After 12 years as a rental, the bach had seen some living — and the flooring bore the brunt. The Tasmanian oak hardwood in the kitchen and lounge, punctured by stilettos, had suffered a few accidental floods and the bedrooms were equally dire: tired black garage carpet from the building’s previous life as a Mini showroom was more gloom than glam.
Repair or replace became the conundrum. Could anything be better than real wood? It could. Ever the innovator, Alex was impressed by a just-launched range of European hardened timber called Parky. When Flooring Xtra introduced her to the technological transformation it could make, she was in with boots on (metaphorically speaking, of course).
What Alex thought was impossible — a timber floor that was durable, easy-clean, beautiful and able to withstand heavy use — became a tick-box exercise. With its hardened timber surface, Parky looks, and is, the real deal, and is dent- and water-resistant. “It can handle surface spills for up to a day without damage,” says Alex, crossing her fingers for no more surprise inundations. “And, because it’s a product that uses 10 times less timber than other timber-floor options, it’s more sustainable, too.”
Extra-wide, extra-long planks in Ivory Oak have instant impact and are a platform for the restful material palette. In the bedrooms, Genesis loop-pile carpet made from Econyl is a step in the right direction. This revolutionary fibre, made from 100% recycled waste, is an aesthetic answer that promotes a circular economy. That it’s also fade-resistant meant Alex could rest easy when she chose a beautiful warm oatmeal shade to welcome in the sun.
flooringxtra.co.nz
Photography Olivia Pitcher
In association with Flooring Xtra.