Melissa Tressler and Andrew Wilkinson of Looking Glass Floors in St. Louis recently worked on a hardwood flooring project that gave them the chance to do something unique. What started as a straightforward flooring installation turned into a creative blend of patterns and materials, thanks to the homeowners’ interest in exploring design possibilities and the team’s ideas.
The project began with a plan to install red oak flooring in most of the home. “One of our guys had a friend who was hiring another company for renovations, and they reached out to us for the flooring after seeing some of our previous work,” Wilkinson explains. “Initially, it was going to be mostly straight-lay flooring, but they mentioned wanting something different for the dining room. That’s when the idea for a herringbone pattern came into play.”
During a discussion about the dining room, the team noticed the potential in a nearby breakfast nook, which had an octagonal shape. “The homeowners hadn’t considered doing anything special in that space,” Tressler says. “But when we stood in the room and looked up, we saw the beams on the ceiling coming together in a central point, and that inspired us. Why not reflect that design on the floor?”
The team developed a custom wagon-spoke pattern for the nook, taking the geometry of the beams and mirroring it on the floor. “We went through six or seven sketches before landing on the final design,” Wilkinson says. “The homeowners loved the idea of using some of the existing red oak we were pulling out, combined with new wood for the spokes.”
The design was intricate, with each spoke made from quartered white oak, ripped down the middle and bookmatched. “We folded the boards open like a butterfly and doweled them together,” Wilkinson says. The spokes radiated outward from a Bolivian walnut centerpiece, which was cut precisely using a jig. A maple cross and white oak petals surrounded the center, creating a clean, detailed look. “We worked from the center outward, making sure every piece was cut to fit perfectly,” Wilkinson explains.
The entire floor was prebuilt in their workshop to ensure accuracy. “We drew the design to scale on 4×8 sheets of plywood,” Tressler says. “Laying it out in the shop was essential – we didn’t want to leave anything to chance.” Once on-site, the team prepped the subfloor with a liquid moisture barrier and used Wakol glue to secure the pieces. “We squared the space with a laser level and aligned everything to the ceiling beams,” Wilkinson adds. “The pre-planning made the installation much smoother, even when we needed to make minor adjustments.”
Attention to detail was critical, especially with the tongue-and-groove work. “We grooved all the pieces in the shop,” Wilkinson notes. “Having everything grooved allowed for a tighter fit, which made a big difference during installation.”
The installation itself took a day and a half. Sanding and finishing followed, with the team drum-sanding the floor flat and using a multi-disc machine for the final passes. The homeowners chose a darker stain – Bona Cocoa – finished with ProCoat. “The dark finish looks great and matches the home perfectly,” Tressler says. “Although some of the wood details aren’t as visible, the floor ties the whole space together.”
The homeowners were thrilled with the finished floor and have even started looking for a glass-top table to make sure the design remains visible. “They told us the floor has become a centerpiece for the home,” Tressler says. “Hearing that makes all the planning and hard work worthwhile.”
For Tressler and Wilkinson, the project was a chance to take a standard installation and turn it into something personal and distinctive. “Having clients who are open to new ideas really makes a difference,” Wilkinson reflects. “And when it all comes together, it’s a win for everyone.”
