Bruce and Becky Foster have supplied home design products and furniture for Snohomish County homes for decades, operating out of the iconic red barn just off Smokey Point Boulevard. The downturn in home building activity, coupled with uncertain economic times for homeowners, dealt a double whammy to the Fosters, and as a result, Bruce & Becky's has closed its doors.

But the Fosters are still very much involved in the industry. Becky Foster now manages Virtual Floors, a full-service store featuring floor coverings, window coverings and countertops located just south of the 172nd St. intersection on Smokey Point Blvd., adjacent to Lowe's.

"We're still right here in the community, providing excellent service," said Foster. "And we're still involved with community development in north Snohomish County."

The Fosters have been vocal advocates for transportation issues facing north Snohomish County business owners and residents. Along with other local property owners, the Fosters helped create The Transportation Relief Action Plan (TRAP) that succeeded in raising funds and support to widen the 172nd Street overcrossing. The couple has been actively involved in efforts to secure a four-year university in north Snohomish County and to see an access road added at 156th Street NE, connecting the south end of the Lakewood Crossing shopping area to the east side of I-5.

"Virtual Floors has been here for about ten years," Becky Foster explained, "and they had mostly focused on laminate and hardwood flooring products. About a year ago, we were offered the opportunity to manage the store and expand the product line."

With years of experience and industry knowledge in all aspects of floor covering products, including ceramic tile, carpet, hardwood floors and more, Foster was a good choice to run the store's operations. Because of the couple's knowledge in other design products, Virtual Floors was able to expand its offerings beyond the previous lines.

"It's tough for small stores like this," Foster acknowledged. "With more customers making online purchases, a showroom can become nothing more than a resource library for consumers who just want to touch something they're going to buy online."

What makes Virtual Floors unique is the level of expertise offered by the Fosters and their trusted team of installers and contractors, built over decades of partnerships.

"For more than 30 years, we've worked with homeowners who are remodeling and renovating their homes," Foster said. "We've assembled a team of trusted, dependable installers who are also friends. I'm completely confident about the outcome when I send out one of our guys to do a job."

"The service we provide is more about information than about selling," Bruce Foster added. "We give our customers choices, helping them coordinate floors with countertops with paint colors. That master plan is important."

June marked the one-year anniversary of the Fosters' affiliation with Virtual Floors. Although going through the death of their business was difficult, Becky Foster is looking on the bright side these days.

"We had an opportunity to get out of the road project and out of the surface water management work," said Foster. "We started Bruce & Becky's in 1978, selling $129 hide-a-beds, and built it into an award-winning interior design store. We can do it again."