History
From our modest beginnings in the early 2000’s, we have grown and evolved into CRAFT Artisan Wood Floors, a brand encompassing a diverse family of flooring collections that range from rustic to chic.
Our evolution into what is now recognized as one of the finest offerings of superior quality floors available was only made possible by the dedicated team of professionals that has come together over the past decade and a half.
Below is a brief recap of some of the major milestones along the way.
The concept of high quality, hand made rustic flooring was crystallized and our original brand, “Antique Impressions”, was born.
Our first collection, the Antique Alder Collection was introduced; the line consisted of solid alder in 3 standard colours.
We introduced our first line of engineered alder flooring. The introduction of engineering technology allowed us to manufacture products in much wider widths than previously.
Development and introduction of our DuRa-Finish floor finishing technology.
Inauguration of our new manufacturing facility in Jiashan, PRC. Bringing everything together under one roof in a factory that was 100% owned by us allowed us to exert maximum influence over quality control, ensure that all of the wood used in our products came from responsibly managed North American forests, and enabled us to guarantee that all of the materials used in manufacturing our products (such as formaldehyde-free glue) were of the highest quality and meet strict environmental and health standards.
Release of our Reclaimed Heart Pine Collection. The collection features wide width, long length heart pine floors made from the reclaimed beams and decking material from 100 year old buildings.
Unveiling of the Castillo Plank Collection with our highly praised, authentic timeworn textures. Since its original introduction, the Castillo Plank Collection has grown and led to the spawning of two additional collections: the Heritage Plank Collection and the Legacy Plank Collection.
Transition to our patented DACS (Design for Advanced Core Stability) engineered structure. This best-in-class, highly innovative structure set a new standard of form and function in engineered flooring.
Introduction of the Belleville Plank Collection, our second generation of engineered alder flooring.
Release of our original Design Reference Book, an industry leading resource for interior designers and other industry professionals that features veneer samples from our entire lineup of flooring collections.
Release of the second generation of our Design Reference Book highlighting an expanded offering of new colours from all of our Collections.
After much consideration and soul searching, the Antique Impressions brand was retired and everything is transitioned to our new brand identity: CRAFT Artisan Wood Floors. The rebranding process leads to a re-configuring of our original Collections, resulting in an expanded offering of nine Collections.
Introduction of LongCRAFT, an innovative offering that allows homeowners to have beautiful 10’ lengths in their floors.
Introduction of The CRAFT Box, an industry leading resource for design professionals that contains large wood swatches which showcase a variety of textures, styles and colours.
Recent advances in wood finishing technology made it possible to begin the transition to DuRa Finish™ Ultra Matte, a superior finishing system developed with the cooperation and technical support of Treffert Coatings GmbH, one of the world’s leading wood coating manufacturers.
CRAFT products achieved the highest level of eco-certifications, promoting forest well-being and clean air in customer’s homes. Third-party certifications on every CRAFT product evidence our floors only use wood from certified sustainable forests and use ultra-low emitting coatings.
Introduction of the rustic and more heavily textured Lakeside Plank Collection. Crafted by hand by our woodworking artisans, Lakeside stands out as the most heavily textured of our VintageCRAFT series of floors.
CRAFT now makes Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) available, lending full transparency to environmental impact. All CRAFT products are covered by a Product Specific, Type III EPD found here. This extensive analysis took almost an entire year to complete, resulting in a science-based, independently verified document published by a reputable program operator and publicly available online. EPDs can provide purchasers with comprehensive information on a product’s environmental impact including carbon footprint, depletion of natural resources, and energy consumption, to name a few.
In fall 2020 construction began on Creative At Home’s new (still wholly-owned) factory. Creative At Home is firmly committed to zero-waste manufacturing which will maximize efficiency and support sustainable manufacturing. Set to open in early 2022, the 27,000 square meter (290,500 square foot) facility will come with significant upgrades to all systems, including virtually every production line manufacturing CRAFT Artisan Wood Floors.
CRAFT products achieved a ‘Declare’ label with the International Living Future Institute’s ‘Living Building Challenge’ and Red List Free designation for all CRAFT products. To learn more, please visit: living-future.org/declare/declare-about/red-list/
Full production begins at Creative At Home’s new wholly-owned state-of-the-art factory in Haiyan County, Zhejiang, PRC. The factory, producing all CRAFT’s wood flooring further bolster the company’s claim of being the most sustainable wood flooring manufacturer in the world. The new facility maximizes efficiency and showcases several leading-edge environmental protection systems.
The process to achieve TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) zero-waste certification on CRAFT floor’s manufacturing facility has begun. Once achieved, TRUE certification will become a cornerstone of the company’s commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen, and to fully embrace the principles of sustainability and environmental stewardship as a manufacturer. TRUE will likely make Creative At Home the first flooring manufacturer in the world to accomplish such a milestone.
CRAFT introduces its Herringbone and Chevron pattern flooring, providing sophisticated, creative expression to designers and homeowners alike. Available in two versatile sizes—Architectural (7” width) and Transitional (5” width)—CRAFT’s Herringbone or Chevron integrates perfectly with standard plank flooring, offering endless design possibilities across all CRAFT colour palettes.
The Vineyard Plank Collection debuts, showcasing naturally organic, wide-plank American White Oak floors. Crafted by our skilled artisans employing traditional techniques, each plank radiates historical charm and authentic character. With six distinct, beautiful colours, Vineyard Plank underscores CRAFT’s commitment to sustainable sourcing from responsibly managed forests.
CRAFT’s manufacturing facility attains TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) zero-waste certification, further solidifying its position as a global leader in sustainable wood flooring manufacturing. This milestone demonstrates CRAFT’s steadfast dedication to minimizing environmental impact and enhancing public health through responsible production practices.
CRAFT expands its finishing options with DuRa Finish™ COMMERCIAL, designed specifically for commercial applications requiring superior durability. This advanced finish enhances scratch, abrasion, and impact resistance while maintaining aesthetic clarity, ultra-low VOC emissions, and a Red List Free designation, aligning with CRAFT’s sustainability ethos.
The innovative V3 Display system launches, featuring customizable panel modules that effectively showcase our colours, and what makes CRAFT’s artisanship special. Offering flexible configurations and easy installation, the V3 Display supports CRAFT’s retail and trade partners with a premium presentation solution, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to practical elegance.
CRAFT upgrades management systems at both its manufacturing facility and Burnaby office, adopting Lean/Agile methodologies. This transformation enhances organizational efficiency, reduces waste, and promotes a culture of continuous improvement, positioning CRAFT to swiftly adapt to market demands and operational challenges.
The completion of the APS factory expansion marks a significant advancement in CRAFT’s manufacturing capabilities. The expanded facility in Haiyan County, Zhejiang, incorporates cutting-edge environmental protection systems, renewable energy sources, and zero-waste practices. This milestone reinforces CRAFT’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, quality craftsmanship, and industry-leading innovation.
