With installers drawing on the rich variety of looks and textures made possible by exotic species, there is a wide consensus that entries in this year’s National Wood Flooring Association’s Floor of the Year awards were among the most creative seen in the competition’s 17-year history. The increasing influence of exotic species was readily apparent in this year’s winners: Dark-grained African wood Wenge, yellow-flecked Malaysian wood Merbau and distinctive shades of walnut were instrumental in many of the eye-catching installations entered this year. The new surge of creativity may explain why the awards this year were also the busiest ever, with 215 entries from more than 60 companies.

“The home market might be down, but custom work continues to thrive,” says the NWFA’s Anita Howard. “We just had a lot more spectacular floors this past year than in previous years. There were a lot more high-end installations and projects using computer-generated designs. And we definitely saw a larger number of exotic species, especially in the use of borders and medallions.”

With its ornate installations showcasing several exotic woods, Czar Floors of Newtown, Pa., received the most awards this year including three top honors. Perhaps the company’s most impressive entry is the floor it created for itself: A  massive, 10,000 sq. ft. installation of solid parquet in its showroom. Using Maple, White Oak, Walnut, Merbau, Kempas and Wenge, the winner of the Best Commercial Showroom category is highlighted by a large center medallion with larger bands radiating outward from its center. The enormous, 45 ft. inlaid pattern is composed of hundreds of smaller precision-cut pieces, and is designed to make an impressive statement about the company’s commitment to top quality hardwood flooring.

Czar Floors also took top honors for Best Library/Office as well as Best Restoration. NWFA judges said they were impressed by the meticulous attention to the detail and the ability to stay true to the original design. The exotic installation is crafted from 6,000 sq. ft. of solid parquet using Karelian Birch, Merbau, Wenge, and Walnut. The different types of wood were pieced together in a painstaking, intricate pattern that includes a medallion, scalloped shapes and diagonal grid. The company’s Best Library/Office project showcases a sedate floral and trellis vine pattern. The 1,000 sq. ft. of solid parquet flooring includes Karelian Birch, White Oak, Maple, Walnut and Merbau in a contrast of light and darker colors.

Birger Juell of Chicago and Enmar Hardwood Flooring in Mesa, Ariz. each won two awards for their exotic installations. Birger used four exotic woods - Rengas, Amarillo, Wenge and Bloodwood – as well as Reclaimed Oak for its winning entry in the Best Living Room/Family Room category. The 600 sq. ft. floor features a custom Adirondack-style parquet pattern set in an octagon. Windows stream light from five of the octagon’s sides. Additionally, the company won for Best Limited Species for a distinctive, 2,000 sq. ft. installation of solid parquet using only two species: Walnut and Wenge. The custom Versailles-style design features a complex array of grids, with large bands of wood flowing throughout the pattern.

Enmar Hardwood garnered two awards for its Best Entry/Foyer and Best Reclaimed installations. The Best Reclaimed project features a 3,200 sq. ft. installation of solid plank using distressed Reclaimed Red Oak and Reclaimed White Oak. Set within a stone border, the installation includes a series of planks cut into the rays of a medallion.

The company split accolades for Best Entry/Foyer with Mountain Impressions Hardwood Flooring of Carbondale, Colo. Enmar tied with Mountain Impressions for its 120 sq. ft. installation of solid Reclaimed Oak planks set near several stone archways. The floor also features a 48” circular stone inlay. Mountain Impressions’ award-winning entry is a clean-looking, elegant floor made using 250 sq. ft. of solid plank and parquet in Hickory.

The final three Floor of the Year winners each received one award. DM Hardwood Designs of Mission Viejo, Calif., won for Best Bedroom. Johnson Yarema Hardwood Floors, based in Troy, Mich., was honored for Best Kitchen/Dining Room. Universal Floors of Washington, D.C., took home Best Factory Finished.

Best Bedroom went to DM Hardwood for its 3,000 sq. ft. installation of solid parquet using several exotic species, including Black Walnut and Wenge. Featuring a custom hand-scraped design, the flooring includes a large medallion set near a main hallway.

Johnson Yarema received top honors for its 165 sq. ft. of engineered parquet using Wenge, Walnut and White Oak. The kitchen/dining room installation features a flowing, ribbon-like pattern.

Universal Floors garnered an award for the installation of unique factory finished flooring in a Levi’s & Strauss store. Inspired by the company’s signature button-fly jeans, Universal inlaid the floor with brass and copper pieces that spell out “Original since 1873,” the year of the company’s first blue jeans patent. The solid plank Red Oak flooring seems to shimmer with the addition of these metals, according to the company.

All entries were voted on earlier this year through the NWFA website by its membership. According to the NWFA’s Howard, the trade group of 4,100 members is anticipating even more entries next year. This is because the awards will include separate divisions in Laser-Cut and Hand-Cut work. She notes that, no matter how much the awards evolve in the coming years, they will remain a source of pride and inspiration for the industry.

“These awards are our Oscars, and the installers take them very seriously,” she says. “The only prizes are a trophy, a certificate, and a pin they can wear on their badge. Plus the winners get a full-page feature article in our magazine. And bragging rights!”