How to Style Karastan’s Belleluxe Natural Gault Estate Herring Flooring

Karastan’s Belleluxe Natural Gault Estate Herring floor features a beautiful herringbone design that will instantly elevate any room.

Named for its resemblance to the bones of a herring fish, Herringbone’s classic V-shaped zig-zag pattern has been used in palaces and luxury estates for centuries. Today, herringbone hardwood flooring is experiencing a strong resurgence in modern homes across South Florida, acting as the perfect anchor for contemporary and transitional design.

Styling a room around the inherent visual drama of herringbone requires intentional choices to ensure the pattern looks sophisticated, not overwhelming.

Tips on Styling Your Karastan Herringbone Wood Floor

1. Harnessing the Visual Movement

Herringbone is a dynamic pattern that creates strong visual movement. Use this to your advantage:

• Directionality: Always install the herringbone pattern to lead the eye toward the room’s main focal point—whether that is a fireplace, a large window overlooking the water, or the entrance to the room. The points of the V-shape should direct the gaze.
• Enlarging Space: For narrow rooms or long hallways, install the herringbone pattern diagonally across the space. This interrupts the parallel lines of the walls, forcing the eye to travel further along the diagonal, which makes the space feel dramatically wider.
• Defining Zones: In open-concept living areas (common in Miami high-rises), use the herringbone pattern in one specific zone—like the dining room or the grand entryway—and transition to straight-lay plank flooring in the adjacent living room. This creates distinct “rooms” within the open space without needing walls.

2. Styling Through Color and Plank Size

The color and size of the individual planks determine whether the final look is traditional, coastal, or ultra-modern.

• Color Palette (Modern Coastal): For the South Florida coastal aesthetic, choose light, cool-toned hardwoods such as blonde or white-washed European Oak or rift-sawn White Oak. These colors reduce the contrast in the pattern, softening the dramatic effect and creating a bright, airy foundation that works perfectly with neutral furniture and natural light.
• Color Palette (Quiet Luxury): For a more dramatic, luxurious effect, choose mid-tone, warm walnut or fumed oak. This grounds the space and adds a cozy, antique feel, which works well with rich textures like velvet and brass accents.
• Plank Size: The most modern herringbone look utilizes thicker, wider planks (3 to 5 inches wide) rather than the narrow, traditional parquet blocks. Wider planks allow the unique character of the wood grain to show through, reducing the visual business of the repeated seams.

3. Complementing Furniture and Decor

Since the floor is the star, the rest of the room’s design should play a complementary, quieter role.

• Minimalist Furniture: Opt for furniture with clean, simple lines and raised legs (mid-century modern or contemporary style). Heavy, skirted furniture will hide the beautiful pattern and make the room feel clunky. Raised legs allow the flow of the floor pattern to continue uninterrupted.
• Subdued Rugs: Use area rugs sparingly. When you do, choose low-pile rugs in solid, calming colors (like cream, sage, or navy) or rugs with large, abstract patterns. Avoid highly geometric, high-contrast rugs, as they will clash with the herringbone pattern and make the room visually chaotic.
• Wall Treatments: Use solid paint or subtle textured wall treatments (like plaster or linen wallpaper). Herringbone hardwood requires the walls to be a neutral, supporting backdrop to truly shine.

Order a Sample or See This in One of Our South Florida Showrooms

Herringbone hardwood flooring is an investment in timeless elegance. By using light colors, large planks, and simple, tailored décor, you can ensure this historic pattern feels perfectly current and luxurious in your contemporary South Florida home.

Call or visit one of our flooring stores throughout Florida!

Locations

• Coral Springs, FL
• Davie – Plantation
• Deerfield Beach, FL
• Doral – Palmetto
• Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• North Miami – Aventura
• Pembroke Pines, FL
• Pinecrest – Palmetto Bay
• West Kendall, FL