Natural is always trendy

Madeleine Müller Lightner is an interior designer at architecture firm Gert Wingårdhs. She, together with a team of designers, won the competition to decorate and furnish the Clarion Hotel Sign at Norra Bantorget in Stockholm. The design theme for the competition was autumn.

“We wanted to use warm, slightly dark colors. 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 Nordic designers. After winning the competition, Wingårdhs started to plan the project and began to choose materials for the hotel. They worked extensively with wood and stone, as well as with leather of different colors.

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 railing and Torsgatan are lounge chairs with the famous ball sculptures that can be seen even from street level. Adjacent is the pool area with the treatment rooms in the middle.

“If you purchase a new wood floor, there really is nothing more beautiful than a traditional oiled wood floor!” Madeleine says with feeling. However, flooring with a matte finish was required for the spa. Eventually, Kährs Oak Siena with a matte finish was chosen.

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

Flooring has to withstand many things

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

Environmental aspects increasingly important

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

“Nowadays it is absolutely fine to stain old parquet flooring. That was almost unthinkable just a few years ago. Meanwhile, manufacturers such as Kährs are offering more and more stained design 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 environmental point of view.