Hardwood Floors April/May 2026

Wood Stock

Details Discipline By Burt Bollinger in the

The scope of the project developed gradually. Gore and Matt Fohey with Matt Fohey Hardwood Restoration initially were asked to install plainsawn herringbone flooring in the upstairs of the home. That portion of the work entirely was new installation and included brass inlays at several transition points. Once that phase was completed and the results were visible, additional areas of the home were opened up for discussion. “We did regular plainsawn herringbone upstairs, which was all new work,” says Gore. “Once that was finished and they saw what we were capable of, we were asked to take on more detailed features elsewhere.” One of those areas was the kitchen, where a feature strip was introduced into an existing floor. Brass already was a prominent design element throughout the space, particularly in the cabinetry, and the flooring needed to complement that material without overpowering it.

When Brian Gore of Creative Hardwood was brought into a remodel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, he knew early on it would be the kind of project where precision mattered. The home was located in a high-end area and the renovation carried a clear design direction that required careful execution. The work blended restoration with new installation and required close attention to detail to ensure old and new elements aligned seamlessly.

hardwood floors hardwoodfloorsmag.com

12