Surface Blog

Welcome to Surface, a blog by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. Join us in discussion about hardwood flooring wood grains & styles, home decor, green building products, trends and more.

Unique, challenging Carlisle floor is satisfying to all involved

Posted by Christine Halvorson

A trip into our Chicago design showroom by an architect and his client a while back has led to an astonishing floor in the client's Florida home. The architect and customer decided to go with a very unique style and technique in our Carlisle floors--a White Oak wood that would be painted (yes, painted) with white paint. That white paint would then be scrubbed off, hand-sanded and then given a water-based top coat that provides a clear and matte finish. Sound like something you'd want to try? Well, this project of 2,000 square feet took about 450 person-hours to complete! Yet, we think you'll agree that the end result is pretty amazing.

Why would you start out painting that lovely wood, you may ask? Well, this process would allow for a little of the white paint to remain behind, in the "low-lying" areas of the wood grain, while the surface retained the natural oak color. The result is a nice, light white color. This is not the kind of thing that is done every day, but it's definitely what the customer wanted. The builder, Kelly at D.C. Twin Company in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, had not worked with us at Carlisle before and ended up sending us a nice note about her experience when the project was done:

"Hello! Okay, this is the most amazing floor and beams we have ever had privvy to do..It was very, very tricky, grueling and laborious work....These photos do not do justice for these richly casual, incredible floors. When we started on site, every carpenter, painter, and builder told us we could not do it...[the customer] is absolutely elated, surpassed her vision. In fact, she is having her custom-made rugs re-cut on-site so they don't cover her new floors! ... it was so worth the difficult work, and thank you again for giving us the opportunity, we are really really proud!"

Well, gosh. We're always happy when our customers are happy, but we're also really happy when we make a new friend among the home-building community! Thank you, D.C. Twin!

Posted on May 29, 2009 at 02:06 PM in Hardwood Flooring • (0) Comments
Carlisle is involved in a small Habit for Humanity project in Chicago

Posted by Christine Halvorson

Here's a little ditty you might enjoy seeing about Carlisle doing the floors in the "Home of Distinction" in Chicago's Highland Park. If you happen to be in the Chicago area starting today, May 28 to June 14, check out the full program.

Posted on May 28, 2009 at 02:05 PM in (0) Comments
This Carlisle floor might show up on This Old House

Posted by Christine Halvorson

A couple in Massachusetts is installing this Carlisle floor, an Antique Heart Pine model with 4 to 12" inch widths, in their historic home after falling in love with our showroom, our mill and our floors. They're waiting to hear if "This Old House' is going to be filming at their home soon. We'll let you know when we find out!

Posted on May 25, 2009 at 02:04 PM in (0) Comments
From New Hampshire to Michigan, this kitchen project got done

Posted by Christine Halvorson

Cheryl Workman and her husband came by Carlisle’s showroom and offices in Stoddard, New Hampshire last summer and fell in love with our Antique Oak floor. Six months later, they untook the renovation project—installing the Antique Oak in their small kitchen in Michigan. The floor shown here was prefinished with an Amber stain and is 7-inch widths. Cheryl writes…

…(The kitchen project) was a lot of mess, but so worth every minute of it. Thank you so much. I could not be happier.

—Cheryl Workman

Posted on May 22, 2009 at 02:02 PM in Customer Stories • (0) Comments
What a blend of modern and traditional in this Atlanta home

Posted by Christine Halvorson

Randy Harris came to our Atlanta Design Studio nearly a year ago, when his ultra-modern home in Atlanta was just in the conceptual phase of drawings. He wanted a very contemporary look and--well--he certainly achieved it! His home was featured this past weekend on the "Modern Atlanta Home Tour" and he dropped Carlisle a note to tell us about it. He wrote to Caitlin in our Atlanta offices:

Caitlin:

Hope you are well! I just wanted to tell you that our home was on the Modern Atlanta home tour this past weekend, and we got many compliments on our floors! ...Thanks again for all your help!

Randy Harris

Even while constucting this very contemporary house, Harris wanted to showcase the natural characteristics of Carlisle's wood floors and he chose our Old Growth Hickory, with an Antique Farmhouse stain. We think the contrast is quite awesome.

Photos by: TaC studios/architecture, Atlanta

Posted on May 20, 2009 at 02:00 PM in Home Decor • (0) Comments