Looking to create a naturally inspiring fitness environment, a new boutique training studio in Surrey selected our Deco Smoked Oak Herringbone as a key element of its design.
Set within a picturesque collection of Grade II listed farm buildings in the Surrey countryside near Shalford, The Byre Private Fitness Studio has been designed to provide a welcoming and exclusive space for personal training, wellness and fitness coaching.
A dedicated place for exceptional fitness experiences, and home to a small collective of high-calibre freelance personal trainers, the studio’s vision was to create an environment that felt welcoming and authentic. A considered alternative to a typical commercial gym setting, it’s been purposefully designed to help clients focus on their health and well-being in a calm and personal setting.
Part of the Tilehouse Farm redevelopment, the Grade II listed buildings have been sympathetically converted, retaining many of their original features, including high ceilings and exposed timber beams, while enjoying open countryside views.
These elements, combined with the surrounding setting, played an important role in shaping the studio’s interior aesthetic. Selecting a real wood floor felt like a natural fit, bringing warmth, texture, and a sense of connection into the space.
Our Deco Smoked Oak Herringbone was chosen to complement the character of the building. The oak used for this engineered parquet floor is naturally aged in a smoke-filled chamber, enhancing the timber’s grain and creating its distinctive honey tones.
Working alongside the studio, Moonwalk Flooring, an approved V4 retailer based in Fleet, helped finalise the flooring selection and completed the installation across the open-plan training area.
Ian Goodall, Personal Trainer and Director of The Byre, commented:
"The tones of the Smoked Oak harmonise beautifully with the wood beams that feature throughout the space, complementing them perfectly.
“The floors work brilliantly to make the space feel warm and inviting, whilst also being hardwearing, and the use of natural materials helps create that sense of well-being and calm we wanted.”
Engineered for strength and stability, the floor’s clear UV-oiled finish applied to the surface enhances the natural elegance of the oak, whilst providing the protection required for a busy fitness environment.
The completed installation combines the character of natural timber with the durability required for a commercial setting, delivering a floor that feels both timeless and practical.
This project demonstrates how engineered oak flooring can be successfully integrated into wellness and fitness environments, balancing durability, functionality and considered design.
Featured Flooring
Smoked Oak
Smoked Oak herringbone is stored in a smoke filled chamber that ages the timber. This process darkens the grain to a rich honey tone, complemented with areas of darker oak and occasional streaks of blonde sap wood. The blocks are then brushed and sealed with cured clear oil which accentuates their warm hue, whilst maintaining the tactile surface in all its natural beauty.
