The Design Process

The woods and stones that inspire our exclusive designs are hand-selected from around the world. In the skilled hands of our design team, the natural characteristics of the materials are replicated and enhanced in exacting detail. Every design is a Karndean original, each with a story as unique as the wood or stone that inspired it.

Wood-inspired designs in the Art Select collection fall into six categories.

Hickory: The wood that inspired our Belmont Hickory design was discovered in a Boston lumberyard. A strong crown pattern and pale, whitewashed undertone give the design character, and the 48” x 4.5” “strip wood” planks represent a more narrow size not often found in LVT.

Kent Ash: Part of the olive family, ash is an ancient species that, as a felled hardwood, has traditionally been used to make tool handles and chair frames. The source timber for our four Kent Ash designs – named for Kent Downs, a scenic conservation area in the United Kingdom – provided strong tonal contrast well suited to the 48” x 4.5” “strip wood” planks.

French Oak: Featuring beautiful tonal variation, French oak has long been popular for hardwood flooring. Using that source material as inspiration, our Dune Oak design blends light blond streaks and deeper brown hues. Our designers used a smoking process to enhance the smooth grain variation, which was then further accentuated with a translucent oil finish.

European Oak: Offering a range of color tones, these six designs are based on “natural-grade” European oak. While natural-grade wood is mostly uniform in appearance, natural imperfections such as knots and color variation are present. We lightly scraped and oiled the boards to reveal grain detail and other characteristics.

Holm Oak: These designs were inspired by wood from a centuries-old holm oak in Spain. Typically found within stone-walled enclosures for farm animals that feed on the acorns, holm oak is not commonly used as a source for timber – our design team procured the wood as part of a woodland-management program. Light scraping and brushing were used to enhance the character of these designs.

Artisan Oak: Our Artisan Oak designs showcase signature Karndean artistry and craftsmanship. Working with timber highlighted by strong crown formations, we used a liming treatment to highlight the varied grains and markings while giving the wood a bleached appearance. A deep bevel and special emboss further accentuate the realistic look and feel.

Stone-inspired designs in the Art Select collection fall into eight categories.

Greek Marble: Our three Greek Marble designs – Ionic, Corinthian and Doric – were inspired by Thassos, which has been used for centuries in sculpture and construction. With minimal variation and veining, our designs capture the defining characteristics of the source material. The square tiles offer the ability to mix the three designs as part of a checkerboard lay pattern.

Calacatta Marble: Our regal Calacatta D’Oro design was inspired by marble from one of Italy’s oldest mountain quarries. The design captures the subtle grey and gold veining unique to the Calacatta Borghini quarry, bringing sophistication and elegance to your space.

Ceppo di Gre: Sourced from an Italian quarry, the stone that inspired these designs resembles a naturally formed terrazzo – the word “ceppo” translates to “rock with pebbles.” The three ceppo designs offer a high-end look, one that nicely complements design aesthetics that embrace imperfection.

Onyx: The semi-precious gemstone onyx inspired designs in two luxurious colors, rose and pearl. Both reflect the hues of the original stone, providing an elegant look that commands attention. In its natural form, onyx is rarely used as flooring, as it’s susceptible to scratches and stains and cannot be installed in areas where moisture is present.

Split Quartzite: Sourced from a quarry in the Alps, the quartzite that inspired these designs brings a marble-like look to LVT flooring. The split face of the quartzite presented fissures, veins and speckles that create character and visual interest. Available in 18” x 24” tiles, our Split Quartzite designs are ideal for smaller spaces such as bathrooms.

Travertino Georgette: These distinctive designs were inspired by the finest-quality travertine, a type of limestone that forms near mineral hot springs, giving the stone its rich color. The “georgette” designation indicates tighter, finer veins, creating an attractive linear appearance. The color across the tiles is fairly uniform, providing versatility that works within a variety of interior design approaches.

Spanish Limestone: “Caliza” is Spanish for limestone, the material sourced in the Spanish city of Alicante that inspired this soft, neutral design. With minimal markings and a warm grey color, Caliza Classico offers a neutral, elegant look for modern spaces.

Pavimento: “Pavimento” translates to “concrete.” Inspired by slabs created from recycled aggregates, Pavimento Crema and Pavimento Bianco offer a weathered concrete look. The 18” x 36” tile size and deep bevel accentuate the visual appeal of the designs. Architects and designers are creating compelling spaces inside and out with this look, which is warmer and less industrial than real concrete.

Sustainability

• All factories that manufacture our products are certified to the ISO 14001 environmental standard, which provides a framework for measuring and reducing environmental impact
• Products can be used to earn LEED v4.1 points by virtue of product-specific Environmental Product Declarations
• Products certified to NSF/ANSI 332, the foremost U.S. standard by which to evaluate and verify sustainability of floor coverings across the entire product life cycle
• Products are FloorScore® certified for post-installation indoor air quality, meeting standard for LEED v4.3, WELL v2 and California 01350
• Products are rated A+ for volatile organic compounds
• Products are free from heavy metals and unsafe phthalates
• Products use water-based or solvent-free adhesives with very low VOC emissions