Hardwood Floors August/September 2025

Wood Stock

By Burt Bollinger for Possibility A hobbyist photographer, Hamilton maintains an organized gallery of previous and aspirational pattern work. When clients are unsure, these visual references help them explore what is possible. PREPPED When Alex Hamilton of Grain Design Flooring was approached to take on the flooring for a new-construction home in Kentucky, he saw it as more than just a job. It was a chance to showcase creativity for a homeowner open to something distinctive. The general contractor, who had

“In cases like this, we’ll actually give homeowners a discount if we can have some creative freedom,” says Hamilton. “This approach shows that it’s not all about the money – it’s about the craft. We come to work to earn a living, of course, but once they see we’re willing to work with them on price to do something special, they are often more than willing to pay.” In this case, that inspiration helped define a focal point for the home. With the foundation laid and the opportunity to incorporate a more distinctive element, Hamilton presented the homeowners with a small panel he had created for a local home and garden show. The design immediately resonated with them, and once they gave the green light, he scaled up the pattern to suit the proportions of the dining room.

worked with him before, brought him in near the end of the build to install more than 2,800 square feet in a five bedroom, four-bath home using Graf Custom Hardwood rift-and-quartered 4” solid white oak. Hamilton ordered 3,100 square feet of material to ensure coverage for the entire job, allowing a margin for cut-allowance. Most of the living space was located on the first floor, including the open concept living area and the primary bedroom, with additional bedrooms and a long hallway upstairs. Hamilton began by installing approximately 2,400 square feet of straight-lay flooring throughout the main areas. With most of the layout complete and enough material confirmed for further customization, attention turned to the dining room.

“Success comes from preparation. If you do your math, scale it to the space and build good jigs and templates, installing it becomes the easy part. At that point, it’s like building with Legos.” — Alex Hamilton of Grain Design Flooring

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