May 15, 2017

Meet Nathan Kettler of Atlanta Custom Floors

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Kettler.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always had a need to create art. Whether poetry or visual arts. However, it isn’t until the last few years that I realized this need to create.

It wasn’t until I stopped creating that I realized how important it is to me.

In my youth, I was always writing poetry and “trying” to draw. I never felt like I was as good as other people, so I never thought of myself as an artist.

In 2001, I joined a company that was hand-crafted stone with concrete overlay products. For 5 years, I was able to express myself within the limitations of our chosen media.

When I moved to GA in 2006, I started my own company. I was finally able to take artistic expression to a higher level. When I would be in the shop perfecting new color combinations I would get lost for hours. I would forget to eat. Figuring out how to take this media to the next level sparked my creativity and I was really happy for a while.

By late 2008, I found it harder and harder to find people willing to pay for luxury concrete.

Around this time, I started working for a company specializing in epoxy garage floors. We also did several commercial projects. But nothing really creative.

I would find myself coming home from work exhausted, but with nervous tension inside me like I had to build something or make something. Unfortunately, I was usually too tired to follow through on my desire.

After a few years, I got really bored and decided I was done with the concrete flooring game for good. Or so I thought.

My next venture was building websites. I had built several for myself and friends and was really good at SEO. But I really like the creative side of building websites.

Before long that creativeness was snuffed out as I realized that building a website is not as much about creativity as it is function.

I stuck with building functional websites, but more and more I found myself wandering the garage looking for something to build or fix. I still didn’t realize my deep need to create.

I was pretty miserable, but I didn’t know why.

Fast forward to 2014 and a friend asked me if I would help another friend of his get a really nice garage floor. I had no idea what this floor would lead to.

The floor was for Lynchmob Racing. The owner builds the some of the highest quality motors in the southeast.

One thing led to another and the demand for highly detail oriented flooring pushed me back into the concrete flooring industry.

It was around this time that I realized I must create. I must explore the media. I need to expand what is possible

What I discovered…

Imagine if you could mine the Universe for rare metals and gemstones. Harvest the gasses that give birth to the stars. If you could capture the burning dust from a comet…

It is like we take those mystical elements and combine them in a hand-crafted color-shifting experience we call GalacticStone.

Now when I have that burning desire to build or create, I head down to my studio and I play with new concepts, methods, and materials.

Once again, I get lost in my art….

I have visions and plans for floors so fascinating, you’ll wish your furniture could float.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some people always know they are artists, others of us figure it out later on.

For me, being a Creative was always filled with self-doubt. Why am I not as good as… Am I really any good at all? How can I pay my bills “creatively”?

Most Creatives have had to get “creative” in paying the bills.

Being a starving artist who don’t even know they are an artist, that is a rather interesting place to be.

If you are lucky enough to realize that you are actually an artist, the real struggle begins.

How do you turn your passion and creativity into something other people will appreciate?

Does it even matter if anyone else appreciates it?

Creativity is the core of who I am.

But before I knew that I spent a lot of time searching for fulfillment. I tried so many different things to fill the void.

I finally stumbled upon a way to fill that void. GalacticStone peaks my curiosity and imagination. Where it goes from here, I am not sure. People love how our GalacticStone floors turn out, but we have only scratched the surface.

I hope people will love the “next level” of my art, but even if they don’t, I know that I always need to be creative, and I have an awesome outlet to do just that.

Please tell us about Atlanta Custom Floors.
Atlanta Custom Floors installs high-end luxury epoxy flooring for commercial and residential locations.

We are not a large company. In fact, we are just the opposite.

We are a husband and wife, family first business. Carrie and Nathan install every project. So you know you will get the highest quality every time.

We specialize in an out-of-this-world color shifting experience we call GacticStone.

We are known for going above and beyond on every project and our meticulous attention to detail.

What sets us apart is our ability to create mesmerizing and enchanting floors that will leave you and anyone who sees it captivated… That somehow still look classy and timeless.

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