08/09/20

LOVE (WOOD) FOR LIFE

Love for Life is the actual meaning of biophilic design - bio (life) philic (love). This design trend is not emerging purely by chance. More than ever, we need the calm and harmony we find in nature while seeking protection in our homes. Authentic real wood floors are the perfect way of linking the outside indoors, and thanks to Wood for Life – the latest innovation from Quick-Step – you can now have carefree enjoyment of the warmth of wood.

WHY SO SERIOUS?
The beneficial effect of nature on our well-being should not be underestimated. Restraint, ecology, sustainability and craftsmanship are key concepts in modern architecture. Spatial aspects such as daylight, green views and natural ventilation have gained in importance within interior design in recent years. More and more architects are becoming aware that physical and mental well-being is improved by fostering the connection between humanity and nature. They aim for a tension between protection and views, by adding green walls, wooden floors and light encapsulating windows and integrating outdoor space to become an outdoor room. In an urban environment, an indoor garden becomes an oasis of green within the home. The boundaries between inside and outside become blurred.

BRING NATURE INDOORS

The biophilic design trend is not just emerging in architecture but in contemporary interiors too. Sequences and patterns from nature are used to add relief to wallpaper or plaster. A rough tree trunk serves as a coffee table and literally brings woodland indoors. Green in all its facets seems to be the most logical colour match, but restrained earth tones, soft pastel colours and rich hues from ochre to sunflower yellow too have a link to Mother Nature and lend themselves perfectly to turning your house into a warm nest. And why not combine with natural colours such as linen, wool, rattan and wood? Or perhaps you would like to have a go yourself at craft techniques such as macramé and pottery. Not that good at crafting? Don't worry! Plants are the easiest way of bringing nature indoors. And if you really want to create the feeling of an indoor garden, you can even opt for a completely green wall.

WOOD FOR LIFE

Finally you can also carry the look of natural materials through to the base of your home: the floor. With a Quick-Step real wood floor you don't just bring everything indoors, you can get carefree enjoyment from it thanks to the new Wood for Life varnish technology. The traditional inconveniences of maintaining a wooden floor are a thing of the past thanks to Quick-Step innovation. Each plank has been treated with a protective coating so that dirt and dust can no longer gather in the pores of the wood. Because the first signs of wear and tear are particularly visible in corners and at seams, the joints between the wooden planks are provided with an extra protective coating. This does not just make it easier to remove dirt and dust but also prevents moisture seeping between the planks and leaving fungal spores behind. So you can have carefree enjoyment of the natural warmth of wood, without fear of moisture, dirt or stains.

Thanks to Wood for Life, this type of damage belongs to the past:

• Dirty pores: Traditional unvarnished floors often have a somewhat coarser structure. Dirt and dust build up, so that the floor does not look clean. The new coating protects the pores and makes sure that no dirt ends up in them.

• Dark edges and dust: It isn't only the pores that are susceptible to dust. In many wooden floors the first signs of ageing are visible at the edges of the planks and between the joints. Wood for Life prevents dust from gathering in the crevices of the wood.

• Dark and dirty veins: Veins give a floor its unique look. Without the right protection, however, they become dark and dirty as time goes by. The coating ensures that the floor is easier to clean and prevents dirt from entering the wood.

• White edges: When moisture accumulates and evaporates, the wood becomes discoloured and the coating is tainted. The new varnish technology prevents this and makes it possible to remove dirt and moisture quicker than ever.