ABSOLUTE PERFECTION
Appearances can often be deceptive. The relatively small Touchwood Flooring Company in Longridge belies the wealth of knowledge, skill and absolute dedication to perfection that underpins this successful business. Photography: Kirsten Platt
Belinda Tolenaar owns and runs Longridge based Touchwood Flooring with her business partner, Daniel Hodson. Specialising in flooring of all types – luxury vinyls, real wood and laminates, they have also recently opened a carpet showroom adjacent to their main studio to offer even more choice to their growing number of customers.
When I caught up with Belinda, she had just completed a project to add new flooring throughout a new build house, her experience and ‘can-do’ approach means she is regularly called upon by interior designers and bespoke builders to offer advice and flooring solutions in both domestic and commercial environments across the whole of Lancashire.
“Whilst large projects such as these are fabulous to be involved in, it’s so satisfying working with customers on a one to one basis,” says Belinda. “Sometimes customers find it hard to visualise, so they ask me to visit them and suggest ideas.”
“As soon as I walk into a house I instinctively know what will look good, in terms of the colours, materials and different elements of design.”
This design service is Belinda’s speciality. She has a keen eye for detail and almost a sixth sense when it comes to using floor coverings to transform interior spaces. Almost all her business comes from recommendations of the very personal service and advice that she offers.
Belinda’s creative flair is reinforced with her extensive product knowledge, gained from over 20 years’ experience in the flooring industry. Her ability to fully understand the needs of her customers, coupled with this knowledge enables her to recommend bespoke flooring solutions for them, which matches their lifestyle and looks fabulous.
Perfection, of course, requires precise fitting as well as the right product. Having worked for manufacturers and distributors of luxury flooring for many years, Belinda – a qualified installer herself, became increasingly frustrated by seeing quality floors fitted incorrectly and opening Touchwood Flooring was the natural next step for her.
As Touchwood is a Karndean Retail Partner the studio carries a wide range of Karndean Design Flooring products and the Karndean Design Table in the studio means customers can come and have a coffee and spend as much time as they like mixing and matching their design ideas – there are even samples to take away to match up and try in-situ. Both Belinda and Daniel are advanced certified Karndean installers and are both meticulous about their work.
“Most people would know that thorough preparation is the key to most things and this is more important than ever when it comes to laying flooring. From the sub-floor preparation to the finishing touches, we don’t cut any corners,” says Belinda.
“That way, we can ensure that these floors will not only look good but will stand the test of time – whatever life throws at them!”
With their new carpet showroom, Belinda and Daniel are looking forward to being able to offer even more choice to their customers. And, unsurprisingly they are going above and beyond what you might expect from an everyday carpet retailer.
As Belinda explains: “We like things that are a bit quirky and a bit different, so we have striped carpets and polka dots as well as the plain designs you’d normally expect to find.
“We also offer a bespoke rug design service where customers can choose their own specific colourways and choose a border to edge it too.”
Whilst it seems Belinda and Daniel have interiors covered off, they now apply the same level of skill and expertise in the great outdoors through their supply and fit of composite decking. This environmentally friendly, non-slip and low maintenance product is the perfect extension of your home into your garden space and with summer just around the corner – there’s no better time to get everything looking ship shape.
Belinda and Daniel have built up a hugely supportive customer base across the whole of Lancashire and it’s hard to imagine anyone as passionate, knowledgeable and dedicated as this partnership. Whether it’s in the shop chatting to customers, advising clients in their homes or out installing a new floor, you can be sure that their level of service and their personal touch will be second to none.
“I would honestly rather let someone leave our shop without buying anything rather than sell them something that isn’t right for their home,” she says. “We’re not sales people, we’re specialists and it has to be perfect.”
Touchwood Flooring
35 Preston Road, Longridge PR3 3AN
01772 378300
www.touchwoodflooringpreston.co.uk
