I always enjoy noticing interesting floors when I’m out and about. It’s become a small personal ritual to photograph patterns, textures and surfaces underfoot, and I rarely miss a chance to share an image on social media under the playful hashtag #ihavethisthingwithfloors. A recent collaboration with Luxury Flooring invited me to keep a photo diary, documenting a week in my life through the floors, patterns and little details I encounter. It felt like a fun way to tell a story and to show a few of my favourite places through the things I find on the ground.
Below is a weekday-by-weekend account of where I went and what caught my eye — the textures, the light, and the small moments that reveal a place’s character.
Monday
On Monday I travelled to Birmingham for a day of shopping and coffee with a friend. While wandering around Selfridges I paused in the shoe hall to capture the tile patterns and the way light fell across the displays. Interiors like that always offer small, compositional surprises — angular shadows, unexpected reflections and carefully chosen floor finishes that complement the merchandise. I also took the opportunity to photograph Grosvenor House on New Street, one of my favourite local landmarks. The building’s 1950s-leaning façade forms an interesting zig-zag silhouette, and the angled planes create dynamic shadows that change throughout the day. It’s the kind of architecture that rewards repeated visits because you notice something new every time.
Tuesday
Tuesday was a productive day at home. I spent most of the time editing photographs I’d taken recently on my new Olympus PEN. Switching tools has been part of my creative routine — I’ve moved from Photoshop to Lightroom for most of my edits and I’ve been exploring tutorials to refine my workflow. Editing is where photographs find their final voice: small adjustments to exposure, contrast and color bring out the texture of a floor, the patina of an old stair or the sheen on an industrial surface. It’s a quiet, focused practice that turns a snapshot into something I’m proud to share.
Wednesday
Midweek I made time for tennis, which is one of my favourite ways to break up a work-from-home week. Playing keeps me active and engaged without feeling like a chore — I prefer sport that feels joyful and social rather than strictly utilitarian exercise. On a warm summer afternoon, being on the court is restorative: the crisp sound of ball on racket, the rhythm of movement, and the clean lines of the court surface all make for a pleasing visual and sensory experience. I often find myself noting the court’s surface texture and the way it interacts with light and shadow, another small detail that feeds my interest in floors and materials.
Thursday
Thursday was dedicated to a small home project: planning a new picture wall along our staircase. The hallway itself is a calm, welcoming space with clean lines, but the stairwell felt blank and in need of personality. I spent time considering frame sizes, image placement and the balance between negative space and clusters of work. Choosing artwork and the right hanging configuration is part practical and part aesthetic reasoning — the pitch of the staircase, the height of the handrail and the way natural light moves through the space all influence the final arrangement. It’s a slow, satisfying process to curate something that will be seen every day.
Friday
On Friday afternoon I visited the Glasshouse in our local Jephson Gardens to capture some green, tropical scenes for my #urbanjungle series. The outside gardens are neat and formal, with municipal bedding displays, but once inside the Glasshouse the atmosphere shifts to lush foliage and architectural planting. The contrast between outdoor formality and indoor exuberance makes for compelling images: glossy leaves, dripping water and the geometric structure of the greenhouse itself all frame the plants in a way that highlights texture and depth.
Saturday
On Saturday I returned to Birmingham and met Graham for lunch at the recently redesigned Harvey Nichols restaurant. The space blends raw materials and sophisticated detailing: concrete walls, marble tables and green leather banquettes combine with well-considered lighting to create an atmosphere that’s both modern and comfortable. Interiors like this are fun to photograph because the materials tell a story — cool marble surfaces against warm upholstery, and carefully chosen fixtures that add character. The food was excellent, too, which always helps make a visit memorable.
Sunday
I finished the week with a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon. One of my favourite places for Sunday brunch is the rooftop restaurant at the RSC, where elevated views over the river make for a relaxing, scenic meal. On this visit I wandered into one of the bars adjacent to the dining space — the volume, the finishes and the composition of the room always draw me in. I love photographing interiors that feel cinematic: the green marble staircase leading up to the rooftop is an Art Deco moment, a beautiful, tactile feature that anchors the whole space. Whenever I visit, I find myself taking at least one photograph of that staircase; it’s a detail that always feels worth capturing.
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If you enjoy seeing the places and textures I photograph, I post many of these moments on Instagram under my account @designhunter_uk, where I share favourites, interiors, and the occasional #shoefie. Thanks for reading this week’s floor-focused diary — small surfaces often hold the most interesting stories.
Posted in collaboration with Luxury Flooring.