Nouvelle Collection — French White Oak Engineered Hardwood

The Nouvelle Collection is the Prime grade tier of the Medieval Floors engineered hardwood line — premium French White Oak (with American Oak options) selected for minimal knots, sapwood, and grain irregularities. Nine colors anchor this collection, all in a 5/8-inch by 8.66-inch by 87-inch plank format — longer planks than the Architectural Collection for fewer end-joints and a more designer-forward look. Nouvelle is built on an 8-layer cross-banded plywood substrate with a 4mm sawn White Oak top veneer, finished with UV Lacquer over a Semi-Light Brushed surface texture, and carries an E0 emission rating — stricter than the CARB II standard.

9 colors in this collection. All Medieval Floors engineered hardwood is FloorScore certified, CARB II compliant, Lacey Act compliant, TSCA Title IV compliant, and backed by a Lifetime Structural / 35-Year Residential Wear / 5-Year Light Commercial warranty.

Specifications

Total thickness	5/8 inch (15.875mm)
Plank dimensions	8.66-inch wide × 87-inch long × random length
Top veneer	4mm sawn (refinishable)
Wood species	French White Oak (with American Oak options)
Wood grade	Prime (minimal knots, sapwood, grain irregularities)
Core construction	8-layer cross-banded plywood substrate
Surface texture	Semi-Light Brushed
Finish	UV Lacquer
Edge profile	4-sided micro-bevel
Joinery	Tongue & Groove
Installation method	Glue down or staple/nail (not floating)
Radiant heat	Approved hydronic systems only
Emission rating	E0 (stricter than CARB II)
Certifications	FloorScore, Lacey Act, TSCA Title IV, CARB II
Warranty	Lifetime Structural / 35-Year Residential Wear / 5-Year Light Commercial
Coverage per carton	31.26 sq ft
Install grade	Above grade or on grade (not below grade)

Best for

The Nouvelle Collection is the right pick when a clean, uniform Prime grade aesthetic and a longer plank format are the design priorities:

Modern interiors Designer-forward homes Open great rooms Master bedrooms Formal dining rooms Sensitive-air households

How this collection compares to the rest of the Medieval Floors line

The Architectural Collection is the other engineered hardwood option — Character grade European White Oak with visible knots and color variation, in a 9-inch by 75-inch plank format with CARB II emission rating. The three SPC collections (Marseille 8mm, Super SPC 10mm, Valletta 6.5mm) are 100% waterproof vinyl plank built for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and any room where standing water is a real risk. Nouvelle is the premium engineered choice: pick it when a cleaner, more uniform Prime grade look matters more than rustic character, when the longer 87-inch plank length will read better in a larger room, or when the stricter E0 emission rating is required (households with children, pets, or anyone particularly sensitive to off-gassing). For the same construction quality with rustic Character grade variation in a slightly wider plank, the Architectural Collection is the alternative.

Frequently asked questions

What does Prime grade actually mean?

Prime grade is the wood grading designation that restricts visible knots, sapwood, mineral streaks, and grain irregularities — the natural features that define Character grade (the Architectural Collection). The result is a cleaner, more uniform plank-to-plank appearance closer to a designed product than a rustic one. Prime grade does not mean better quality in a structural sense — both Architectural and Nouvelle use the same 8-layer construction and 4mm sawn White Oak top veneer. The difference is purely aesthetic. Choose Prime when the design intent is modern, formal, or designer-forward; choose Character when the design intent is rustic, lived-in, or farmhouse.

What’s the difference between French White Oak and European White Oak?

Both are the same species (Quercus robur, the European or English oak) sourced from different regions. French White Oak is harvested from forests in France — typically the Massif Central, Burgundy, or the Loire region — and is prized for tight grain, a slightly warmer color, and slow growth that produces a denser plank. European White Oak as a category covers French oak plus oak from Germany, Poland, the UK, and other European sources. The Architectural Collection sources broadly from European forests; the Nouvelle Collection specifies French White Oak (with American Oak options) for the tighter grain and warmer base color that suits the Prime grade aesthetic. American Oak in Nouvelle is a domestic alternative for projects with sourcing preferences — same Prime grade selection criteria.

Why does the E0 emission rating matter?

E0 is the strictest formaldehyde emission standard in the engineered wood industry — measurably lower VOC emissions than CARB II (the U.S. standard, met by the Architectural Collection). For most households the difference is academic. For households with young children, family members with chemical sensitivities, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, or for installations in schools, healthcare environments, or rooms where the floor-to-ceiling air volume is small (small bedrooms), the E0 rating provides a meaningful indoor air quality margin. The Nouvelle Collection is the engineered hardwood choice when low VOC emissions are a project requirement.

Can I install Nouvelle in a kitchen or bathroom?

Kitchen — yes with care. Bathroom — no. Engineered hardwood is real wood and is not waterproof. In a kitchen, the floor handles normal cooking spills if cleaned promptly, and most modern kitchens with refrigerator water lines and dishwashers can use engineered hardwood without issue, but the floor will swell and cup if exposed to standing water from a leak. In bathrooms, the high humidity and frequent direct water exposure make engineered hardwood the wrong category — for bathrooms, choose SPC (the Marseille, Super SPC, or Valletta collections from Medieval Floors). For laundry rooms, mudrooms, and basements, also choose SPC. A common whole-home install pattern is engineered Nouvelle in living areas and bedrooms, with SPC in the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room, transitioned with T-moldings at the doorways.

Are the 87-inch long planks harder to install than shorter formats?

Slightly, but the longer plank length is the visual payoff for the extra effort. 87-inch planks (just over 7 feet long) reduce the number of end-joints across the room — the Architectural Collection’s 75-inch plank shows roughly 16% more end-joints in the same square footage. Fewer end-joints reads as a more continuous, flowing floor and is particularly noticeable in larger rooms (open great rooms, formal dining rooms, master bedroom suites). The longer plank is heavier to handle during glue-down or staple/nail installation and requires more careful subfloor flatness — Medieval specifies flatness within 3/16 inch over 10 feet, which is standard for engineered hardwood but more critical when the plank is longer. Best installed by a licensed C-15 flooring contractor; Kapriz can refer one.

Can I see the Nouvelle Collection in person before ordering?

Yes. Kapriz keeps Nouvelle Collection samples on display at the Santa Clara showroom (891 Laurelwood Rd, Suite 101). Call (408) 753-3220 ahead to confirm which specific colors are physically on hand — we don’t permanently stock every color in the Medieval Floors engineered line, and a quick call saves a wasted trip if the color you want needs to be ordered in for review. Prime grade plank-to-plank consistency is one of Nouvelle’s main selling points, so the in-person sample experience tracks closely to the delivered product — but seeing two or three planks side by side in your own light is still the best way to confirm a color choice.