This is the same extension featured in our 'extension build' slideshow. This room was to be given a chipboard floor with carpet tiles and simple pine skirting boards, until it was pointed out that once chipboard floors are fitted, they tend to be there for good, and in a room of this size and character it would be much wiser to use a real wood floor.

It was eventually decided to throw a couple of Oak trees at the job, a decision which turned this room into a stunning space. The floor is of Dutch Oak floorboards, nailed with traditional brads. For the skirting and architraves a complete Dartmoor Oak tree was sourced and machined by hand into six inch skirting boards, and four inch Burr Oak architraves. By way of adding a little contrast, the inner window ledges are dressed in Dartmoor White Ash, as are the risers of the steps.

All woodwork in this room is finished in flooring oil, which gives a very hard, lacquer - like surface finish, and natural beeswax, a combination which gives the wood a beautiful warm glow. Unbelievably, almost a year on the room still holds the aroma of freshly cut Oak.

Every piece of timber in this finish comes from carefully managed renewable forestries, and is sourced as locally as possible. The timber in this room will have been replaced by new growth long before it has worn out, which cannot be said for today's composites and laminates, both the production and disposal of which pose considerable environmental risks, and the wear and tear of which is considerably faster.

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