I am often asked in my architectural presentations about my preference between engineered and solid wood floors.  In this blog I try to steer away from polarizing topics, but I decided to express my personal opinion on this question.  While there are different levels of quality in engineered floors as there are in any composite product, I always return to…

To independent architect/interior designer Jae Chang, modern design is about taking something classic and proven and making it contemporary, habitable and inviting. When he was approached to design and renovate a Madison Avenue apartment for a fellow architect, he leapt at the chance to transform the outdated, underused space into a modern, functional, showcase apartment. Located near the historic Morgan…

Last week I came across the 2010 RPA (Resources Planning Act) Assessment.  This the report generated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture reflecting the state of the America’s forests now and into the future.  This report comes out every 10 years and it is interesting to note that in 2000 the report painted a rosy picture of America’s forest resource. …

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER I am often reminded of a cartoon I saw years ago of a Gatling gun salesman trying to talk to a Commander on a medieval battlefield where a war is being fought with arrows and swords.  The Commander says something like “I don’t have time to talk to a salesman, I have a battle to fight”. Getting…

When I lecture about Quartersawn American hardwoods I get to tell the wonderful story about sustainable forest management at the same time.  Before I can make the case for Quartersawn hardwood as the most durable and beautiful form of hardwoods it is important that I talk about the carbon footprint of bringing that hardwood to market. As a tree grows…

When I talk to architects and designers about using American hardwoods I am usually battling preconceived notions of how our forest resource is managed in the United States.  The destruction of the rain forests taints the picture of sustainable American hardwoods.  The media has done a great job of convincing people that when we use a tree we are killing…

I have been in the hardwood business for nearly 26 years.  The last 4 years have been spent talking to designers and architects about using sustainable American hardwoods in their designs for residences, hotels, restaurants, museums and public buildings of all sorts.  I am struck occasionally by the fact that designers and architects are willing to subjugate their aesthetic vision…

I have been traveling with Dan Hackett, CEO and President of Frank Miller Lumber, for the past two and a half weeks.  We have spent time with architects and designers in Singapore as well as distributors of hardwoods in Perth and Sydney, Australia.  We have visited flooring and furniture manufacturers in Singapore, Perth, Sydney and Takayama, Japan.  We have been…