I’ve never been much of a fan of parquet floors, but one look at the website of Italian manufacturer Parchettificio, and I’m a sworn convert. The landing page of this purveyor of deluxe handcrafted flooring features a panorama of Venice which—through the magic of graphic design—gradually morphs into an exquisite expanse of antique wide-planked dark oak. It’s a stunning image, but that featured floor is trumped in turn by the company’s amazing Wood Floor Mosaic with Steel Stone.

Wood Floor Mosaic with Oiled Steel Inserts. Designed and manufactured by Parchettificio.

Parchettificio’s Wood Floor Mosaic is a Baroque Symphony of Multiple Materials

If your idea of a mosaic involves bits of turquoise glued to fragmented mirrors, Parchettificio will cure you of that notion. The inscrutable combination of materials in the Wood Floor Mosaic will forever redefine the term, as it features antique oak, olive and polished teak inlay, oiled steel inserts, and waxed stones.

Though it may seem implausible, the combo is a scintillating synergy of different textures and colors. Perhaps because one so rarely sees it in flooring, the oiled steel makes the greatest visual impact, as it snakes around the different woods and swirls back upon itself, creating a baroque yet symmetrical pattern that reminds me of some old world Prussian magician’s smoky conjurations.

Notwithstanding the Wood Floor Mosaic’s gothic elements, it ultimately evokes the formal splendor of the Mother Country. The piece is so intricate as to seem randomly composed, but close scrutiny reveals a lovely and dedicated continuity—as the inlaid steel goes over and under the contrapuntal wood, eventually meeting its tail end and tying the floor together like the tendrils of a wild black rose made tame.

Via HomeDesignFans.

About the Manufacturer: Flooring manufacturer Parchettificio owes its origins to a humble craftsman laboring away at a humble trade: Franco Mannuci was a mere woodworker in the 1950s, but by 1967 he was a member of the master craftsman association, and by the end of the 70’s he had founded Parchettificio, a company spearheaded today by sons Gabriele and Giuliano. Parchettificio presently offers six different collections, ranging from traditional solid wood planks to the custom, handmade designs of the patented Parchettificio flooring. The company only uses certified FSC woods and biocompatible finishes: “the range is particularly rich because it includes the possibility of using very old reclaimed woods, carefully restored to preserve the original patina and finish.”