Rhode Island Beach House Can’t Settle For Just One Style Floor

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Rhode Island Beach House Can’t Settle For Just One Style Floor

Ray and Nancy Coulombe decided to replace their family’s aging summer cottage in Green Hill, Rhode Island into a year-round beach house that would accommodate extended family gatherings and have a traditional Rhode Island sensibility.

They worked with Westerly Rhode Island-based Architecture firm Azzinaro & Larson Architects, and Peacedale, Rhode Island Builder Stephen Sullivan Inc.  For the floors, they turned to Carlisle Wide Plank Floors but they couldn’t settle on just one floor, so we helped them design two; one for the lower level and one for the upper level.

For the entire home, Ray and Nancy wanted a lighter wood floor, that would make the home feel casual, relaxed, light and airy – perfect for a seaside family retreat.  But the lower level of the home was going to be subject to a lot more traffic.  Carlisle helped them design a Wide Plank Birch floor, which is very durable but also has a naturally light color.  Unlike Maple wood floors, it has a lot of personality with the dynamic color variation that flows throughout each board.   This turned out to be a great complement to the white painted cabinets and decor of the home.  They even carried them up the stairs and landing for a continuous look.

Birch Flooring & Hardwood Flooring from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors

As you move to the upper level you will see a change in species, where the clients chose Wide Plank Eastern White Pine with similar light, honey finish. Even though the White Pine does not have very much variation, this made it a nice complement to the Birch.

Birch Flooring & Pine Flooring from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors

One of the things we love about this beach house, in particular, is how it is installed just a few feet from the ocean because it provides another example of a successful installation of Carlisle Wide Plank Floors near the water.  It is a common concern and misconception that you can’t use wood floors near the water due to humidity and moisture.  Carlisle’s high-quality wide plank flooring has been installed in hundreds of homes around the country near lakes, rivers, and oceans with great results.

Talk to a Carlisle Wide Plank Specialist today regarding your project, and we’ll help you design one, two or as many floors as you want, for your project.

The Coulombe house is highlighted in Rhode Island Monthly’s 2011 Home Design issue, including a terrific feature story and lots of great photographs. Click here to read the feature.

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