Kahrs magazine 2017 1 us

DESIGN STORIES 160 YEARS

A passion for wood, passed on from generation to generation. Meet the people of Kährs and learn why Kährs is best in the business.

GET THE LOOK…

…with a wood floor. Decorating inspiration from stunning homes in Denmark, France and Sweden.

EASTERN MEETING POT

Interiors in Dubai are as varied as its people.

Meet the successful wood flooring specialist who caters to all design schemes.

CHEVRON GREY

Kährs Design Stories 3

Celebrating 160 years of quality and beauty From a local wood goods craftsman, deep in the forests of southern Sweden, evolved into a world-leading inventor and producer of modern hardwood floors. The 160-year history of Kährs is the story of our strong passion for nature, the environment, interior design, and for wood itself. Add those elements with innovative thinking, a commitment to the highest quality standards, and the result is beauty itself.

Today, we sell our beautiful, durable wood floors in more than 60 markets worldwide – many more than any other manufacturer on the globe.

“The whole world is standing on our floors,” as one of our co-workers puts it.

Design Stories is a celebration of what generations of Kährs employees and wood lovers have achieved over decades.

This tribute is to the creative minds that ensure that we will continue to lead in wood flooring design, innovation, and development.

Design Stories is also a reflection and presentation of how vastly different interior styles in different countries inspire us to develop new designs. We welcome you into homes in Germany, France, Denmark and Sweden; hoping this will provide you with the design inspiration and ideas for your own home.

Please also visit our website, www.kahrs.com, where you will find many more ideas as well as useful information about wood and wood flooring.

Happy reading!

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Bare necessities

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A tradition of thinking outside the box

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assing on wood knowledge P from generation to generation

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In Provence

20 Beauty with a conscience 21

Saving the world each day

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The house among the dunes

26 Individuality rules in multicultural society 30 In Berlin 36 D evelopment driven by passion for perfection 40 East West 46 From Småland with love COVER: YDRE

4 Kährs Design Stories

BARE NECESSITIES

The expression ‘Less is More’ would be an understatement if it was used to describe this new family summerhouse, on the Swedish west coast.

ALLOY

6 Kährs Design Stories

Southern façade lets the sunshine in through wide sliding doors that open the house up to the outdoors. The matte surface of Gray is perfect for creating a borderless feeling between the raw timber of the patio/terrace and the wood flooring throughout the interior.

NOUVEAU GRAY

Kährs Design Stories 7

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NOUVEAU GRAY

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Looking at the bare wooden exterior you almost expect the interior to follow in the same fashion, with minimal decoration.

Certainly, you will not find anything that the owners do not feel absolutely necessary for their relaxing summer stay, far, far away from their usual hectic life in the city.

The whole interior breathes of a calm and relaxing existence where the focus is summer life; play, bicycle trips and days on the beach just a couple of minutes’ walk from the house.

ALLOY

Other floors with a weathered feeling. See the full range at www.kahrs.com

CHALK

STELE

NOUVEAU GREIGE

10 Kährs Design Stories

A TRADITION OF THINKING

OUTSIDE THE BOX

Experience is the best innovator. With 160 years in the business, Kährs is one of the oldest manufacturers of wood floors in the world. It is also one of the most innovative. The wood knowledge we have accumulated over the years has been passed down from generation to generation, from neighbor to neighbor. Over the lunch table, on the football fields, on the ski slopes and over the fence, we are constantly discussing new ways to improve our floors. At work, we try these ideas, we test them, sometimes we fail – but eventually we succeed. The goal is always the same; to make our floors even more beautiful, stronger, sustainable and easier to install.

Our combination of tradition, knowledge and technology is unique for wood floor producers.

It has inspired us to think outside the box and to use wood in an innovative way – for the benefit of present and future generations.

In 1857, Kährs is founded in Nybro, deep in the forests of Sweden. The elder, Johan Kähr, sets up a shop crafting wood utility goods. Today, 160 years

later, our operations are still based in this small, rural town.

sustainable wood raw material and improving the stability of wood when used in building materials.

In 1919, Gustaf Kähr, grandson of the elder, takes over the company and changes its name to AB Gustaf Kähr. Under his leadership, the company becomes an important and innovative producer of wooden doors, toys, furniture and floors. Gustaf was dedicated to finding efficient ways of using

In 1937, Gustaf ’s perseverance pays off as he receives a patent for the invention of the modern multi-layer, laminated door. Following upon this success, he works hard to find a solution for the problem of gapping, twisting and cupping of solid wood floors.

Kährs Design Stories 11

In 1941, Kährs is awarded a patent for the invention of today’s modern engineered hardwood floor, the multilayer floor. After World War II, the home market booms and many families build homes of their own.

This means an increased demand for engineered parquet floors, regarded as essential for the more representative parts of every house.

In 1958, Kährs introduces the first factory-finished floors. Previously floors were installed and sanded before being lacquered on site. The production of a factory-finished floor requires a high degree of precision to ensure that the surface of the floor becomes smooth and consistent.

In 1965, Kährs receives a patent for a completely new sports floor construction. Boards were nailed to a flexible batten system, which resulted in a floor that was able to absorb impacts and give a more uniform response to sports activities.

In the 1980’s, Kährs starts a global expansion, starting with several markets in Europe, including the Nordic region, Germany and France, as well as the US. In the mid 1990’s, Kährs also moves into East European and Asian markets, such as Russia and China.

In 1984, Kährs is the first floor manufacturer able to boast an entirely solvent-free production process, having initiated its own environmental program

long before this becomes general practice in the business.

In 1993, Kährs is the first wood floor manufacturer to achieve the ISO 9001 quality certification.

In 1995, Kährs introduces a new generation of wood floors: Linnea featuring a thin surface layer of wood, but still hard, durable and easy to install.

In 1997, Kährs gains a ISO 14001 environmental certification. Waste products from forest felling provide district heating for the community around the factory. The ash that remains is returned to the forest as fertiliser.

In 1999, Kährs introduces the world’s first engineered floor with the glueless Woodloc® joint. The technology was seen as revolutionary, resulting in faster laying and perfect results.

In 2004, a new sports floor is launched by Kährs.

Advantages include that it can be installed quicker and over larger areas. The floor is approved for the global standard for sports floors and used at many major sporting events.

In 2007, Kährs celebrates 150 years as a company, with products sold in more than 30 countries, in hundreds of designs, styles and finishes.

Long-term efforts continue to ensure maximum sustainability throughout the whole production process and life cycle of a wood floor – from raw material to recycling.

In 2009, Kährs launches the next level of the Woodloc® joint system – Woodloc® 5S. This new joint make installation even faster and more flexible, while producing a stronger floor.

In 2013, Kährs introduces Master, a technically advanced 2-layer engineered floor. The range comprises three collections: small-, medium- and largeformat.

In 2015, a revolutionary, high-tech robotic design line is taken into operations at the Nybro plant.

The line enables advanced pre-programmed designs adjusted to each unique plank.

In 2017, the company’s 160th anniversary is celebrated by the introduction of a number of new, innovative floors. Long-term efforts continue to ensure maximum sustainability throughout the whole production process and life cycle of a wood floor – from raw material to recycling.

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“The whole world is standing on our floors.

Of course I’m proud!”

PASSING ON WOOD KNOWLEDGE FROM

GENERATION TO GENERATION

What makes a product go from good to great? We are certain that the key to success lies in the people that produce it. It is their passion and knowledge that ensures that the quality that we have been delivering over the years continue to distinguish our floors from the many others. Many of our employees have been working at the Nybro plant for several decades – in some cases generations – passing on their knowledge to new family members, friends and neighbors that start working at Kährs.

Meet three pillars of the company.

Kährs Design Stories 13

“A second family.” This is how these employees at Kährs in Nybro describe their colleagues and workplace. Despite their different backgrounds and assignments in the production process, they all share a long history in the company, deep wood knowledge and a passion for the end product. Much of the activities in Nybro, bordering the deep forests of Småland, circle around our wood flooring producing plant, which provides jobs, heat and a natural meeting place.

ZORAN STANKOVIC, second generation who returned to Kährs: – I learn new things every day. Since I left in 2003, the production process has undergone dramatic changes. But there is a great atmosphere here and people are more than willing to share their knowledge. That’s one of the things I really like about working at Kährs and why I returned to the company, says Zoran Stankovic, who was at Kährs between 1994 and 2003 and then came back in August 2016 to work with producing the core of the floors, quickly advancing to group leader in his shift.

– My father worked at Kährs for 40 years.

He taught me to love my job. As a youngster, I thought it was a great place to be. Of course, you sometimes feel you should try something different. I ran my own company for some years, but now it’s great to be back.

– I know everyone here feels passionate about the beautiful, high-quality floors that we produce. I mean, the whole world is standing on our floors. Of course I’m proud!

ADIVIJE DALIPI, 31 years at Kährs: – I love the smell of wood, the sensation when you touch a smooth plank and I take pride in the feeling that we produce the best quality wood floors in the world”, says Adivije Dalipi, who joined her father at the plant when she was 18.

– It felt natural to start here – apart from my father, three of my sisters, my brother, husband, as well as my sisters’ husbands and several of the friends that I went to school with work here. This is like a second

STEFAN LARSSON, 28 years at Kährs: – Over the years, I have tested most wood species. I know how they react to moisture, underfloor heating, pressure and climate changes. I’ve seen what can be done – and what can’t, says Stefan Larsson, who works with technical development at Kährs in Nybro.

– I love the fact that we always get to work with new ideas – but it’s also great to have a wide knowledge base, so that we don’t have to reinvent the

wheel over and over again. It’s really exciting to constantly discuss new options with my young colleagues and to be able to provide facts and information that we have collected in the testing processes over the decades, he says.

– After finishing my college studies and working for some other companies, it was great to return to Nybro. I love working and living here. And I love the forest, spending most of my time off mountain biking in the surroundings.

home for me, says Adivije, who works at the production line, ensuring that the right pieces of wood are selected for each floor.

“You could say that Kährs is in our genes”, she adds, laughing.

– My parents came here from Macedonia in the 1960’s, when my father was offered a job at Kährs. This company has meant so much to us. I feel a strong sense of solidarity with Kährs and always try to do my best at work. We have a beautiful Kährs floor in our home – so you could say that a great part of my life circles around the company.

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IN PROVENCE At first glance, this impressive stone house looks like a grand estate, for relaxing by the pool and in the garden. However, it is actually a working farmhouse and the surrounding land is full of olive trees and rolling fields where different crops are grown.

YDRE

YDRE

18 Kährs Design Stories

YDRE

Kährs Design Stories 19

The interior is not what you would expect from a traditional farmhouse. The owners have a keen interest in interior design and they have created both a practical and modern home with high ceilings and an airy feel.

TRENCH

The cool mix of rustic and minimal furnishings, together with large, comfortable sofas, create a very relaxing interior. The wood floors throughout the house soften the feeling, with their oiled and slightly undulated tactile surface that perfectly matches and complements the interior, in color tone and mood.

Other floors with rustic feeling. See the full range at www.kahrs.com

VEDBO

MÖRE

STURE

CONCRETE

20 Kährs Design Stories

BEAUTY WITH A CONSCIENCE We appreciate beauty. That is why we produce the most stunning floors on the market. We also love nature. We strive to manufacture our floors in the most sustainable way. We call it “Beauty with a conscience”.

Pioneers in sustainability Kährs invented the modern, engineered wood floor in 1941 and, in doing so, created a much more effective way of utilizing the raw material – which was later adopted worldwide. We were also the first company to use glueless joints. In 1993, Kährs was the first wood flooring producer in the world to be awarded an environmental certification according to ISO 9001 and four years later the operations were certified according to ISO 14001.

FOCUS ON ENERGY AND RAW MATERIAL Kährs is one of the leading producers of wood floors in the world. Not only does this mean that we have the opportunity, but also the responsibility to use our influence to pursue matters that are important for both our customers, the company and society in general.

To choose a wood floor is to make a responsible choice, both when it comes to the indoor and outdoor environment. Selecting a floor from Kährs means making an even smarter green choice. Our innovations have radically changed the production of wood floors globally – while at the same time contributing to a brighter future for our planet.

Wood is the world’s most environmentally friendly building material. The production of materials made from wood consumes very small amounts of energy and results in very small emissions of carbon dioxide.

Green thinking at every stage Throughout the production process, we strive to always pick the most sustainable option. One example is that we only work with certified forestry suppliers. A major part of the raw material we use is derived from local forestry farmers; something that both reduces transport and increases control. We only use water-based surface treatments and our floors are easy to keep clean without the use of strong chemicals.

SAVING THE WORLD EACH DAY “We knew that we were already working according to the strictest environmental requirements throughout the whole production process of our wood floors, but we didn’t know how to prove it.

The answer was to apply for ‘The Swan’ Nordic Ecolabel certification,” says Bruce Uhler, Kährs environment ambassador. Today, more than 150 floors from Kährs have been certified according to the Nordic Ecolabel – one of the world’s most comprehensive environmental certifications.

“Save the world a little bit each day”. This is the motto that Nordic Ecolabel has been using for more than two decades to help consumers make the best green choices. “The Swan” label was born 25 years ago, when the Nordic Council of Ministers initiated the Nordic Ecolabel to guide consumers to find the most eco-friendly products and services. It started with paper and batteries – and today more than ten thousand products and services have been certified. The non-profit state owned company Ecolabelling Sweden, which operates on consignment from the Swedish government, has the overall responsibility for the Ecolabel certification.

Natural step In 2014, Kährs initiated preparations to apply for certification of our wood floors according to the Nordic Ecolabel.

“It was a natural step, since we suspected that we have been meeting the demands of ‘The Swan’ label for a long time.

Meanwhile, we also noticed increased demand for environmentally certified floors both for public spaces and private homes,” Bruce Uhler says.

“We also knew that if we could prove that our floors live up to the strict requirements of the Nordic Ecolabel, they would also meet most other international environmental demands,” he continues.

Comprehensive documentation and analysis Despite the strong conviction that the company was working the right way, documentation was lacking. This meant that the process to achieve this turned into a major investment in both time and money for Kährs.

“We were obliged to analyze and document our products throughout their life cycles; from raw material to waste,” explains Bruce.

The work yielded results – today more than 150 wood floors from Kährs have been certified according to the Nordic Ecolabel.

“Our effort has attracted a lot of external attention. We have also noticed a great interest in the Nordic Ecolabel from other countries, including the US and several other markets in the EU and the Middle East, as the certification covers so many environmental aspects,” Bruce adds.

Bruce Uhler and his colleague Sverre Severindsen from Norway were invited to the 25th anniversary of the Nordic Ecolabel, which was opened by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, to give their account of Kährs journey towards achieving “The Swan” certification.

“The Swan” – the official environmental certification of the Nordic region The Nordic Ecolabel – “The Swan” – is one of the most comprehensive and strict product certifications in the world.

“The Swan” includes criteria such as content and use of hazardous chemicals, emissions to air, water and land, use of energy and resources, as well as waste disposal. It also includes demands on quality and functionality. “The Swan” is today one of the most recognizable brands in Sweden with more than 96 per cent recognition.

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THE HOUSE AMONG THE DUNES

This small summerhouse on the Danish West coast sits less than 500 yards from the beach and the North Sea. The dunes stretch as far as the eye can see, softening the hard winds from the west and giving breathtaking views in all weathers and seasons. Truly relaxing scenery.

NOUVEAU BLONDE

24 Kährs Design Stories

NOUVEAU BLONDE

Kährs Design Stories 25

PALE

The small house has a large living, kitchen and dining space in its centre and three small bedrooms have been fitted with white wood flooring; it’s very forgiving when shoes, bare feet and the breeze bring in sand from the dunes, through the open doors.

Other floors in white. See the full range at www.kahrs.com

STROBE

VISTA

PALE

26 Kährs Design Stories

United Arab Emirates

INDIVIDUALITY RULES IN MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Kährs Design Stories 27

A melting pot of people. Interiors in the United Arab Emirates are as varied as its international community, with decorating styles reflecting the diverse cultures and traditions of its residents. “We’re fortunate to be able to cater to every interior design scheme. Kährs offers so many different designs and colors with its wide variety of floors, that there is a floor for every style and preference,” explains Pauline Madani, founder of the successful flooring specialist, Nordic Homeworx in Dubai.

“The community here is more daring in its design schemes; people are not afraid to stand out and be individual. The spirit of the nation is to keep pushing boundaries and to be a role model of leadership, innovation and progress,” says Pauline.

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NORDIC HOMEWORX FACTS Founded: 2006 Showroom: Sidra Tower, Dubai, UAE Company Size: 35 employees Website: www.nordichomeworx.com Completed Projects to Date: +2,000

She is a Swedish native who has lived with her husband and four daughters in the Middle East since 1999 and has managed to combine her passion for wood flooring, while developing a successful business. In 2006, Pauline founded Nordic Homeworx in an effort to bring premium Swedish wood flooring to the region. Today, Nordic Homeworx celebrates its 10th anniversary as the exclusive distributor of Kährs in the UAE, as well as the agent for the brand in the Middle East.

“Here, you can’t say that one floor is most popular, or fits all.

We cannot predict as easily what color or design will work best for the masses – this keeps it interesting and exciting to work on projects as each one is so unique and unpredictable,” Pauline says.

“We spend a lot of time with our clients to find out what type of floor would suit their specific project. This means that we can guide them in the selection of floors based on their

preference of interior style and the concept for each project.

Many clients know the color scheme they want for their project, but are uncertain about the design, wood species or surface finish,” she continues.

SELLING A FEELING, RATHER THAN A PRODUCT Over the past decade, the company has developed a successful concept based on a strong passion for Kährs as a brand with its Nordic heritage. Focus has been on maintaining a boutiquestyle concept, providing inspiration for a lifestyle that Pauline wants to share with her clients.

“Kährs wood floors enable our clients to experience their interiors completely differently – we sell them a feeling, rather than just a product. This approach, along with us representing and specialising in a single brand, has been very successful and well received by clients here,” adds Pauline.

Kährs Design Stories 29

The UAE market is extremely service-oriented and Nordic Homeworx’ focus has been to provide the best service consistently, from initial client meeting, to project finalization and after-care. The company has strong relationships with architects, interior designers and contractors, providing them with samples to inspire them for their projects.

“Our clients love to work with Kährs because it has such a wide range of products, including colors, wood species and finishes suitable for any type of project. It’s really inspiring to see how such a broad range of clients and designers visualise their concepts using our wood floors in so many different interior designs,” explains Pauline.

QUALITY VALUED AMONGST ALL She also says that although the market in the UAE does not follow one specific interior design trend, the client segment

Nordic Homeworx approaches has something in common; that they all require high quality in both product and service.

“Kährs has the premium qualities required to meet these demands by providing beautiful floors, innovative solutions and – most importantly – consistently high quality, which is crucial in our tough climate of extreme heat and high humidity,” Pauline says.

Pauline believes that her Swedish heritage is an important reason for Nordic Homeworx’ success.

“We work according to beliefs and values strongly linked to my Swedish heritage of quality, design, tradition, sustainability and, most importantly, outstanding and reliable customer service. We are especially proud that our hard work has paid off, as we were recently voted ‘Best for Flooring 2016’ at the InsideOut Readers’ Choice Awards,” Pauline concludes.

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IN BERLIN This large property in the Eastern part of Berlin was built in the 1930’s for small industries and craftsmen. Today, it houses a mix of spacious residential apartments and businesses, mainly in the fields of marketing, film and communication.

CHEVRON DARK BROWN

CHEVRON DARK BROWN

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CHEVRON DARK BROWN

Kährs Design Stories 35

CHEVRON DARK BROWN

The owner of this three room 3200 square foot apartment has chosen the wood floor as the main interior decoration feature throughout the living space. It softens the large area and creates a more “homey” feeling.

Other delightful floors. See the full range at www.kahrs.com

CHEVRON WHITE

CHEVRON LIGHT BROWN

CHEVRON GREY

DEVELOPMENT DRIVEN BY

PASSION FOR PERFECTION

Kährs Design Stories 37

Development is driven by conviction. A precise vision. For us it has always been to find new ways of enhancing the natural beauty of wood, while making our floors even stronger yet more sustainable.

“You could describe our work as a meeting between man and machine – creativity meeting the possible”, explains Patrik Antonsson, project leader of technical development.

An ounce of fashion. A pinch of electronics, fabrics, colors and interior design. A cup of technology.

A dose of chemistry. All mixed together using innovative thinking, blended with experience.

These are all vital ingredients in the making of new wood floors.

Kährs has always been a pioneer in the wood flooring business. Today, our team of developers represent a combination of expertise and experience in design, technology and chemistry, working in close cooperation to produce new floors. The process typically begins with an idea to identify new looks, colors and surfaces.

– I get my inspiration from many sources – fashion magazines, interiors, furniture, fabrics and even

electronics design. When we translate all this into floors, however, we always aim for a natural look, bearing in mind that our floors should remain as attractive tomorrow, as they are today, says Emanuel Lidberg, Creative Design Manager at Kährs.

– Also, we always consider trends in architecture, i. e. how we build our houses. A current trend in Scandinavia, for example, is big windows, covering a whole wall from ceiling to floor. This means that the light falls in a way that can cause reflections in the floor, confusing our sense of color. In order to address this, we’re currently working with new ultra matte surfaces that absorb the light in a new way, he explains.

38 Kährs Design Stories

It’s extremely important never to be satisfied with what you have achieved.

The design team is working closely together, constantly challenging each other, Patrik says.

MAN MEETING MACHINE IN NEW DESIGN LINE Creative thinking is not only applied to looks. The company also boasts a history of innovation in the production process of wood floors. One of the most recent investments at the Nybro plant is a robotic design line, based on advanced technology that adjusts itself to each plank in order to create a desired look that has been preprogrammed into the computer system that runs it.

– Using this line, we can create a number of looks, rustic or clean grades, through enhancing or reducing natural characteristics of the wood, such as grains, says Patrik Antonsson.

Patrik, who has been breathing wood since he was a baby with both a mother and grandfather working for Kährs, has been instrumental in achieving the new, innovative line, which took over 2 years to develop.

– It’s been a major challenge, but also extremely interesting to produce a machine that thinks like a man. It required a

combination of expertise and technology from Germany, Italy and Sweden to achieve, he says.

The company is always evaluating new ways of improving the production process from a number of aspects – with the overall object to use more of the raw material, not least from a sustainable point of view.

A major part of the floors produced by Kährs are traditionally made from Oak. But current development projects include using other wood species – that with new technology could be made to attain desired looks and performance.

– It’s extremely important never to be satisfied with what you have achieved. The design team is working closely together, constantly challenging each other, Patrik says.

THE SURFACE IS WHAT MEETS THE EYE – AND THE FEET Another important aspect of the floor is the surface. Sara Hagman has an Masters degree in chemical engineering and is working as a development engineer and surface treatment specialist at Kährs. The work mainly involves

Kährs Design Stories 39

The structure and feeling of the surface is just as important as the color in how you perceive a floor leading projects within this area. She cooperates closely with the design team at Kährs, as well as suppliers, to constantly perfect the looks, durability and sustainability of the surface treatments.

– A lot has happened within this area since I began working for Kährs seven years ago. Focus is on aesthetics – colors and looks – technical performance and environ­mental aspects, Sara says.

Before e.g. a new finish is used, it goes through a number of tests – both

by Kährs, the supplier and external testing institutes in order to ensure that it lives up to the company’s high demands.

– Some people ask how I can be so dedicated to what they see as a small detail. But it’s not just one type of surface treatment, look or property. There’s lots of them! Each with unique performance and a lot of development work behind. The surface is such an important part of how you perceive a floor and provides with the important protection of the wood. It’s fascinating how you can dig so deep in every detail, Sara says.

40 Kährs Design Stories

EAST WEST

SUEDE

Kährs Design Stories 41

42  Kährs Design Stories

The owner of this one-story house imports traditional handmade decorative pieces from Asia and has used a lot of these items throughout the property.

SIENNA

The clean natural Oak floors have been used throughout the house, to complement and brighten the interior and to further enhance the dark, exotic decorations, the walls and doors.

SIENNA

SUEDE

SUEDE

44 Kährs Design Stories

SUEDE

Kährs Design Stories 45

SUEDE

Other floors in natural oak. See the full range at www.kahrs.com

TOWER

SUGAR

NUBACK

REEF

46 Kährs Design Stories

FROM SMÅLAND WITH LOVE Quality is a way of life. Perhaps it is because we have been in the same location in Sweden for more than 150 years and our staff takes such pride in what they do. Their passion for wood, craftsmanship and knowledge has been passed down through the generations. Their focus on quality in every detail also means that our floors last for more than a generation.

Kährs Design Stories 47

Sprinkling

Sawing

Drying

Filling

Sawing

Pressing

Surface treatment

To turn a tree into a Kährs wood floor requires a great deal of wood knowledge, advanced technology and engineering skill. It is a complicated process that we have been refining over the decades – and that we try to continuously improve. Did you know, for instance, that the wood is both sprinkled with water and dried to achieve the perfect balance of humidity to create a floor that

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COME RAIN OR SHINE Quality also means that we make sure that our floors perform equally well in all types of climates. Wood is affected by the amount of humidity in the air and a wood floor moves with the seasons, i.e. it expands in high humidity and contracts when the air is dry. Our innovative three-layer construction, however, reduces this type of movement and creates a stable floor all year round with a correct balance between the layers – top, core and back.

THE PERFECT FINISH The smallest things often make the biggest difference.

This is true of a Kährs floor, where the highest level of skill and craftsmanship is added to every detail, including the base boards and different types of transitions.

Bonding

Packaging

50 THE QUALITY IS IN THE DETAIL. OVER 50 QUALITY CHECKS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

can withstand seasonal changes? That it is sawed in two stages?

And that nothing is wasted in the process – off-cuts are used to heat the neighbourhood.

Throughout the process, we carry out more than 50 quality checks, to ensure that all Kährs floors meet our strict requirements, both when it comes to looks and functionality.

OLDEST – AND MOST INNOVATIVE

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Off-cuts to heat

Kährs is the world’s oldest wood flooring manufacturer still in operation.

The company was founded in 1857 in the small town of Nybro, located in the deep forests of Southern Sweden. it is also the most innovative, pioneering the evolution of the modern wood floor. Our innovations include the multi-layered wood floor in 1941, a construction that has now been adopted globally. We were the first floor manufacturer to use a glue-less joint system – Woodloc® – as well as water-based stains.

By combining tradition and innovation, we continue to lead the way.

MORE THAN A PRETTY SURFACE For us, beauty is more than what meets the eye. Equally important is what the floors feel like to touch – and how well they can stand up to the strain of daily wear and tear. Our surface treatments are strong enough to resist normal family life, but thin enough so as not to disguise the silky and natural sensation of wood.

All surface treatments are water based and free from solvents and formaldehyde.

6862112US 2017

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