Clayton Paint and Flooring Center Has a New Home!

By Tracy McCoy

The history of Clayton Paint and Flooring Center is one filled with open doors and Godly direction. The store was opened by Paul and Susan Buchanan in 1982. The Buchanans were loved by the community and they operated the store until it was purchased by Greg and Kim Willis. Greg and Kim were equally adored and welcomed by loyal Clayton Paint and Decorating Center customers. Greg didn’t have much experience with Benjamin Moore paints which had been a lead brand of the store for decades. What he did know was a guy named Keith Toller who did know paint and especially Benjamin Moore. At the time, Keith was working with Greg at a flooring company in Atlanta and his knowledge and experience of paint and flooring was a great fit! Keith had worked in the paint industry out west for decades and Greg asked if he would like to relocate his family to the mountains to run the store. Seeing an opportunity for his young family to get out of the city and raise their children in the small town of Clayton, Keith and his wife Lora decided to make the move.

The Toller family was a perfect fit for Rabun County! Keith was a wonderful addition to the store and they settled in making this their home. Their children Jesse, Emerald and Jake grew up and graduated from Rabun County High School. Since they have all gone in different directions and are pursuing their dreams. Greg and Kim Willis made a decision to retire in 2007 and Keith and Lora became the new owners of Clayton Paint and Flooring Center.

The store was moved to Savannah Street in 2017, it was a good move giving the business more visibility and easier access. “Keith and I have been so blessed to have some incredible employees over the years. We have said over and over that we couldn’t do it without our loyal customers. We’ve known some of these folks for 25 years.” Lora told me when we spoke for the article. “Keith and I are so thankful for Rabun County and the support they have given us.”

The 80+ five star Google reviews and reviews on Houzz, Yelp and Facebook all agree that Clayton Paint and Flooring Center is appreciated for their customer service, professionalism, reliability and quality. Exceeding their customers expectations on all levels seems to be their standard and their employees got the memo as well. Thankfully for someone like me that has not one single decorating bone in my body, the team at Clayton Paint and Flooring Center came to the rescue offering great ideas on paint colors, tips and techniques. I give them 5 stars as well!

Last year they decided to expand and build their own store, with a larger showroom space. After much thought and prayer they approached Mr. Ed West about selling his lot next to their then current location and he was agreeable. They purchased the land and have built an incredibly beautiful brand new store! With four times the showroom space, they have been able to add a design center where they can meet with clients to discuss their plans and coordinate colors, compare flooring samples and choose the perfect paint and flooring for their home. It offers privacy and a quiet place for consultations.

Benjamin Moore remains their lead paint brand and Shaw their lead flooring brand. This does not mean that they don’t offer other options, because they do but they have put their trust in these companies for many years and have never been disappointed. Much like Clayton Paint and Flooring Center customers who also have had great experiences with this longstanding company who stands behind what they sell, treats them like family and goes above and beyond. Thank you to Keith, Lora and their amazing staff for the great new store and taking care of us all these years!

The new store is located at 175 E. Savannah Street, Clayton, Georgia 30525. Their website is www.claytonpaintandflooring. com and the best number to call is 706-782-2741. The store is open Monday – Friday 7:30 am – 5:00 pm, Saturdays 8 am – 12 pm.

The first annual Cowee Valley Quilt & Fiber Celebration will be held at Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center May 5th and 6th , 2023. This two-day festival will celebrate all aspects of textiles and quilting! Friday, May 5th will be workshop day, with exciting programming in felting, knitting and sewing taught by award-winning fiber artists. Seats are limited, so don’t wait to register. There will also be a Quilt Exhibit, demonstrations and vendors on Friday.

Saturday, May 6th will be a festival day, with fiber vendors, Quilt Exhibit, raffles, fiber animals, food, music and more. Demonstrations in rug hooking, silkworms, quilting, tablet weaving, tatting, wool applique and drop-in spinning will be ongoing throughout the day. Fashion shows for adults & kids will be held. Kids activities will be offered as well, including sewing, hand quilting, stamping and hoop weaving. Entry to the festival and all activities are free! Come celebrate our heritage, learn something new and have a great time at Cowee School! View the full workshop and event schedule at www.coweeschool.org.

Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center is located at 51 Cowee School Drive in Franklin, North Carolina. Built of local stone in 1943 on the site of a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp, the Cowee School educated area youth for nearly seven decades. The historic structure, in the heart of the Cowee-Wests Mill Historic District, is now an arts and heritage center, serving Western North Carolina residents and visitors. The purpose of Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center is to promote the teaching and preservation of the cultural and artistic heritage of the Southern Appalachians and Cherokee people and to serve as a community resource and gathering place.