Wooden floors have been fully embraced for years as the material to have underfoot. Now things are starting to get fancy, with herringbone and chevron wooden floors surfacing all over, especially on Pinterest. And beyond herringbones, all manner of Escher-like geometrics are cropping up. Have a look at these designs from Atelier des Granges in Escurolles, France, that call to mind the puzzle-like parquets of yore but with a pleasingly up-to-date, clean look. No, most of us don't live in France—where Atelier des Granges offers its clients complete design and installation services—nor do most of us have budgets for custom woodwork of this sort. That said, we like seeing (and admiring) the work.
Above: Atelier des Grange's Parquet Pad Staving in a hexagonal basket-weave pattern, made from bleached solid oak cross pieces and end-grain hexagons. The floor is given a gray cast using a technique proprietary to Atelier des Granges and has a special oil and wax finish to preserve the raw look.
Above: Atelier des Grange offers photos of its floors in progress.
Above: A simpler variation of the Parquet Pad Staving, hexagons made of end-grain solid oak. To understand the workmanship, have a look at this video of the floor coming together. A floor like this is priced at €130 per square meter, not including installation costs.
Above: Parquet Wood Standing in Various Dimensions is made from blocks of oak of different lengths.
Above: A detail of Parquet d'Arenberg, made with mortise and tenon construction. This example is oak and set in a room with a brick hearth; Atelier des Grange also makes the pattern in walnut, cherry, and other woods.
Above: A staggered block design, Parquet Wood-Paved Standing plays up the grain patterns of the oak.
N.B.: Atelier des Grange has a second website, Parquets de Tradition, filled with more photos of its custom hardwood floors.
Considering installing a wood floor? See thousands of images of Wood Floors in our Gallery of Rooms and Spaces. Also have a look at our posts on the World's Most Beautiful Wood Floors and Reclaimed Wood Floors Made Modern.