Surface Blog

All entries by ChadCassin

Replicating the look of a mill floor

Posted by ChadCassin

George and Sue Carlisle (no relationship to our family) decided to buy a new penthouse condo on Congress St. in the center of Portsmouth, NH. Their concept was to build it out to look like it was originally a mill…that had been converted to a retail space…and finally converted to a residential space.

The first thing they chose was the floor. Since they had installed Carlisle wide plank floors in two of their past homes…and “loved them”…this one too had to be a Carlisle floor. The Portsmouth floor had to replicate the antique look of an old mill floor plus, since both are environmentalists, it was also important that it be a certified reclaimed antique floor.

They contacted Carlisle and spoke with Todd Waterman, one of our Regional Design Consultants. Together they picked one of our most rustic floors called Grandpa’s. Grandpa’s Floor is made from Southern Longleaf Heart Pine beams reclaimed from old mills primarily in the Ohio River Valley and has a complete chain-of-custody certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

When the wood showed up George’s builder refused to install it …calling it “junk” and “too rough for a floor”. Todd convinced him to install it and once the first coat of finish was applied…the builder was a true believer.
The Carlisle’s entertain a lot in their penthouse home and say that the first thing their guests comment on…is the floor. “They love it!” They’ve also been personally responsible for several additional Carlisle floor orders that have arisen from their parties.

Even thought there is no (known) relationship between George and Sue and us, the way they promote our floors would make you think that maybe there really is.

Posted on February 5, 2009 at 12:44 PM in True Hardwood Story • (0) Comments
Hit or Miss Eastern White Pine: Rustic and Lived-on

Posted by ChadCassin

Eleven years ago Wendy Hyatt saw a Carlisle rocking chair ad in an issue of Country Living magazine, clipped it out, and decided that someday she was going to have a Carlisle Wide Plank Floor in her home. Over the years, as she, her husband Francis, and their growing family moved around the country, Wendy continued to follow our business and clip our ads.

Early in 2008 they—now a family of (5) plus a dog and (4) horses—decided to move from Wisconsin to Hollis, NH and build a new home. This was the chance she had been waiting for. She immediately called Carlisle and spoke with Shannon Sterrett, one of our Design Consultant, and began to plan her floor.
She was looking for a traditional, wide plank floor that would look rustic and lived-on right from the start, much like the old New England floors popular 200+ years back. With Shannon’s assistance she chose an Eastern White Pine wide plank floor with a hit-or-miss surface and Carlisle Ginger Bread traditional stain. In addition, Wendy always wanted a painted floor in her bedroom that looked like a cottage she visited when she was a child. Shannon helped with both.

Today the home is complete, the Hyatt family is living on a beautiful Carlisle wide plank floors (one stained and one painted), and Wendy has achieves her 11 year dream.

Posted on February 5, 2009 at 10:46 AM in True Hardwood Story • (0) Comments
DIY: Hardwood Ash flooring with a stain in VA.

Posted by ChadCassin

Shanon Sterret shares this personal email from her clients in Virginia!

Hi Shanon,
I am sorry to take so long to get back to you. We have been just crazy busy. I am sending you some of our photos. We have a lot more I will send five pictures in each email. We love our floors and we love the look it gives our home. My hardwood floor installer, AKA my husband Roland, is out of town for another week. When he gets back we will write our account of the installation process.

Thank you,
Michelle and Roland Hankey

Posted on September 2, 2008 at 02:09 PM in DIY - Do It Yourself • (1) Comments
Hagop’s Artwork graces West Hollywood Design Center

Posted by ChadCassin

We are currently featuring the mixed media artwork of Hagop Belian in our West Hollywood design center. Hagop was born and raised in Syria. He was in his teenage years when he moved to the United States. While at the University of California Santa Cruz, he found a love for creativity. He started experimenting with different mediums such as painting, photography and mixed media. Hagop says, “the inspiration for my artwork is rooted in the realm of what is felt rather than what is seen and is an exploration of emotions based on reminiscences of the past. It represents rebirth, transformation, truth and change.”

Dan O’Neill from our West Hollywood office is really excited about having Hagop’s work! Dan comments, “Hagop uses reclaimed and repurposed materials from everyday life and with mixed media has created a nice colorful spot in our foyer. His art is of a similar natural reclaimed spirit. He also includes lots of traditional good luck symbols that welcome new clients into our space, and act as a positive omen for our young location.”

Also, check out Hagop’s other work at his website

Check out the photos of Hagop’s work in our foyer.
Come and see if for yourself at 405 North Robertson Blvd. in West Hollywood

Posted on August 28, 2008 at 07:00 AM in (0) Comments
Carlisle Helps New Orleans Rebuild

Posted by ChadCassin

We have partnered with Deltec Homes of Ashville, N.C. in order to build a new home in New Orleans to replace those destroyed by Katrina.

Carlisle has donated 2,500 square feet of its traditional Southern Heart Pine flooring as part of a participating effort on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition". The popular TV show has asked builders and suppliers from all over the country to help out in New Orleans continuing road to recovery.

The program will air at 8/7c on ABC Sunday, May 18, 2008.

Deltec homes and buildings are of a classic round design, noted for their beautiful cathedral ceilings. So ironically, that is where Carlisle’s Heart Pine flooring will be featured.

“We say we craft our floors one board at a time, but in this case it was a ceiling,” says Don Carlisle. “We’ve known the folks at Deltec for quite a while and have partnered with them on other projects, but this one was really special. The whole Extreme Makeover: Home Edition effort to help Katrina victims is a very worthy cause and we’re proud to have contributed.”

Joseph Schlenk, Deltec’s Director Of Sales and Marketing adds: “To build a home in four days was an impossible task. We accomplished our mission because a lot of ordinary people exerted extraordinary efforts. It would have never been possible without the help of our builder coalition, the volunteers and our sponsors, especially Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. The heart pine Carlisle provided was stunning and anyone who entered the was amazed by its beauty. We thank them for their generous contribution.”

Posted on May 9, 2008 at 02:09 PM in Hardwood Flooring • (1) Comments