Custom Hardwood Patterns: Herringbone and Chevron Designs for a Luxury Look

In the competitive and design-conscious real estate market of the Greater Toronto Area, homeowners are consistently looking for ways to infuse their properties with unique, high-end luxury wood. Beyond wood species and color, the installation pattern of hardwood flooring offers a powerful way to add sophisticated visual texture and timeless elegance. Parquet flooring, specifically the dramatic Herringbone and the sharp, geometric Chevron designs, represents a worthwhile investment for transforming foyers, dens, or high-visibility living areas into true focal points. We detail the difference between these two classic patterns and explain why their complex, custom installation adds exceptional value and high-end appeal.

Markville Carpet & Flooring Centre is a full-service flooring company specializing in the supply and guaranteed installation of hardwood flooring across the entire GTA and City of Toronto. Our experienced teams ensure the highest quality of workmanship necessary for these complex, luxury patterns.

Herringbone: The Classic Zigzag Appeal

Herringbone is arguably the most recognizable parquet pattern, tracing its origins back to ancient Roman roads and becoming a staple in European chateaux.

Interlocking Rectangles and Timeless Elegance

• The Pattern: The Herringbone pattern is created by laying rectangular wood pieces that meet at a 90-degree angle. Each plank is positioned such that the end of one plank meets the side of the next, creating a distinctive, non-stop zigzag or broken zigzag line across the floor.
• Visual Effect: This pattern creates an illusion of motion and light, drawing the eye across the room. It works beautifully in large, traditional living spaces as well as long, narrow hallways, adding dimension and depth.
• Installation Difficulty: Herringbone installation is significantly more complex and labor-intensive than standard plank installation because every single piece must be perfectly aligned at 90 degrees. This precision is essential to prevent the pattern from wandering or looking sloppy—hence the need for “Five Star” guaranteed installation by experts.
• Material Requirements: Herringbone requires specific, smaller, equally sized rectangular planks, often necessitating a larger material investment due to the need for precise cuts and the inherent waste involved in achieving the pattern.

Chevron: The Modern, Sharp Geometric Design

The Chevron pattern is distinct from Herringbone due to its sharp, uninterrupted V-shape lines, offering a more contemporary aesthetic.

Continuous V-Shapes and High Sophistication

• The Pattern: In the Chevron pattern (also known as Point de Hongrie), the ends of the planks are cut at an angle (typically 45 or 60 degrees) so that when they meet, they form a continuous, straight V-shaped line. The sides of the planks align perfectly edge-to-edge, creating a smooth, repeating, geometric series of arrows.
• Visual Effect: Chevron creates a sharp, formal, and continuous visual that is often seen in modern Parisian and high-end design. It adds formality and sophistication, with the continuous line tending to visually lengthen the space it occupies.
• Material Requirements: Chevron installation requires planks to be precisely cut to the specified angle (pre-milled) before they even arrive on site, increasing the material cost and requiring specialized handling during installation.
• Defining Luxury: Due to the material and labor complexity, Chevron is typically considered the more expensive and more unique of the two patterns, making it an undeniable mark of luxury in a Toronto custom home.

The Investment and Long-Term Value

Installing a custom parquet pattern is an investment in both aesthetic appeal and property value.

Elevating Key Spaces

• Property Value: Custom patterns are highly sought after in the luxury GTA market. They signal high-quality workmanship and unique design, often leading to a higher perception of value compared to standard strip or plank hardwood.
• Strategic Placement: While beautiful, installing a complex pattern throughout an entire open-concept home can sometimes be overwhelming. Many designers choose to use the pattern strategically in entry foyers, dining rooms, or large master bedrooms to anchor the space and create a memorable first impression.
• Durability: The inherent complexity of the interlocking pieces means that, when installed correctly, parquet patterns are highly stable. The multitude of seams and the way the wood pieces restrict each other’s movement can actually enhance the dimensional stability of the floor.

Achieve Timeless Parquet Luxury with Markville

Both the dynamic zigzag of Herringbone and the sophisticated continuous V-shape of Chevron provide unique opportunities to elevate your Toronto home with a custom, high-end visual texture that standard planks cannot achieve. Established in 1980, Markville Carpet & Flooring Centre is proud to be serving the entire GTA for over 38 years, specializing in custom hardwood installations.

To explore the beauty of custom Herringbone and Chevron designs for your home. Visit our showroom locations in Markham, ON, or Toronto, Ontario, or Contact us today for an In-Home Consultation and design services.