Wood Talk: Rose Fall of Floors by Fall Design

Rose Fall is the founder and principal flooring specialist of Floors by Fall Design, based in Pleasanton, California. The boutique flooring showroom and consulting company specializes in bespoke hardwood flooring and design-forward solutions. Fall is an NWFA Certified Sales Advisor, has attended NWFA training and Expos, and is on the NWFA Membership Steering Committee. She advocates for excellence and diversity within the flooring industry.

Fall recently was featured on the NWFA Wood Talk podcast, so Hardwood Floors magazine caught up with him to ask a few more questions.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.

I was born in Dakar, Senegal, and have lived in France and here in California. My journey has spanned three continents, and it has shaped my global perspective. Over the past couple of decades, I’ve built Floors by Fall Design, my wood flooring firm; Empower Global Women, a platform that’s aimed at championing female entrepreneurs; and led the Villa Siga project in Senegal, a home crafted entirely from sustainably grown wood that’s also designed to serve as a space for education, cultural exchange, and local job creation. Community is very important to me.

How did you get started in the industry?

I began as a graphic designer, but a job mix-up led me to the flooring world. I applied thinking it was interior design, but it turns out, it was flooring design. Though the first months were tough, attending flooring school at the advice of other women in business shifted my path. What felt like a mistake became my calling.

Who has influenced your career the most and why?

Leslie de Giere from Golden State Flooring encouraged me to go to flooring school and believed in my potential from day one. She gave me that initial push and courage to take a step toward building my knowledge in this industry. I also have a friend, Catrine Charron (CEO and founder of Netchannels), who urged me to launch my own business. Her support proved to be critical after I had my son, Alexandre.

What is your favorite wood floor project that you’ve participated in?

Two stand out in my mind. The first being The Wilder Project, which was a large housing community where we had to create cohesive design but still make each house unique. There were a lot of factors when it came to choosing flooring for each. It was a very challenging, creative, and collaborative project. There was also a project where we worked with reclaimed wood, designed with depth and an aged patina.

What energizes you to stay in the wood flooring industry?

For me, it’s all about human connection. Past clients who come back for future projects, heartfelt thank-you notes, and meetings with clients in the showroom for a consultation. Helping clients envision their next project and receiving follow-up appreciation makes the extra effort worthwhile.

What are you reading right now?

I’d like to say that in my free time, I’m reading about hardwood, but honestly, my current list is heavy on personal transformation. I love reading about acceptance, boundaries, and emotional growth. Mel Robbins, author of “The 5 Second Rule,” really nails letting go of things that hold us back. I’ve even journaled 35 pages on how I receive love and generosity. It’s helped me stay grounded.

Do you have a morning routine that sets you up for success?

I start each day quietly with some prayer, exercise, and strong coffee. I try to do these things before picking up my phone. That focus is so important.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

I’m deeply involved with Empower Global Women and building Villa Siga Fall. Though it’s work, it doesn’t feel like work. Villa Siga was a passion project, and I always wanted to give back to my community in Senegal, so I tried to use the space for good. This work has sustained me emotionally and spiritually. I’ve also recently launched a new hardwood wall paneling collection called Dak’Art Wall. When flooring is done right, it’s not just functional, it’s art!

You can listen to a technical-focused discussion between Rose Fall and NWFA’s Brett Miller, as well as other hardwood flooring experts, by visiting hardwoodfloorsmag.com/nwfa-wood-talk-podcast.