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Tongue & Groove: Endless Possibilities
A pioneering three-layered approach lends inherent strength and versatility to Tongue & Groove’s striking European oak floorboards.
Since 2007, Tongue & Groove has revolutionised Australia’s floorboard market with its industry-first three-layered solid oak structure. Founder Richard Karsay – a craftsperson and flooring installer who had more than two decades of experience in the industry when he established Tongue & Groove – aimed to offer architects, designers and homeowners a range of products boasting not only singular stability and strength, but that celebrated the natural beauty and patina of European oak. The company brings multidimensionality to the floorboard world, spanning numerous formats, sizes, colours and finishes, all crafted with an eye to celebrating the raw beauty of the oak.
One of the most outstanding features of the Tongue & Groove range is how the solid oak boards transcend conventional flooring applications. Backed by the strength of three layers of solid European oak, the boards can be used for floors, walls, ceilings and even stairs, as well as for joinery and customised furniture. The latter is beautifully evidenced in Manly Apartment by Deuchrass Architects (formerly JDA Studio), where Tongue & Groove floorboards were utilised to craft the base of a banquette-style table in the open-plan kitchen and dining area, creating a seamless match with the blond-toned Bistre flooring in Piccolo format.
A slate of other recent projects further demonstrates the versatility of Tongue & Groove’s floorboards. In North Adelaide, the sleek interiors of Hill House by Proske Architects feature Freado floorboards, the most true-to-nature of all the company’s colours. Herringbone boards were installed on the ceiling in a straight pattern, while the floors were laid in a chevron design.
For the striking Brahminy House in Byron Bay, Harley Graham Architects opted to use the deep, smoky Sienna in Grande format across the residence’s walls in the main living space and main bedroom, the stairs leading to the upper level and the main bedroom floors. Here, it creates a calm and cloistered ambience and a sense of timelessness.
And for a spectacular example of how the brand’s timbers can be used holistically throughout a space, look to Melbourne’s The Boulevard by Archier, where Freado boards in Grande have been used not only for the floors but to craft in-built furniture as well. On the ceilings, Unfinished boards in Piccolo format have been harnessed – to heighten the natural beauty of the timber, Archier opted for a Classic grade board, which reveals much of the natural topography of the timber.
For designers, being able to use Tongue & Groove’s peerless European oak boards in various applications throughout a project not only creates a cohesive and expansive aesthetic that seamlessly flows throughout an entire residence, but also brings the unrivalled warmth of natural materials to a space.
