Page 75 - History-of-flooringLR

The Karndean story... product in place, LooseLay is an easy-fit flooring that installs like a carpet tile.
It all started in the summer of 1973 when entrepreneur Mike Walker began A practical solution for sectors where access to underfloor services is required
looking for a way to make it on his own. With only a few pounds in his pocket or for temporary installations, it’s simple to lift and replace or reuse tiles.
and half a tank of petrol in his Morris Oxford, Mike hit the road with a
passion for vinyl flooring and a boot full of samples. He knew that a floor The format of choice for installations over uneven subfloors, many of our rigid
shouldn’t just be practical, it needed to be beautiful too. Inspired with ideas core designs feature a 5G click-locking mechanism and come with enhanced
for a new concept in vinyl flooring, he wanted to introduce something acoustic performance to reduce noise transfer to spaces below by 21dB. We
completely new and innovative. now offer 55 wood and stone designs in a rigid core format, including a
matching range of herringbone and chevron designs.
So, travelling the world seeking inspiration for what are now the most realistic
luxury vinyl flooring products on the market, Mike found a way to create But the real attraction of Karndean flooring is its potential to create one-off
more than just a floor; he created a flooring concept. With endless designs using a combination of designs and hand-cut tiles. The flexibility of
combinations of planks, tiles, borders and design strips, not to mention the our flooring allows designers to embrace the challenge of bespoke design and
ability to cut the product into pretty much any shape required, his idea meant push the limits of what’s possible.
people were no longer just getting a floor. They were getting a designflooring.
A floor that was unique. A floor that was bespoke and personal. A Karndean Our latest collection, Opus Abstracts, was inspired by traditional trends from
floor. And so the company we all recognise today was born. the Italian Renaissance and designed to offer complete creative freedom to
make a statement with imaginative bold bespoke floors. Used in conjunction
Initially based at his family home in the West Midlands, the business rapidly with other wood and stone designs from the Opus range with areas of pattern
expanded into a global brand. Its current headquarters in Evesham, that join from different angles, these impactful designs can create a sense of
Worcestershire, features an impressive 1,800m2 showroom, 6,200 m2 movement and destination.
distribution centre, product development centre and a state of the art Training
Academy. Here we continue to design extraordinary award winning flooring Anticipating an increasing desire for room to room designs, over recent years
and inspire the flooring experts of the future. we have extended our multiformat and herringbone collections. Designers
now have ample opportunities to take a single design over different subfloor
Working closely in partnership with our retailers, contractors and specifiers conditions as well as endless options to create sophisticated bespoke floors
we are proud of the reputation we have built and are looking forward to the with a combination of designs and laying patterns.
challenges and opportunities facing us as we anticipate the future needs of the
flooring industry. From hospitality and leisure to community living and co-working spaces, we
are excited about the future of imaginative design and how we can support
The evolution of luxury vinyl flooring… designers to innovate and use flooring to make the ultimate design statement.
Interior style trends are always changing but authentic design and product
quality is always a winning combination. Our mission is to produce beautiful, Looking to a greener future…
durable and flexible flooring that not only meets, but exceeds, aesthetic and With a people-centric approach to sustainable construction, our products not
technical specifications. only offer the stunning aesthetics of natural materials and the practical
benefits of luxury vinyl but also contribute to a green built environment.
We understand that design is an endless journey of possibilities and, like our
founder, we continue to search the world for natural materials which tell a Our products meet SKA criteria and hold BREEAM, ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and
meaningful story and inspire exceptional designs that will translate into FloorScore® certification. So you can be confident that specifying Karndean
liveable interiors. flooring will not only create a natural, welcoming atmosphere but also help
minimise energy consumption and environmental impact.
Gluedown designs formed our very first collection and continue to offer
outstanding flexibility to design individual floors in any setting. Whether you As our need to protect future generations becomes ever more pressing, rest
are looking for a timeless classic style such as oak parquet, recreating historic assured we will not be taking a back seat. We are committed to producing
elegance with stone tiles or a geometric pattern or designing a unique stylish and durable floors with the lowest possible effect on the environment.
hand-cut feature, with our extensive range of designs you can imagine truly Already, we are looking to lead the way to a more responsible way of living,
original floors that not only intrigue and delight but will also stand the setting out a new five-year sustainability strategy that will ensure that we can
test of time. all look the future in the eye and do our best for people and planet.

The first manufacturer to introduce a loose lay format, our Karndean To explore Karndean Designflooring’s range of flooring visit
LooseLay and Karndean LooseLay Longboard collections now feature 46 karndeancommercial.com or follow
wood and stone designs. With our K-Wave friction grip backing that holds the @karndeancommecialuk on Instagram or LinkedIn.

The History of Flooring 75