Big news from our friends over at FLOR, the eco-Tetris of carpets.

Flor opens its first retail store tomorrow (Friday, June 19) in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood at 1873 N. Clybourn Ave. The modular carpet tile specialists, based just outside Chicago in Elmhurst, has sold its mix-and-match carpets online since the spring of 2003.

Company spokesperson Gina Forst said, “North/Clybourn is a great shopping district that includes stores like Crate & Barrel and Whole Foods. Next door is Jayson Home & Garden; we think we share a similar clientele. It’s a really good fit for us and we’re excited about it.”

The beauty of carpet tiles:

• You can custom-design a carpet or area rug from the inter-changeable 19.7″ x 19.7″ squares, to match your tastes and the size of your space.
• Installation is a doable DIY project.
• You can remove and replace individual tiles that get stained.
• You can take the carpet tiles with you when you move.

Known as an environmental pioneer in the carpet industry, many of Flor’s carpet tiles include recycled content, and all the tiles are recyclable. Flor’s Return and Recycle program will pay to have your old Flor carpet tiles shipped back to them. Flor grinds up the old carpet and manufactures new from it.

With the help of on-site designers at the Chicago store, you’ll be able to combine tiles and try your designs in person. Some of the Flor’s newest products that will be available at the store:

Feelin’ Groovy (above and below) is a brand new 64-color palette of tiles. “This line offers a solid component that coordinates with any of Flor’s other lines,” said Forst. So now you can create your own modern mix with many more matching combinations.

FLORA’s design was inspired by Alexander Girard’s textile pattern Eden. It is available in a 6-tile kit sold as a rug.

Get your animal print on with the new Mod Zebra (left) and El Tigre (right).

Flor’s Martha Stewart line includes the new stripes Ascot (left) and Regatta (right).

Be My Neighbor is a funky new novelty tile.

FLOR store hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Monday and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Free parking is available in the marked lot across the street. Phone: (773) 325-0201.

Have you tried carpet tiles in your rooms or designs? How did they work out?