California Classics Reserve Collection Hardwoods Used in Architectural Digest 'Greenroom' at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- California Classics Floors' premium Reserve Collection hardwood flooring is featured in this year's Architectural Digest Greenroom at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. The Greenroom is the exclusive backstage lounge for stars presenting and being honored at the Oscars®.

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This is the tenth consecutive year that Architectural Digest will produce the Greenroom.  The magazine chose renowned interior designer Waldo Fernandez to create this year's Greenroom, which is inspired by Hollywood of the 1930s and 40s.  Fernandez selected the Reserve Collection Carmel Valley product for the project, which is dark brown hardwood made of fine Walnut.

"We are thrilled to have our Reserve Collection floors included in this year's Greenroom at the Oscars," said Jeanette Lam of California Classics Floors.  "Reserve Collection is our finest and most beautiful hand-scraped hardwood, inspired by fine furniture craftsmanship."

Most furniture is typically stained multiple times by hand to produce the rich layered colors buyers of such furniture have come to expect, Lam explained.  In contrast, hardwood flooring products are usually stained just once by a roller which produces a more uniform look and more superficial wood coloring.

In an innovation never before applied to the manufacture of hardwood flooring, California Classics leverages the techniques of fine furniture craftsman, hand-applying two coats of stain to its Reserve Collection planks.

"Our dual-coat Valspar stain is custom formulated to heighten grain patterns and deepen rich brown and red surface tones," said Lam.   "Most hardwood stains are machine rolled on just once, but we hand-apply our stains twice. This sets rich, bright undertones aglow." The effect, she added, is different hews and unprecedented color depth and richness highlighting the natural beauty of the wood.

"Detail is everything,'" said Lam. "We really believe that. We work extra hard to create a product unrivaled at this price point."

Another unique feature of the Reserve Collection series is its 4-, 6- and 8-inch variable or random width planks.  Random widths offer subtle but unique variations to floors as a design element," said Lam. "This gives homeowners an opportunity to create their own look, whether using the boards randomly or in a pattern."

To produce the line, California Classics starts with high quality Maple, Hickory, Cherry and Walnut hardwood planks.  Using up to 36 different hand-held tools, the company's highly trained artisans then meticulously hand scrape each plank and hand carve the edges and ends. 

The Reserve Collection series is sold as part of the California Classics product line via a network of flooring specialty stores across much of the Western United States. To learn more about California Classics and the Reserve Collection, please visit www.californiaclassicsfloors.com.

SOURCE California Classics Floors