Modern Jarrah: Bleached & Limed & Beautiful - Eltham North
- Lucas Lee
- Feb 24
- 3 min read
Ever wondered if your dark timber floors could be lightened to create a more contemporary feel? Follow us on a journey as we transform a rich Jarrah timber floor and staircase in Melbourne, using our unique bleaching and liming process. Discover how we achieved a stunning new look that preserved the wood's natural grain, all while ensuring a durable, low-odour, and dust-minimised renovation.
The Original Timber Floor and the Client's Vision
Our recent project in Melbourne featured a home with classic Jarrah timber flooring throughout, including a striking matching staircase. Jarrah is renowned for its deep, warm, reddish-brown tones, which are undeniably beautiful. However, our client envisioned a significant change – they wanted to lighten these dark floors dramatically, aiming for a fresh, airy, and more contemporary aesthetic to complement their home's updated interior design.
The Look of Samples and Client Choices
To ensure we perfectly captured the client's vision, we always begin with samples. This crucial step allows us to perform our wood floor lightening treatment on small sections of their actual Jarrah timber. We showed them various options, demonstrating how our bleaching dark timber floors lighter process could achieve different levels of lightness, followed by various liming techniques. This hands-on approach allowed the client to see exactly how their bleached hardwood floors would look, giving them confidence in their final colour choice before the main work began.
After Sanding
The transformation begins with meticulous preparation. Our skilled team carefully sanded the entire Jarrah timber flooring and staircase. This step is vital, as it removes the old finish and any imperfections, creating a pristine, clean surface ready to absorb the bleaching agents and lime wash evenly. We use state-of-the-art equipment with advanced dust extraction, meaning there's not a lot of dust generated during this process, keeping your home much cleaner.
After the Process
Once the Jarrah was perfectly prepped, we applied our specialised bleaching agents. This is where the magic truly happens, as the dark tones of the Jarrah begin to lighten significantly. Following the bleach, we applied the chosen lime wash directly onto the timber.
Our unique system, which involves bleaching and then colouring directly into the wood, is key here. Unlike surface stains, this method penetrates the timber, allowing the new colour to become an integral part of the wood itself. This deep penetration is why our system preserves a lot of the grain, letting the beautiful natural patterns of the Jarrah remain visible, even in its new, lighter shade.
The Final Look
The finished result was absolutely stunning! The deep red Jarrah was transformed into beautiful lightened dark timber, achieving the bright, modern look the client had dreamed of.
The professional wood floor lightening process not only brightened the space but also enhanced the sense of openness and light throughout the home. The client was ecstatic with the new colour, a true testament to the effectiveness of our system. To protect this new look, we applied multiple coats of water-based polyurethane, known for its durability and for being overall not smelly, ensuring a long-lasting, beautiful finish without lingering odours.
One of the most common concerns we hear from clients considering a colour change is the durability of the new finish. With our direct-to-timber colouring method, you won't experience the typical flaking issues associated with surface-level stains.
Even if your floor experiences minor wear or a small scratch, the colour does not flake off, because it's been absorbed by the timber itself. This means your gorgeous new floor will maintain its consistent, even colour for years to come. Plus, because we use low-VOC (volatile organic compound) water-based polyurethane, you can have peace of mind that your refreshed home will be beautiful and healthy.
Left: Before / Right: After
Ready for Your Timber Transformation?
If you're in Melbourne and dreaming of revitalising your existing hardwood floors with a lightening dark timber treatment, MyFlooring is here to help. Whether you have Jarrah, Blackbutt, or any other timber, we can explore the possibilities with you.
Don't wait to give your home the beautiful update it deserves. Call us today, send an email, or get a quote directly on our website to discuss your timber flooring project!
