Best foot forward on the best flooring


Open the front door and it’s the floor you see first. Flooring sets the tone, so whether it’s stone, wood or carpet, choose the best.


Words by Abby Trow

The rule of thumb, say many designers working on luxury interior design projects, is to have wood and stone on the ground floors, carpeted stairs unless the staircase is a work of art in itself, carpeted bedrooms and tile or stone-clad bathrooms.

A lighter wood, from Element 7
A lighter wood, from Element 7

So to say one type of flooring trumps another isn’t accurate, because wood, stone and carpet comprise the trio that reigns surpreme.

Deidre Dyson’s Chequered, a wool silk rug
Deidre Dyson’s Chequered, a wool silk rug

When it comes to wood flooring, wide-board engineered planks with underfloor heating are interior designers’ choice when dealing with large spaces, and Danish company Dinesen, UK-based Element 7 and Siberian Floors – USA-based and with a showroom in London – are three luxury brands.


Hallway in stone from Britannicus Stone

Wood flooring is also a good choice on environmental grounds provided the timber comes from managed forests, with FSC/PEFC certification offering extra assurance of sustainability.

Wall-to-wall carpet has been written off many times as being a design feature of the past, and while few houses are carpeted throughout, wall-to-wall can look incredibly luxurious and it’s also a delight to walk on.


Engineered hardwood floor from Siberian Floors

Silk carpet is considered the finest, but it’s not particularly hard wearing and is hugely expensive. So, designers are increasingly turning to silk-look alternatives such as bamboo silk or polished cotton – and nylon.

Sylka Carpet

Sylka carpets are made in the USA from nylon, using a special twisting technique that achieves the deep pile and lustre of silk. Sylka offers advantages over real silk, the key one being that it’s very hard-wearing so can be used in high-traffic areas.


Wood floor from Dinesen, in GrandDouglas

It’s also easy to clean, and with regular vacuuming and periodic steam-cleans it should give several decades’ wear. It comes in a range of soft taupes and neutrals and can also be custom-dyed.

Stone can look richly rustic, or when highly polished it imbues a space with sophistication.

Stone needs care and attention, but limestone and marble remain the stones of choice for luxury houses, while British stone company Britannicus offers a range of beautiful stones quarried in the UK.








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