Distilled Collection // Client Chooses Hard-wearing Lithuanian Oak Flooring

Vienna Woods customer Sigita Kupača from Sigita Design shares her inspiration behind her renovations of her New Zealand home and the sentimental reason behind her choosing from the Distilled Collection of European made Lithuanian oak for her flooring.

Why did you choose this Vienna Woods flooring? 

I am from Latvia, a small country on the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Estonia. In Latvia we have a lot of dense, rich forests. I chose the Grand Oak, Distilled Collection flooring because it is sourced from Lithuanian oak, the same oak I grew up surrounded by. This hard-wearing wood was also used on my school floors, which I would polish during the school holidays when I was a child, so it is very sentimental to me. I wanted to bring a taste of my childhood to my home in New Zealand.

What was your inspiration when designing your home? 

I knew I wanted to create a home that would suit our everyday life – it needed to fit in with us, not the other way around.

I am not a fan of having to take my shoes off just because I am in the house, I wanted both myself and my guests to be able to walk around in my home in heels or boots without concern. The Grand Oak is a very durable product so allows for this daily treatment without any damage. The extreme cold winters in Eastern Europe slows the growth of the oak to produce a very hard, dense wood. As a result, the oak’s extreme hardness provides a very durable floor that is easy to live with.

What was the overall look and feel you were trying to achieve?

I wanted to incorporate a contemporary flair into the design of my home, with the deliberate use of texture and big open spaces, with plenty of room to move and breathe within them. I was trying to achieve a look of simplicity and subtle sophistication. I wanted lots of clean, architectural lines, with natural accents and  splashes of colour to help evoke a warmth and welcoming environment.  The beautiful hardwood flooring, is in a way the hero of our home, so the colours I have used throughout the house along with the interior design have all been carefully chosen to complement the neutral tones of the Vienna Woods Distilled Collection, Oak floorboards.

Engineered Timber Flooring: Vienna Woods /// Distilled Collection /// French 75

 

Herringbone – A Family Home with Soul

Vienna Woods customer Sophie Heyworth shares her inspiration behind the design of her home and the reasons why they went with Vienna Woods Flamingo in a Herringbone flooring pattern.

Why did you choose this Vienna Woods flooring?

Vienna Woods was our first port of call having seen their flooring in a number of homes we liked. The idea of a herringbone floor was something we didn’t realise was possible until we saw a beautiful example installed by one of VW’s craftsman installers – we were immediately hooked. We wanted to use timber with plenty of grain and texture, laid as individual pieces – something that would feel amazing and tactile under bare feet. Flooring is arguably one of the most important decisions in a house and has a huge impact on the aesthetics and feel of a space, so we thought it was worth investing in.

What was your inspiration when designing your home?

We wanted to create a home with soul – to us that meant warmth, natural materials and a sense of craft. It’s not a big home by today’s standards and is a renovated ‘modernist’ style architectural home from the 70’s. It had nice proportions, large windows and novel details – some which work and some which don’t! We were inspired by the architect’s original drawings and details, many of which were never implemented. So we essentially went back to the materials and detailing which were originally drawn by the original architect and then improved on by our builder, landscaper and kitchen designer.

What was the overall look and feel you were trying to achieve?

For us, the house is predominantly intimate and personal, yet able to open out on both sides in summer to create a pavilion-style area for larger numbers of friends and family. In that sense it makes a great summer house which is cool, breezy and very much indoor-outdoor, whereas in winter it is closed in to create a cozy, warm place to hibernate. Ultimately the house needs to function as a busy family home, so it has to be able to withstand a lot of wear and tear. The floor is testament to this – we don’t have to be too precious about it and it still looks great. As with all natural materials, it gets better with age!

Engineered Timber Flooring: Flamingo /// Himalaya Herringbone

See the full collection from Flamingo here. 

Raftwood Collection – Textured Wood Flooring with a History

Raftwood; the Epitome of Rustic, Texture Wood Floor

Raftwood is more than a timber flooring option; it’s a piece of history brought into your home. Originally produced from railway sleeper oak, each Raftwood plank is unique, featuring natural grains and textures that tell a story from a bygone era.

 

Brown rustic timber flooring

The Origins of Raftwood

The oak used in Raftwood has a rich history.  For many years Raftwood was produced using reclaimed railway sleepers from the Eastern Bloc.  Interestingly, railway sleepers used oak for its hardness and resistance to rot.  In many cases this timber was more than a century old and characterised by natural wood splits, knots, cracks and dents.   All of these factors have contributed to beautiful repurposed product that lives on and exudes character.

Today Raftwood is still produced from French oak, however the original railway sleepers are no longer available.  It is still produced by the same artisans with techniques to showcase the natural characteristics of this ultra rustic wood flooring.  Every plank still tells a story of time that’s passed with a nod to it’s origins.

Light Colour Texture Rustic Oak Herringbone Floor

Specifications and Uses

Raftwood is not just aesthetically pleasing; it is also highly functional. This textured wood floor is fortified with a natural oil finish that preserves its integrity and enhances its natural beauty. It’s perfect for a variety of applications, from flooring to wall installations, and can be used in both residential and commercial settings. Additionally, matching stair nosings can be produced to ensure a cohesive look throughout your space. The oiled finish also allows for the application of intumescent coatings, enhancing its fire resistance, where required.

Most Common Dimensions;

    • Available in Engineered timber planking and parquet in a 15mm overall thickness and 4mm wear layer
    • Herringbone/ Chevron at 600 x 120mm or 700 x 140mm
    • Standard planking up to 3m in length and up to 300mm wide

Other Specifics;

    • E3 Compliant for use in kitchens and laundries (documentation available for download against each specific product).
    • Made in Germany and The Netherlands
    • Birch multiply engineered backing
    • Tongue and Groove connection
    • CE certified
    • No added formaldehyd, rated VOC A+
    • Sustainably sourced

Downloadable resources available here.

Living area, architectural finishes, rustic textured wood flooring

Colour Palette and Texture

The Raftwood collection offers a range of colours that suit various interior styles. The palette includes shades from warm mid-tones to rich dark hues, each enhancing the rustic charm of the wood. The rich texture, complete with open splits and cracks, adds a rugged yet elegant touch to any room, creating spaces that are both inviting and timeless.

Rustic texture herringbone wood flooring in kitchen area

Romantic Appeal

Choosing Raftwood means bringing a piece of romance into your home. Its unique, weathered appearance nods to a time long past, adding character and charm that modern materials often lack. Each plank’s history and individual texture contribute to creating a space that is truly unique and full of character.

Raftwood collection
Raftwood collection-2

Learn More

Explore the full range of Raftwood and discover how it can transform your space. Visit our Raftwood Collection page to see the options available in this unique flooring.

VIEW THE RAFTWOOD COLLECTION

Park Hyatt – American Walnut Flooring

Before its opening, the Park Hyatt approached Vienna Woods because it required trusted flooring experts who would deliver an exceptional product.

As a result, Auckland’s newest waterfront luxury hotel, now features Vienna Woods’ American Walnut flooring in key areas throughout the entire building including the impressive Presidential Suite and Captain’s Bar.

Walnut’s refined tone compliments the Park Hyatt’s modern, minimalistic aesthetic which in turn creates warm and welcoming spaces for guests to enjoy. This hardwood flooring helps bring the concept of ‘natural luxury’ to life, with its superior craftmanship, quality and design.

Inspired by New Zealand’s history, the Park Hyatt incorporates nods to Maori culture. The interiors all feature heritage details like custom-made tukutuku screens, traditional Maori artwork and textiles made from local wood. It was therefore imperative that all design elements subtly enhanced this rich heritage without compromising on quality.

American Walnut’s natural appearance and durability does just this. It not only helps elevate the space, but it will stand the test of time and look good doing it.

Engineered Timber Flooring: Special Order

 

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-hyatt-american-walnut-flooring
park Hyatt Walnut Flooring-1

Grand Oak Onyx – Eastern Bays Luxury Home

Grand Oak Onyx in extra wide 250mm boards and is featured throughout this Hulena Architects designed home in Auckland’s Eastern Bays.

The substantial property offers unparalleled luxury and is a demonstration in sustainable living.

Anchored by the designer kitchen and Grand Oak Onyx floorboards in generous 2400mm lengths, the main living area flows seamlessly to the heated pool and lawn area.

 Engineered Timber Flooring: Grand Oak Onyx

 

View the Gran Oak Onyx Product

Baltic Wood Oak Taupe – Terrace House

Vienna Woods are proud to be associated with these luxury terraces in Auckland’s Inner West. We supplied and installed Oak Taupe, Oak Cashmere, and Oak Supernatural for this multi-terrace development.

These modern and versatile oak colours were chosen to complement the design-focussed interior.

The quality and style of these terraces sets a benchmark for new build terrace homes, set across three levels of living and accommodation, the scale of the homes is surprising. The generous living area is anchored by an enormous kitchen featuring natural wood and stone.

 Engineered Timber Flooring: Vienna Woods /// Oak Taupe

View the Baltic Oak Taupe PRoduct