New visuals within the Art Select Wood gluedown LVT range allow architects and designers to bring the beauty of real wood to life in their projects. Designed with hand-carved embosses and beveled edges, each plank is crafted to enhance the unique grains, knots and textures of the woods that inspired them, some of which are no longer available or are cost-prohibitive in their natural state.
New visuals in this collection were developed from Reclaimed Hickory, American Chestnut and European Oaks, with the Reclaimed Hickory designs featuring a new emboss exclusive to Karndean Designflooring.
Reclaimed Hickory (56 by 9 inches): Developed from boards recovered at a Midwest lumber yard, the stark color contrast between the “heartwood” and sapwood is the result of over a century of growth, exposing a beauty only visible with age. These logs were sawn with a wide circular blade, inspiring a new emboss which gives planks a subtle cross-sawn appearance and texture.
American Chestnut (56 by 9 inches): Now commercially extinct due to an infestation known as the “chestnut blight,” the beauty of this wood lives on in Art Select. Salvaged from floor joists, granary boards and rafters from East Coast barns, the recovered boards feature an array of characterful cracks and worm holes. Hickory is typically left unpolished for an eclectic, rustic appearance, which is replicated by the subtle matte finish on the planks.
French Oak (48 by 7 inches): French Oak has been long-established as a popular choice for flooring due to its high tannin content, which adds a slow-aged quality to floor boards. The minimal knots and tight grain result from the trees growing tight together, making a subtle tonal floor. A matte, handscraped emboss adds a final layer of elegance to these refined visuals.
In addition to its 56- by 9-inch plank, Glacier Oak is available in an additional 18- by 3-inch parquet “accent plank” format to suit different-sized spaces. Accent planks create a high-end look and can be laid in a variety of patterns, either alone or together with the corresponding full-size planks, for zoning or to highlight key areas.
English Oak (48 by 7 inches): Inspired by artisan woodworking techniques when floor boards were individually crafted, this design embodies old-world charm in a format that won’t need refinishing. The handscraped emboss leaves a chiseled effect on the planks, reflecting a time when craftsman finished every board by hand.
This range has a 30-mil wear layer suitable for heavy commercial applications and a 20-year commercial warranty.