Getting inspired to give the floors in your home a much-needed makeover is easy. Finding someone you can trust to provide the products and services you need can be hard.
If you’re not sure how to get started, you might want to consider getting inspired. As in Inspired Flooring & Design. The established, family-owned and operated business has been a formidable alternative to the myriad chains and big box retailers since 2014.
The business was founded by the wife-husband team of Pam and Jim Johnson but their experience in flooring and home remodeling dates back to the 1980s. Last year, the Johnsons handed off the business to their daughters, Krista Phillips and Kari Leonard, who have been active in the business on a full-time basis for years.
“My parents owned a flooring store years ago when we lived in Elkhart, Indiana,” says Phillips. “My siblings and I grew up building forts with carpet samples in the living room. I swore I would never work in flooring when I grew up—and now look at me!”
Eventually the family moved to Spring Hill where Inspired Flooring & Design was founded, largely due to Pam Johnson’s entrepreneurial spirit. “At the time, Mom was working as a sales rep for a large chain flooring company, but she wanted to do
something where she would be free of corporate constraints,” says Phillips. “She wanted to do more than just flooring; she wanted to get into people’s homes where she could have an impact on a more personal level.”
In 2018, Inspired moved to its current location at 2105 Wall Street in Spring Hill. Prior to that, it was a home-based business. Make that, a truck-based business with a barn on the family’s property serving as a warehouse. Phillips was working as a corporate payroll manager at the time but pitched in by building the store’s website and handling accounting on the business side. “We were able to grow largely due to word of mouth,” says Phillips. “We put a high value on building our reputation for excellent customer service. But by 2018, we had grown to the point that we had to open a freestanding store and hire our first sales rep.”
Today, Phillips and Leonard manage the day-to-day operations. Phillips works on the financial, marketing and sales side while Leonard focuses on service and installations. “Kari and I complement each other really well and that’s what makes it work,” Phillips adds. “We’re honest with each other and that’s important, because that can be a struggle for multigenerational businesses.
And mom is still in the mix, here-and-there. Even though she’s primarily on the back-end side of the business, she’s a reliable third voice and will always have influence.”
The Inspired team understands that customers and clients have different styles and tastes and are prepared to work with anyone.
“Some people like things that are modern and trendy, others might prefer a rustic or farmhouse décor,” says Phillips. “Our sales team and designers want to get to know you so that they can guide you to the products and styles that are best for your home.”
The point is to cater to the needs of each individual client. “Some people come in and know exactly what they want while others value our opinion,” says Phillips. “We’ll be honest with you about your choices, and we have a lot of different ideas represented in the showroom.”
Phillips says that, because of technology, flooring has come a long way. Products that once were frowned upon are now centerpieces in the finest homes. “Laminate floors of today are not the laminates of 20 years ago,” says Phillips. “They are more resistant to water and scratches than hardwood is. The appearance is very close to real wood and they are particularly good choices for families with kids and pets.”
She also says that wide planks continue to be popular for hardwoods but, she cautions, “In our climate, you don’t want a solid plank that’s wider than five inches or they’ll have difficulty withstanding the expansion and contraction they’ll naturally experience. For wider planks or for homes built on a slab, we recommend an engineered hardwood. Another factor to consider is that many of the homes in the area were built 20-25 years ago. If they are not custom-built and the floors are still original, they’re likely due for replacement."
In addition to flooring, Inspired Flooring & Design represents numerous cabinet lines and can help you with kitchen and bath remodels. When inspiration strikes, the team is equipped to design and manage your projects from start-to-finish. The unwavering commitment to quality is intentional, as is the store’s name. Inspired Flooring & Design is a faith-based business that is guided by Christian values.
“Mom’s goal was to have a business that was inspired by God, where everything would be through the lens of high integrity,” says Phillips. “It’s a place where the people who work there care about you as a person. We really want God to use our business in whatever way he deems fit.” InspiredFlooringDesign.com