Pale, minimalist floors

Traditionally, people in different parts of the world have used different wood species. These choices are based partly on local conditions, given the wood species available, close to hand. But there are also regional differences when it comes to taste. So, providing a range of products that meet various demands in many different markets is quite a challenge. Kährs flooring is currently sold in more than 50 markets.

White: the new black

“Pale wood species are really huge at the moment, especially in the Nordic region and Northern Europe. People want minimalist, clean, calm white. White surrounded by black elements in their furniture and wallpaper. Our Sand Collection has been really well received, as well as the white floors in our Classic Nouveau Collection. In May 2010, we also introduced a new, bright white 3-strip floor, called Oak Limestone, to our Harmony Collection,” says Stina Andersson, Design Manager at Kährs.

Different trends and tastes in different countries

Flooring trends vary from market to market. “People in central Europe tend to prefer more rustic flooring with knots. In the US, floors with a stained finish are very popular, and glossier finishes are very sought-after too,” says Stina.

Traditionally, a lot of 3-strip flooring has been used in Sweden. “Now there’s a growing interest in 1-strip flooring,” explains Stina, who says that she personally loves the new white-stained 1-strip ash floor, Ash Sandvig, in the Sand Collection.

Floor: a central part of a room’s perception

“The floor constitutes a big part of any room, and it plays a major role in the overall impression we get from the space. In general, flooring is also expected to last longer than wall coverings. Flooring is, therefore, considered as one of the most important design elements,” says Stina, adding that furniture and interior design provides a great source of inspiration in her work as a floor designer. She also visits different trade fairs and showrooms, both in Scandinavia and other countries.

She finishes off by telling us that patterned flooring is undergoing something of a renaissance.

“We hope that the floors in our Kährs Linnea, with industrial parquet patterns and Dutch patterns, will be as appreciated by our customers as they are by us.”