By : Yamini Patil

In a workshop in Southern California, shelves lined with 3D-printed molds tell a story of reinvention. They underpin Flutomania Inc., a young company founded in 2025 by Ukrainian-born craftsman and entrepreneur Oleksandr Kostrikov. They look simple, but they signal a shift in how decorative finishes are produced—and how personal resilience becomes innovation.

From craft to innovation

Kostrikov’s journey began in Kherson, Ukraine. He became a father at sixteen and mastered trades such as plastering, tiling, and painting out of necessity. Over time, his precision and artistic eye set him apart. In the years leading up to Dekos Style, he had already opened two decorative showrooms in Kherson, gradually shaping a new approach to how clients and craftsmen interacted with interior materials. By 2017, he launched Dekos Style, a larger concept space that combined decorative finishes with design education and quickly became a creative hub in the region.

War ended that chapter and forced him to leave. In Italy, San Marco—the brand whose dealer he had been for nearly eight years—provided housing for his family. Soon after, he helped Ukrainian immigrants launch a construction business in Spain, then moved to Romania, where he again collaborated with San Marco. In Brașov, he helped open a new showroom, trained the owner, and led two master classes for 30+ craftsmen. By 2023, he and his family had relocated to California.

Within two years, he completed more than 100 projects through Kostrikov Art LLC, his contracting company specializing in high-end finishes. In 2025, he launched Flutomania Inc.—a venture focused on rethinking the tools that make such finishes possible.

The challenge: time and precision

Fluted textures—rhythmic ridges on walls, panels, fireplaces, and furniture—are a hallmark of contemporary design. In Europe, the look was once immensely popular, then faded, and is now returning—first on furniture, then on walls and fireplaces. In the U.S., demand is rising, but traditional techniques remain slow and inconsistent.

Each groove is typically shaped by hand, consuming hours and often yielding uneven results. The barrier isn’t demand—it’s practicality. Labor shortages and high costs keep textured finishes confined to luxury projects.

In Los Angeles, a gestured brief led Kostrikov—still with minimal English—to interpret the request as fluted. The client had imagined something simpler, but his sample secured the studio’s first fluted commission in California. Curiosity followed; with 3D visualizations and targeted ads, inquiries multiplied. In Orange County, his approach felt fresh and quickly drew attention.

Initially he improvised—cutting metal and plastic trowels into shapes and casting silicone molds for gypsum panels—before realizing those methods were limited. Nearly a year of trials led to purpose-built instruments: the seeds of Flutomania.

The solution: Flutomania tools

Flutomania produces custom-designed spatulas and molds, made with 3D printing and engineered for speed and consistency. The tools create clean, repeatable textures while leaving room for artistry.

The catalog includes dozens of models, from fine ridges for subtle wall patterns to bold grooves for dramatic feature panels. By lowering the technical barrier, the tools make fluting viable for many more projects, including mid-market interiors that once could not justify fully hand-crafted detail. Rather than replacing the artisan, the technology extends their reach—part of a broader trend in which digital fabrication supports, rather than overshadows, human skill. 

Fast growth, global reach

The first sales of Flutomania tools began in June 2025, and the company was officially registered on August 18, 2025. Despite its short history, the products already ship to Europe, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and across the U.S. Design circles already recognize their time savings and the creative latitude they provide.

Flutomania also occupies a distinct niche in the American market. While many suppliers sell decorative wall panels and prefabricated MDF products, few—if any—offer specialized 3D-printed tools for creating custom fluted textures. Most contractors still rely on mass-produced panels or entirely manual labor. By merging 3D printing with traditional finishing techniques, Flutomania has carved out a category of its own.

For designers, this blend of European craftsmanship and advanced fabrication fills a gap that had remained unaddressed. For Kostrikov, the early traction validates the mission: “I wanted to give artisans something real and useful. The fact that it resonates not only here in California but also abroad tells me we’re on the right track.”

Why now

The timing aligns with broader shifts in American interiors. Surveys indicate textured finishes are among the fastest-growing client requests, yet remain less available than in European markets. California—especially Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego—has become fertile ground for their introduction. Builders facing labor shortages welcome tools that compress days of finishing into hours while preserving quality. By offering tools that make these finishes easier to deliver at scale, Flutomania helps accelerate adoption in a market still catching up with global trends.

Sustainability and innovation

Both of Kostrikov’s ventures align with sustainability. Microcement refinishes existing surfaces instead of requiring demolition, reducing waste. Fluted textures, often made from gypsum, plaster, or decorative coatings, can be refinished and reused. Because microcement and plaster can go over existing substrates, clients avoid demolition debris and the carbon hit of new materials. To make the process reliable, Oleksandr developed his own working formula, experimenting with Meoded products to achieve the consistency his tools require.

Philosophy of craft

Kostrikov’s credo is simple: respect the material, respect the hand. “Technology can accelerate the process,” he says, “but it should never take away the essence of craftsmanship. A wall finished with care has soul. Our tools help bring that soul into more projects.”

Resilience transformed into innovation

His story: teenage father turned master, a business owner who lost everything to war, an immigrant who rebuilt. His dual identity—artisan and entrepreneur—sets him apart. Few can claim both mastery of finishes and the tools that redefine them.

Looking ahead

Flutomania has already developed a dedicated line of tools under the Meoded brand, currently sold in its Los Angeles flagship showroom. Plans are underway to expand distribution across Meoded’s network of more than 277 dealers in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Kostrikov recently led a master class for 40 craftsmen, demonstrating how to use the new tools in practice. Interest is growing, with dealer inquiries coming not only from across the U.S., but also from Australia, Canada, and Italy. Educators say such collaborations help close the skills gap in decorative trades.

Conclusion

From Kherson to California, Oleksandr Kostrikov has traveled a path marked by resilience, reinvention, and dedication to craft. With Flutomania Inc., he has turned years of hands-on mastery into a young company already making a global imprint. In a field often caught between tradition and innovation, Flutomania shows they can reinforce each other—and that walls can be more than surfaces. They can be experiences.