Wood, stone, clay, wool and linen grow more beautiful with use. A guide to choosing honest materials for floors, walls and furniture that will only look better over time.
Some materials look their best on the day they are installed and go downhill from there. Others start good and only get better. Natural materials such as solid wood, stone, clay, wool and linen develop a patina with use, telling the story of daily life in a way that synthetic finishes never can.
Solid timber floors, worktops and furniture can be sanded, oiled and repaired again and again. Reclaimed boards bring instant character, with nail holes, saw marks and colour that only years of use can create. Oil and wax finishes are easy to touch up, so small scratches blend into the overall surface.
Slate, limestone, soapstone and bluestone are wonderful underfoot and around the kitchen. Honed or tumbled finishes hide wear better than high polish, and they feel softer and warmer to the eye. Stone also holds heat, which makes it a natural partner for radiant floor heating.
Handmade clay tiles, terracotta and lime plaster bring subtle variation in colour and texture. They breathe, helping to balance humidity, and their imperfections are part of their charm.
Soft furnishings can age gracefully too. Wool rugs resist stains and spring back from footsteps, linen softens with every wash and good leather develops a rich patina. Choose quality pieces and they will outlast several rounds of trend-driven alternatives.
Keep a limited palette and repeat it through the house. A combination of oak, slate and lime plaster, for example, can carry from the entry to the kitchen to the bathroom, giving the whole home a calm, connected feel.
When you are ready to choose floors, worktops or finishes, our interior and flooring teams can bring samples to your home so you can see how they look in your own light.
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