Luxury Consumer Expertise Powers Elevated Home Design
Awie Newell brings 30 years of expertise to her new Floor Coverings International franchise serving Manhasset and adjacent areas in New York.
Newell comes from the beauty and wellness industries, where she served as CEO of a beauty consumer goods company in London and led a wellness brand in New York. Her extensive background in luxury consumer goods has equipped her with a keen understanding of the importance of attention to detail.
Said Newell, “Having spent 30 years building and leading some of the world’s most recognized beauty and wellness brands, I am now applying that same passion for brand integrity, quality, and personalized service to my own community. The decision to open Floor Coverings International Manhasset was a deliberate choice to step away from the global stage and make a direct, positive impact on the lives of my neighbors. My background in luxury consumer goods taught me that every detail matters, and I am bringing that same meticulous attention and high-end, concierge-style approach to the home design experience for every one of our clients. This new chapter is about bringing the art of transformation home, one floor at a time.
Newell’s unique approach combines design expertise with a “white-glove” concierge-style service, ensuring that every homeowner receives tailored solutions that resonate with their individual tastes and lifestyles. The brand’s commitment to quality and integrity mirrors the luxury standards she upheld in her previous roles.
Observation of current flooring trends has revealed a significant shift among homeowners. Once dominated by cool grays, interior spaces are now gravitating towards warm, earthy tones such as honey oak and walnut. Textured finishes, including wire-brushed and hand-scraped wood, are in high demand, creating cozy, inviting atmospheres.
Additionally, advancements in flooring products are changing the landscape of home design. Innovations in engineered wood and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) provide homeowners with stunning, durable options that combine beauty with practicality. With enhanced stability and realistic textures, these products cater to modern families seeking long-lasting solutions.
“Our mission at Floor Coverings International is to empower homeowners to transform their spaces,” said Newell. “We’re excited to bring the art of transformation home, one floor at a time. We strive to make every interaction feel special, reflecting the trust and care we’ve built through years of experience in a variety of industries.”
The big favorites throughout the system? Pet and kid-friendly floors that clean up with one mopping and look like genuine wood. In addition, popular choices are:
- Engineered Hardwood Flooring: This is the best in luxury flooring offering real wood veneers with remarkably high quality and detail.
- Sustainable Materials: Homeowners are turning to laminate flooring crafted from eco-friendly materials such as recycled wood fibers.
- Authentic Wood Look: The demand for realistic-looking wood floors continues to soar.
- Waterproof Performance: Given recent erratic weather conditions everywhere, waterproof laminate floors are hot!
- Vinyl Flooring: As technology advances, vinyl flooring gets close to natural wood and stone looks that are easily cleaned with a damp mop.
- Carpet: There are still die-hard carpet lovers because of the feeling and look of cozy and warm -Not so much shag. Many more flat pile, textures and patterned looks are available.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
about Floor Coverings International and to schedule a free in-home consultation, visit Floor Coverings International Manhasset or contact Awie Newell at 516-517-0725 and awie.newell@fcifloors.com.
ABOUT FLOOR COVERINGS INTERNATIONAL
Floor Coverings International is the #1 Mobile Flooring franchise in North America. Utilizing a unique in-home experience, the Mobile Flooring Showroom M comes directly to the customer’s door with more than 3,000 flooring choices. Floor Coverings International has 300-plus locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please go to www. floorcoveringsinternational.com.
After 30 years as a Program/Project Manager and Systems Engineering professional supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, Jeffrey Blanton began exploring entrepreneurship when a government contract ended.
“The government contract I was on had ended. After several sessions with a business coach, I had determined that I wanted to pursue my own business versus going back to work for someone else,” said Blanton. “Cindy and I met with Floor Coverings International and almost immediately knew this was a good fit. The company culture, standards and model resonated with our beliefs. This brand affords us the ability to make the business ours, leveraging the best-known practices from 20 years in the business and enables us to be a local business with a national brand backing us.”
Focused on building a lasting family legacy, the Blantons plan to run most daily operations while their children work in and support the business, with the long-term goal of eventually passing the company to the next generation.
Floor Coverings International is known for simplifying the flooring process through its signature Mobile Flooring Showroom™, which delivers the flooring store experience directly to a customer’s home or business. Rather than visiting multiple retail locations and transporting heavy samples, customers can review more than 3,000 flooring options on-site, comparing styles next to their existing décor and lighting to make confident decisions for any flooring project or investment.
The Blantons were also drawn to ongoing innovation in flooring performance and style, especially in materials that fit modern family life. “The trends around LVP and Laminate are intriguing to us,” Blanton said. “Both of those flooring materials have significantly improved over the years in both looks and durability.”
Across the Floor Coverings International system, many of the most requested floors reflect that same priority: pet- and kid-friendly surfaces that are easy to clean with a damp mop yet still deliver the warmth and character of natural wood looks.
Current homeowner favorites include sustainable laminate options made with eco-friendly materials such as recycled wood fibers, highly realistic wood visuals, waterproof laminate built for everyday spills and unpredictable weather, and vinyl flooring that increasingly mirrors the look of natural wood and stone while staying minimal maintenance. For those die-hard carpet lovers, a popular choice for customers seeking cozy comfort, today’s demands are leaning toward flat piles, textured finishes, and patterned designs rather than shag styles. For buyers seeking premium upgrades, engineered hardwood continues to stand out as a luxury option, offering real wood veneers with high-quality detail and craftsmanship.
For more information or to schedule a free in-home consultation, contact Floor Coverings International | Palm Coast–Flagler Beach at (386) 356-7880 or visit https://floorcoveringsinternational.com/locations/us/fl/palm-coast/flagler-beach/. Jeffrey Blanton can also be reached at Jeffrey.blanton@FCIFloors.com.
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About Floor Coverings International
Floor Coverings International is the #1 flooring franchise in North America with over 300 locations between the U.S. and Canada. Known for its unique customer experience and Mobile Flooring Showroom™, the business model brings over 3000 flooring samples to the customer’s door. For more information, please go to www.floorcoveringsinternational.com.
