Interior designer Tara Benet helped The Telegram understand why so many upscale homes are featuring the eye-catching herringbone pattern in their wood and tile floors. The pattern, inspired by its namesake’s geometrically arranged scales, dates back to the Roman Empire. It is seeing a resurgence due to “a desire to bring in natural looks and materials that have a sense of tradition,” according to Benet. “Mixing old with new and modern with traditional is a way to create a space with character,” says Benet, who has seen the pattern applied to everything from hardwood floors to tile, fabrics, and wallpapers.