When Mike Somodean of MSCS Inc. in Roswell, Georgia, took on a kitchen renovation project for an interior designer’s personal home, he knew the stakes were high. Having worked with this client before, he understood her expectations for excellence. “She sent us inspiration photos to get started,” Somodean explains. “It had to stay in tune with the rest of the house, where she already had some existing 3¼” white oak.” From there, Somodean and his team brought her ideas to life, creating a custom patterned floor that seamlessly integrated with the home’s aesthetic.
The process began with a vision and evolved into a carefully crafted design. The chosen pattern, inspired by one of the client’s references, featured 27-inch square tiles installed on a diagonal. Each tile was framed by a stretcher board along its perimeter, with four triangles meeting at the center to create a striking geometric effect. Somodean and his team fabricated the tiles in their shop, using solid 3¼” white oak milled to random lengths. “We created a sled for the table saw to mill the individual triangles and boards,” he says. “Everything was joined together with tongue and groove, and we had to cut new grooves for each piece.”
Achieving the required precision was a meticulous process. “We had to be accurate to within 1/32”,” Somodean recalls. “Most of the time went into setup – dialing in the jig, making trial runs, and ensuring everything fit perfectly. When you’re making the same cut hundreds of times, the slightest error can compound across the project.”
The team also encountered challenges with material consistency. Boards varied nearly 1/8” in width, a discrepancy that could disrupt the uniformity of the tiles. Having faced a similar issue on a previous project, Somodean was prepared. “We culled the boards more aggressively this time,” he notes. “Even a hairline difference can add up when you’re dealing with multiple rows.”
Once the tiles were fabricated, Somodean’s team turned their attention to the jobsite. The existing kitchen floors were removed, and the subfloor underwent extensive preparation. “The subfloor was plywood over a climate-controlled basement, but it had settled over time,” he explains. “We had to level it, patch old vent holes, and sand the surface to ensure it was clean and flat.” The team then applied a liquid moisture retarder from Loba-Wakol and used a full-spread adhesive for installation. “We made sure the moisture retarder and adhesive were from the same manufacturer to avoid any adhesion issues,” Somodean adds.
With the subfloor ready, the installation began. The large-scale tiles allowed for a straightforward process, guided by snapped chalk lines. Still, the team maintained vigilance, double-checking alignments to ensure a flawless finish. Moisture readings were taken throughout the process, as the wood – though locally sourced and acclimated – required careful monitoring to prevent future movement.
The project extended beyond the new kitchen flooring, incorporating 1,300 square feet of existing flooring to create a cohesive look throughout the home. For the finishing touches, Somodean collaborated closely with the homeowner to achieve the desired color. “We did several color sessions,” he recalls. “She wanted a medium-to-light brown without too much yellow, so we used a two-step process with Rubio Monocoat products.” The first step involved Rubio’s Pre-Aging No. 5, followed by a hard wax oil in White 5 percent. “I am very happy with how it turned out. Every time you use a pre-aging or some sort of pre-treatment product, the results are spectacular compared to a regular stain and finish, so I am always partial to multi-step process coloration systems.”
Reflecting on the project, Somodean emphasizes the importance of preparation. “Abraham Lincoln is often quoted as saying, ‘If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.’ That’s really the trick,” he says. “Whether it’s setting up your jig or prepping the subfloor, the groundwork is everything. The more time you spend upfront, the smoother the rest of the process will be.”
For Somodean, the project was a success on multiple fronts. “We exceeded her expectations,” he says. “Seeing the client’s reaction when everything came together made all the effort worth it. That’s what it’s all about.”
