Natural is always on-trend

Madeleine Müller Lightner is an Interior Designer at Architect Gert Wingårdh’s Agency, Wingårdhs. She, together with a team of designers, won the competition to decorate and furnish Clarion Hotel Sign at Norra Bantorget in Stockholm. The theme for the competition was Autumn.

“We wanted to use warm, rich tones; red, rust brown, orange and green,” explains Madeleine Müller Lightner.

The Clarion Sign was set to be a “designer hotel”; a showcase for furniture and interiors from renowned, mainly Nordic designers. After winning the competition, Wingårdhs started to plan the project and decide on materials for the hotel. They worked extensively with wood and stone, as well as with different shades of leather.

Nothing more beautiful than an oiled wood floor

On the roof of the Clarion Sign is a spa consisting of two terraces. At the end of the characteristic tip, towards the railed area and Torsgatan, are sun loungers and the famous spheres that can be seen even from street level. On the other side is the pool area, and in the middle, the treatment rooms.

“On a new wood floor, there really is nothing more beautiful than a traditional oiled finish!” Madeleine says, with much enthusiasm. For reasons of durability, a matt-lacquered finish was needed for the spa. Kährs matt-lacquered Oak Siena was chosen; Kährs matt-lacquer is discreet, beautifully tactile and every bit as hardwearing as lacquered flooring.

“I’d really recommend a visit to the Clarion Sign. Go and have a look for yourself!” says Madeleine.

Flooring has to withstand most things

“Flooring forms a central part of the perception of a room. The floor is also the area in the room that has to be able to withstand most things, so durability is essential,” Madeleine explains. Clarion Hotel Sign has Kährs white-stained Oak Sorrento on floors 6-11. Each floor level, within the hotel, was designed to represent a different country.

In the restaurant, an industrial parquet floor was laid. Stone was used for the reception area.

Environmental aspects increasingly important

“More people are expressing their personalities through their interiors, both among private and corporate customers”, Madeleine says.

“Nowadays, it’s absolutely fine to paint old parquet flooring. That was almost unthinkable just a few years ago. Meanwhile, manufacturers like Kährs are offering more and more designer stained options.”

She also adds that environmental aspects are becoming increasingly important when choosing interior designs, and that wood floors are a good choice from an eco point of view.