Recently winning a Best Restaurant Design award, it’s no surprise that Matt Woods’ latest project, The Rabbit Hole – Organic Tea Bar, reinvents the tired and clichéd teahouse concept.
Located in the heart of Redfern, Sydney, the design make the most of the site’s industrial roots with polished concrete floors, exposed herringbone timber ceilings and original brick walls. The harshness of the original architecture is softened through the white-washing of these newly exposed elements, as well as the introduction of oversized windows which allow light to flood the interior.
Influenced by the Japanese art of Kintsugi (a celebration of the beauty of imperfection in ceramic objects), every element honours its inspiration, from the Kintsugi bowls sitting delicately above turned oak timbers, to the expansive use of crushed ceramic tile, and even the chandelier made entirely of tea bags (by Chilean artist Valeria Burgoa).
Juxtaposing these contemporary feature elements are the wire-brushed oak timbers of the table frames, the steel-framed wall with pivoting windows, and the leather seat cushions with brass-buckled back rests. Century-old French oak floor joists are used to create the service counter, while a shark-nosed granite top sits effortlessly in the room as a group dining table.
Sustainability is at the heart of The Rabbit Hole project, with FSC certified or recycled timber, VOC free paint finishes, energy efficient lighting. Every material has been assessed for its embodied water and energy content, and the project also aims to eliminate the need for AC, turning to natural cross ventilation. Visit the website for more info, or pop in for a cuppa.
You can update your home with paint and you can change or add to your furniture as often as you please, but flooring is something that is unlikely to change in your home for years or decades to come, so making the right decision at the start of your renovation should be high on the agenda. In the hierarchy of questions around your interior flooring, you need to consider the following:
Alisa and Lysandra
How much can you spend?
In any build or renovation, budget is important, but investing a few extra dollars on the right flooring is worthwhile. Do your sums, and if dollars are tight, consider cutting costs from other areas of your renovation or build; you will not regret it.
Will it stay or will it go?
Are you likely to keep this property or sell it after a few years? If you’re renovating for investment purposes you can afford to choose more mainstream and cost-effective flooring options. If you’re likely to sell later on, we still recommend you invest in good flooring that will not age or feel the effects of use and foot traffic in the meantime.
What look and feel appeals to you?
This is the part where you need to make an emotional connection with your floor. Yes, you read that correctly. How do you want to feel when you wake up in the morning? Picture yourself walking barefoot and most importantly picture your home in winter. For instance, how will it feel walking on timber floorboards as opposed to tiles? Then consider your decor and architecture; make a choice of at least two types of flooring and create a mood board – it will instantly highlight which option compliments both your decor and layout.
Does your chosen look and feel meet the demands of your lifestyle?
Whilst the idea of carpeting your entire home feels warm and cosy, it’s not likely to be the best option especially if you have children and pets. Consider how much foot traffic your home is likely to receive over the years and the activities that will take place in your space. Are you big on entertaining? Frequent dinner parties and get togethers can easily damage floors that are prone to scratching or breakage. If you are renovating for investment purposes, you will need to consider the exact same questions because chances are that at sale time your buyer will be too.
Image: Choices Flooring
Will you love it in years to come?
We’ve transformed a number of homes where the owners were quick to point out that their flooring was impractical, the wrong colour and in may cases they’ve referred to it as cringe worthy!Remember that your floor will need to seamlessly accommodate your styling choices for years to come. For this reason it is important to pay particular attention to the hues and colours available to you and make the right textural and colour choices from the start.
From our experience with home renovations, we’ve come to love four types of flooring, and with the exception of bathrooms, there is no surprise that tiles did not make an appearance on our list!
Hardwoods
Still one of the most popular flooring options, hardwoods or solid timber floorboards will add warmth, softness and an ageless appeal to a home. If you’re renovating an older home you may already have good quality timber floorboards laying dormant and covered under lino or carpet; and with a good sand and polish they can come up looking beautifully, saving you thousands of dollars. Solid timber floors are easy to maintain, they are generally sound proof and can be extremely durable if sealed well. If budget allows, consider Royal Oak for its gorgeous ash shades and soft contemporary feel.
Polished concrete
The popular myth that polished concrete only suits modern homes is now long gone, and for good reason. Polished concrete is extremely durable, incredibly easy to maintain, and will survive through high traffic without looking worn. Sure, some may argue that it feels relatively cold, but this can be counteracted with the use of seasonal carpet or rugs. We love it because it’s highly versatile and the colour options are endless!
Stone
Natural stone flooring is a more eclectic style of flooring due to its high cost and lack of uniformity. It will not suit all homes or budgets, but it will make a statement in your home particularly if you want your floor to be the main feature. Even though it’s not our most frequent choice we love that it is natural and no one piece is the same, giving you a one-of-a-kind look and feel.
Carpet
Whilst we don’t recommend carpeting the entire home, we do like the warmth of carpets in key areas such as bedrooms and sitting rooms. Wool carpet is strong, feels pleasant and is fairly resilient. We love natural fibres and for this reason we also recommend sisal and jute which will suit most contemporary-classic decors.
Image: Choices Flooring
Your choice of floor has the capacity to make or break your renovation especially if you’re considering a quick sale. Make sure you don’t rush the process and remember to create and work with a mood board.
In a smart move after the popularity of their polished concrete feature walls on The Block Sky High, Matt from Matt and Kim, has launched a new business.
He wants to make polished concrete finishes both contemporary and affordable. He said: “Until now, renders such as Cement Glassface and Venetian Plaster have been exclusive to the high end market only. There is no logical reason for this. A feature wall in polished render can often be cheaper than wallpaper, tiles or timber clad. The results are more spectacular, more modern, and more durable.”
