Grand Designs, North London

V4 is no stranger to the Channel 4 series and a recent episode, following an ambitious project in Kentish Town, was another to include a V4 wood floor. The story featured former Eastenders actress and interior designer, Deborah Sheridan-Taylor, and her entrepreneur partner Jonathan Broom, as they took a turbulent three-year journey, putting everything on hold to pursue Jonathan’s dream of building a miniature Hollywood Hills-style mansion in North London. Having stumbled across an unusual plot of land in north London, the reclaimed brownfield site was surrounded by a tight circle of neighbouring properties. The only way they could complete the £1million build was by sinking half of it six metres below ground, and being surrounded on all sides by their neighbours' back gardens, they undertook some 16 party wall agreements as the project progressed. The finished 3,700 sq ft five bedroom, five bathroom new build home is now virtually unnoticeable from the street. The house has no outfacing first-floor windows, while the ground floor is made up almost entirely of glass which opens up to embrace the surrounding environment. A house of contradiction, it manages to bring the outside inside, yet seek solace at the same time. Having to utilise significant underground space to complete the project, the house boasts a vast concealed basement which is the size of two double decker buses, and double the size of the other two floors. Complete with a swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna and a separate self-contained flat, this property is now one of wonder and indulgence. Deborah and Jonathan had opted for a polished concrete floor in some parts of the property and wanted to find a softer feel, a real wood floor for other floors, including the bedrooms. Having looked online they discovered Source Wood Floors, a V4 Approved Retailer based in Suffolk, and saw a particular floor they loved the look of so got in touch with the retailer. The couple chose a rustic grade floor that exudes character and charm with natural markings, colour variations and a mix of closed and open knots. The 6mm oak surface of this FSC® 100% certified rustic oak plank is smooth sanded and then sealed with air cured coats of translucent grey oil. The finished effect is a muted natural shade which highlights the natural grain and variation of the hardwood surface. The chosen wood floor also creates a striking, yet complementary contrast against the polished concrete, giving a lovely mixture of textures within the contemporary property. Peter Lazar, Managing Director of Source Wood Floors, said:

“We are all big fans of Grand Designs and everyone was delighted when Jonathan and Deborah contacted us to supply and install their wood floors. From start to finish, Deborah, Jonathan and the team at Grand Designs were an absolute pleasure to work with. There are many elements that come together to make this a beautiful and sustainable house, one of which is definitely the wood floor.”