HISTORICAL DESIGNS
A brief history of parquetry
The chevron is a timeless parquet design which has been around for centuries.
Romans discovered that arranging cobbled stone brick roads towards the traffic made them more stable. This was the first example of parquet designs being used beneath the feet, though the chevron design had appeared on Greek pottery as early as 1800 BC.
Moving forward to the Palace of Versailles features perhaps the most iconic parquet design in the world, the Parquet de Versailles. Having been walked upon by regal figures throughout time, the flooring remains an integral part of the palace’s design to this day.
Nowadays, parquet patterns are as popular as ever, with these formats experiencing a real resurgence since the millennium as people look to add interest to their projects.
GEOMETRIC PATTERNS
Capturing centuries of artistry
Parquetry is defined as: ‘an inlaid work of blocks of various woods arranged in a geometric pattern, especially for flooring or furniture.’
Through meticulous research and development throughout the decades we create Parquet de Versailles, Parquet de Chevney, Parquet de Ardeche, Parquet de Chantilly, End Grain, Chequerboard and Fingerblock floors amongst more conventional styles such as Chevron and Herringbone flooring – all of which follow this definition.
This collection is defined by geometric shapes and clean lines which add interest to both classic and contemporary builds with ease.
VIEW OUR PARQUETRY COLLECTION
MODERN INTERPRETATIONS
Sapphire
The special circular parquet design of Sapphire is not a creation that comes lightly.
Sapphire is a registered design and it has taken decades of learning for our master UK-based craftspeople to pull off this pattern.
Each piece, including unconventional circular blocks, is handmade and single fumed in order to emphasise the variation of the grain pattern of the Aged European Oak shapes.
Skip sawn with scrubbed knots, this floor is extremely tactile with an undulating texture.
SAPPHIRE
GROWTH RING CUT
End grain
The true enchantment of wood is revealed in its heart.
The growth rings of end grain cuts are an inspired alternative to the planks cut from the length of the tree as opposed to widths which are commonly used.
Originally used in traditional parquetry, our modern take on this theme combines the end grain cutting technique with modern engineering and masterful finishing to create a statement floor with greater durability.
The result: an extremely stable floor with a unique natural look which exposes the character of the growth rings.
DISCOVER END GRAIN
FLOORING THE DEMANDS RESPECT
Our handcrafting techniques
Parquet floors have a certain intricacy about them and require the best of our centuries of collective woodworking expertise to create.
Each block and geometric shape command added care and attention with the final floor experiencing thousands of handlings in the crafting process.
We also slowly air dry these floors at every stage. This patient approach brings out the very best in the wood, with the overall effect being a perfect parquet flooring that is guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Learn more about our handcrafting processes within our Woodworks Hub.
WOODWORKS HUB
CAREFULLY CONSIDERED
Balance is key
The skills in parquetry lie in the balance of the patterns you create.
How the proportions work, how the patterns unfold across a space and finally how the finish complements all of this.
The overall desired effect is a motif that spreads across the entirety of the floor and allows each block to shine, regardless of the format selected.
Discover our wealth of parquet projects, all of which have struck this intricate balance perfectly.
SURPRISINGLY ACCESSIBLE
Making parquet easy
All of our floors are made at our Cheshire workshops with ease of installation in mind.
We like to think that we undertake all of the complex works in our workshops, like assembling the floors and fully finishing them so that on-site installation is simple and straightforward.
We even provide architectural details such as stair treads and risers to compliment your floor.
These finishing touches can make all the difference and can be easily installed by a professional installer.
EXPLORE WOODWORKS PARQUETRY
We’re passionate about parquetry.
Parquet has always been popular and in recent years we’ve seen a real increase in people opting for classic herringbone and chevron designs in particular.
With a mix of colours, sizes and patterns you can create, parquetry is a versatile and beautiful way to create a strong statement in both large and small spaces.