New Team and Rejuvenated Showroom Now Serving Texas

The past year has seen big changes for Carlisle’s Dallas showroom. Scott Cook, Director Central USA, has led the relaunch of the showroom that has been serving the Dallas market since 2018. “The showroom has been transformed and we brought in a great new team of professionals who are there five days a week. For the first time, designers and homeowners can just stop by and browse resources or get expert advice,” he comments.

Introducing Our New Team

Wide Plank Specialists Jed Graham and Joy Pedroza are located in the Dallas showroom Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Jed joined Carlisle in June 2022 and Joy followed just a month later. Both brought to their new positions years of experience with luxury wood furniture and a passion for design. In-depth training at Carlisle’s New Hampshire mill and time spent directly with the artisans that create these stunning wood floors were key factors in Jed and Joy quickly becoming wide plank flooring experts.

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Meet Jed

Interior design is in Jed’s blood. His mother was an interior designer and Jed says he has always been attracted to the design process and the creative arts. He received his degree in photography from Montana State University and spent his early years snowboarding in Montana before moving to Dallas in 1997. He spent 13 years as an independent sales representative in the action sports lifestyle market before making the move to the luxury furniture market and then to Carlisle.

Jed jumped at the chance to join Carlisle because he wanted to “get back to being a part of a smaller company that is doing big things.” Jed says that he loves “being part of a smaller company where you can actually meet and get to know everyone who works there.”

 
When Jed is not at the Carlisle showroom, chances are good that you will find him outdoors. He loves outdoor sports, camping and spending time at his family’s property in the Ozark mountains. He also treasures free time with his wife, Kristin, his 19-year-old daughter, their Siberian Husky and the newest addition, a German Shepherd puppy.

Meet Joy

Joy relishes a creative challenge, whether professionally or in her personal life. As the busy mom of four kids, she is often the go-to person for parade floats, theater sets, Halloween costumes and more for all those near and dear to her. She is also an amateur artist, finding art projects to be great stress relief and a little therapeutic. Joy is a trained graphic designer and a dedicated lifetime learner in all avenues of life.

Joy moved to Richardson, Texas as a child and has made Texas her home since. As a young mother, she got a job selling furniture and discovered her love for interior design. “I love that a space can become whatever you want it to be. Every space can be a piece of art,” she explains. Joy enjoys helping clients find creative solutions to areas in their home that have them at a loss and is known for thinking outside of the box when necessary. This passion helped her become one of the top salespeople at Arhaus prior to joining Carlisle.

 
Joy thoroughly enjoyed the training offered with Carlisle, as they send all of their people directly to the mill in New Hampshire for an extensive training program lovingly referred to as “wood school.” “Now I really know the ins and outs of wood floors – not just the beauty of Carlisle floors, but what really goes into them,” she says. Drawing from her experience as the child of a schoolteacher and a former homeschooling mom herself, Joy sees herself more as a teacher rather than a salesperson. “My job is to help explain what sets a Carlisle floor above the rest and also what clients need to consider when selecting the right floor for their space,” she explains.

A Transformed Showroom

Jed and Joy led the transformation of the Dallas showroom and created a fresh resource for architects, designers, homeowners and other clients. An underutilized conference room was converted into a sample room that has been a hit with designers helping clients make color and wood selections. A dramatic focal wall of 12’ planks in heirloom grade White Oak now showcase the range of available widths from 4” to one foot, as well as showcasing the lengths that Carlisle is best known for. This addition complements the existing display spinners that show various finishes and wood grades available.

Jed says the reaction from clients has been wonderful. “People love the showroom changes. Now they can see what a 12’ plank really looks like or easily flip through samples to pick colors. The showroom is a great tool to help us guide clients through the journey to select the perfect floor for their spaces.”

What’s Hot in the Dallas/FT Worth Market

 
Dallas/Ft. Worth is a growing market for Carlisle. “People here appreciate having a floor that is high end and unique,” explains Scott Cook. Lighter, more modern finishes have been particularly popular, although we are starting to see interest in warmer, natural tones picking up. He points to Peaceful Sand in Carlisle’s Elegant Collection as a particularly popular option.

Jed and Joy have devoted their time, educating clients about the risks of site finishing versus the rewards of prefinished planks. “There are still misconceptions in Dallas that site finishing is best, but that is often not the case. There can be inconsistencies that a client may not like once the floor is finished. The great thing about prefinished is that you can see what you are getting and the planks can be laid out in a way that is aesthetically pleasing,” Joy explains.

 
 
Since Carlisle offers completely handcrafted floors, planks may be prefinished or not, according to the client’s specifications. Nonetheless, about 70% of Carlisle floors are prefinished, which means that planks can be dry laid to make the most of natural color and grain variations. Designers can move planks around prior to installation and experiment with different options to create a one-of-a-kind floor that is visually stunning.

Visit the Showroom

Please visit our showroom which is open Monday – Friday, 9 am to 5 pm CST at The International, 150 Turtle Creek Blvd, Suite 103B in Dallas.  Click here for more information on our showroom, schedule a visit or phone consultation.