With a curated portfolio of leading UK and European brands, Square Metre Flooring at 77 Haverstock Hill has become popular with homeowners, designers and architects seeking exceptional hard-surface flooring.
Owner Cajetan Kii and his team manage projects from concept to completion – including subfloor preparation, underfloor heating and installation. And, since five years ago, Square Metre Flooring has also been doing broader interior work such as plumbing, electricals and painting.
The two-storey Steele’s Village showroom, which opened in spring 2025, has been designed to elevate the experience of selecting floors. Clients can determine every element of their flooring from colour, thickness and width to grade and finish.
And importantly they can take their time to engage with the materials. “Small samples can never fully reveal the natural variation of wood, so we’ve installed large 3-metre slide-out boards to showcase the richness and depth of each finish,” says Cajetan.
When I spontaneously met an interior designer shopping for tiles, this is what she had to say, “Looking at materials side by side is so important whether you’re trying to harmonise matching or contrasting colours. Sometimes the differences are nuanced, but you only see it when you’re holding the tiles in your hand.”
With tea and biscuits I sat down with Cajetan Kii to find out more about him and his business:
When did you first become interested in interiors and craftsmanship?
Cajetan: As a child I loved beauty in the home. I grew up in Nigeria and watched a lot of American dramas. I was fascinated by how the houses I saw were so vastly different from my own home. Every Christmas I watched Home Alone and of course that’s a film in which you really see every element of a home!
You came to London in your mid-twenties. How did you first get into the flooring business?
After business school, I spent time looking for a franchise opportunity. I found a company offering wood flooring, but it wasn’t exactly the right fit for me. So, ten years ago, I set up my own showroom in Fulham.
What would you say is the current flooring trend?
Trends come and go. Wood is timeless because it’s robust and there are so many variations. It also works for all weathers. Rather than trends, we prefer to suggest floors which conform to a family’s needs. Useability is key. It’s the same with choosing tiles. We have such a big range of porcelain tiles to suit clients with different budgets.
What’s the most common challenge people have with flooring?
The need for noise reduction between dwellings. It’s what you want personally and there are regulations too. For instance, if you live in a flat you have the legal right to ask a neighbour to strip their floor if it’s too noisy.
What advice would you give to other business owners who are growing?
Oh, that’s a loaded question! Firstly, I’d said – Well done, you must be doing something right! Truth is that it’s hard to split my time between two showrooms but ultimately, as the cliché goes, instead of being ‘in the business’ I need to ‘work on the business’. I’ve had to learn how to let go and delegate tasks. I’d say if you have staff who 80% of the time do things how you would do them – that’s a sweet spot.
What has your work taught you?
To be resilient. With staff, clients, multiple projects, many suppliers – I can feel pulled in many directions. I need a strong mind to keep going!
If you could improve one work situation, what would it be?
Right now, our tax system feels anti-growth, anti-ambition. I know I’m not alone in thinking that it punishes productivity. And that can prevent you from aspiring to do more.
What’s the best part of your job?
Looking at a finished space. Seeing a client’s face as they look forward to living with their new floors. Also meeting suppliers. Going to their warehouses and enjoying the scale of their brands. And to a little degree, it’s a good feeling to know that fifteen families are supported by Square Metre Flooring.
Favourite room in your own home?
The kitchen. And before you ask – chevron wood floor!
How do you stay balanced?
I don’t! Like other families in London, I just do my best. When I’m at home, I try to be present. Playing with my kids helps me to relax. Like having a kick about in the garden.
What are you grateful for?
My wife is a great support. She also works so she understands the pressures of running a business. My staff are hardworking and I see them go above and beyond. And our clients because they trust us with their time, money and homes!
77 Haverstock Hill, Steele’s Village NW3
