Author: BrandonN

On May 20, 1993, Julie and Doug Nitz opened Custom Floors and More Inc. for business in Belleville, Illinois. Now in 2013, 20 years later, we’re still going strong and expanding our connections onto the Missouri side of the river!

(Left to Right: Blake, Brittney, Julie, Doug, and Brandon)

Our company is unique in that our showroom is not open to the public. All visitors to our showroom are seen after they have called our office to set up an individual appointment. We operate this way so that we can devote all our attention to your flooring needs. We look at your floor plan, give advice and answer all your questions. This allows you to make educated decisions without the pressure of “shoppers” browsing the “isles”. However, we are not satisfied by just making the sale. Our job is not finished until your flooring is installed and YOU are satisfied. If we run into manufacture defects, we go to bat with you to make sure all warranties are honored. And of course, all installations are guaranteed. To continue our commitment to our customers, we have upgraded our facilities to better serve you! After many years of hard work and dedication, we decided to celebrate this milestone by upgrading our working conditions.

From our attic office which we remained in for 14 years, we have now moved out of the house and completely into our showroom building!

Not only did we upgrade our working conditions, but we also upgraded all of the floors throughout the showroom!

Along with the flooring renovations we added a bathroom ensemble to show how our tile installers handiwork. We have been completing custom tile bathrooms for 8+ years!

And finally to bring together our make over, we put the finish touch in with this awesome custom kitchen. This tile is so functional, we had to show everyone how it can apply to many, if not all settings! Plus, it’s a great place to show off one of our glass backsplash designs!

Our concept in doing all of these renovations is as simple as it gets. We here at Custom Floors and More Inc. want to give our customers real life examples of what we do in homes all throughout the Southern Illinois and St. Louis area, on a daily basis. We chose some of the most common renovations, so that you all could picture us changing and brightening up your own homes! You’ll be hard pressed to find the same talents that Custom Floors has to offer to you and your home!

These days flooring can be purchased from the “mega” home stores, flooring “super stores”, and now the internet. However, we here at Custom Floors & More Inc. separate ourselves from all the others by our “Commitment and Service”. Although 20 years have gone by, our work ethic and philosophy have stayed the same, we will continue to bring to our customers, the commitment and service that they deserve. We still want to offer our customers and builders the best flooring experience there is. As we make our transition into this next chapter of our company, we will be incorporating new technologies to help keep you better educated about ourselves and the flooring market. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and even Google+! The latter will be the best way to see examples of our work and show why we’re the best option for all those in the St. Louis/Metro-East area flooring market. We appreciate all those who have helped us grow and those who will help us continue to grow as we continue to instill the commitment and service that Custom Floors and More Inc. was founded upon. Stay tuned as we bring you updates about new technologies, different design ideas, and a little more information about us as a company!

Hello all! One of our more challenging remodeling projects was mentioned by the Belleville News Democrat in their October/November issue of Abode Magazine! Bellow are some snapshots of the article profiling the Schranz renovation and the role that Custom Floors & More Inc. played in helping them make their house into a home.

 

Let us know what you think of the work we did!

Custom Floors & More, Inc. is proud to announce that we have been voted Best Flooring Store in the Belleville News-Democrat’s 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards! Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us and shared our countless Facebook posts—we really couldn’t have done it without you. We are so elated and humbled about this accomplishment!

We credit the amount of support we received to our commitment to the flooring industry. I feel it’s my duty to inform you all of why we believe our customers like you keep coming back to us.

As we like to say, anybody can sell carpet. Most stores attempt to give attention to all of their customers at once. Although this may work out in some cases, we believe that a personalized experience is what customers desire most.

Operating by appointment only gives our sales team (Julie, Doug, Joel and Brandon) the opportunity to focus on one customer at a time. By doing this, we are able to coordinate the countertops, cabinets and paint color with each selection of material within a one-on-one meeting time. Customers are able to make an educated decision with our full attention without the distraction and pressure to “hurry it up” from other people in the showroom, leaving us and the customer relaxed and satisfied.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our business in the last 22 years!

We hope you will continue to choose CFM for all of your flooring, shower and backsplash needs.

– Taylor

It comes as no surprise that interior design is one of the most rapidly developing industries in the world. People want their living space to feel like a part of themselves is represented in each room with the perfect paint color, flooring, furniture and each and every final touch. But what happens when you run out of space? Many have found the solution to this dilemma is to shift their focus from the constricted interior to the limitless exterior. Thus, the outdoor living movement was born. This movement has spread across the country.
Focusing in on the St. Louis metropolitan area, here at Custom Floors & More, Inc. in Belleville, Illinois, we just completed our first custom outdoor kitchen! Blending transitional and rustic styles, this outdoor kitchen is truly one of a kind. While traditional outdoor kitchens have been completed with natural stone finishes, we decided to walk the path less traveled and create something exclusively with our own product lines.

This was a team effort combining the 22 years of design expertise and product knowledge of owners Julie and Doug Nitz and CFM’s newest sales and design employee, Brandon Nitz. In addition to the creative efforts, eight other teams were a part of the construction process of CFM’s first outdoor kitchen project.

Here is a breakdown of the entire process:

Step 1: Design and finalization of product selections and layout (quality outdoor living contractor and Custom Floors & More, Inc.)

Step 2: Excavation of area built to desired height (audiovisual team, electrician, lighting subcontractor for preliminary wiring and plumber for initial plumbing rough-in)

Step 3: Pour concrete and create retaining wall (concrete and landscaping subcontractors)

Step 4: Lay oversized slate pathway and lay wood-look tile on concrete (landscaping and CFM)

Step 5: Steel framing of “cabinetry” (kitchen accessories and pergola subcontractor)

Step 6: Wiring of “cabinetry” for all electrical components (electrician)

Step 7: Pergola assembled and concrete board for tile setting applied to steel framing (kitchen accessories and pergola subcontractor)

Step 8: Tile installation begins for 6-by-18 inch field tiles (CFM), Countertops are installed (kitchen accessories and pergola subcontractor), tile setting is completed with glass mosaic accent bands and backsplashes once countertops are in (CFM)

Step 9: Appliances and cabinet inserts installed (kitchen accessories and pergola subcontractor)

Step 10: Completion of wiring and audiovisual equipment (electrician and audiovisual subcontractor)

Step 11: Lighting hung and ground lighting installed (electrician and landscape lighting company)

 

Thanks to hard work and dedication, CFM’s first ever outdoor kitchen was born! For more information on how to make your dream backyard come to life, call Custom Floors & More, Inc. at 618-277-7233.

– Taylor

Spring has sprung, so we decided it was time for a change to the Custom Floors & More showroom. Ever since completing CFM’s first ever outdoor kitchen last summer, Julie, Doug and Brandon Nitz wanted to continue their project spree. The Nitzs compiled their skills and knack for design to complete the new and improved wood room. It was going to be something completely new for Custom Floors & More.

The wood room has seen a lot of change in its lifetime. First, it was a game room, then it became a permanent part of the showroom in 2013 during the office expansion. As many of you remember, this room boasted yellow walls with a piano finish Brazilian cherry laminate with wood samples surrounding three of the walls. This space by no means was unattractive, but the Nitzs wanted a complete transformation to showcase the latest styles.

Joining CFM full time since graduating from SIUE in December, Brandon comments on the selections. “The shabby-chic look has been dominating the market, so we knew that was the direction we wanted to go. When we saw the sea glass blue laminate, we knew it had to be part of the project. Finding something to coordinate with it was a little tough, but we kept coming back to this barnwood laminate that I used in my house, and it seemed like it was the natural choice.” The three Nitzs agreed on these choices and that was that! To keep the bold patterns from clashing, they kept the white baseboard in place to give it a finished look.

Of course, the work did not stop with the design. Our installers worked very hard to complete this renovation in only a few days so we could keep the business running normally. They did an excellent job fitting the materials to make it look as sleek as possible!

If you want more information about doing something like this in your home, we are happy to answer any questions! Email Brandon at brandon@customfloors.biz or call to schedule a free one-on-one appointment with either Julie and Doug, Joel or Brandon at 618-277-7233.

Happy daydreaming!

-Taylor

Tell us about your favorite summer activity. Pool time? Boating? Heading to a new vacation destination? All of the above? Us, too.

This summer, Custom Floors & More employees have been able to travel to many different places! Here’s a little bit about each of our vacation spots.

“While in Tampa and Clearwater Beach, we did a lot of sightseeing. We took a pirate ship cruise, spent a day at the beach and visited the Clearwater Marine Rescue and saw the dolphins from “Dolphin Tale.” On our way to Orlando we enjoyed a day at Legoland. My sister-in-law and her boyfriend work at Four Seasons so we went with them to a Character breakfast there then headed to Magic Kingdom and met up with our niece and her family.Everything turned out great, and we had a wonderful vacation with lots of fun, food and family!” – Mindy

“This was my second time in the city, but NOLA was even better the second time! I got to experience the Big Easy’s culture: laid back and friendly with tons of amazing food. Chargrilled oysters, shrimp and grits, fried gator, jambalaya, beignets… The list goes on and on! (If you’re into that kind of food, I’d highly recommend the Broadway Oyster Bar in St. Louis. It’s just like you’re in the French Quarter!) Aside from the food, my favorite parts were learning about the haunted tales of the city and going a tour of a surrounding swamp. The swamp gators’ favorite treats are marshmallows!” – Taylor

“Since Brianna is a Spanish teacher, she really finds joy in experiencing Spanish culture, so we decided to visit Puerto Rico for our first wedding anniversary! While there, we really got a taste for the island. Brianna has a cousin who lives in Aguadilla as part of his station in the Coast Guard, so we got to drive across the entire island and see the beautiful rural areas and mountains. We indulged in some snorkeling, paddleboarding and kayaking – which all are musts while there; the ocean life is beautiful! As the second half of our trip, we stayed in downtown Old San Juan. Being smack dab in the middle of the city was awesome as we got to explore all of the local eateries, coffee shops and bars. I would highly recommend anything seafood while here – it’s undeniably some of the best we’ve ever had. Every street you walk down is paved with color and pride of Puerto Rican culture – we already want to return!” – Brandon

“Aside from boating a lot during the summer, we traveled to Georgia! Tybee Island was a wonderful place to visit with our family. We had a great time! The beach was gorgeous and Savannah was close enough to visit many of their historical sights. One of our favorite parts of the trip was just being able to sit on the beach with a cold drink and relax. The boys really enjoyed the golf courses there, too!” – Joel & Jenn

“We had a busy summer! We hooped it up traveling with our daughter Brittney to her AAU basketball tournaments, getting to visit Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. Even though we spent countless hours in the gym, it was well worth it. We also were able to celebrate Julie’s father’s 80th birthday in Branson, Missouri with the Keel family. Most recently, we vacationed to Chicago with our babies. We attended our first Cards/Cubs game at Wrigley Field! Being there made us very thankful for the facilities at Busch Stadium III, but we still were able to enjoy the nostalgia that filled Wrigley. Shopping along Michigan Avenue and strolling around the city on Segways made it feel like we lived right there in the big city.” – Julie & Doug

Custom Floors & More, Inc. of Belleville Awarded Best Of Houzz 2017

Over 40 Million Monthly Unique Users Nominated Best Home Building,

Remodeling and Design Professionals in North America and Around the World

Belleville, IL, January 30, 2017 – Custom Floors & More, Inc. of Belleville, Illinois has won “Best Of Customer Service” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The 24-year-old flooring company was chosen by the more than 40 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community among over one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 40 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2016. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award. A “Best Of Houzz 2017” badge will appear on winners’ profiles, as a sign of  their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.

Thrilled, president and owner of Custom Floors & More, Inc. Julie Nitz comments on winning. “Custom Floors & More, Inc. is not only honored, but delighted to receive the Best of Houzz 2017 award for Customer Service. I believe an award for customer service pays tribute to the mission we strive for each day,” says Nitz. She and her employees deliver a personalized approach to each customer. Nitz goes on to say, “Thank you to Houzz for both the exposure and award, and thank you to our customers who took the time to provide us with a review of their project. Our customers are our number one priority;making their floors beautiful and improving their home is so very important to us.”

“We’re so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals, including Custom Floors & More, Inc.,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”
About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo. Houzz and the Houzz logo are registered trademarks of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.com.

Imagine a juxtaposed group of home-improving, hardworking individuals joining hands and combining their strengths to educate the community about all things in the home building and remodeling world.

You may be thinking, “This harmonious group of professionals surely does not exist.” Think again, ladies and gentlemen!

The Home Builders Association of Greater Southwest Illinois, or HBA as it is well known, is a melting pot of local home builders, remodelers and designers that Custom Floors is proud to be a part of. This year at 19th Annual Installation of Officers & Industry Awards Banquet, the HBA installed their 2017 officers, directors and president. One of CFM’s key salespersons, Joel Keel, was reelected to the Board of Directors for the third year in a row. (We are proud of you, Joel!) Other officials elected to the HBA Board come from Fulford Homes, Fulford Home Remodeling and Padgett Building & Remodeling Co, companies which CFM is lucky enough to work with. Congratulations to all of the newly installed officers. We would also like to give a big shout out to longtime business partner David Padgett of Padgett Building & Remodeling for being elected this year’s president!

In addition, many other companies that work with CFM are members of the HBA: ASAP Contracting & Roofing; Barnes Properties; D & F Contracting & Consulting; Johnson Real Estate & Development Co.;  J.T. McDermott Remodeling Contractors; Kappert Construction Company, LF & Son Construction; and Pace Design & Construction. It is comforting to see how many organizations are dedicated to developing our region! Thank you all for your continued business and hard work.

At the banquet, the HBA also awarded the Remodelers of Distinction Awards. Fulford Home Remodeling won the Judge’s Choice award and J.T. McDermott Remodeling Contractors won the President’s Choice award. The winners of the other categories include J.T. McDermott Remodeling Contractors (for basement renovation), Padgett Building & Remodeling (for kitchen renovation) and Fulford Home Remodeling (for bathroom renovation). Great job to all of you! We are so blessed to do business with such distinguished organizations.

A highlight of the HBA’s efforts is the annual Home Show, which is Friday March 3rd from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 4th, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Sunday, March 5th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Belleville Fairgrounds. (For more information, visit www.hbaswil.org.)

“As long as you keep up with your flooring, you’ll be fine!” But, what does that really entail? Look no further. Just like your trusty floor coverings, Custom Floors has you covered in terms of flooring maintenance. Read this simple guide (separated by product) to discover best practices for your flooring.  

Wood

• CFM recommends the Woodwise terrycloth mop kit for routine cleaning (available for purchase in CFM showroom)
• Make sure rugs are soft and non-abrasive (but also be careful since rugs block UV rays resulting in the covered spots being slightly darker than the rest of the room over time)
• Use floor protectors on furniture
• NEVER use water (including steam mops)
• NEVER use products like Pledge, Swiffer or Endust because they will leave a film

Laminate

• Use floor protectors on furniture
• NEVER use Swiffer or a steam mop (may dull the finish)
• NEVER use soap-based detergents or mop and shine products

Carpet

• Use entrance mats to trap soil (after all, soil is the number one killer of carpet)
• Vacuum twice a week with a beater-bar vacuum, which kicks up dirt on the highest level
• For spills, blot with a clean cloth (never paper towels)
• Professionally steam clean every 12-18 months

Ceramic Tile

• For floors, use Armstrong Once ‘n Done floor cleaner (available for purchase in CFM showroom) or diluted over-the-counter products like Pine Sol or ammonia
• For shower, use Awesome All-Purpose Cleaner (available at most dollar stores) works great for regular shower cleaning, and Scrubbing Bubbles with Bleach is excellent for mildew and buildup
• NEVER use acidic products like lemon juice

Alterna, Elevations, Duraceramic & Vinyl

• Use floor protectors on furniture
• When moving large furniture, always place on a sheet of cardboard to avoid nicks or tears
• Sweep often and wipe spills right away
• Wash regularly with Armstrong Once ‘n Done floor cleaner (available for purchase in CFM showroom)
• Use Ronsonol Lighter Fluid to remove black scuff marks from shoes on sheet vinyl
• Use mats without latex or rubber backing to avoid discoloration
• NEVER use Swiffer products, detergents or mop and shine products since they may damage the finish

If you have further questions, feel free to contact us at 618-277-7233.

“It’s best to leave that to the professionals.”

We’ve all heard this statement. Well for something like installing a backsplash, hardwood floor or tile in your shower, you definitely want to let the professionals handle it! At Custom Floors & More, we know exactly what to do when it comes to installation. Owner and president Julie Nitz developed a process 24 years ago for choosing the right installer which ultimately attributes to the success of CFM. Here’s an insight on how Julie does so!

“Part of Custom Floors & More’s service is assigning the right installer for each project. When our doors first opened at our Belleville, Illinois flooring store, we wanted to be known not only for the quality of products that we sell but also for ensuring that our clients would get a professional installation on their purchased projects.

“Each project’s installation process is different. From cutting tough corners to creating a successful transition between materials, the installer’s role is imperative to the success of a project. All of our installers have different specialties. I personally handpick which installer will do the best job, knowing who has the correct skills to complete the project at hand.

“With Custom Floors, a custom experience is what each customer is paying for, and we are proud to provide this! In addition, we offer a two year installation warranty to ensure customer satisfaction.” – Julie Nitz, president and CEO of Custom Floors & More.

Call 618-277-7233 to set up your free one-on-one appointment for your next project! We supply and install backsplashes, custom tile showers and flooring of all kinds (hardwood, porcelain tile, carpet, luxury vinyl tile and more!).