A FLOOR SHOULD LAST A LIFETIME, AND LONGER. THE MOST VALUABLE EXPERIENCES COME FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON OUR FLOORS EVERY DAY. WHICH IS WHY WE SPOKE TO BARBARA WANTENS, WHO TOGETHER WITH HER HUSBAND KEVIN GRAPHICALLY RUNS MICHELIN RESTAURANT DE BAKERMAT.
Passion and authenticity. You can taste them in the dishes that Restaurant De Bakermat serves, but there’s more to it than that. You really feel these values reflected in their interior design. Chef Kevin Graf and restaurant manager Barbara Wantens have been cooking up their culinary dreams at De Bakermat in the heart of Ninove since 2014. The result is a Michelin-starred restaurant with an effortless blend of design and gastronomy.
‘Bakermat’ is the Dutch word for a birthplace or place of origin.
That’s the idea behind De Bakermat. Barbara and Kevin bought a former solicitor’s house in 2013 and converted it into a restaurant. “We’ve kept the authentic character of the property”, Barbara tells us. Much of the residential villa has been preserved in its original state: the white marble mantlepiece, windowsills and genuine parquet floors.
In 2018, the restaurant underwent significant renovations, in which one specific change would prove to have a lasting impact: the choice of Coretec® floors. “The old parquet was lovely, but in a busy restaurant it soon starts to show traces of wear and tear”, Barbara explains. “Wine stains, blobs of grease, intensive foot traffic – it was getting harder and harder to keep the floors in good condition.” So they opted for Coretec® and had the new floor fitted on top of the existing one.
A convincing choice
What does Barbara think of the result? “It’s astonishing”, she confirms, with obvious enthusiasm. The design of the Coretec® floors is true to life – a genuine replica of nature. “Many of our guests ask if it is real parquet. They even touch the floor to check – and that speaks volumes.” The long planks create a luxurious atmosphere that is a perfect complement to the restaurant’s interior.
But the floor’s appearance isn’t its only convincing feature. The couple sees the practical advantages after six years of use. “We thoroughly clean the grooves between the planks twice a year. The floor immediately looks as good as new again,” Barbara says. “Easy maintenance is crucial for us as a restaurant.” The team have also noticed a definite improvement in terms of noise.
Where design and functionality meet
Won over by the successful floor of the restaurant, Barbara and Kevin have also installed Coretec® floors at home. “For our house, we went for a combination of long planks and a herringbone pattern”, Barbara enthuses. “It’s gorgeous. I’d recommend it for both private and professional use. Coretec® offers the perfect combination of style and comfort that we were looking for.”
A magnificent location with no worries
Meanwhile, in the restaurant the focus hasn’t changed: a refined, contemporary cuisine centred on respect for the product. And there are no worries about maintenance in this elegant gastronomic setting. Thanks to their well-considered choices, the team can focus entirely on what really matters: creating unforgettable occasions, just like the ones Coretec® offers its customers.
Take a look inside restaurant De Bakermat
