet Luxury

A trend that started life on the catwalk, this for me is less of a passing trend and more of a core value when it comes to my design aesthetic. Focusing on quality, craftsmanship and understated elegance, quiet luxury is all about investing in timeless, enduring pieces that are, in fact, trend-less. The way to interpret this in your home is to layer considered objects, elegant furniture – preferably antiques mixed with well-made, contemporary pieces – and fabrics that are organic, sustainable and hand-woven. When it comes to flooring, the highest quality solid wood you can afford is the way to go. Not only will your floor be durable and long-lasting, but thanks to the breadth of the collection, you’ll find a wood finish that suits your style. My favourites are the French-inspired La Roche Chateau Engineered Oak and the super chic Thorpe Roasted Grand Solid Oak Herringbone.

Trend Two – Mono Rooms

This is a super chic trend. A trend that suits any aesthetic. A timeless trend. Pick a colour – preferably brown, olive or earthy red right now – and layer tone-on-tone of that one colour, from its off-white iteration to its deepest version. By ‘layer’ I mean create an edited mix of paints, textured and patterned wallpapers, fabrics (plains, small prints, wovens, florals, stripes, geometrics), woods, metals, glass, stone, objects all in your chosen hue.  

The wood floor will be critical to the success of this scheme – if I chose Burgundy red as my mono colour for example, I’d go for the Studley Autumn Engineered Oak as it has a rich warmth to it and an oiled finish that gives it texture and character. If brown was my hero hue, I’d choose the mushroom-toned Elgin Stable Engineered Oak.

Trend Three – English Country Weekend

OK, so I’m cheating a bit – this is a catwalk trend. But it plays to my design style so wholeheartedly that I had to pick it for this article. Tactility and juxtaposition. In terms of AW24 clothes, this is interpreted through heritage tweeds, plaids, Aran and Argyle knits. It’s a Brideshead vibe – the Mitford sisters would be embracing it. There’s a touch of boho, a dollop of imperfection and an indulgent serving of eccentricity. In a room scheme, I’d mix perennial florals for an English garden aesthetic with Scottish checks and tartan wools and snuggly but stylish blankets knitted from local yarns. Stick to a considered, chic colour palette of latte brown, Burgundy, plaster pink and cream and you’re there. Wood flooring choices would need to be classic and preferably from indigenous wood. The Thorpe Roasted Solid Oak Herringbone  and Brimham Sun Kissed Solid Oak  are ideal for creating this look. 

Trend Four –  70s Retro Revival

Now this is a fun one. Remembered as a decade of hedonism, youthful optimism and unadulterated joy, the 70s are here again to inspire what we wear and how we decorate our homes. But how to play this out without making our homes look ludicrous and overly trend-driven in 2024? Begin with the earthy colour palette – brown (again!), orange, yellow and olive green make a good start. Take a cue from Dior’s AW24 double denim, Chanel’s shearling and Chloe’s chiffon blouses – all fabrics that translate with ease and interest to our home interiors. Wooden platform heels conjure warm orangey wood floors and Brimham Aged Sunshine Solid Oak or Deluxe Golden Sienna Herringbone Click Vinyl hold the key to this confident aesthetic.

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Earlier today I was cleaning up after installing a new gate for a customer.

He came out to thank me as I brushed up the sawdust from his driveway. He asked me the same question nearly every customer asks; “Do you only do gates!?”

When customers get a reliable craftsperson into their homes they are reluctant to let them leave.

It’s hard to find a good tradesperson.

I get it.

There would have been a time when I would have been keen to pitch the idea of building a beautiful feature wall in the living room, or even better, craft a new dining table.

I love a project where I can really show off my skills.

But I’ve come to my senses.

It’s five years since I niched down to only making and installing gates.

It got to the point where I was so busy with gates, that it didn’t make sense for me to do anything else.

It’s hardly dream-job stuff.

Making and installing three or four gates a day is monotonous—to say the least.

Boring as f#*k is how I usually describe it.

But here’s the thing, it is a thriving and lucrative woodworking business.

There are certain things you will be good and fast at.

If you want to make money in a labour intensive industry like woodworking, you need to be both.

For some it’s kitchens. For others it’s tables.

For me it’s gates.

I still love showing off my skills and building beautiful things.

But instead of losing money on a feature wall project that I’m just not quite quick enough to complete, I build a feature wall in my own home.

Building and installing gates gives me the time and money to do this.

It’s the best of both worlds.

Last week I finished building my home gym. I’m thrilled with it. I immediately thought, I wonder if I could make money building home gyms.

I had to snap out of it quickly.

Some people will be so talented that they can do anything at high speed and still churn out top quality stuff.

They’re the top 1%.

Like the top 1% of football players who make it to the Premier League.

Don’t be fooled by every amazing project you see on instagram. How long did it take? Was it for fun or for profit? Was profit made?

Mostly we’ve no idea.

If you’re woodworking for a living, do the stuff that gives you a living.

Save the passion projects for the weekend.

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Inspired by natural features and rustic beauty, Kaylie couldn’t wait to turn her new-build property into her dream home. After comparing a lot of samples, our gorgeous Primrose Herringbone Laminate caught her eye, and her vision became a reality! 

Why did you choose Luxury Flooring?

I chose Luxury Flooring after getting hundreds of samples from hundreds of online stores and all my top 3 choices were from Luxury Flooring; the quality of the flooring for the price was unmatchable.

What was most important to you when designing your room?

The most important thing to me when designing my room was for it not to feel like a typical new-build property. I wanted to have natural-looking features to mix the feel of modern and rustic, and this flooring was the perfect pairing for this design.

What does your home situation look like?

I bought my first home on my own at the end of last year. I’m 35 and single so I live alone but I have a little dog called Foster who visits as he lives with my parents.

How do you prepare your home before hosting?

Before anyone visits, I like to ensure my home is clean and tidy but also welcoming. I usually use it as an excuse to light a new candle as there’s nothing nicer than the smell of a new candle to welcome guests in.

Which rooms do you use for hosting?

The living room is my main hosting room when family and friends come over, and it opens up onto the garden so it’s a nice easy room to use. I’m currently doing my garden up ready for hosting in the summer months.

What qualities were you looking for in your new flooring?

Qualities I wanted from my flooring were easy maintenance, a rustic natural feel and a feature to the room.

Have you ever had a ‘panic moment’ with your floor while entertaining? If so, how did you handle it?

I have in the past spilt tea all over my floor, it was carpeted at the time and the stain never went away. I’m quite clumsy, so it’s likely I’ll have another panic moment in the future for sure, so laminate flooring will hopefully help.

What advice would you give to someone looking to transform their floor?

My advice for anyone looking to transform a room is don’t rush into anything, especially if it’s something that will remain in that room for years to come. I always spend weeks comparing samples before making any final decisions, and so far, it’s worked as I love everything I’ve done to my home.

How has your new floor improved your home?

My floor has changed my home massively and it’s something everyone comments on when coming over. It flows from the front door all the way through into the living room and it is honestly such a lovely feature floor.

  

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Sharon and Rich love nothing more than hosting family and friends and wanted a durable herringbone wood floor for their new kitchen diner. They compared sample after sample until they found a floor that ticked all their boxes – our Painswick Olive Engineered Oak. 

Why did you choose Luxury Flooring?

I’m not kidding when I say we looked at tonnes of flooring. Tonnes and tonnes! Luxury Flooring offered free samples which enabled us to get a really good feel for not only the colour, but texture and quality. The price was fantastic for such  a huge space and more importantly, it was available straight away because we are a bit last minute here!

What was most important to you when designing your room?

It was so important to us that the flooring not only looked good but was practical as well. It’s a high-traffic area and being the kitchen/diner it needs to hold up to the occasional spillage. We are quite relaxed and love to host, so it definitely didn’t want to be anything that wasn’t going to stand up to a good party!

What does your home situation look like?

Although there are only two of us here, it’s a full-house policy with regular gatherings with family and friends. 100% shoes-on kind of rules! I can’t bear to be precious over anything which is why the flooring works so well for us. It’s low maintenance with high visual impact. Can’t ask for more from a floor.

How do you prepare your home before hosting?

I love an excuse to go all out on flowers and candles. Nothing stiff and rigid, cosy and chilled is more our scene. Rich is an exceptional cook, so he’ll knock something up, no one ever goes hungry here and I’m pretty certain our drinks cabinet could cater for most thirsts.

Which rooms do you use for hosting?

When we host it is 100% of the time centred around food which is why we chose to take a wall down to create a kitchen diner. We managed to find a bargain 10-seater table and nothing gives me more joy than when it’s full and the sound of laughter, music and the chinking of glasses fills the room.

What qualities were you looking for in your new flooring?

It was absolutely necessary that the flooring could withstand being in a kitchen. You could argue that there are more practical options, such as tiles, but we really wanted to unite the space as a whole. Tiles just didn’t appeal to us as we weren’t able to have underfloor heating. As Rich was laying the flooring himself, it needed to be fairly straightforward, he did an amazing job.

Have you ever had a ‘panic moment’ with your floor while entertaining? If so, how did you handle it?

We had a ‘panic’ moment when we fitted the kitchen, for sure. We dragged the fridge-freezer across the room thinking we had protectors on the bottom of it. They came off mid-way and the floor was scratched. Luckily, we managed to lightly hand sand it out. I’m the world’s clumsiest person so I’m pretty certain it’s got a tough life ahead!

What advice would you give to someone looking to transform their floor?

Really drill down into how you will use the space. In my opinion, a home is to be lived in, so don’t buy something you’re too frightened to move on. Luckily, there are so many good options for practical and pretty flooring.

Once you’ve narrowed down your search, consider asking for a few sample boards of the same flooring so you can lay it out. This really helped us make our final decision, and sometimes there are variations in pattern, colour etc.

Consider the furniture you are putting on it. For example, use protective pads on chairs to avoid scratching and consider whether your furniture will clash. We have a lot of wooden furniture, so it was important to find flooring that was harmonious with our existing furniture.

How has your new floor improved your home?

The flooring was a huge transformation! It helped connect the space together whilst retaining a rustic feel. It also feels so much warmer! The tones of the wood help. We love it so much we plan to run the same floor in our hallway to really create a flow.

  

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