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.

Synergy Homes finds Carlisle on a fateful trip to Florida

Posted by Christine Halvorson

Synergy Homes & Design of Salt Lake City discovered Carlisle floors at the International Builders Showroom in Orlando in January 2008. It was the start of something big.

According to Dominique Powel-Naccarato, Vice President for the company founded by her husband, Kyle Naccarato, they’d been searching locally for something that was “over the top” unique for a current project, The Chateau, that would be showcased in the Parade of Homes in June. Their search brought them to that Orlando trade show and Carlisle’s floors.

“We just loved what we saw,” says Dominique.

Shortly thereafter, Carlisle’s representative met with the Naccaratos in Salt Lake City, and then they, in turn, visited Carlisle’s Denver showroom. Together they settled on 6,200 square feet of Eastern Heart Pine to install in several rooms, plus on a staircase and the ceiling of an octagon-shaped parlor. Every room got a different stain and finish—which Dominique says fools people into thinking four or five different species of wood were used— in random widths from 10 to 16 inches. “That’s really what makes Carlisle stand out. Nobody does those wide widths,” Dominique said.

Still, the Naccaratos had some apprehensions. “We didn’t have a lot of time and you worry when you order something from out of state,” she said. “The Carlisle process went smooth as can be. Our installers here said they loved working with it. It installs and lays so perfectly, and the big planks make it go quickly.”

“It was just an awesome process to integrate those floors into this home,” she said.

Even more awesome? The Chateau ended up winning “Best of Show” in the Parade of Homes event.

Since the Chateau, Synergy Homes has worked with Carlisle on a number of smaller homes. Another 10,000-square-foot home is planned, where 80 percent of the floors will be Carlisle.
Of all the vendors they saw at that Orlando trade show, Carlisle is the only one they’ve since used, Dominique said. “We were so happy we made that trip. Finding Carlisle made it so worthwhile.”

Below is the Chateau which won the People’s Choice Award for Synergy.

Posted on November 17, 2009 at 04:00 PM in Home Building & Contracting • Wood Grains & Styles • (0) Comments
Tim in the Carlisle Sample Shop saves the day for architect in New Jersey

Posted by Christine Halvorson

Here’s a little story from our Sample Shop, from back in August.

Tim LaRoche from Carlisle’s sample shop in Stoddard, NH

Our Sample Shop does just what it sounds like—they make custom-ordered board samples to show to clients and customers so they can get an idea of what an actual type of wood combined with the type of stain and finish actually looks like. (This, of course, helps the customer and helps us.) Well, one day in August, an architect working out of New Jersey called Carlisle Wide Plank flooring in a panic! A supplier on the project had not been able to come through with a delivery of French Oak flooring and this architect needed 1,400 square feet of floor right away—like yesterday, as our sales manager Peter Switzer says. Well, Peter had Tim LaRoche (that’s him below) in our Sample Shop pick out two of the best representative boards of our White Oak to send along to the architect. And, the architect loved them and rang us up immediately to discuss installation and finishes. Despite the Sample Shop being very, very busy at that time, Tim had come through with providing what the client needed right away. It’s probably what got us the job…

Posted on October 23, 2009 at 02:02 PM in Home Building & Contracting • (0) Comments
Carlisle’s Hickory floors featured in Lighthouse Point “green” development in Plymouth, MA

Posted by Christine Halvorson

We’re excited to be working with Richard McLaughlin of Terrene Sustainable Building Supply in South Yarmouth, MA on a project he’s developing in Plymouth, Massachusetts, with a focus on “green building.” Terrene is one of several retail partners we work with in helping customers find the right floor for the project. You can see our own president, Don Carlisle, speaking about the partnership with Terrene Sustainable Building Supply on ““What’s in Store”“:http://www.wideplankflooring.com/blog/detail/whats-in-store-terrene-and-carlisle-wide-plank-floors/, a Boston-based television program.

The Lighthouse Point Residences were constructed this past summer and eventually 14 homes will be ready for purchase there. Carlisle’s Hickory floors, done in 3- to 7-inch widths, are featured in the development’s model home which opened in August. You can see photos of the model below. The Hickory floors were finished with four coats of a Tung Oil natural finish.

Richard says he’s been selling Carlisle floors to his customers for about 8 months and really wanted to showcase the floors at Lighthouse Point, where the whole focus of the housing project is green building design and construction.

“Visitors to the site are very impressed at the grains and richness in the wood,” Richard said. “The finish is amazing. We have put Cherry into the next unit with the Tung oil as well. We have just received White Oak to be installed in the third unit. I am sure that when the buyers see these floors they will choose Carlisle floors when they go to design their own units at our development.”

“Sustainable building practices aren’t just good for the planet. They also increase energy efficiency, reduce maintenance, and provide a healthier, more comfortable living environment for families and pets,” he writes. “That’s why we made such a strong commitment to integrating green construction and design into the residences at Light House Point.”

Got a question about Carlisle floors? We’re always happy to talk. Call us at 1-800-595-9663.

Posted on October 13, 2009 at 03:50 PM in Green Building • Home Building & Contracting • (0) Comments
Stunning New York City home gets some stunning Carlisle floors to match

Posted by Christine Halvorson

Bulson Managment, a general contractor that builds and renovates residential and commerical properties in the New York City area, sent along these photos of Carlisle floors recently laid down in a renovation project on Franklin Street in New York. The Carlisle floors included 1,450 square feet of 6- to 9-inch Antique Oak and 1,450 square feet of 3- to 7-inch Country Grade White Oak mixed together. Both have a Tung Oil finish.

Posted on September 4, 2009 at 11:07 AM in Green Building • Home Building & Contracting • (0) Comments
It’s the pictures telling this story of ultra-modern decor mixing with traditional wood floors

Posted by Christine Halvorson

While it’s cliche to say a picture is worth a 1,000 words, it’s easy to see how the cliche came to be when you look at the pictures of this home owned by Heidi Mellin. The recently completed home was built by Old Greenwich Builders and the floor was installed by Front Range Floor Specialists Nate Sauer. But, it’s the photos that tell the story.

The home style is described as “mid-century modern.”

The floor is all 6-inch wide select and premium grade White Oak with micro beveled edges. The finish is White WOCA oil with Naturale as the final top coat. You can see more about these types of custom finishes here.

Photo credits: (cr) Copyright 2009, Ryan Policky – flickr.com/ryanpolicky

Posted on August 31, 2009 at 09:50 AM in Home Building & Contracting • Home Decor • (0) Comments