Special
Producers of Versailles panels
PANEL FLOORS CAN BEAR ANY FITTING PATTERN IMAGINABLE ‘VERSAILLES’ IS STILL THE BIRTHPLACE AND THE MOST POPULAR DESIGN
Photo – Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs
Panel floors; design floors; cassettes; you immediately think: ‘What’s in a name?’ Nevertheless, in view of the huge spectrum of possible designs in the world of parquet, it would be good to speak more or less the same language. ‘Versailles floors’ are certainly examples of pre-assembled wooden panel floors, but they are definitely not the only one. ‘Versailles’ is one of the patterns in that segment. It is certainly also the oldest pattern, and that is why people often refer to all panel floors as Versailles panels. Nevertheless, this type of parquet lends itself to an infinite range of patterns.
knights’ hall of a restored medieval castle, equipped with every imaginable ergonomic technical gadget? Of course you can!
The height of eclecticism!
Strictly speaking, the production method is an ‘engrafted method’. These floors are formed with pre-engineered square panels into which wooden sections are fitted in accordance with a particular fitting pattern. Each panel forms a mini-parquet floor in some respects. The sections are sawn and mitred as required and are glued to each other sideways and tightened in order to dry.
Eclecticism is a trend from 19th century architecture. It is a cross between cultures and, in particular, human emotions; a mix of styles, cross-fertilisation between tastes and aesthetic approach. Can you fit a parquet floor in a fitting pattern which originates from the palaces of Louis XIV in a hyper-modern and futurist building? Warm renaissance in a cool silo? An old herringbone amidst sheer rigidity? Why not? Herringbone parquet tends to drill its way through the room like an arrow and give life to the immobility of scarcity. White walls and dark oak. Yes, you can! Can you in that same futurist context plant a real old Chesterfield for visitors and guests? An ‘antique’ sofa in a ‘future’ setting. Or vice-versa, could you set out a rigidly modern salon in the
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Technical misfit Versailles panels are certainly the most popular panel or design floors still fitted today. We’re talking here about design floors with a so called ‘historic’ fitting pattern. It is essential to make that point because design floors are actually the result of a production method for which all sorts of designs can be used, even new and as yet non-existent ones.
Always an identical method
Versailles is unique The real original Versailles pattern is a diagonal wickerwork. The panels in the renowned castle of Louis XIV are precisely 1m² (100 x 100cm). They are separated by three strips (8cm) which come together in a corner to form a point. A specific feature of Versailles panels is that
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