Private Residence, Full Refurbishment & Part New Build
Completed in late summer 2025, this exceptional private residence on Newlands Avenue in Radlett showcases a seamless blend of craftsmanship, design, and comfort. The project included an open-plan kitchen, dining room, and living area, alongside a home music studio, children’s playroom, and a beautiful bespoke staircase.
Designed to mimic the warm and inviting interiors of Soho House, the home features premium engineered oak flooring throughout, delivering both timeless style, natural beauty, and modern performance.
Floor Style
For this project, we used a classic herringbone engineered oak flooring layout to create a strong visual statement, enhancing the sense of space across the open-plan areas while maintaining an elegant flow between rooms.
The flooring continues seamlessly throughout the ground floor, unifying the kitchen, dining, and living spaces, while bespoke matching oak treads extend the design onto the staircase for a cohesive architectural finish.
Flooring Finish
A medium smoked rustic grade engineered oak flooring was selected to achieve its rich character. The smoking process enhances the natural grain variation, adding warmth and depth, while the rustic grade introduces knots and natural markings that give the floor a lived-in, authentic feel.
Flooring Block Size
The project features oversized herringbone blocks measuring 120mm x 600mm, offering a modern twist on a traditional pattern.
This larger format not only amplifies the visual impact of the herringbone design but also complements the generous proportions of the space, ensuring the flooring feels in scale with the architecture.
Features
- Premium engineered oak flooring installed across the entire ground floor
- Fully compatible with water-piped underfloor heating, ensuring efficient warmth without compromising on aesthetics
- Bespoke staircase with matching oak treads for design continuity
- Rustic grade oak for enhanced natural character and texture
- Seamless flow across open-plan living spaces
- Garden studio finished with LVT planks in Actinium Oak, providing durability and style in a separate functional area
Project Gallery:
Engineered oak flooring FAQs
What is engineered wood flooring and why was it chosen for this project?
Unlike solid wood, engineered flooring is made from a real oak top layer bonded to a stable plywood core, making it more resistant to movement than solid oak flooring. It was chosen for this project due to its stability over underfloor heating and its high end, natural charm and luxury aesthetic.
Is engineered oak flooring suitable for underfloor heating?
Yes, engineered hardwood flooring is one of the best choices for use with underfloor heating as it allows efficient heat transfer while maintaining the integrity and beauty of the wood.
How durable is engineered oak flooring in a busy family home?
Engineered oak flooring is highly durable and well-suited to high-traffic areas. Not only does its construction provide stability, the solid oak top layer can often be refinished if needed.
How do you lay engineered wood flooring installed in a project like this?
Engineered oak flooring is typically installed using a fully bonded method, especially for herringbone designs. In this Newlands Avenue project, the oversized herringbone engineered oak flooring was carefully adhered to the subfloor to ensure maximum stability over the water-piped underfloor heating. Professional installation is essential for achieving a precise, durable finish, especially with bespoke features such as a matching staircase.
