Welcome to John Harwood Design.

The theme of the floor is the fish that are found in the river which runs through the estate, including carp, perch, roach, grayling, and the mighty pike. The client specifically requested that Rananculus be incorporated in the design - a water plant, that when it flowers becomes the main food for the swans that nest nearby. Ranaculus grows in the flowing rivers particular to the region.

The design was finalized with these guidelines in mind and in keeping with the idea of an antique floor with a contemporary twist. The next step in the process was to source the right materials in order to be able to replicate the particular look exhibited within the pietra dura tables of the Florentine period. The challenge was to source material from around the world, which would bring out the shadows, tones and the different colours within the swimming fish.

The border of the floor was constructed with two different green and gold toned marble. In order to meaningfully achieve the look of an antique floor each tesare was cut from the slabs and individually ground by hand to create the natural look of a classic inlayed floor.

The fish were brought to life using a wide range of stones, the placement of which is calculated to express movement and depth. The team paid special attention to the structure of the eyes of the fish, choosing to work with various semiprecious stones. This resulted in the extra glimmer (and sense of menace in the case of the pike) that can be seen when light flashes across the eye of a fish.