It may not seem like it, but Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the ratings system used to gauge the environmental impact of a building, has been a fixture of the commercial design market for nearly 10 years.

Now it is ready to come home.

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.

With its ultra-dense construction combined with delicate striated patterns, Nourison’s Grand Textures line of commercial wool broadloom is definitely a showstopper. The distinctive carpet line, made using Wools of New Zealand branded wool, garnered Nourison a 2007 NFT Styling Excellence Award for its unique look and tough performance. According to Alex Peykar, a principal at the company, even he was impressed with the finished product.

The wave of interest in products made and sold with the environment in mind continued at the summer Atlanta International Area Rug Market. A highlight of the July 15-18 gathering was the debut of a Green Product Showcase that let exhibitors spotlight their latest innovations. Included among hundreds of gift and home furnishing items were new high-style, environmentally friendly designs from Shaw Living and Nourison.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the second in a series of profiles highlighting the winners of the 2007 NFT Styling Excellence Awards. Entries were judged earlier this year by showgoers at Surfaces as well as by readers online. For a complete list of winners, see the April issue.

Dan Hussey, owner of B & L Flooring America in Prescott Valley, Ariz., recently offered a lasting tribute to Howard Olansky, the former senior editor of National Floor Trends’ who died late last year. Hussey says he was inspired by Olansky’s passion for promoting flooring as a fashion-forward business. He specifically recalled a  presentation the two men  gave at Surfaces 2005. “He was saying things that were close to my heart, and he helped gel my own convictions on the subject,” Hussey notes.

Selected as a top design by retailers, distributors and others in the flooring industry, Decorative Carpets’ Crackle was recently honored with an NFT Styling Excellence Award. The distinctive rug is made using silk and wool, highlighted by veining patterns similar to those found in natural stone and marble. George Sugarman, owner of the 52-year old Decorative Carpets, said he was going after a subtle tone-on-tone effect with the design.

A who’s who of industry veterans from all segments of the flooring business gathered in New York City to help raise more than $200,000 for the Floor Covering Industry Foundation. The April 28 black-tie gala held to benefit the nonprofit organization, which aids industry professionals in times of hardship, also saw prominent industry figures inducted into the World Floor Covering Association Hall of Fame.

Resilient flooring makers are shaking things up. Across the category, manufacturers are embracing designs that may turn heads and raise eyebrows. Not surprisingly, hardwood and natural stone visuals are still the bread and butter of the segment. Yet while manufacturers look to these natural materials for inspiration, they’re also enticing consumers with outside-the-box designs - including vinyl made to look like carpet, and even glass. In the process, resilient makers are also shaking off the perception that resilient is still widely regarded as that patterned kitchen tile from the ‘70s.

A major expansion of Kathy Ireland carpet lines highlighted the Shaw Flooring Alliance convention held recently in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Much to the delight of the nearly 1,000 dealers assembled for the three-day meeting, the famed former model was on hand to shake hands with retailers and pose for photos in front of the newly revamped ColorWall carpet display, which was also unveiled at the meeting.