Forget the framed Monet prominently hung on the wall. John Lessick’s goal is to draw appreciative eyes to a less obvious place in the room: the floor.

“I look at it as a work of art. I don’t just throw down planks of wood to fit the measurements,” said the owner of Apex Wood Floors, a family owned business based in Downers Grove. “Each surface has such potential for aesthetically pleasing design elements and can be seamlessly integrated into the decorating concept.”

Joan and Rich Zajeski’s Hinsdale abode recently benefited from Lessick’s nuanced craftsmanship. The flooring expert outfitted the couple’s billiard room, among other areas, as part of major home remodeling. Interior designer Darl Grooters and the Zajeskis envisioned an old English pub with a contemporary twist. With Lessick’s collaboration, the team was able to execute a breathtaking threshold of reclaimed quad-matched walnut crotch — named for the part of the tree branch used — and a coffee brown interlaced Versailles pattern reminiscent of latticework.

The finished product was so impressive that the project was recognized last week at the prestigious Design Excellence Awards, an annual gala sponsored by the American Society of Interior Designers and i4design magazine. Lessick, a Wheaton resident and ASID industry partner, won an honorable mention in the fixtures category.

“No. 1, I think we caught the judges’ eye because it was just a beautiful floor. But it also demonstrated some creative solutions — especially with the threshold,” he said. “Unfortunately, houses are not built to fit the floor you have in mind. You have to fit the floor to the room.”

This project proved particularly challenging because the billiard room was adjacent to the great room, which was laid with a wide-plank, handcrafted walnut floor, and Grooters didn’t want a continuous pattern through the archway entrance. So Lessick’s team opted for an inlay crotch panel application rather than more conventional transition boards. The risk paid off.

“There was a rather large barrel opening in the doorway, so it was the perfect way to complement the other room,” Lessick said. “Thankfully, the adjoining technique kept things flowing and didn’t break up the various elements. It’s not something we would have tried five years ago, so I’m proud we’ve expanded our horizons a little.”

Grooters said he knew Lessick’s handiwork would be flawless, which is why he enlisted the wood guru for the job.

“We really wanted the room to have an old-world flavor, and he pulled it off. It turned out exactly how I wanted it, so I’m very pleased,” he added. “I love the fact that it lends a certain classic elegance and point of visual interest to the room.

“Flooring has become a major part of a room, and it never used to be,” said Grooters, who owns an interior design firm in Palos Park. “It really serves as a backdrop for everything else. The floor is setting the tone and, as long as you aren’t covering it with a rug, you’re letting it do the work for you.”

Lessick attributes much of the beauty of the room to the “unbelievably gorgeous” bar and pool table that anchor the other architectural and design components in the room, which all come together, making it easy to achieve the desired rich but graceful ambiance.

“Anytime someone comes over, this room is their favorite place to spend time. It’s warm and inviting and relaxed,” Joan Zajeski said. “There are windows all around, so the room is well lit, and that all natural light hits the floor and just shines. We love the amount of detail, and it’s an honor that our project won some acclaim.”