Karndean Art Select: The Complete UK Buyer’s Guide

Art Select is Karndean’s flagship design range – the collection customers choose when the floor is part of the interior design story, not just a hard-wearing surface. It sits at the top of the Karndean glue-down line-up, above Van Gogh, Knight Tile and Palio Essenza. Art Select is where you find the deepest wood-effect detail, the most refined stone reproductions, and the broadest library of parquet and herringbone laying patterns Karndean offer. This guide explains what Art Select is, how the Parquet and Stone collections differ, what it costs, and where it fits against the rest of the Karndean range.

Grosvenor Flooring supplies the complete Art Select range. This guide is written from a retailer’s perspective – Art Select is the range we fit most often on design-led projects, so we see where it shines and where customers occasionally over-spec for their needs.

What Is Karndean Art Select?

Art Select is a 3.0mm dryback luxury vinyl tile range with a 0.3mm wear layer. It’s glue-down only – there’s no Rigid Core click version of Art Select, because the pattern detailing and border/feature-strip system that Art Select is built around only works in a dryback format.

The range breaks into three collections:

Wood plank – the largest collection, featuring the most detailed wood-effect designs in the Karndean catalogue. Oaks, walnuts, smoked and weathered timbers, reclaimed boards. The embossing is the deepest of any Karndean range and the colourway depth is noticeably richer than Van Gogh or Knight Tile.

Parquet and herringbone – this is where Art Select earns its price. The Parquet collection includes dedicated plank sizes designed for herringbone, Versailles and chevron layouts, in oak, blond oak and darker timber variants. If you want a genuinely high-end LVT parquet floor in a UK home, Art Select Parquet is what fits it.

Stone – limestone, slate and travertine designs in larger-format tiles, designed to work with the Karndean border and feature-strip system. Art Select stone designs are noticeably more convincing in person than the stone effects in other Karndean ranges.

Art Select vs Van Gogh vs Knight Tile

All three Karndean dryback ranges share the same 0.3mm wear layer and similar warranty framework. The differences are in design, detail and format:

Knight Tile – 2.0mm dryback, entry-level, broadest covering of wood and stone basics, most affordable. For whole-house projects on sensible budgets.

Van Gogh – 3.0mm dryback, mid-tier, larger planks and deeper wood embossing, excellent for open-plan living and herringbone. For premium wood-focused projects.

Art Select – 3.0mm dryback, flagship, the deepest design detail and the widest pattern library (parquet, Versailles, chevron, herringbone with borders, stone with feature strips). For design-led projects where the floor is part of the architecture.

Practical rule of thumb: if you’ve looked at Van Gogh and wished the designs had more depth, or you need a specific parquet pattern, or you want borders and feature strips, Art Select is the step you’re looking for. If you’re happy with Van Gogh’s level of detail, don’t over-spec.

The Art Select Parquet and Herringbone Collections

Art Select is the Karndean range most buyers land on when they want a high-end parquet or herringbone LVT floor. The Parquet collection is built around specific plank sizes matched to traditional parquet layouts, with oak, blond oak and darker timber finishes. The detail and colour variation in a fitted Art Select herringbone floor is closer to hand-cut engineered parquet than to a stamped vinyl pattern.

Pattern laying is skilled work. Expect fitting costs for Art Select parquet or herringbone to be noticeably higher than straight plank – £30-£45 per m² is typical. Our Karndean herringbone guide covers the pattern options across the range and what to budget for fitting.

Art Select Stone Designs

Art Select’s stone collection is worth considering as an alternative to real stone or porcelain tile in kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and hallways. The tiles are larger format than Knight Tile’s stone options, the veining and surface detail is more refined, and the designs are built to work with feature strips and border inlays – the kind of treatment you’d see in period entrance halls or high-end new-build kitchens.

The practical advantages over real stone are warmth underfoot (especially over UFH), softer impact underfoot, and far easier installation and maintenance. You give up the weight and coldness of genuine stone; you gain a fitted cost roughly a third of the equivalent porcelain or natural stone floor.

Art Select Prices

Art Select typically runs £55-£75 per m² supply-only – sometimes higher for specific designs. Fitting a straight plank is £25-£35 per m²; parquet and herringbone add £30-£45 per m² on top of materials. A fitted Art Select parquet floor in a 30m² hallway and living room commonly lands in the £2,800-£3,800 range all-in. Our Karndean prices guide has the full breakdown.

Art Select is comparable on price with Amtico Signature at the equivalent tier. If you’re comparing at that level, our Amtico vs Karndean comparison covers the differences in detail.

Installation: What to Know

Art Select is dryback only, so it needs a properly prepared subfloor – flat, dry, clean and level. The deeper embossing and pattern detailing are less forgiving of subfloor imperfections than a standard plank layout, so self-levelling compound is often justified.

Only use Karndean’s approved adhesive system. Pattern layouts should only be fitted by installers with specific parquet or herringbone experience – an amateur pattern layout on an Art Select floor is one of the more expensive mistakes we see retrofitted.

Art Select is fully compatible with underfloor heating subject to Karndean’s 27°C surface temperature limit. Dryback gives the best heat transfer over UFH of any Karndean format.

Warranty

Karndean offer a lifetime residential warranty on Art Select when the floor is correctly installed and maintained. The warranty is contingent on correct adhesive, proper subfloor prep, compliance with the UFH temperature limit, and installation by a competent fitter. Register the installation through your retailer at the point of fitting.

Who Art Select Is Right For

Art Select suits you if design is central to the project, you want a genuine high-end LVT parquet or herringbone floor, you’re renovating a period property or fitting a high-specification new build, or you need stone effects that hold up to close inspection. It’s the right range for statement floors, design-led open-plan spaces, and any project where the floor is part of the interior story.

Art Select is overkill if you just want a durable wood-effect floor in a straight plank layout (Van Gogh or Knight Tile will do), if the room is secondary (bedrooms, utility rooms) where the design library won’t be seen or appreciated, or if you want the entry-tier Karndean price point with a softer Mediterranean palette (Palio Essenza). Over-spec-ing Art Select for a small bedroom is one of the more common sizing mistakes we see.

Art Select Care and Maintenance

Art Select shares the same care routine as the rest of the Karndean glue-down range – sweep or vacuum (no beater bar) to remove loose grit, damp-mop weekly with pH-neutral floor cleaner, avoid steam mops, abrasive pads, wax polishes and any non-LVT-rated cleaner. The 0.3mm wear layer is the same as Knight Tile, Van Gogh and Palio Essenza; the design detail is more refined but the underlying material is the same.

Where Art Select differs in care: pattern layouts (herringbone, Versailles, chevron, bordered designs) have more linear feet of joint per square metre of floor, so any moisture or grit at joints needs cleaning out promptly. Felt pads under furniture are non-negotiable. For statement entrance halls and high-traffic spots, fit a barrier mat at the front door – it traps grit before it reaches the Art Select surface and meaningfully extends the life of the finish.

Karndean publish range-specific maintenance guidance for Art Select; pattern layouts in particular benefit from following it closely. The lifetime residential warranty is contingent on correct care.

Art Select Pattern Options – Herringbone, Versailles, Chevron and Bordered Floors

The Art Select Parquet collection is what most Art Select customers actually buy the range for. Karndean’s pattern library across this collection covers four main layout types:

Herringbone: the most-specified Art Select pattern, available in oak, blond oak, weathered timber and smoked variants. Plank dimensions designed specifically for herringbone (typically 600x100mm) give the right scale for residential hallways, kitchens and feature rooms. Fitting cost is £30-£40 per m² above straight-plank fitting.

Versailles parquet: the most decorative option, using interlocking square panel sections that build into the classic Versailles pattern. Best suited to larger rooms – entrance halls, drawing rooms, statement kitchens – where the pattern can be appreciated. Fitting cost £35-£45 per m² above straight-plank. Versailles in a smaller space can look fussy; size the room before committing.

Chevron: the angled-end version of herringbone, where planks meet in a V-pattern down the room rather than at right-angles. Cleaner, more contemporary visual than herringbone. Fitting cost similar to herringbone (£30-£40 per m² premium). Specify the right plank profile – chevron is not the same product as herringbone and the planks aren’t interchangeable.

Bordered and feature-strip designs: Art Select integrates with Karndean’s border and feature-strip system, allowing custom-cut border inlays, statement central motifs, and combinations of plank-and-tile layouts in a single room. This is design-led, specialist fitting work – expect fitting at £45+ per m² for complex border layouts.

The decision between these comes down to room size, scheme direction and budget. Our Karndean herringbone guide covers the herringbone-specific options in detail.

Art Select Real Project Use Cases

Three customer profiles dominate Art Select selection:

Period property statement floors: the most common – Edwardian, Victorian and 1930s properties where the floor in the entrance hall, hallway and drawing room is part of the building’s design heritage. Art Select herringbone or Versailles in oak or aged timber tones reads correctly in this scenario where Knight Tile would feel out-of-place.

High-spec new-build kitchens: contemporary kitchens with handleless cabinetry, large islands and high-end joinery often specify Art Select Stone for the kitchen floor – the larger-format tiles, refined veining and option of stone-with-borders work well with the architectural detail of premium kitchen design.

Architect-led residential renovations: projects where an architect or interior designer is specifying flooring as part of an overall scheme, with Art Select selected specifically for the pattern library and bespoke border work. These are smaller in volume but typically the highest-value Art Select projects we fit.

Art Select Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between Art Select and Van Gogh?

Both are 3.0mm dryback with a 0.3mm wear layer. The difference is in the design library – Art Select has deeper surface embossing, more refined stone designs, and the full Karndean pattern library (herringbone, Versailles, chevron, bordered designs). Van Gogh is wood-focused with a single herringbone pattern option. For wood-only straight-plank or simple herringbone projects, Van Gogh is the value choice. For design-led projects with pattern complexity or stone-effect requirements, Art Select.

Is Art Select worth the upgrade over Van Gogh?

Art Select is typically 30-50% more expensive than Van Gogh per m². The upgrade is worth it if the project needs Versailles, chevron, or bordered layouts (Van Gogh doesn’t do these), the project specifies stone designs (Art Select’s stones are noticeably more refined), or the design detail genuinely justifies the cost. For straight-plank wood floors, Van Gogh delivers most of the result at lower cost.

Can Art Select be installed by a DIY installer?

Straight-plank Art Select can be installed by a competent DIY installer with Karndean’s approved adhesive system and proper subfloor prep. Pattern layouts (herringbone, Versailles, chevron, bordered designs) are skilled specialist work – we strongly recommend professional fitting. An amateur herringbone or Versailles install in Art Select is one of the more expensive flooring mistakes we see retrofitted.

Does Art Select come in Rigid Core or click format?

No – Art Select is dryback (glue-down) only. The pattern detailing and border/feature-strip system Karndean built around Art Select only works in a fully bonded format. For a Rigid Core click option in the Karndean range, look at Knight Tile Rigid Core or Van Gogh Rigid Core.

How long does Art Select last?

Karndean offer a lifetime residential warranty on Art Select when correctly installed and maintained. In practical terms, an Art Select floor in a typical residential setting will last 20-25+ years with the design quality holding throughout – longer than most owners stay in a house. For commercial installations the warranty terms are shorter and grade-specific.

Is Art Select stone better than real stone tile?

Different products. Real stone offers genuine material authenticity; Art Select stone offers warmer underfoot feel (especially over UFH), softer impact, far easier installation and maintenance, and around a third of the fitted cost of equivalent porcelain or natural stone. For most residential applications, Art Select stone is the better practical choice. For projects where genuine stone authenticity is the brief, real stone wins on character – at significantly higher cost and complexity.

Where does Art Select sit against Palio Essenza?

Art Select and Palio Essenza sit at opposite ends of the Karndean glue-down range. Art Select is the flagship – 3.0mm dryback, broadest pattern library, refined stone designs, premium pricing. Palio Essenza is entry-tier – 2.5mm dryback, Italian-inspired palette, straight-plank and tile only, accessible price. Different briefs entirely. Art Select for design-led statement floors; Palio Essenza for Italian or Mediterranean-style residential projects on a sensible budget.

See Art Select in Person

Art Select is a range that genuinely rewards seeing in person before you buy – the embossing depth and pattern detail are difficult to judge from photography. Our 24/7 smart showroom in Altrincham displays Art Select alongside Van Gogh, Knight Tile and Palio Essenza, with parquet and herringbone examples fitted as reference panels. Request a security code and visit any time, no appointment needed. Local buyers – see where to buy Karndean in Altrincham for directions and what’s on display.

Order up to five free samples from the Art Select category page to see the grain detail and colour depth in your own space.

Grosvenor Flooring supplies Art Select nationwide and supplies-and-fits for Altrincham, Manchester and Cheshire customers – including the specialist fitting required for parquet and herringbone layouts. Get in touch to discuss an Art Select quote or to talk through which Karndean range suits your project.