The 2023 NWFA Wood Floor of the Year Best in Marquetry/Inlay is an Explosion of Life
Matthew Szyszka took home the 2023 NWFA Wood Floor of the Year Best in Marquetry/Inlay award for his unique and beautiful inlay flooring application depicting the cycle of life.
The floor is comprised of nine different wood species and consists of more than 2,200 individually hand-cut elements. Species used in the application include Purpleheart (Peltogyne spp.), Leopardwood (Roupala Brasilensis), Wenge (Millettia laurentii), Zebrawood (Brachystegia fleuryana), Maple (Acer saccharum), American Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), White Oak (Quercus alba), Red Oak (Quercus rubra), and Bubinga (Guibourtia spp.).
Before conceptualizing the inlay design, Szyszka visited the home to assess all aspects of the space surrounding the floor, including the walls, lighting, doors, as well as the overall style and symmetry of the home. He then presented a series of designs to the client, and together they discussed wood species and colors for each element. The theme of the piece emerged as the drawings evolved.
“My goal was to show the cycle of life emanating from the central star.” The Zebrawood grain patterns give a sense of emergence, while the Wenge depicts new unfolding organic life in the form of unfurling leaves. These then segue into fully grown flowers, represented in Bubinga and Zebrawood in the corners.
“The main criteria I use in selecting wood is color, and all my favorite species are in that floor. I love using Purpleheart and Wenge. I’m also a huge fan of Zebrawood because of its dramatic grain patterns. The color contrast of Wenge together with Purpleheart and Zebrawood is just amazing.”
Szyszka milled the selected wood species, procured from Top Quality Hardwood Flooring, to 1/4” thick and installed them on 1/2” plywood to achieve a uniform 3/4” thickness, matching the surrounding flooring. He hand-cut all elements, starting from the middle, using a miter saw, table saw, band saw, scroll saw, and fret saw. The inlay was placed and routed around the outside, then laid in using a moisture barrier and adhesive. The completed panel was pre-sanded at Szyszka’s shop and then delivered to the client’s home for three weeks of acclimation. The image was then inlayed into the existing maple floor.
Szyszka is the founder and owner of Chicago-based Floor Master Company. “We consider ourselves hardwood flooring artists, not just wood flooring guys. We are passionate about creating unique, timeless works of art,” he said. “I was really pleased at the end of the project when the client requested that I sign the floor, and so I used a wood burning pen to write a signature and the date. She said if I become famous someday, she can say she knew me way back when.”
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SPOTLIGHT ON: WENGE
SPECIES: Millettia laurentii
ORIGIN: Central Africa
COMMON APPLICATIONS: Veneer, paneling, furniture, turnings, exterior applications, and musical instruments.
CHARACTERISTICS / APPEARANCE: The heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, and clearly demarcated sapwood. The wood is straight grained, with a very coarse texture and a low natural luster. This wood can be difficult to work and glue. It is also very splintery. It sands unevenly due to differences in density between light and dark areas. It holds nail and screws well if pre-bored and finishes well.
JANKA HARDNESS SCALE: 1,930 lbf
COMMENTS: This popular African hardwood has excellent strength and hardness properties, though it’s more frequently used for the rich dark brown color, which can be dark enough to be used as a substitute for ebony. Upon application of a wood finish the wood can become nearly black. Interestingly, unlike most other dark hardwoods, the heartwood of wenge can lighten (rather than darken) when exposed to sunlight.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2023 NWFA Wood Floor of the Year Best in Marquetry/Inlay award?+
Matthew Szyszka, founder and owner of Chicago-based Floor Master Company, won the 2023 NWFA Wood Floor of the Year Best in Marquetry/Inlay award for his inlay flooring depicting the cycle of life.
What wood species were used in the award-winning marquetry floor?+
The floor uses nine species: Purpleheart, Leopardwood, Wenge, Zebrawood, Maple, American Black Walnut, White Oak, Red Oak, and Bubinga. It comprises more than 2,200 individually hand-cut elements.
How was the marquetry inlay floor installed?+
Szyszka milled the species to 1/4" thick and installed them on 1/2" plywood to achieve a uniform 3/4" thickness matching the surrounding maple floor. He hand-cut elements with miter, table, band, scroll, and fret saws, routed the outside, and laid the inlay with a moisture barrier and adhesive.
What is the theme of Matthew Szyszka's award-winning inlay floor?+
The design represents the cycle of life emanating from a central star. Zebrawood grain suggests emergence, Wenge depicts unfurling leaves of new organic life, and Bubinga and Zebrawood in the corners represent fully grown flowers.
Where does Wenge wood come from and what are its characteristics?+
Wenge (Millettia laurentii) originates in Central Africa. Its heartwood is medium brown with a reddish or yellowish hue, has straight grain with very coarse texture, a Janka hardness of 1,930 lbf, and can become nearly black when finished. Unusually, its heartwood lightens rather than darkens when exposed to sunlight.
How did Matthew Szyszka design the custom inlay for his client?+
He visited the home to assess the walls, lighting, doors, and overall style and symmetry, then presented a series of designs to the client. Together they discussed wood species and colors for each element, and the cycle-of-life theme emerged as the drawings evolved.