‘I needed flooring that would stand the test of time’
Vicki chose high-performing, low-maintenance luxury vinyl tiles to transform her seaside home
The need for more space led Vicki TelfordChell and her husband to buy a detached 1930s bungalow near Camber Sands in East Sussex. ‘We bought it in 2020 and once we got the keys, we knew we wanted to create a modern Scandi-beach look without the usual clichés,’ says Vicki.
The property needed extensive renovation first, however, as the couple wanted to reconfigure the layout and build a small extension on the back. The discovery of an old water tank in the garden scuppered the extension, though, as it would be too expensive to move.
So, they stuck with the original footprint, removed internal walls and fitted a structural beam to create an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area.
Once the walls had been plastered and painted in neutral shades, Vicki set about choosing flooring that would be practical and in keeping with the beach house vibe she wanted. ‘I did a lot of research and ordered a lot of samples,’ says Vicki, who had her second child earlier this year. ‘We needed floors that would withstand two young children and a cockapoo. Due to the floor levels, we were unable to have underfloor heating, but I wanted something that wouldn’t be too cold.’ They ended up choosing Oyster Wood Vinyl LVT from Luxury Flooring & Furnishings in a bleached wood finish for the open-plan kitchen/living/dining area and hallway.
The pale flooring is the perfect backdrop to the black cabinetry, which is made from IKEA carcasses teamed with doors from Shaker Doors. The acrylic marble-effect worktops are by Worktop Express, and cover the main work surfaces as well as the central island. To accessorise the room, Vicki combined natural woods, rattan and touches of brass with the monochrome scheme to achieve the modern beachy, boho look she wanted.
She couldn’t be happier with the floor, which, as well as looking great, is easy to clean and helps to warm the large space.