Colour, pattern and a non-negotiable herringbone floor
Project - Manly Apartment
Location - Manly, NSW
Product(s) - HW16002CP Pallido Herringbone, The Italian Collection
Designer - Your Beautiful Home
Photographer - Simon Whitbread
Colour and personality take centre stage in this joy-filled apartment, where a confident mix of materials, pattern and detail creates a home that feels distinctly its own.
For the designer at Your Beautiful Homes, herringbone flooring was a non-negotiable from the outset. In fact, the client first discovered the designer through another Havwoods case study — making timber an important part of the project story from the very beginning.
A celebration of colour
Rather than shy away from colour, the interior embraces it. Jewel-like tones sit alongside rose-hued Italian marble, rich walnut cabinetry and brass detailing, creating an expressive material palette with plenty of personality.
At the heart of it all is Havwoods Pallido Herringbone. Its warm, mid-tone colouring provides a natural counterpoint to the richer finishes without making the apartment feel dark or heavy.
The classic geometry of herringbone adds another layer of detail, complementing the more expressive elements of the interior while giving the spaces a sense of continuity.
Designed by Your Beautiful Homes (@yourbeautifulhome.com.au) and photographed by Simon Whitebread (@simonwhitbreadphoto).
Pallido was selected for its position between deeper walnut tones and very pale oaks. It brought the warmth and quality the project called for without becoming too dark or visually heavy, allowing it to sit comfortably alongside the walnut joinery, colourful finishes and statement marble. The designer also felt Pallido offered an exceptional herringbone option at the right price point for the project.
Making herringbone happen
Selecting the floor was only part of the challenge.
With very limited ceiling heights within the apartment, the slim profile of Pallido made it possible to introduce an engineered timber floor while still achieving the authentic grain, texture and depth the designer was looking for.
An uneven concrete slab presented a further challenge. Initially, the installers and builders advised that herringbone wouldn't be possible due to the condition of the substrate.
But herringbone was one element the client wasn't prepared to give up.
With technical guidance and support from Nikita at Havwoods, together with careful preparation and complex levelling of the existing slab, the team was able to overcome the installation challenges and deliver the floor as originally envisioned.
The result made the extra effort worthwhile, with the herringbone pattern now an integral part of the finished home.
Working with Havwoods
The experience with Havwoods extended beyond simply selecting the product, with support continuing from the initial flooring advice through to the more complex installation stage. The designer highlighted the team's advice, technical knowledge and post-installation service as particular strengths, describing the Havwoods range as one they continue to return to across projects.
The finished apartment is a celebration of confident choices — colour, pattern, timber, marble and metallic detailing all working together rather than competing for attention. Pallido Herringbone provides a warm foundation for the more expressive elements, proving that a classic timber pattern can feel completely at home within an interior that isn't afraid to have a little fun. And after almost being ruled out altogether, the herringbone floor has become one of the defining features of the home.
