A Wood Medallion for the Foyer: Carnegie Hill and Sutton Place
Posted November 1, 2026
The 40" Medusa medallion is a wood mosaic in seven natural species, made to anchor a foyer or gallery in a herringbone or plank floor.
Call (908) 232-6600 or book a virtual consultation to review samples and specifications for your project.
Townhouses and prewar apartments in Carnegie Hill and Sutton Place often open onto a foyer or gallery that sets the tone for the whole home. A wood medallion set into a herringbone or parquet floor gives that space a focal point without rugs or furniture.
Here is how the Medusa medallion is made and how to plan it.
The Medusa Medallion
Medusa is a 40" wood medallion described on its page as a unique wood mosaic made to mimic ancient Roman art. Small wood pieces are precisely cut and glued together, using only natural wood colors rather than stains or dyes.
At 40", it suits a foyer or gallery of moderate size, where it can sit centered with a generous margin of field floor around it. In a larger entry hall it can sit beneath a pendant or chandelier, aligning the ceiling and floor. Our pattern guide covers how patterns read at different scales.
Seven Natural Woods
The product page lists the materials as ash, maple, white oak, light merbau, walnut, medium merbau and wenge. Because each color comes from the wood itself, the design keeps its contrast as the floor ages, with pale maple and ash set against dark walnut and wenge.
That palette also makes it easier to tie the medallion to the surrounding floor. A white oak field picks up the oak and ash in the design, while a walnut border can echo the darker pieces. We can send samples of the field and border woods so you can see them beside a photo of the medallion.
Setting It in Herringbone
A medallion set into a herringbone field is a classic foyer floor. The herringbone runs up to a border around the medallion, which frames it and gives the installer a clean edge to cut the pattern into.
The herringbone direction usually follows the main axis of the foyer, toward the living room or the gallery beyond. With the medallion centered on that axis, the floor leads the eye through the home. Our herringbone and chevron guide explains how the pattern is laid out and why milling accuracy matters.
Want to plan a medallion for your foyer? Call (908) 232-6600 or book a virtual consultation.
Setting It in a Plank Floor
A medallion also works in a straight plank floor, which suits a more modern apartment. A clean, light field such as Eva, a prime grade European oak, lets the medallion stand out without competing grain.
In a plank floor, a simple border of one or two contrasting strips around the medallion helps it sit naturally, rather than looking dropped into the boards. Running the planks along the length of the foyer keeps the space feeling longer. Our wide plank collection shows field floor options.
Unfinished or Prefinished
The product page notes that standard medallions are supplied unfinished, and can be prefinished on request. An unfinished medallion set into an unfinished floor is sanded flat and finished with the field in one process, which gives the most even surface.
With a prefinished field floor, a prefinished medallion avoids sanding on site. Either way, we review the foyer dimensions, the field floor and the border with your designer and installer first. A virtual consultation with a plan of the foyer is the best place to start.
Quick Answers
How large is the Medusa medallion?
40 inches.
What woods are in it?
Ash, maple, white oak, light merbau, walnut, medium merbau and wenge.
Is the medallion stained?
No. Its page notes it uses only natural wood colors.
Is it supplied finished?
Standard medallions are supplied unfinished and can be prefinished on request.
Plan Your Floor
Planning a foyer in Carnegie Hill, Sutton Place or elsewhere in Manhattan? We can help size the medallion, field and border with your designer and installer.
Call (908) 232-6600, email joe@hugginsflooring.com, or book a virtual consultation. Browse our collections: Herringbone, Chevron, Wide Plank, Parquet.
About The Author
Joe Avila has worked in wood flooring for 26 years. He is NWFA certified (CSI, CI, CWFI, CFS) and teaches NWFA continuing-education courses for architects, designers and flooring professionals. Luxury Wood NYC, a Huggins Wood Floor Specialist brand.
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