Eugene Klotz, Founder of Renaissance Floor In-Lays, Passes Away at Age 60

Founder of Renaissance Floor In-Lays, Eugene Klotz, passed away on December 23, after a long battle with cancer.

Klotz founded Renaissance Floor In-Lays in 1989. As a graduate of the School of Craft and Arts in Poland he has designed and manufactured the most unique hardwood floors using only his talent and marquetry technique as a method of hand cutting inlays from various species of wood.

Winning numerous National Wood Flooring Association Floor of the Year contests has brought Klotz recognition and the most demanding clients including the Queen of Thailand.

When he started his business in San Francisco, he was one of the first pioneers in the U.S. hardwood floor market to introduce hand cut marquetry for decorative inlaid floors. After moving the company to Poland in 2009, he found yet bigger challenges in Europe.

Klotz always believed in talent, artistry and handmade craftsmanship.

7 thoughts

  1. Very sad to hear, an unbelievable floorguy, a football fanatic, and a gentleman. I went out to Poland to meet him 2 years ago. Driving a Merc around Poland on California plates. Big loss to the industry. RIP Gene.

  2. Eugene was always willing to help, there was never a time that I asked a question that he didn’t help. He was one of the instructor in the first NWFA Advance School we had in St. Louis. He will be missed greatly.

  3. One of the very first, true craftsman that really turned my thought process upside down about our industry and what could be dreamed and accomplished! A pioneer in his own right, bringing old world skills into the modern wood flooring market. Thanks for the great example on “living your dash (-)” with the time you had here – RIP, Gene!

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