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11/11/08

Beautiful Natural Stones and Mosaics for Older Homes 

 

 

            In today’s stressful world, today’s homeowners want to create an environment that provides serenity in their lives. They want a home with restful elegance that welcomes them after a busy day-and yet-provides for their everyday needs and comfort.

            Homeowners can achieve practicality as well as style with good advice and eye-catching products. Lewis Floor & Home, with two locations in Northbrook and Chicago, helped two North Shore couples discover they could incorporate their personalities and products they loved into their 70-plus year old homes. These homeowners found creative ways to retain some of the past yet customize for today’s 21^st Century living.

            Craig and Charlene Bernard own a 1927 year-old home in Winnetka with a bedroom closet that was so small they couldn’t fit all their clothes and shoes into it. Furthermore, like most bathrooms of that period, the 9-foot-by-9-foot bathroom with an old tub, pedestal sink and toilet, wasn’t very practical. In fact, there was hardly any room to dry off after a bath. When thoughts were given to enlarging the closet, the couple soon realized it could only be accomplished if they added a new master bathroom to the house. The end result was a nine month project that was completed in September of this year.

            “I’m an art director, who likes to make furniture, and I’m heavily involved in design,” says Craig Bernard. “That makes me not the easiest client to be with.”

            After careful consideration, the couple decided to work with Lewis Floor & Home, a third generation owned and operated business, to create a new bathroom that was stylish as well as affordable. “The selection was vast, and the showroom was arranged so we could envision the possible choices. We also took pictures, and then went home and did drawings.”

          The couple decided to use a neutral beige color with darker stone accents in the bathroom. Craig Bernard worked closely with his Sales Consultant Ralph Schiff who even went to their home to recheck the measurements for ordering the necessary amount of stone as well as get a sense of what ambience the family wanted to achieve.

            The new 100- square-foot bath has 18-inch-by-18-inch Spanish Crema Marfil Polished marble tile on the bathroom floor and half of the wall. On the two free standing vanities is Dark Emperador marble slab, which is also on the shower floor and shower seat in a mosaic pattern. The same marble was also used on the ledges over the sinks and the wall by the toilet.

            A unique overlapping round circle design on the shower wall is created by 12-inch-by-12-inch mosaic Crema Marfil with Dark Emperador tile that formed the circles. A coordinating listello is perfectly placed along the walls in the bathroom. Over the vanity sink is a Crema Marfil chair rail as the finishing touch.

Both Crema Marfil and Emperador Brown marble is part of the Lewis Floor and Home in stock tile collection.  In addition to importing porcelain and stone tile from all over the world, Lewis also imports and stocks up to 80 colors of granite, marble and limestone slabs.  Lewis has a custom slab fabrication shop which makes the process very easy.  They picked all their materials including their custom cabinets all at Lewis’ 28,000 square foot showroom.  Lewis opened their new Kitchen and Bath design gallery in March of this year

            The Bernards’ goal was to achieve a unique look using different stones together along with the tiles on the wall that all fit and blended together. “We weren’t sure what we were going to do until we saw tiles and mosaics in the showroom that inspired us. We both loved the look, and it wasn’t difficult coming to a decision. The end result is a perfect match.”

            Jennifer Massarelli lives in a 1930s house in Glenview that was gutted. Her contractor, Peter Redfern, of Redfern Design, suggested she see Sales Associate Barbara Ender at Lewis Floor & Home because he had worked with her in the past and felt she’d be a strong resource for her.

            Massarelli started working with Ender in the fall of 2007 and met with her almost twice a week for several months. “Barbara and I worked well together because she could focus on what I was visualizing for the rooms in my home. She’d show me three products, and I’d pick out one. I never felt overwhelmed by the decisions because she narrowed down the selections,” says Massarelli. 

            The master bath is modeled off of a picture Massarelli had seen in a magazine. It gave no details as to what the products were or even the manufacturers. Yet, Ender was able to recreate the look her client was seeking.

            The master bath is very elegant and classic in design. A crackled ceramic subway tile is installed on the walls of the wainscot around the room along with the shower walls and above the tub surround. The wainscot is topped with a coordinating chair rail. The floor is 12-inch-by-12-inch ivory Turkish limestone set in a brick pattern on the floor. The vanities and the seat in the shower are a beautiful green granite called Costa Esmeralda. All of these items are from Lewis Floor & Home’s in stock tile and slab collection.

            Her daughter’s bath has beautiful white bronze metal inserts in the bathroom floor and a delicate white listello on her tub surround and wainscot. During the remodeling, the family built an extra bathroom for her two sons. Their bathroom has a light brown granite with a beautiful marbling effect. Blue mosaic glass accents are used throughout the bathroom and in the shower stall.

            “I knew I wanted black granite in the foyer because I have a wool runner for the stairs,” says Massarelli. “Black granite would bring out the black in the carpet.” The end result was Travertine tiles with black granite clipped corners.

            The kitchen backsplash is tumbled Travertine sized 4-inch-by-4-inch, with Crema fruit carved deco interspersed. Under the range hood, there is a 12-inch-by-16-inch beautiful fruit bowl mural surrounded by 2-inch-by-2-inch mosaic and bordered by a liner bar as a picture frame. Across the kitchen is a vineyard mural on the wet bar wall surrounded by 2-inch-by-4-inch crackled subway tiles. All of these items were in stock in the Lewis 30,000 square foot Northbrook warehouse except for the murals and the carved deco that were ordered by Ender.

            Massarelli gives all the creative credit to Ender. “She drew up all the plans as to how the tile would be laid. She knew when it should be staggered a certain way or put in diagonally as well as cut to certain sizes. I truly felt as if I was getting the service of a designer for free. It was a huge relief to me to have someone who could step in and help me.”

 

 

11/11/08

SEE US FEATURED IN TIME OUT CHICAGO

9/3/08

Press Release - TILE

 

HOMEOWNERS IN LOVE WITH NEW DESIGN TRENDS

AT LEWIS FLOOR & HOME

European Tile Trend Hits Midwest In A Big Way

                                   

            Several years ago, European tile manufacturers introduced a new concept in floor and wall tiles. Rather than creating tile that resembled marble, limestone and travertine from around the world, Italian tile designers had a different idea. As most high end design trends do-- never seen before looks--emulating soft textiles, leathers, metallic and wood began to take hold in New York and California. Then, this trend began to filter into the most exclusive luxury hotels, fine restaurants, resorts, health clubs and spas across the country and finally the Midwest and Chicago followed suit.

            Lewis Floor and Home was one of the first importers in the Chicago market to embrace the trend when first introduced at Cersaie, the largest international tile exposition in Bologna Italy. “The response to our exclusive tile selection has been overwhelming,” said Susie Axelrad, vice president of Merchandising and Marketing at Lewis Floor and Home. “Customers just love our latest collection. In order to meet increasing demands, we keep over four million dollars in inventory in our Northbrook warehouse conveniently located just minutes off the Edens Expressway.

Lewis Floor and Home Press Release                    2

            “Our tile sales are exploding and our tile business has almost doubled in the last year alone. That kind of growth is unheard of in a down economy driven by a lackluster housing market. Many of the high end tile shops have stayed away from stocking any products because of the financial investment costs involved. Homeowners, designers, architects and contractors don’t have to wait four to eight weeks for luxury tile anymore. And because we import directly from the best manufacturers all over the world, our prices make luxury products affordable.”

            Porcelain and ceramic tiles can be produced to have a textile, silk, linen, leather, monk cloth, and wood look.  Porcelain tiles even offer a washed-out weathered look imitating the shingles found on a Cape Cod house. Meanwhile, porcelain tiles for commercial use can have little strands of metallic going through them.

            What color is hot right now? Brown is an extremely popular tile color in home fashion as well as clothing. Browns are being used with green, blues, cream and whites. Golden honey tone tiles are also popular with consumers.

            “Anyone who wants to update their home should consider adding tiles from our Lewis Floor collection,” says Susie Axelrad. “They are affordable and have the same design and quality as name-brand tiles advertised in many magazines.”

 

8/6/08

Press Release - August 2008 - Glass Tile

4/14/08

LEWIS FLOOR & HOME SUPPORTS THE “GOING GREEN MOVEMENT” WITH ITS WIDE SELECTION OF PRODUCTS

 

            Most people remember when Kermit the Frog once noted, “It’s not easy being green.” Today, most Americans know it’s much easier being green–if they want to be. And, more people than ever before have joined the “being green” movement for their homes and businesses by purchasing flooring products that can be classified as eco-friendly.

            Lewis Floor & Home, formerly Lewis Carpet One, recently added an environmentally friendly area to its showroom to meet the needs of its customers concerned about the environment–but who also want to be in style.

            “Offering as many ‘green’ products in the showroom as possible is important to me,” says Steven Lewis, president, Lewis Floor & Home, a family-owned and operated 54-year-old business in Northbrook and Chicago. “There is nothing more important to me than conserving the environment for our children and grandchildren.”

            New products are entering the marketplace each year for homeowners and businesses alike that are environmentally considerate. Manufacturers are committed to creating products that are designed to stay out of landfills. At Lewis Floor & Home, consumers will find popular green products that include bamboo, cork, linoleum, recycled carpet, recyclable carpet, natural carpet, recycled glass tile and rubber flooring made of recycled rubber used for exercise rooms.

            Many people looking for flooring at Lewis Floor & Home are attracted to bamboo’s distinctive look. Unlike oak, hickory or maple flooring, bamboo isn’t a wood; it’s a grass. This engineered product comes in solid as well as engineered planks, which is made of several layers of wood and a top bamboo veneer. Because bamboo can be harvested approximately every three to five years versus 125 years for oak, consumers realize the environmental benefits this product provides.

            Consumers seeking another type of flooring are also purchasing linoleum, which is made from linseed oil and other natural materials as well as cork coming from the bark of Mediterranean oak trees. There are numerous other wood floors harvested from sustainable forests.

            “For consumers who prefer carpeting, we offer a natural wool carpet and pad from Earthweave carpet, recycled carpet from Mohawk that is made of recycled pop bottles and Sonora fiber that contains 40 percent corn by-products,” Lewis points out. “Clearly, there is no shortage of environmentally friendly products to show our customers who are interested in this category.”

            Regardless of how much shoppers want to be eco-friendly, all these products have to be affordable. The good news is prices tend to be comparable with traditional flooring.

 

2/28/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 2008

KITCHEN AND BATH GALLERY OPENS MARCH 13TH AT LEWIS FLOOR & HOME Company Changes Its Name From Lewis Carpet One To Reflect Its Array Of New Products

Steven Lewis, president and third generation owner, of Lewis Floor & Home, in Northbrook and Chicago’s Lincoln Park, always believes in listening to his customers. And, when they requested a seamless experience for purchasing products for flooring, kitchens, bathrooms and laundry room/mud rooms, Lewis gave it some thought and decided to meet their wishes.

On Thursday, March 13th, Lewis Floor & Home (formerly known as Lewis Carpet One) is opening a 2,000-square-foot Kitchen and Bath Gallery featuring Custom Cabinetry in its Northbrook showroom. Customers will be able to browse among six kitchen vignettes, eight bathroom vignettes and one large laundry room/mud room area.

“We will be featuring products from all over the world that represent the latest design trends without designer prices,” Lewis says. “In addition, all of the cabinetry is custom made to order so there are no limitations as to what we can create.” When a customer comes in with a picture of a kitchen or bathroom from any home design magazine we can create the look. “Customers will only be limited by their imagination and their budget,” Lewis added.

At Lewis Floor & Home, customers will also be able to view a wide selection of granite slabs at the store to complement the customer’s cabinetry. The store stocks close to one million dollars of granite and marble slab material for customer convenience.

By offering flooring, cabinetry, and countertop materials, customers will no longer need to work with four different companies or hire a contractor to coordinate different trades. Clients will save time by working with Lewis Floor & Home because the store will handle all aspects of their project.

Lewis Floor & Home has also added an environmentally-friendly area to its showroom to meet the needs of its customers who want to be at the forefront of style, but who are also concerned about protecting the environment for future generations. Examples of popular green products include, bamboo, cork, linoleum, recycled and recyclable carpet.

As a Northbrook business owner, Steve Lewis believes in giving back to his community. For the past eight years, he has raised funds for the Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook. “Lewis Floor & Home donates a percentage of its sales during the month of June to the Center, and our store has donated more than $100,000 to support families dealing with this disease”

For further information about Lewis Floor & Home, please contact Penny Kowitt at 847-835-8732 or Vicki Gerson at (847) 480-9087. #

5/28/08

Lewis Floor & Home fundraising efforts for Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook.

LEWIS FLOOR & HOME DONATES A PORTION OF EVERY SALE IN JUNE TO THE NORTHBROOK-BASED CANCER WELLNESS CENTER

This Eighth Annual Event Raises Thousands of Dollars for this Community Organization

 

            President and third generation owner Steven Lewis of Lewis Floor & Home donates a portion of every sale for the entire month of June to the Northbrook-based Cancer Wellness Center. This year will mark the eighth annual fundraising event for this Northbrook and Chicago-based business.

            “Through the years, Lewis Floor & Home has donated many thousands of dollars to our Center,” says Nancy Laatsch, executive director, Cancer Wellness Center. “The money supports such programs and services as individual counseling, support groups, classes, mind/body programs and lifestyle programs. All of our services are offered free of charge to the community.” Laatsch points out that no one goes through life without being affected by cancer. Statistics indicate that one out of every three women and one out of every two men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. As a result, people need support during this difficult time in their lives.      

           Besides Lewis’s financial commitment to the Cancer Wellness Center, he

donates his time. Lewis is a member of the Cancer Wellness Center Board and sits on the subcommittee determining the needs of the 13,000 square foot building.

            While working with Lewis, Laatsch knows he is an important voice in the community because he is a role model for other business owners. “It is important to have businesses owners in the community support our Center, or we wouldn’t have an organization like this benefiting close to 2,000 people a year.”

            Laatsch firmly believes Lewis has a desire to give back to the community, which has been so supportive of his family-owned and operated business since 1954. Lewis came to the center seeing an organization he could help support and benefit. “It has been a wonderful match,” Laatsch points out.

            “I believe it is incredibly important to support the community that surrounds us,” Lewis says. “The Cancer Wellness Center provides free services to members of our community that quite frankly are not available anywhere else. The center provides not only support for individuals with cancer but their families. Everyone should not only be aware of the center, but proud to be affiliated with it. That’s what being part of a community is all about.”

            Lewis Floor & Home is located at 1840 Skokie Blvd. in Northbrook and at 1455 W. Fullerton in Chicago.

3/26/08

Floor Covering Weekly Article March 2008

 Download the Word document

3/20/08

Lewis Floor & Home hosted a party at our showroom on March 13, 2008 to preview our new Kitchen and Bath Gallery.

11/12/08

As seen in Chicago Home + Garden Eco Chic issue