Wood is the most popular material for finishing stairs and floors. Due to its naturalness, it creates a peculiar atmosphere in the interior, and the multitude of forms and color options allows the use of a wooden floor or stairs in any arrangement. Below we suggest how to select stairs and floors for a given style of interior.
Carpeted and capped stairs on concrete
Steps for concrete can take the modern form of a "carpet", in which both the treads and sub-treads are of the same thickness. With carpeted steps, you can use various types of trim or trim blanks, or leave with a minimal expansion joint at the walls. The expansion joint is supplemented with cork or acrylic, and in some implementations - a special strip for LED lighting. In the variant with lighting and without strips, carpet steps find themselves in modern, minimalist, as well as industrial interiors. Simple wooden slats give a more formal and classic look to the staircase, while white and stylized, will also fit into the style with a touch of glamour.
Carpeted steps on concrete
© Roble
A different version are treads with a drip, or "nose", which extends about 3 cm beyond the face of the tread. The treads then are made in three variants: white lacquered MDF, lacobel glass or thinner wood. White treads, whether made of MDF or glass, add an aesthetic touch to the staircase, especially when combined with LED lighting hidden under the treads. Such stairs are a typical modern-classic combination: modern design with traditional treads.
White treads made of lacquered MDF, but already without additional lighting, surrounded by white walls, are also perfect for scandi, boho and japanese styles. Then MDF gives the impression of being a piece of a white-painted wall, and at the same time is a functional and easy to maintain step finish. Wooden treads along with capped treads, on the other hand, are the perfect accent for classic and rustic interiors.
Steps with a drip with white MDF treads
© Roble
Self-supporting stairs
When the reinforced concrete screed has not been made, then we can consider several options for self-supporting stairs, guided primarily by technological and structural possibilities.
For interiors with an industrial, rustic, pop-art, loft and Italian style, depending on the type of steel construction, a cheek st aircase on a zeta or straight tub and a beam staircase on a beam will work well.
Self-supporting carpet stairs will actually fit into any arrangement, the key in this case is the appropriate choice of balustrade and wood coloration.
Self-supporting carpet stairs
© Roble
A cheeky staircase made entirely of wood is the perfect accent to an English, classic, but also rustic, Provençal and modern-classic interior. In this variant of stairs, the most important thing is the choice of colors of cheeks, treads and, of course, the type of balustrade.
The last solution is shelf steps, otherwise known as cantilever steps, which are supported by a hidden structure in the wall. This is definitely a modernist detail, which we can further emphasize with striking lighting or a glass balustrade.
In many realizations it is also possible to combine the two above types, making the stairs even more impressive. An example of this is the carpet-shelf staircase.
Shelf-cantilever stairs
© Roble
Wood floors: coloration and grade of wood
When choosing wood floors for a specific interior design, in turn, let's be guided by the dimensions of the planks or staves, the coloration and grade of the wood.
The classification of floors depends on the manufacturer, but most often closes in two or three classes. In Roble we distinguish between natur (knotless), rustic (with knots present) and markant (intermediate between natur and rustic) classes. Floors in the natur class are more subdued, minimalist and therefore better suited to modern interiors. Rustic and markant grades, on the other hand, are considered more natural due to the knots present and the varied structure of the wood.
The color of the floors is very important for the visual perception of the space. Dark floors are worth using if you want to get a strong accent of the room. At the same time, dark-colored floors optically reduce the space, so it is worth using them in spacious and well-lit interiors.
Dark oak planks in an eclectic interior
© Roble
Whitewashed floors have the opposite effect - they brighten and enlarge the space, and thus work well in small, darkened areas that you want to add "glamour" to.
Wood planks
Plank flooring is extremely versatile and can easily fit into any setting. In addition to the characteristic features we discussed above, such as the color and grade of the wood, it is also worth thinking about the small but peculiar details and dimensions of the planks.
There are several interesting additional effects to choose from:
- filling in knots, for example, with black putty in planks in the rustic class makes the floor even more characterful, with a touch of loft,
- uneven edge finishing, otherwise known as hand chamfering, surprises with its interesting form, and a floor finished in this way will find itself in stylized, retro rooms,
- hand planing of the surface of the board, or so-called hebel, is an option for extravagant implementations,
- deepening knots and splits, give the planks an aged, atmospheric look like from an old cottage - a great addition to a modern barn,
- Cross saw marks, which form typical stripes on the boards, will work well in rustic interiors.
Rustic grade oak planks with black knots
© Roble
The dimensions of the planks are not unimportant. Wider and longer planks are best used in large rooms, and narrow and shorter pieces - in smaller rooms. The original product is the "long" version planks, which we make in lengths of up to 8-9 m, in widths of up to 28 cm. Such a "plank", which extends over the entire room, makes a great impression, especially in a spacious living room or a large hallway.
Parquet and French/classic herringbone
Herringbone has come back into fashion in recent years, both classic, laid at an angle of 90°, and French, cut and laid at an angle of 45°. The classic herringbone feels very good in the natural oak version, especially in modern-classic and retro style settings. French herringbone, on the other hand, currently reigns supreme in glamour, art-deco interiors and all those in which an elegant motif dominates.
French herringbone in natur class
© Roble
Parquet, on the other hand, is the most traditional version of flooring, and is perfectly suited to renovated townhouses, but also simple, classic interiors.
