Seeing the potential to convert the Wandsworth property back into one spacious family home, the couple sat tight and patiently waited for each of the three remaining flats to go up for sale – and ten years later they had finally taken ownership of all of them.
They were ready to set about converting the house back to its original configuration. Emma explained, “Moving into the then flat, we knew this property had the potential to become our long term family home and were happy to sit out the years until we could purchase back all the converted flats and begin the transformation back to creating one single home.
“The conversion back was relatively straightforward, with some internal reconfiguration and an upgrade to electrics and plumbing. The one thing we kept was the original floorboards that were throughout the property. We hoped with sanding and re-treating they might stand the test of time. However it got to the point last year that we knew we had to replace them. They were incredibly worn out and you couldn’t take a step without a creak from the floors, which were also becoming increasingly unstable.”
Emma’s husband is an architect and advocated installing the same flooring throughout the home. Keen to stick with wood floors, and deciding they wanted a very light tone of wood, they visited their local flooring retailer Floors for Thought in Battersea.
Having considered a number of light wood options they were drawn to Deco Nordic Beach. It offered the light tones and smooth contemporary style they wanted, as well as being cost-effective compared to some of the other floors they had looked at.
“As we were installing the wood floors throughout both floors of the house we felt a single light tone would provide a soft, neutral platform which would also reflect light and deliver a seamless flow throughout the spaces.”
The Deco collection is created with a combination of traditional colouring techniques to deliver ultra-modern tones. The 4mm oak top layer is lightly brushed to form a relief of the natural grain and create a smooth surface.
A coat of wood lye is hand applied to further bleach the oak surface then layers of coloured oil are applied to create deep lustred boards with distinctive tones. Nordic Beach is treated to maintain subtle oak tones that appear washed over with white infused accents and wood grain.
Floors for Thought managed the installation and Emma was impressed at how quick and effortless it was, with the floors completed in just four days – they took care of everything.
Installed throughout the four bedrooms, bathroom, hallway, study and living spaces, Emma says the floors have transformed the space.
“We love them, it has made such a difference both in terms of how it looks and how it is to live with. The wood floors are incredibly quiet underfoot, a welcome relief from the creaky old floorboards, and the stable smooth surface is just lovely to walk on.”
