Trace by Storey
Trace is the new evolution of Made by Storey – a refined flooring range that brings European precision and elegance to the Australian market. In this first episode, the journey starts in Antwerp, Belgium where every board is made.
With Trace, Made by Storey co-founders Damir Dzuzdanovic and Theo Perdikis are doing something different. “Trace is an evolution of Made by Storey. It introduces extraordinary widths, lengths and patterns that are all manufactured in Belgium,” Dzuzdanovic says. This progression has been shaped by over 10 years of experience since the studio was founded in 2015, but also by demand. “Based on the feedback from interior designers and architects, there was a need for specialist flooring in the Australian market.”
This led the duo to Antwerp and a partnership with Johan Schrauwen, owner of Nobel Flooring. “It all started in 1890, and I’m now the sixth generation to continue that tradition,” Schraunen explains. “It’s in my blood.” At his workshop on the outskirts of the city, every stage of production happens under one roof – combining generational knowledge, skilled craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology to create the best contemporary engineered timber. “Tradition is alive at Nobel,” Perdikis says. “It’s evident in the craftsmanship, their details and their deep respect for timber.”
The material at the centre of it all is world-class French oak. Nobel Flooring works closely with sawmills and forest operators to source the finest wood. “They know exactly what we want and which wood we like – the grain, the structure and the character of the wood is important,” Schrauwen says. It’s this that allows Trace to move beyond standard flooring into something more expansive: boards up to 15 metres long, widths reaching 60 centimetres and a palette that ranges from pale and creamy to deep, dark tones.
“These trees are the foundation of Trace,” Perdikis says. “Working with Nobel, we are connecting Belgium craftsmanship with Australian design.” The end result is a product that invites flexibility at every level, giving architects and designers a broader material language to work with. “What makes Trace unique is the freedom it offers. There are endless possibilities in scale, size and finish,” he adds.
Antwerp itself is an integral part of the story. “For us, this journey is also about connecting with a place that has shaped global ideas for centuries,” Dzuzdanovic says. Perdikis agrees. “From the very first conversation, it was about one thing: pushing the limits of what timber flooring could be for Australia.” This series will follow that pursuit: tracing every part of the process from forest to finished board.
