From Estate Forest to Country House Floors
The Wachtmeister family has lived at the Wanås Country house since the early 1800s, but the estate itself dates to the Middle Ages. Baltzar and his wife Kristina have lived here for over ten years and relish it very much. Not only because of the beautiful plank floors, as there is much to savour here.
The art and sculpture park at the Wanås estate attracts visitors from all over the world. Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel have visited a couple of times. Since the park’s inauguration in 1987, new works is continuously added. Today you find 80 permanent works in the park. The most famous is perhaps Yoko Ono’s notes hung in some apple trees – where visitors can add their own wishes.
— It was my mother Marika who started the art activities, Baltzar says. Today, we have more than 70,000 annual visitors.
From estate forest to country floors
The Wachtmeister family has lived at Wanås Country House since the early 1800s, although the estate itself dates back to the Middle Ages. Baltzar and his wife, Kristina, have called it home for over ten years and thoroughly enjoy it—not just because of the beautiful plank floors, but because there is so much more to appreciate here.
The Wanås estate’s art and sculpture park draws visitors from all over the world. Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel have visited a few times. Since the park’s opening in 1987, new works are continuously added, and today, there are 80 permanent installations. One of the most famous is Yoko Ono’s notes, hung in apple trees, where visitors are encouraged to add their own wishes.
“It was my mother, Marika, who started the art initiatives,” Baltzar explains. “Today, we have more than 70,000 visitors annually.”
Restaurant and award-winning hotel
Today, Wanås is home to a restaurant with culinary ambitions and a hotel featuring eleven rooms. A few years ago, the estate was awarded as one of the world’s best newly opened hotels. In addition to this, Wanås is involved in agriculture, including organic farming, an eco-certified dairy farm, hunting activities, and forestry.
“That’s how I met Fredrik from Kullaberg Flooring—he’s a forest engineer and works in forestry”, Baltzar explains.
Restaurant and Award-Winning Hotel
Today, you can find a restaurant with gastronomic ambitions and a hotel with eleven rooms. A few years ago, Wanås won the prize as one of the world’s best newly opened hotels. In addition, the estate conducts agriculture, with organic farming, an eco-certified dairy farm, hunting activities, and forestry.
— That’s how I met Fredrik from Kullaberg Flooring. As he’s a forest engineer, doing forestry, Baltzar says.
Several hundred-year-old oak forest
When the couple was selecting flooring for Wanås, they reached out to Kullaberg Flooring, just a few miles away. The estate had a large forest in need of thinning, and Kullaberg Flooring was given the opportunity to select and purchase the finest trees.
“It was like a dream come true since we specialise in extra-wide and long floor planks, especially given the high demand for this type of timber”, Fredrik explains. “The oak trees here are some of the finest in the world. It’s also reassuring to know that in Sweden, we grow more forest than we harvest.”
Several Hundreds Year-Old Oak Forest
When the couple decided on floors for Wanås, they contacted Kullaberg Flooring a few miles away. The estate had a lot of forest in need of harvesting, and Kullaberg Flooring was given the opportunity to select and purchase the finest trees.
— It was like a dream come true since we work with extra-wide and long floor planks. Especially as there is a very high demand for these kinds of logs. The oak trees here are among the finest in the world. At the same time, it’s good to know that in Sweden, we grow more forest than we harvest, Fredrik explains.
From floors to the country house terrace
As an architect, Kristina had high standards for the floors. She already knew exactly what kind of surface treatment she wanted, and that’s exactly how it turned out. Kullaberg Flooring processed the planks to perfection and installed them in several rooms across the different buildings. The wood was also used for the decking on the country house terrace.
“Even though Kristina is very knowledgeable in these matters, she and the craftsmen often consulted Fredrik to ensure the technical aspects were handled in the best possible way”, Baltzar shares.
In the end, Baltzar explains that everything turned out just as he and Kristina had envisioned. They were able to use their own oak trees for the flooring in the various buildings and on the terrace. The only additions were the natural beauty of the wood, a little pine oil soap, some wooden plugs, and a lot of love.
“It’s a pleasure to work with professionals—people who truly know what they’re doing. I’m happy to recommend Kullaberg Flooring to others. Fredrik and Sandra are genuine, personable, service-oriented, and very quality-conscious”, Baltzar concludes.
Fully massive plank floor oak
Thickness: 20 mm
Width: 153 and 195 mm
Length: descending lengths 1-3 m
Surface treatment: stain and hard wax oil medium walnut
Choice of flooring
Pelle is happy to share his experiences when it comes to choosing a floor.
“Be thorough, read up on floors or consult Fredrik when it comes to anything from choosing floor to laying it. It also feels safe to have Fredrik in the project. He is passionate about the craft, is knowledgeable and genuinely committed. And even though a nice floor may cost a little more, you also get a lot more.”
Pelle also wants to take the opportunity to suggest something to Fredrik and Kullaberg Flooring.
“You should open a showroom so that more people can see and experience the wonderful floors, the craft and all the wonderful stories about forests, trees, and lumber.”
Fully massive plank floor oak
Thickness: 20 mm
Width: 153 and 195 mm
Length: descending lengths 1-3 m
Surface treatment: stain and hard wax oil medium walnut
