Custom inlays, medallions, and signature floor work.
Hand cut hardwood inlays. Center medallions. Borders and pinstripes. Family monograms. Wood species combinations and color contrast work. The work that turns a hardwood floor into a focal point. Featured on HGTV Fixer to Fabulous; trusted by Crystal Bridges and the University of Arkansas.
What custom inlay work is.
Inlay work is what separates a beautifully installed hardwood floor from a hardwood floor that becomes the architectural feature of the room. The most common forms in NW Arkansas homes are center medallions in formal entry foyers, borders and pinstripes defining room edges or specific zones, monograms in family rooms or wine cellars, and contrasting species inlays that play walnut against oak or maple against cherry.
The craft is in the precision. Inlays require hand cutting individual pieces, fitting them tightly to surrounding boards, and finishing them to blend visually while remaining distinct. There is no shortcut. Heritage has been doing this work in NW Arkansas since 2010, with the same crews that handled inlay and signature floor work at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Common combinations: red oak with walnut accents (warm, classic), white oak with maple inlay (clean, modern), hickory with cherry medallions (rustic, dimensional), reclaimed heart pine with mahogany borders (historic, dignified). We also handle painted finish inlays for clients who want color contrast without species contrast.
Inlay work needs the right hands.
A wrong cut on an inlay shows for the life of the floor. Heritage has been making the right cuts since 2010.
Heritage is a Bona Certified Contractor with institutional inlay experience at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The Momentary, and the University of Arkansas. We are BBB A plus rated and featured on HGTV's Fixer to Fabulous. Founder Tom Stephenson has been hand cutting hardwood inlays in NW Arkansas since 2010. Jessica Hall, named 2024 Ultimate Wood Floor Gal by Wood Floor Business Magazine, leads marketing and operations. Inlay work is in house only; we do not subcontract this kind of craft.
From idea to inlaid floor.
Concept conversation
Free in home consult. We talk style (modern vs traditional vs historic), location (entry, dining, family room, library), and the inspiration you bring.
Sketch and species selection
We sketch the proposed inlay or medallion in scale to your space. We sample wood species against the surrounding floor to confirm the contrast.
Hand cut the pieces
Pieces are cut and dry fit before installation. Final adjustments made on the workshop bench, not in your home.
Set into the floor
Inlay is set into the prepared opening in the floor, fastened, and the seams cleaned up.
Sand and finish to blend
The full floor or zone is sanded together so the inlay becomes part of the floor rather than a patch. Bona Certified finish over the whole.
Walkthrough
You walk the finished floor before payment. The inlay should be the feature you imagined.
Honest pricing, custom to your job.
Inlay work is craft labor at premium rates because it requires hand precision that crews develop over years. Cost factors include the species used (walnut and exotic species cost more than oak), the complexity of the cut (geometric vs curvilinear vs figural), the size of the inlay or medallion, and how the inlay integrates with the surrounding floor. Inlay work is most cost effective when done as part of a new install or full refinish, since the floor is already being sanded and finished.
Inlay FAQ.
Can you do a custom medallion from a sketch?
Yes. Most of our custom medallion work starts from a sketch the homeowner brings or one we draft together. We translate the sketch into a wood species plan and a cut pattern.
What species combinations work best?
High contrast pairings show clearest: walnut and oak, maple and cherry, hickory and ebony stained oak. Subtle pairings (white oak and red oak) read as texture rather than feature. We sample on site to make the decision concrete.
Do you do family monogram inlays?
Yes. Monograms in entry foyers, family rooms, and wine cellars are a recurring request. We hand cut from a stencil and integrate into the surrounding plank.
Can you add an inlay to an existing floor?
Yes, though it works best as part of a refinish. The inlay area is opened up, the inlay set, and the floor sand and finished to integrate. Adding an inlay without refinishing leaves a visible boundary.
More we do for NW Arkansas homeowners.
Ready for a floor that becomes the feature?
Free in-home estimate within 48 hours. We assess your floors, recommend the right service, and quote transparent pricing. No pressure, no surprises.
Schedule free estimate