Royal Oak Floors introduces its fourth range of premium engineered timber flooring – the Heritage Collection, which embraces the beauty of imperfection. Crafted from single-origin European oak and finished to emphasise every grain and knot, the collection celebrates the captivating irregularities that make timber feel alive.
Drawing inspiration from time-honoured techniques, the Heritage Collection “… evokes the warmth and patina of another time and place. Think whisky bars, speakeasys, centuries-old warehouses, and charming farmhouses,” says Kim Harper, founder of Royal Oak Floors. “The mood is nostalgic yet confident, combining old-world charm with a modern sensibility. It’s immersive and transporting, designed to create spaces that feel storied, robust and rich in atmosphere.”
This is a floor designed to be felt. Its feature grading creates a naturally aged appearance, undulating and beautiful in its inconsistencies. It looks intentionally lived-in, as if it were laid 100 years ago. “The Heritage Collection stands apart for its deeply textured aesthetic – grainy, gritty, and rich with character – crafted from single-source oak,” Harper explains. Embracing an aesthetic that inspires rediscovery, it’s designed as if it has been hidden beneath decades of carpet. The format, generous 19mm thickness, wide 250–300mm boards, as well as longer lengths, elevate its presence through scale.
At the heart of this distinctive texture is a unique circular sanding technique. Rather than polishing the boards to a uniform flatness, each surface is worked to produce a shallow, almost velvety finish. “This isn’t a uniform, polished smoothness, rather, it’s deliberately tactile, allowing the oak’s natural topography to show through,” Harper explains, adding: “This approach gives the floor a sense of depth, authenticity, and lived-in character without feeling rustic or unfinished.”
The boards are then coated in a durable oxidative lacquer, a finish developed to suit the realities of Australian living. This unique finish and its curing process provide a matte effect that preserves the tactile quality of the surface while ensuring long-lasting protection. “The Australian market is better suited to lacquer over oils – it’s simply how we live. We’d rather a set-and-forget, robust finish that doesn’t need regular maintenance, as oils do. The Oxidative Lacquer has the same natural appearance of an oil, but with the durability and longevity of a lacquer finish. It doesn’t detract from the natural beauty of the oak underneath,” Harper notes.
The Heritage Collection is a surface that invites bare feet, offering a soft, velvety touch alongside robust, everyday resilience. Available in four timeless colours, the Heritage Collection is suitable for both expansive open-plan spaces and intimate rooms.
For the design-conscious homeowner, the Heritage Collection is an architectural foundation that anchors a space with depth, warmth and craftsmanship.
Royal Oak Floors
royaloakfloors.com.au
