Antique Style Flooring Centre

The Antique Style Flooring Centre is an independent, family-run business that has been in operation since 1985. I, Chris Keseru, am the sole proprietor of the company, and I started the business with the help of Margaret Thatcher's enterprise allowance scheme. Initially, we manufactured concrete products, primarily paving and patio slabs, which were successful.

In 1996, during a conversation with a builder friend over a pint at the local pub, we discussed the scarcity and high cost of reclaimed floor pamments (a term commonly used in Suffolk to refer to floor tiles). I realised the potential of reproducing them in concrete, which is a versatile and durable material made from natural elements, including cement. Concrete has been used for thousands of years, and archaeological evidence suggests that the Romans used it to create concrete floors with tiled surfaces.

The idea of producing concrete floor pamments was born from this conversation. I fabricated prototype moulds using original pamments over 150 years old as masters and created over 20 different ones to reduce pattern repetition. After distributing samples to builder friends and specialists in the period property renovation market, the response was overwhelming. Our reproduction pamments were so authentic that even insurance assessors, building contractors, and English Heritage were fooled into thinking they were originals.

The demand for our new product was so high that we stopped manufacturing paving slabs and concentrated our efforts on producing reproduction floor pamments instead. After 15 years of manufacturing and supplying them, the demand is still significant, with originals becoming even scarcer.

We offer two sizes, 9" x 9" and 12" x 12", in two traditional colours: Norfolk fired earth, a terracotta shade, and Suffolk deep buff, a biscuit shade. Our products are available in two finishes: plain and antiqued. The antiqued finish is popular for grade two period properties such as old cottages, public houses, and churches, as well as for various applications, including barn conversions, restorations, kitchens, conservatories, utility rooms, hallways, porches, and fireplace hearths.

Our living room floor tiles look great and are warm to walk on with underfloor heating. Customers have praised our products for their quality and authenticity. One customer's insurance assessors, building contractors, and English Heritage all thought our tiles were original, demonstrating the high level of authenticity we strive to achieve. Our kitchen and utility room floors also look wonderful, and customers have expressed their satisfaction with the results.