9th August 2021 | IN HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS | BY SBID ShareTweetPinterestLinkedIn When it comes to designing floors for care homes, there is much more that goes into it than pure aesthetics. The flooring also has to be safe, durable, easy to maintain, as well as provide comfort for the residents and visitors. Opting for a contemporary traditional style with quirky twists, Sunrise Senior Living achieved its home from home setting when specifying Karndean Designflooring in its Assisted Living Bistros. Looking to refurbish four of its properties located in Surrey, Chorleywood, Cardiff and Bassett, inhouse interior design manager Danica Mrozek looked to give each location its own individual personality with different colourways and design aspects. Sunrise Virginia Water in Surrey featuring Karndean Designflooring, Da Vinci Blended Oak. Using traditional elements to create a modern look The latest Sunrise Virginia Water in Surrey features Karndean’s characterful Da Vinci Blended Oak laid in a herringbone pattern throughout its Assisted Living Bistro and open plan residents’ dining area, giving a seamless sense of continuity. Fleur Carson, commercial sales director of Karndean Designflooring, said: “With a simple border pattern, the flooring adds depth and texture to the pared back scheme. The 36” x 3” planks give a floorboard effect with authentic aged oak hues, distinctive grain textures and wide bevelled edges but have been laid in herringbone pattern for a modern look. It complements the bold blue kitchen units and statement mirror tiles with a neutral grey and taupe colour palette perfectly.” Sunrise Virginia Water in Surrey featuring Karndean Designflooring, Da Vinci Blended Oak. The brand reflected through interiors Inhouse design manager, Danica explains the Assisted Living Bistro is where residents can socialise and welcome visiting friends and family. She said: “The comfortable homely spaces feature a self-contained kitchen area and informal cafeteria seating which enables residents to prepare and enjoy a drink and light snack. “The homely atmosphere is enhanced with the use of domestic kitchen units which offer additional reassurance and encourage independence. Contemporary colour schemes in blues and greys, highlighted in accent colours such as yellow, orange or green, have created elegant yet cheerful interiors that reflects the Sunrise brand.” Flooring that offers both aesthetics and practicality When considering flooring for the refurbishment project, Sunrise needed a product that could meet both the aesthetic and technical specifications of a residential healthcare setting. With a hard wearing, waterproof and hygienic surface that offers a slip resistance rating of R9, Karndean flooring from the Da Vinci collection amply met this brief. As Danica, added: “The flooring needed to have the correct slip rating and wear layer suitable for use in a high traffic area. Karndean products have the aesthetic of real wood without all the impracticalities of maintaining wood. Sustainability from production to utilisation “We’re really keen to specify sustainable products where possible that are not only environmentally friendly in their manufacturing process but are also durable to ensure longevity. With everyone spending so much more time inside due to the pandemic, indoor air quality has become really important so it’s great that Karndean products are low emitting in terms of VOCs.” Visit Profile About Karndean Designflooring Our design process begins with a meeting…with nature. We see flooring differently. Pushing the boundaries has to be an adventure of discovery. It’s why we travel the world for inspiration. From the ancient European woodlands to the Australian outback, we pack our bags and go there. Every time, we connect with something extraordinary that shapes our every step. It’s how we bring the unimaginable, inspired from the outdoors, indoors. Design is an endless journey. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here to find out more.