Kahrs magazine 2018 us

DESIGN STORIES DESIGNING A FLOOR

There has always been an enduring tradition of good design at Kährs. Take a look inside our design process.

FIND YOUR STYLE

A beautiful floor will lift any interior.

View a selection of homes ranging from urban industrial to seaside rustic.

THE ULTIMATE FLOOR GUIDE

Light or dark? Rustic or calm?

Wide or narrow planks? The ultimate guide to choosing the right wood floor.

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PRIME TIME FOR A NEW FLOOR! Kährs proudly introduces a new range of classic Oak plank floors. The elegant Prime Collection features five floors that have been stained in our most popular looks, from white Blanche to grey Millstone and rich, as well as dark, Barrel.

The natural variations of the wood have been accentuated through brushing and beveled edges, enhancing the full planks. Each surface has been treated with a matte finish and are durable and easy to maintain.

The Prime Collection features five floors in our most popular colors, ranging from light to dark.

MILLSTONE

BLANCHE

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10

White floors Relaxed, yet refined, white wood floors create a perfect canvas for showing off your furniture and the design features of your home as well as brighten any interior.

18

Gray floors

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Natural floors

35

Golden brown floors

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One of the latest trends in wood flooring is gray – from shades of driftwood to charcoal. Gray stained floors look like they have aged over the years, creating a unique and warm patina.

A true classic, a natural floor will add a sense of warmth and natural beauty to your home. They can be lively or calm, rustic or elegant.

Rich tones of honey and amber characterize our range of golden brown floors, designed to add a sense of classic sophistication and warmth to any interior.

Brown floors Create instant warmth with a brown wood floor. The rich, earthy tones of amber and hazel create a perfect backdrop for both traditional and contemporary interiors.

Dark floors Dark floors create a solid foundation and bring a sense of sophistication and richness to the interior.

WELCOME TO KÄHRS QUALITY HARDWOOD FLOORING For over 160 years, we have been driven by a passion to turn the natural beauty of wood into beautiful and sustainable floors. The result is Kährs being a world leading manufacturer of superior quality hardwood flooring.

Today, Kährs hardwood floors can be found in homes and businesses from San Francisco to Stockholm to Singapore and beyond. Our range of floors is extensive, covering a wide spectrum of looks, colors, and surface treatments. Despite their differences, they all have a few things in common. The most prominent being the design. Few other interior details can define or harmonize an interior as well as a carefully chosen floor. A beautiful floor will lift any room – just like a pair of well-polished shoes has the power to upgrade any outfit.

In this magazine we showcase the power our floors bring to various interiors. We hope they will provide you with inspiration and ideas for your home.

Additional common traits for our floors are the quality of their production and the innovative attributes of their construction.

Still based in the small town of Nybro, set in the deep forest of southern Sweden, a passion for perfection has been passed on from generation to generation in our company. Over the decades, we have been constantly exploring new ways of perfecting our methods of making the best, most beautiful and sustainable wood floors in the world.

For more inspiration and useful information about wood and hardwood floors, please visit our web site, www.kahrs.com.

We strongly recommend a visit to one of our flooring retailers shown there - because nothing beats seeing and touching our floors in real life to get a true grasp of their excellence and beauty.

Enjoy!

4

Let there be light

12 Shades of gray 20 How to choose a wood floor 22 A coastal abode 31 Into the woods 36 Designing a floor 38 City loft 46 Color report 18 50 Cool in concrete COVER: STURE

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Let there be light Light wood floors soften the mood of this urban home with industrial influences. Throughout the house, an earthy combination of off whites, grays and muted natural hues have been used to create a soothing backdrop for a hectic city life.

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VISTA

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Opposites attract. Light wood floors and raw concrete are a perfect combination.

VISTA

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VISTA

Kährs Design Stories 9

LIMESTONE

Lighten up your home with a white floor The misty white stained Oak Vista chosen for the living area of this stylishly understated home, gracefully balances the light and dark contrasts in the wood. Each board has been meticulously handscraped, which enhances the r­ ustic appearance. Four-sided beveling at the edges ensures a classic plank look and feel. The bedroom and hall feature the whisper-white Oak Limestone. This strip floor has a clean and even expression, with each board carefully brushed to bring out the character of the grain and highlight the natural texture of the timber, while the matte finish eliminates glare and protects the wood from daily wear.

LIMESTONE

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WHITE FLOORS Relaxed, yet refined, white wood floors create a perfect canvas for showing off your furniture and the design details of your home. They also instantly brighten any interior. Our white floors come in a wide range of shades from crispy cold to warm white.

Oil

Matte finish Stained

High gloss finish

Saw marks

Micro-beveled edges

Handscraped

Brushing Beveled edges

1, 2, 3 strip flooring

ASH ALABASTER

OAK DOME

OAK DOVE

OAK LIMESTONE

OAK CREME

Kährs Design Stories 11

OAK MANOR

OAK OYSTER

OAK OLOF

OAK ASPELAND

OAK VISTA

OAK PALAZZO BIANCO

OAK KLINTA

ASH CERIALE

OAK PALE

OAK BLANCHE

OAK PEARL

12 Kährs Design Stories

STURE

SHADES OF GRAY Gray is the new neutral of many contemporary homes. A perfect example is found in this city flat, where gray wood floors were chosen throughout to set a tone of calm sophistication.

Kährs Design Stories 13

STURE

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STURE

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STURE

Kährs Design Stories 17

ALLOY

ADD MODERN SOPHISTICATION WITH A GRAY FLOOR Gray floors create a perfect backdrop for this home, displaying a perfect mix of vintage finds and modern furniture. The living area features Oak Sture, a rustic floor where the surface has been carefully brushed to enhance the beauty and specific characteristics of each board. The floor has been smoked and stained to give it a muted light warm gray color with an oil treated surface. For the bedroom, Oak Alloy has been installed. The owl gray hues in this strip floor create a peaceful expression punctuated by naturally occurring color variations in the timber.

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GRAY FLOORS A hot trend in wood flooring is gray – from shades of driftwood to charcoal. Gray stained floors look like they have been aged by time, creating a unique and warm patina.

Matte finish Stained

Oil Smoked

Micro-beveled edges

Brushing Saw marks

Handscraped Beveled edges

1, 2, 3 strip flooring

OAK MELLOW

OAK MOIRE

OAK SHITAKE

OAK CIRRUS

OAK INDOSSATI

OAK TRENCH

OAK GUSTAF

OAK KINDA

OAK MERINGUE

OAK MÖRE

Kährs Design Stories 19

OAK ALLOY

OAK SHADE

OAK STURE

OAK CHEVRON GREY

OAK TARO

OAK SACRA

OAK ESPACE

OAK GRANITE

OAK HUE

OAK YDRE

OAK MILLSTONE

OAK HANDBÖRD

OAK CONCRETE

OAK LINEN

OAK CHALK

OAK MAISON

OAK CARBON

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HOW TO CHOOSE A WOOD FLOOR To go with your heart is the best advice when it comes to choosing a wood floor. There can be some important aspects to consider in the selection process. We have compiled a short checklist.

The impact of color Light, dark or natural? The color of the floor has a strong impact on how the room is perceived.

A dark floor absorbs the light, but it also creates a sense of warmth and coziness. A light wood floor reflects the light and adds space to the room.

A floor for every room Where are you planning to install the floor and how much wear and tear will it be exposed to? A finished surface has a protective layer between you and the wood. An oil surface, meanwhile, brings out the fine structure and grain of the wood and enhances its natural color. The hardness of the wood and the possibility of re-sanding the floor should also be considered.

Finished or oil?

In general, a finished surface reflects the light more than an oiled one. An exception to this rule is wood treated with our matte finish – which makes the floor feel and look as if it was made from untreated, newly sawn timber. A matte surface is coarser than a silk matte finished floor.

Design for all senses Size matters The sense of space in a room is affected by the width and length of the planks, as well as if the boards have a multi-strip pattern. A general rule is to choose a larger plank floor for a large room and a strip floor for a smaller room. Wide and long planks may be best suited for a large space – but there are exceptions to every rule!

The impression of the floor is made up by what you see, as well as what you feel. Many of our floor designs include surfaces that have been handscraped and/or brushed to create a unique patina that speaks to all your senses.

The look can be further enhanced with planks with beveled edges.

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Clean or rustic?

Clean, calm and elegant – or rustic, rich in patina, knots and cracks? Kährs offers a selection of different gradings, each with a unique character. Grading depends on which part of the log is used when producing individual boards. We also use many types of surface treatments to create a wide diversity of styles.

Install towards the light What type of light is there in the room? Natural light, the size of the windows, other lighting and direction of the light all affect the perception of the floor. The general rule is to install the floor lengthwise towards the window. If the room is long and narrow with windows placed lengthwise, you will have to choose what you feel is more important to accentuate – the shape or light.

Consider the setting Other features of the room are important to consider. Installing your floor lengthwise will accentuate the shape of the room. Meanwhile, light floors together with light walls will enhance the sense of space, while a dark floor will ground the room. Dark floors combined with dark walls diminish the room – but can bring warmth and coziness.

Care for your floor Our floors are durable and easy to clean.

With proper maintenance, your wood floor will retain its beauty for years to come. It is worth considering that oiled floors have a different maintenance routine than finished floors. Also light-stained and light-colored species of wood show more wear and tear than darker ones.

Mix and match A good way of creating harmony in your home is to choose floors that match, but are optimal for each space. You could, for instance, choose a plank floor for the living room and its strip equivalent for the bedroom. Choosing matching moldings and transitions will further enhance the sense of unity.

Check out www.kahrs.com for more wood floor facts to help you choose your wood floor.

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A COASTAL ABODE Splendidly located where sea meets the sky on the coastline of Denmark.

A monochrome scheme and a natural Oak wood floor highlights the rugged beauty of the scenery in this house nesting high on the hill. The rustic atmosphere is offset by bespoke furniture made from salvaged wood and a few splashes of color.

Kährs Design Stories 23

TOWER

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TOWER

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SIENA

Kährs Design Stories 27

Natural Oak wood floors provide a warm backdrop

SIENA

Nature is present in all corners of this home, dominated by shades of a steely gray sky and softened by warm and natural Oak wood floors. For the social area of the house, Oak Tower has been selected. This warm plank Oak floor features a muted color palette and long planks, which add depth to its clean expression. Foursided beveling of the edges ensures a classic look and feel. Each board has been carefully brushed to bring out the character of the grain and highlight the natural texture of the wood. In the bedroom and hall, Oak Siena has been installed. The color variation in this Oak floor from ranges from brown sugar highlights to burnt caramel lowlights for a classic expression.

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NATURAL FLOORS A true classic, a natural wood floor will add a sense of warmth and natural beauty to your home.

Depending on the design, they can be lively or calm, rustic or elegant. Our wide selection includes different plank sizes, surface treatments and shades, from light and airy to rich and golden.

Silk matte finish Handscraped

Matte finish Beveled edges

Oil

Brushing

Micro-beveled edges

1, 2, 3 strip flooring

ASH KALMAR

ASH VAILA

ASH GOTLAND

HARD MAPLE TORONTO

EUROPEAN MAPLE GOTHA

EUROPEAN MAPLE SALZBURG

Kährs Design Stories 29

OAK SUGAR

OAK LECCO

OAK SIENA

OAK PALAZZO ROVERE

OAK TOWER

OAK JOHAN

BEECH VIBORG

OAK REEF

RED OAK NATURE

30 Kährs Design Stories

VEDBO

Kährs Design Stories 31

INTO THE WOODS

The tranquility of the forest meets elegant classics in this spacious villa on the edge of the woods. The homeowners have created a schoolbook example of modern rustic, where golden brown wood floors add an element of warmth and understated elegance to their home.

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VEDBO

Kährs Design Stories 33

Sophisticated elegance with a golden brown floor Peace of mind immediately sets in when entering this house, embedded in greenery and full of tranquility. It is difficult to imagine that it is located only half an hour’s drive from the city center. Light flows freely through huge windows and is turned into golden rays by the Oak Vedbo floor with its warm golden hue and late autumn harvest tones. The floor has a lively expression with naturally balanced contrasts. Each board has been carefully brushed to bring out the character of the grain and highlight the natural texture of the wood. For the bedrooms, Oak Suede floor has been chosen. Planks with a similar grain, minimal knots and a consistent golden color make up this uniform, single-strip Oak floor. The matte finish eliminates glare while protecting the wood from daily wear.

Both floors feature boards with four-sided beveling at the edges to ensure a classic look and feel.

SUEDE

SUEDE

34 Kährs Design Stories

VEDBO

Kährs Design Stories 35

GOLDEN BROWN FLOORS Rich tones of honey and amber characterize our range of golden brown floors, designed to add a sense of classic sophistication and warmth to any interior. Our selection includes floors featuring different designs and different surface treatments.

Silk matte finish Stained

Smoked

Matte finish Saw marks

Oil

High gloss lacquer Beveled edges

OAK PIMA

OAK SUEDE

CHERRY SAVANNAH

OAK CRATER

OAK CAMINO

Brushing

Micro-beveled edges

Handscraped 1, 2, 3 strip flooring

OAK CHEVRON LIGHT BROWN

OAK ETCH

OAK FINNVEDEN

OAK CASA

OAK VEDBO

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DESIGNING A FLOOR

“Wood should look like wood” “I usually say that we have about over 500 people working with design at Kährs. Ideas for new products and catalysts for new designs can come from virtually anyone in the company.

This is a reflection of the pride among our employees for our products, as well as their passion for wood and great knowledge about the raw material”, says Emanuel Lidberg, head of design at Kährs.

Kährs Design Stories 37

A Kährs wood floor is made to last for a lifetime, even for generations.

According to Emanuel this is an important reason why Kährs focuses on classical designs that enhance the natural beauty of wood – a look that will never go out of fashion, he says. Meanwhile, new floors are continuously introduced. – There is a strong design tradition at the company. For decades, the company has been exploring new ways to bring out the best of the raw material. Increased knowledge about wood and how different wood species react in different contexts, combined with new technology and surface treatments provide us with tools to continuously develop new floors, he says – One good example is our new ultra-matte floors, which feature a light absorbing finish that make the floors feel and look like newly sawn timber. Strong daylight from big windows can create shiny reflections on a floor and confuse our sense of color, but this treatment eliminates that effect.

– There is a strong design tradition at the company.

For decades, the company has been exploring new ways to bring out the best of the raw material

production then work closely together to deliver a number of prototype floors.

We always compare the prototypes to the original vision for the product. It is a constant search for ways to improve, striving towards perfection. How does the floor smell, feel, look and sound? It’s important how it is perceived by all senses – it shouldn’t only be beautiful to look at, but also be pleasant to walk barefoot on, or to get down on and play with your children, Emanuel says.

From idea to prototype There is an extensive process of testing and evaluating before Kährs floors are introduced. – Ideas for new products can originate from anywhere, but we always try to put the consumer, or the end user, at the center when we start developing new products. In the case of the ultra-matte floors, recent trends in architecture with bigger windows created a need to develop new surface treatment technologies Emanuel explains. The process began by a design brief being drawn up that explained the vision for the new product, as well as how it addresses future trends and consumer behaviors. The design brief typically includes mood boards where things that can provide inspiration are collected – it can be anything, from fashion, interiors and electronics to pieces of textiles, textures and color samples.

A team consisting of specialists in different areas of wood floor

“Follow your heart” For the final step of the evaluation process, a mock-up, room size floor is produced and installed in the huge test area of Kährs’ Nybro plant. Daylight from big windows and skylights allows for a thorough scrutiny of how the floor is perceived at different times of the day and in different light conditions.– When people ask me how they should choose a wood floor, I usually respond: “pick the one that makes your heart skip a beat”. The same goes for us when we evaluate our new designs, they must be able to trigger positive emotions. Regardless of the design attributes we build into the product, our basic philosophy is that wood should look like wood, Emanuel Lidberg says.

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CITY LOFT A flat in a converted factory has been turned into a home where industrial vibes meets pop culture. A brown wood floor creates a warm backdrop to the truly personal mix.

Kährs Design Stories 39

SEVEDE

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SEVEDE

Kährs Design Stories 41

SMOKE

WARM BROWN FITS PERFECTLY WITH THIS HOME The living room/kitchen area consists of one large room, where a sense of coziness has been created through using generous sofas, splashes of bold color and a brown wood floor. Oak Sevede features rich and warm tones from amber with natural contrast and liveliness. The scraped 3-dimensional structure enhances the knots, giving the floor a worn look and feel. For the entrance, Oak Smoke has been selected. The rich brown hues prominent in this floor are enhanced by its richly smoked finish.

42 Kährs Design Stories

SEVEDE

Kährs Design Stories 43

44 Kährs Design Stories

BROWN FLOORS Nothing can create instant warmth quite like a brown wood floor. The rich, earthy tones of amber and hazel create a perfect backdrop for both traditional and contemporary interiors, providing an authentic aged look. Our brown floors come in a range of rich shades, various designs and surface treatments.

Silk matte finish Handscraped

Matte finish Stained

Oil

Brushing

Smoked

Beveled edges 1, 2, 3 strip flooring

OAK CHEVRON DARK BROWN

BRAZILIAN CHERRY BRASILIA

BRAZILIAN CHERRY LA PAZ

OAK PALAZZO FUMO

Kährs Design Stories 45

WALNUT GARDEN

OAK SEVEDE

OAK BISBEE

OAK SMOKE

OAK SPARUTO

OAK FREDRIK

46 Kährs Design Stories

COLOR REPORT 18 A turbulent and increasingly complex world calls for cozy, kind, and embracing homes.

This is what leading paint producer Akzo Nobel has focused on in its analysis of the color trends for 2018. “We need our homes to be a warm oasis where we can relax with our family and friends – a place for nurturing our inside rather than an Instagram perfect outside”, Per Nimér, Design Manager at Akzo Nobel explains.

THE HEART WOOD HOME A Heart Wood home is a welcoming home where you feel instantly at ease, surrounded by the gentle gray-pink tones of heartwood. Delicately textured fabrics offer a subtle contrast to smooth marble and copper, and well-worn furniture sits alongside newer pieces with geometric forms. The Heart Wood Home palette reflects this versatility, with soft cocoa flowing into bolder shades of ink blue and purple.

CHEVRON DARK BROWN

FINNVEDEN

WALNUT STATUE

STURE

C2.06.68 30YR 49/097

D2.11.43 60YR 20/117

B1.08.37 90RR 16/095

W9.10.13 46RR 06/074

T9.26.21 50BB 08/171

BN.02.82 10YR 73/038

D5.06.68 70YR 50/086

B5.05.52 10YR 28/072

YN.02.45 30RR 22/031

C9.06.21 50YR 08/038

Kährs Design Stories 47

THE COMFORTING HOME The Comforting home can be your retreat to shut out the noise, your haven to shelter in and your sanctuary to find balance. Warm woods, leather, silk and velvet combine to create a space that you want to touch and sink into. The comforting homes show an eye for detail, where the dedicated use of tone-in-tone colors enhances the architectural features of the home. Heritage hints combine with natural materials and warm-tone woods create a relaxed, grown-up luxury.

CO.23.18 13YR 07/157

B5.05.52 10YR 28/072

DO.31.44 50YR 27/318

D8.24.44 80YR 21/226

E5.37.44 00YY 21/321

EO. 03.72 90YR 55/051

B7.25.50 10YR 27/323

B7.10.59 10YR 37/143

E2.17.58 90YR 36/203

F1.11.72 20YY 55/151

SPARUTO

STATUE

SEVEDE

VEDBO

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THE INVITING HOME The Inviting home can be your den to snuggle up in, your nest to grow and develop in, your camp to create memories together with your family and friends – in real life. Fabrics are natural – cottons and linens – and warm, muted colors reflect a soft minimalism, quiet for the eye and peaceful for the soul. The style is effortless style, where everything has a purpose and clutter is banned.

F6.06.69 40YY 51/084

N1.06.61 50GG 40/064

B5.05.52 10YR 28/072

S2.13.39 90BG 17/090

T3.04.12 30BB 05/022

QN.02.82 72BG 75/023

Q5.04.72 30BG 56/045

CN.00.70 50YR 53/011

S2.07.58 90BG 35/068

T5.06.44 30BB 21/056

DOME

MOIRE

TARO

NUBACK

Kährs Design Stories 49

THE PLAYFUL HOME The playful home can be your hub to recharge in, your space to curate and dream in. It is above all a space for drawing inspiration from favorite musicians, authors and artists – somewhere to welcome like-minded friends. There is a sense of energy with vibrant color focal points and plants hanging from walls. This hub may be small, but the design is clever. Yellow-toned green and gold help spark the synapses and encourage a creative approach to life. Unique patterns can be created painting colors with free hand technique directly on the walls.

F3.20.67 30YY 47/236

F6.35.68 40YY 49/408

F1.34.58 20YY 36/370

HI.16.58 90YY 35/169

G5.19.40 70YY 18/152

F8.07.83 45YY 75/110

B5.05.52 10YR 28/072

E7.15.62 10YY 41/175

H1.11.70 90YY 52/138

M4.28.19 07GG 07/143

ALABASTER

PALAZZO FUMO

CHEVRON GREY

TRUFFLE

50 Kährs Design Stories

COOL ON CONCRETE Concrete, steel and glass highlight the stark design and strong ­architectural features of this former World War II bunker, built in 1939 in Hamburg. The ultimately industrial space has been transformed into a light-filled and modern home, in which dark wood floors and insets of bronze and marble add an air of elegance.

TVETA

52 Kährs Design Stories

TVETA

Kährs Design Stories 53

GATE

A dark wood floor to soften the mood This home was designed as an open-plan living space with the bedroom separated from the main room with a glass curtain. Floor-to-ceiling windows were added to let natural light in, while dark wood floors were used to soften the mood.

For the social areas and the bedroom, Oak Tveta was installed. The rich, coffee stain on this plank Oak floor allows the fully smoked, charcoal nuances in the wood to seep through, resulting in a very rustic expression. Occasional saw marks give the floor a restored appearance. The hall and kitchen feature the lightly smoked and stained Oak Gate, rich in color variations ranging from chocolaty onyx to coppery brown.

GATE

54 Kährs Design Stories

DARK FLOORS Dark wood floors create a solid ground. They bring a sense of sophistication and richness to the interior. They never seem to go out of fashion, they are always trendy and in style. The contrast between dark wood floors and bright, light walls for many people epitomize a sophisticated and upmarket style. Our dark floors come in many designs and surface treatments.

Silk matte finish Smoked

Matte finish

Saw marks

Oil

Beveled edges

Brushing

Handscraped

Micro-beveled edges

Stained

1, 2, 3 strip flooring

OAK EARTH

WALNUT STATUE

WALNUT COCOA

WALNUT MONTREAL

JARRAH SYDNEY

OAK BARREL

Kährs Design Stories 55

OAK TVETA

WALNUT ORCHARD

MAPLE CAROB

OAK CURIO

OAK GATE

OAK LAVA

OAK COFFE

OAK SUPAI

OAK ULF

OAK TRUFFLE

OAK CASTLE

Our product lines are subject to ongoing change. Also, color reproduction within the magazine cannot be guaranteed, due to limitations in print technology.

We, therefore, recommend that you visit your Kährs’ stockist to determine exact grain patterns and shades.

6862116US

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