Today I want to share with you the most amazing nature-inspired laminate flooring on the market that is just perfect for your home. I kid you not, I have never been so excited about flooring and I have been writing about residential home interiors since the dawn of ages (ok since 2007).
I have wanted to share this for a while now but I was busy installing it in my own home. Ever since we moved into our flat in 2013 I have wanted to get new flooring. We recarpeted the livingroom and hallway when we moved in with the cheapest of the cheap carpet but it was always the plan to replace these with something nicer once the kids were a bit older and we had the budget.
And don’t get me started on the kitchen. The floor tiles in the kitchen were so badly laid that they were wonky and cracked and we have always hated them with a passion so strong it could send us into a rage at any moment. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you how much I despised that floor and desperately wanted to replace it.
My Personal Quest to Find The Perfect Flooring
Little did I know that my extensive knowledge of the industry and ridiculously high standards would make it almost impossible to find a flooring that I like enough to have in my own home. Sure there were plenty out there that would do the job and look fine. But I didn’t want fine. I’m not in the game of mediocrity. I want stunning, I want unusual, I want statement and I want standout flooring! And it has to express my style. That’s not a tall order at all, right?
My style has always been quite industrial. I do like that rough feel of industrial interiors and we did quickly think about a coloured concrete floor but quickly dismissed it as we wanted something easier to maintain and a little more cosy.
When you think of a statement floor, one that really stands out, you probably think of tiles. But we didn’t want tiles again. We found them cold and hard to clean and we hated how the grout got discoloured. No thank you!
I really wanted a cork floor for the longest time. I love cork as a material. I love the feel of it, I love the sustainability factor. But again, where was the statement?
Next, we thought the safest option was wood as we love the warmth and feel of wood and the fact that it is natural, and we also wanted something that was easy to look after. The problem was that wooden flooring isn’t really much of a statement either. I ruled out dark wood flooring we don’t have that much natural light in our flat and didn’t want something that would absorb what little we do have. Light wood flooring was also out as it would show up too much dirt and I certainly don’t have time for daily floor cleaning!
(I have since discovered that Quick-Step’s Capture collection is available in Painted Oak Rose, which is definitely a statement and something I may consider in the future, if I can trick, I mean, get my husband on board).
So there we were. Stuck! Nothing stood out to me at all. That was until…
Botanic Concrete : Nature-Inspired Laminate Flooring from Quick-Step
Part of the Muse Collection from Quick-Step, Botanic Concrete combines the beauty of natural stone
with the benefits of laminate with a statement botanical twist. Be still my beating heart! As soon as I caught news of this new flooring from Quick-Step I knew that I had found my soulmate nature-inspired laminate flooring. Yes, it sounds dramatic but my god I’d waited an eternity for this. 10 whole years of anticipation and finally my dream floor had come to market.
The Quick-Step design team has pulled off the impossible. “The ‘botanical concrete’ look is a symbolic eye-catcher in the Muse collection. At first, what appears to be a contradiction is, on closer examination, pure poetry.”
You see this is no ordinary flooring. The concrete-look laminate flooring features delicate wildflower
designs lightly sprinkled on the surface. From a distance, you don’t even notice them but when you take a closer look it appears that someone has sprinkled teeny tiny meadow flowers all over the floor. The result is a hybrid floor with a terrazzo effect that suits minimalist and eclectic interiors alike. WHAT A DREAM! Isn’t this the dream?
I immediately knew I had to have this floor in my home. In my kitchen to start with, but also in the hallway and now I want it in the living room too. I really do love it that much. Not only does it look and feel great underfoot, it is super easy to take care of and clean. And my god does it do a fabulous job at hiding any dirt. If I drop anything on the kitchen floor it is almost undetectable. I literally have to get on my hands and knees and gently sweep the area with my fingertips to locate the tiny piece of carrot peel or onion skin. It just blends right in amongst the colourful little petals. The kids think it’s a fun game trying to locate the grain rice they may have dropped.
I think you can tell how much I love this nature-inspired laminate flooring in my home. But I wanted to share with you a little bit more about the design story. So I reached out to Quick-Step and asked if I could pose a few questions to the genius designer behind Botanic Concrete. And here is what she had to say:
Interview with Anastasiia Kudashova, Chief Designer at Quick-Step
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your background and how long you’ve been with Quickstep?
I’m Anastasiia Kudashova, Chief Designer at Quick-Step. I joined the company in 2017, following my dream to explore the world and nature, and create products that would be meaningful in people’s homes. I am passionate about both the design and technical part of my job, because combining both worlds allows me to create the most beautiful and performant floors, that are also made in a sustainable way. I make sure that every Quick-Step floor is a star in its own right and that each colour and design has a long story to tell.
Can you tell me a bit about the muse collection and the inspiration behind it?
Nature has always been the greatest source of inspiration for Quick-Step, most of our floors are inspired by wood but for the Muse collection we took up the challenge to transform beautiful natural stone originals into laminate floors.
We love the look and feel of natural stone floors: they are exquisite, timeless and unique. However, they may not always be the most practical option. They tend to feel cold, require diligent maintenance, and can pose challenges during installation due to their heavy weight.
With the Muse collection, we wanted to combine the best of both worlds: the charm and allure of stone and the softness and warmth of a laminate floor. And that is how the Muse collection was born.
Botanic Concrete is obviously the ‘Show Stopper’ of the Muse collection. What inspired the concept of combining the concrete aesthetics with meadow flowers in this design?
The idea for the Botanic Concrete floor was born during the pandemic when many of us felt a desire to reconnect to nature. During my walks, I started handpicking and drying some beautiful wildflowers, which became the basis for this floor.
We then worked together with the team and even an artist to create the perfect ‘original’. We experimented with different colours of concrete and placing the flowers in them. I can definitely say that the inspiration behind this floor stems from a deep reverence for nature.
After a hectic and busy day, everyone craves a sense of ease and relaxation at home. Recognizing nature’s ability to evoke tranquillity, we sought to blend the comforts of home with the serenity of the outdoors.
From a technical point of view, how did you achieve the intricate details of the meadow flowers on the concrete surface?
The intricate details of the meadow flowers on the laminate floors were achieved through the exceptional expertise and dedication of our remarkable R&D team. Over the years, we have developed various new structure and printing techniques that allow us to bring the magic of the ‘original’ piece to life in a laminate floor that can be produced on a large scale.
What artistic challenges did you encounter in the design process of merging the industrial feel of concrete with the organic beauty of meadow flowers?
Integrating the industrial feel of concrete with the organic beauty of meadow flowers in a laminate flooring posed several artistic challenges during the process.
First, we had to ensure that the visual contrast between the different elements was balanced and harmonious. We wanted this floor to have a subtle terrazzo look from afar and have the wildflowers be an exciting detail once you look closer, without being too overpowering.
So, we had to find the right balance in how many flowers to incorporate to achieve that look and the right shade of concrete to not make the contrasts too stark.
How did sustainability considerations play a role in the selection of materials for this flooring?
Sustainability has been ingrained in our DNA since the very beginning, as our products already started out from a bio-based waste stream from the flax industry – to produce particle boards and later on laminate floor.
For all our laminate flooring we use only recovered wood and no new raw materials for the wooden core, and that is no different for this particular floor. We collect the wood from sawmills, sustainable forest management processes, roadside maintenance… that would otherwise be burned or discarded.
Furthermore, we continually seek new ways to keep improving the recyclability of our flooring, as we believe there is always room for improvement and we always try to push new boundaries.
Are there specific spaces or interior styles where you believe this flooring would be particularly well-suited? Who is the target audience?
As the floor has a contemporary style, various interior design styles would complement this floor perfectly. For minimalistic enthusiasts, it adds a subtle yet captivating element, injecting a touch of spice without overwhelming the space.
If you lean towards a bohemian, biophilic aesthetic and love embracing nature, the floor seamlessly integrates with your decor, enhancing the overall vibe.
However, I feel like it could also truly shine in a Mediterranean-inspired interior, fostering a sense of relaxation and vacation-like atmosphere in your home.
I actually have the Botanic Concrete in my own home, where I styled it in a more romantic fashion, related to the cottage core trend that also really emphasizes this connection to nature. As you can probably tell, plenty of interior styles in which this floor perfectly fits!
I couldn’t agree more here. Botanic Concrete is so versatile and I think it can work in all sorts of homes and even in commercial spaces. I would without hesitation install this in my coworking space as well as my home. It is the most beautiful nature-inspired laminate flooring and it was worth the decade-long wait for me!
What do you think of Botanic Concrete? Would you have this in your home?