My Top Tips For Natural Flooring In The Modern Home (with Kersaint Cobb)
When we worked with the architect to design our home, one of the most important things to me was trying to include some design elements that added character and personality to the house. So many modern homes can end up feeling gallery-like and cold, I wanted ours to still be modern, but feel homely and welcoming at the same time.
Including details like exposed brick and beams really helped, but the thing that I like to do most is add natural materials. I very rarely use lots of bold, bright colours, I much prefer it when the natural materials take centre stage and form the base for the colour palette. In my own home I’ve achieved this by leaving ceiling beams exposed and painting them white and including some pale exposed brickwork in the stairwell and kitchen. Adding to the natural materials palette, I’ve used pale herringbone wooden flooring throughout and finished off with accents of anthracite, smoked oak and natural brass that will tarnish over time.
Vie Maison, Rustique Fume wooden flooring looks great next to teal and midnight velvet
Flooring is a massive factor in getting this right, there is so much of it in a home and it can really make or break your design. For this post I’ve teamed up with flooring suppliers Kersaint Cobb to bring you my Four Top Tips for using natural flooring in the modern home.
ONE: Wood Is A Winner
My go-to flooring is always wood. There is a finish that will suit any interior; from deep oaks for traditional homes to cool pale firs for a more modern look. And if you choose the right one, it is practical, easy to clean and hard-wearing, even in homes with kids and dogs, and will grow old gracefully with every little dink adding character over the years.
Wide board Duo Living XL in Oak Antique makes a real statement in hallways.
TWO: Layer Your Flooring
As practical as hard floors are, they need some softening up, especially in cosier areas like living rooms, snugs and bedrooms. Layering a wool rug on top is pure luxury. Real wool is soft under-foot as well as being a natural, organic and renewable fibre.
Luna in Seashell would beautiful as a bespoke rug layered with oak flooring.
THREE: Add Some Personality
If you’re struggling to find a rug in a particular size, or perhaps you’ve seen a carpet that is in a fitted range that you’d prefer to have as a rug, just ask your carpet supplier if they do whipping (stitching the edges for a neat finish). Most carpet suppliers do, if you like, you could go for an unusual colour. This way you can create a unique, bespoke rug for your home in a relatively easy way. For a perfect example, check out Gold Is A Neutral’s gorgeous
pink-whipped stair runner by Kersaint Cobb below.
Add personality with unusual whipping.
FOUR: Go Earthy
For a real down to earth look, I love materials like Sisal, Jute, Coir and Seagrass. They’ll add texture and natural tone wherever they are used. Don’t only use these as doormats either! For example, Jute is delicate and silky, perfect for quieter areas of your home.
Sisal Big Boucle in Noir looks dramatic and modern with dark walls.
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This post is a paid collaboration with Kersaint Cobb
Image Credits:
1, 2, 3 & 5: Supplied by Kersaint Cobb
4: Gold is a Neutral