The Boathouse
Project Type - Workspace
Location - Surrey
Project Overview
The Boathouse in Guildford is a unique hybrid establishment that successfully combines coworking, café, and events space, all inspired by the serene beauty of the River Wey and its surroundings. In 2023 the Meins family opened the doors to The Boathouse, a newly built three-storey space in Guildford, Surrey. It is home to two businesses – The Boathouse Cafe, a restaurant serving seasonal food and drink, and an inclusive workspace, Soulspace. Aptly named for its picturesque riverside location, The Boathouse was conceived with a profound commitment to the environment, wellbeing and community. The founders worked with creative agency Raw Clay, to establish an identity and interior design scheme that would deliver on the brand’s soulful vision.
In addition to Husk Extra Wide Plank and Narrow Herringbone by Ted Todd, the project also specified Minette Narrow Plank, Orleans Narrow Plank and Thread Plank from Woodworks by Ted Todd.
Project Requirements
The 743 sq m project aimed to emphasise sustainability, luxury, and craftsmanship, incorporating natural elements such as wood, stone, and clay to create a relaxed yet refined atmosphere. As such Raw Clay set about sourcing suppliers whose ethos is rooted in responsible sourcing and reflecting these characteristics.
The brief also required the use of traditional and timeless materials that age beautifully. Wood therefore was the perfect choice for walls and floors throughout both interiors. This natural material responds to its environment and develops sought-after characteristics over time.
All of which made Ted Todd the perfect partner for this project.
How Did We Help?
Ted Todd’s commercial specification team was approached by Bekki Stovell, Creative Director & Partner at Raw Clay, to provide floor and cladding solutions for the Boathouse’s co-working space and café. With a clear directive to embrace natural materials and create characterful spaces, Raw Clay utilised surfaces from both the Ted Todd Fine Woods and Woodworks by Ted Todd collections.
Why the Floor Was Chosen
Husk is a testament to originality, featuring a warm mid-brown tone, rich grain patterns, distinctive knots, and a textured surface. This Ted Todd staple, manufactured from nature-grade FSC-certified European oak, seamlessly complements both classic and modern environments. The wood showcases a variety of natural characteristics, including knots, sap, and colour variations. It has been delicately brushed to accentuate its grain details, and the edges have been gently softened, resulting in a flooring option that evokes a sense of movement and depth.
For the vertical surfaces, Minette, Orleans, and Thread planks from the Woodworks by Ted Todd Bold Surfaces collection were chosen for their unique characteristics and handmade craftsmanship. These cladding choices offer a striking, textured, and timeless aesthetic that perfectly complements the overall design of The Boathouse. The genuine reclaimed certification of Thread further enhances the project’s sustainability.
Each of these floors and surfaces was specified for their exceptional quality, attention to detail, and ability to create a stunning and distinctive environment achieving a balanced, interesting, and layered architectural design. The ripple details and undulating Husk wood flooring mirror the flow of the adjacent river Wey. At the heart of The Boathouse is a commitment to durability, evident in the use of materials that age gracefully over time, reminiscent of a traditional Victorian boathouse.
Outcome
The project exemplifies a commitment to long-lasting beauty, both in its considered exterior and symbiotic interiors. Raw Clay’s workspace and café design embraces natural elements and organic textiles, creating a human-centric, sensitive, and thoughtful environment that encourages well-being. Shelving filled with artisanal decor and potted plants enhances the homely feel, while carefully selected furniture pieces, such as rustic tables and comfortable chairs, provide functionality, style and comfort. The colour palette is beautifully neutral with green and grey tones chosen to connect to the surrounding landscape.
This approach not only defines the interiors but also reflects the brand’s vision, offering a unique and cohesive experience for visitors and users. It is a testament to the power of thoughtful functional design, serving as a model for sustainable building design that inspires and delights.
Conclusion
The Boathouse is a beautiful illustration of a new era of interior design that harmoniously blends luxury, sustainability, craftsmanship, and a deep reverence for nature. As a supplier of FSC-certified material and the world’s largest collection of reclaimed woods, we are delighted to have been specified for this gorgeous project. We continually advocate that our floors and cladding should be used as part of the building fabric and in the Boathouse they will be present for many years to come.
Talk to an expert now to get trusted professional advice on using a wood floor in your project, call 020 7495 6706.
Architect/Designer: Raw Clay
Image credit: Joey Kendal Brown, Trish Henderson, Dylan Thomas
Project Overview
The Boathouse in Guildford is a unique hybrid establishment that successfully combines coworking, café, and events space, all inspired by the serene beauty of the River Wey and its surroundings. In 2023 the Meins family opened the doors to The Boathouse, a newly built three-storey space in Guildford, Surrey. It is home to two businesses – The Boathouse Cafe, a restaurant serving seasonal food and drink, and an inclusive workspace, Soulspace. Aptly named for its picturesque riverside location, The Boathouse was conceived with a profound commitment to the environment, wellbeing and community. The founders worked with creative agency Raw Clay, to establish an identity and interior design scheme that would deliver on the brand’s soulful vision.
In addition to Husk Extra Wide Plank and Narrow Herringbone by Ted Todd, the project also specified Minette Narrow Plank, Orleans Narrow Plank and Thread Plank from Woodworks by Ted Todd.
Project Requirements
The 743 sq m project aimed to emphasise sustainability, luxury, and craftsmanship, incorporating natural elements such as wood, stone, and clay to create a relaxed yet refined atmosphere. As such Raw Clay set about sourcing suppliers whose ethos is rooted in responsible sourcing and reflecting these characteristics.
The brief also required the use of traditional and timeless materials that age beautifully. Wood therefore was the perfect choice for walls and floors throughout both interiors. This natural material responds to its environment and develops sought-after characteristics over time.
All of which made Ted Todd the perfect partner for this project.
How Did We Help?
Ted Todd’s commercial specification team was approached by Bekki Stovell, Creative Director & Partner at Raw Clay, to provide floor and cladding solutions for the Boathouse’s co-working space and café. With a clear directive to embrace natural materials and create characterful spaces, Raw Clay utilised surfaces from both the Ted Todd Fine Woods and Woodworks by Ted Todd collections.
Why the Floor Was Chosen
Husk is a testament to originality, featuring a warm mid-brown tone, rich grain patterns, distinctive knots, and a textured surface. This Ted Todd staple, manufactured from nature-grade FSC-certified European oak, seamlessly complements both classic and modern environments. The wood showcases a variety of natural characteristics, including knots, sap, and colour variations. It has been delicately brushed to accentuate its grain details, and the edges have been gently softened, resulting in a flooring option that evokes a sense of movement and depth.
For the vertical surfaces, Minette, Orleans, and Thread planks from the Woodworks by Ted Todd Bold Surfaces collection were chosen for their unique characteristics and handmade craftsmanship. These cladding choices offer a striking, textured, and timeless aesthetic that perfectly complements the overall design of The Boathouse. The genuine reclaimed certification of Thread further enhances the project’s sustainability.
Each of these floors and surfaces was specified for their exceptional quality, attention to detail, and ability to create a stunning and distinctive environment achieving a balanced, interesting, and layered architectural design. The ripple details and undulating Husk wood flooring mirror the flow of the adjacent river Wey. At the heart of The Boathouse is a commitment to durability, evident in the use of materials that age gracefully over time, reminiscent of a traditional Victorian boathouse.
Outcome
The project exemplifies a commitment to long-lasting beauty, both in its considered exterior and symbiotic interiors. Raw Clay’s workspace and café design embraces natural elements and organic textiles, creating a human-centric, sensitive, and thoughtful environment that encourages well-being. Shelving filled with artisanal decor and potted plants enhances the homely feel, while carefully selected furniture pieces, such as rustic tables and comfortable chairs, provide functionality, style and comfort. The colour palette is beautifully neutral with green and grey tones chosen to connect to the surrounding landscape.
This approach not only defines the interiors but also reflects the brand’s vision, offering a unique and cohesive experience for visitors and users. It is a testament to the power of thoughtful functional design, serving as a model for sustainable building design that inspires and delights.
Conclusion
The Boathouse is a beautiful illustration of a new era of interior design that harmoniously blends luxury, sustainability, craftsmanship, and a deep reverence for nature. As a supplier of FSC-certified material and the world’s largest collection of reclaimed woods, we are delighted to have been specified for this gorgeous project. We continually advocate that our floors and cladding should be used as part of the building fabric and in the Boathouse they will be present for many years to come.
Talk to an expert now to get trusted professional advice on using a wood floor in your project, call 020 7495 6706.
Architect/Designer: Raw Clay
Image credit: Joey Kendal Brown, Trish Henderson, Dylan Thomas