Karly McMillanKarly McMillan is a former assistant editor at Hardwood Floors.Green IssuesCareer Development: Cork Maker Coaches Kids on FlooringBeyond New York City's grandeur and famous high-dollar lifestyle, the reality of life in the city is still plenty tough for many of its denizens. This is why Ken Bollella, owner at Bronx, N.Y.-based manufacturer Globus Cork, supports the mission of SoBro, the South Bronx Organization of Business Advancement. The nonprofit development corporation aims to enhance the quality of life in the Bronx through career development programs, some in the trades. In 2012 Bollella visited SoBro and saw the sad state of its conference room. SoBro was hosting international guests in a room with stained carpet that rippled across the floor. Bollella donated the custom-designed cork flooring, took 15 at-risk teenagers "under his wing" and led a hands-on cork installation class. "We taught them how to do layouts, how to square out a room and install cork tiles," Bollella says. "None of these kids ever touched a tool in their life ... [For graduation] I gave them $200 cash plus a set of trowels to encourage them to keep going."March 31, 2013DesignEau de Floor: Fragrance Company Recognizes Allure of WoodDo you find yourself missing the smell of the job site after retiring or even just after a nice long shower? Demeter Fragrance Library of Great Neck, N.Y., can help with its line of sawdust-scented products. For a more complex construction smell, you can layer your Sawdust cologne with Demeter's Glue or Turpentine fragrances. If you're a purist, you can smell like your favorite species of tree; the company offers Giant Sequoia, Mahogany, and-if you're open to alternatives-Bamboo in two varieties. Inspectors may be interested in Mildew. In all seriousness, though, Demeter built its library of products on the idea that a cologne or perfume should be about the user and their emotional response to a smell, not about designers putting their names on some collection of chemicals. Scent is the strongest trigger of memory, so people should pick a scent associated with great memories. An ounce of Sawdust cologne is only $20; for more information visit www.demeterfragrance.com.March 31, 2013Extraordinary FloorsEnd Grain Masterpiece Provides Respite for Wounded VeteranThe floor itself is in your workshop, correct? How big is the space?March 31, 2013FinishingVintage Moments: Dance With the Grain!Finish maintenance has been a hot topic in our industry going back as long as wood floors have had finish. As evidence, consider these vintage instructions from S.C. Johnson from the early 1900s.March 31, 2013Previous PagePage 3 of 3Top StoriesSurveys2026 Wood Floor Business Contractor SurveyHere are the results from our exclusive survey of wood flooring contractors.ManagementHow Online Quoting Saved My Sanity and My BusinessTechniquesHow We Did This Floor: A Mixed Media Floor Fit for a Texas CastleLegal AdviceWood Floor Pros: Legal Risks of Working for Friends and FamilyDesignEnter the 2027 Wood Floor Business Design Awards
