Family kitchens are hardworking spaces that call for lots of storage and hygienic, practical surfaces. Adding to the list of requirements and design challenges, we also want this to be an elegant space that helps us relax and where we are happy to welcome family and friends.
The latest kitchen trends feature streamlined handleless cupboards with sleek lines, smooth glossy surfaces and cool colours. These are highly practical spaces with carefully thought out storage and activity zones but are not always visually interesting.
By opting for flooring in a herringbone pattern, in either a wood or stone design, we can create a sense of flow and movement as well as introduce a cosy natural look. In smaller kitchens, the regular pattern of a herringbone floor will gently lead the eye to make the room feel much larger.
Pale Limed Oak from our Knight Tile collection
When Michael Johnson-Ellis and his husband Wes were redesigning their family kitchen, style and practicality were very much top of their list. They also wanted an open welcoming atmosphere with space to relax with a coffee and somewhere for their children to play and do homework. Having selected a contemporary grey minimalist kitchen with a luxurious finish and plenty of storage, Michael and Wes wanted to inject some warmth with a wood design floor.
Michael told us: “We’ve always been a fan of Karndean flooring and actually have Morning Oak parquet throughout our hallway, lounge, snug and home office so this was the obvious choice. It’s super durable and has helped soften the fall with the occasional trip and stumble as the kids were learning to walk. Hard tile surfaces have always made me an anxious Dad!”
After some consideration and help from their @twodads.u.k Instagram community, they plumped for Pale Limed Oak from our Knight Tile range. With its bleached blonde and honey tones and realistic colour variation between planks, the Pale Limed Oak design introduces a warm organic look. By opting for a herringbone pattern, the flooring also brings a sense of flow, texture and interest.
Michael Johnson-Ellis, his husband Wes adn their two children
Michael and his family are thrilled with their stylish new family kitchen: “We now have a much more family friendly usable space. I’m so glad we found room for a wine fridge and a dedicated unit for coffee and cocktail making – it’s a game changer! Our new larger dining area is perfect and our vision of seeing the kids read and do their homework there is already becoming a reality. The flooring adds pattern and a warm natural tone that prevents the minimalist style feeling dull. We also love that it’s super easy to keep clean.”
Karndean flooring offers all the practicality you need for a busy family kitchen. Waterproof and easy to keep hygienically clean, there’s no need to worry about the spills and muddy footprints that come with family life. Simply wipe up with a cloth and damp mop! What’s more, it’s softer underfoot than other flooring options so if you drop a cup or plate it’s less likely to break.
