A parquet flooring range that combines past and present

Parquet flooring has a storied history reaching back several centuries. Its origin is generally accepted to have taken place in late-16th century France, where artisans began to arrange blocks of wood in varying geometric patterns to be installed in the various chateaux around the country.

The earliest iteration of parquet flooring, known as ‘parquet de menuiserie’, was an intricate practice, involving meticulous craftsmanship in both woodcutting and installation – and resulted in the invention of an array of designs, including herringbone, chevron, basketweave, and others.

The sheer skill required to make parquet a reality meant it was generally reserved for only the most lavish spaces – members of the French aristocracy were the only ones with the resources to access the artisan craft. But as technology advanced in the early 20th century, new techniques and machinery were pioneered, making it easier and cheaper to produce, opening it up to the wider market.

And as engineered wood flooring became more widespread, parquet became even more durable, versatile and democratised. In 1943 Swedish company Kährs was awarded the patent for engineered lamella parquet flooring, a technique that pushed the craft forward again.

Now, 80 years later, the company has paid homage to its history by introducing a whole new collection of parquet flooring – dubbed Beyond Retro – that celebrates both the classical and modern elements of the technique.

Erin Denny, a Director of the Wooden Floor Company – the sole distributor of Kährs products in New Zealand – says the inspiration for the collection is a mix of memories of designs from earlier decades – with a modern twist.

“It’s a collection designed with a combination of classical and modern elements, while still incorporating a sense of warmth and modernity,” says Denny. “The modern elements are reflected in the six unique design colours all with an ultra matte finish. The classical component of the floor is the soft brushing and natural cracks and knots.”

Each colour in this palette is inspired by its own unique story and decade, she points out:

• Loft White is modelled on the popular parquet offerings in the 1920s. The colour is inspired by smooth vanilla ice cream with some grey highlights.
• Charcoal Light is inspired by the 1960s.
• Frosted Oat is inspired by the 1980s and by late autumn grain fields covered in frost.
• Urban Brown is inspired by the 1960s and 1970s, and by golden sunshine reflecting from buildings in a big city park.
• Frozen Hazelnut is inspired by the 1950s and by a soft cashmere scarf knitted from yarn of rose.
• Pearl Grey is inspired by the 1970s, and its colour from dark and dramatic river stones in stormy water.

Each colour in the collection is completed with Kährs’ ultra matte finish – a unique lacquer that closely resembles the feel of an oiled floor – all while avoiding the associated maintenance that comes with an oiled floor. “You can feel the true nature of the wood with this lacquer,” says Denny. “We want it to be as authentic as possible.”

The versatility doesn’t end there. Customers have the option to utilise a 3-strip or single-strip plank version – and this is available with all six finishes.

“This means you have the option to mix and match different rooms with a different pattern, or even border a room with the single plank and have the centre as a parquet feature,” says Denny.

“The adaptability is something that we really want to emphasise – and I think we’ve done that.”

Learn more about the Wooden Floor Company and its flooring ranges.