New Carpeting for the Tenant House
My farm in Bedford has several buildings, including one, which has always been called the tenant house. The little cottage was part of the original farm when I purchased it and it was, indeed, used as a rental for a tenant. Like some of the other buildings, it was completely restored from top to bottom. Over the years, it’s seen little use, but I recently decided to have it redecorated and make it baby-friendly for when my daughter, Alexis, and my granddaughter, Jude, come to visit. Because of a floor-finishing error, the wooden floors in the tenant house have been notoriously slippery, so I decided that carpeting would be part of the plan. I love sisal throughout a house, but natural sisal rugs are a bit rough to walk on with bare feet, let alone to crawl on. So, I visited my friends at New York Carpet in Westport, Connecticut to see what my options would be. I was very pleased that they had a sisal alternative called Sisalon, a woven synthetic material, manufactured by Design Materials, Inc., which is quite soft on the feet. I hope you enjoy this blog about a custom wood margin installation in the tenant house.
1 Dave and his team of carpet installers arrived from New York Carpet, located in Westport, CT. You can see how shiny and slippery the floors in the cottage look.
2 After carrying in the rolls of carpet padding, the rolls of carpeting were brought into the cottage.
3 I chose a sisal-like material called Sisalon by Design Materials, Inc. The color is Connected Tan.
4 Sisalon is much softer on the feet than actual sisal.
5 Dave unrolled the padding and stretched it across the room.
6 The padding was trimmed around the floor registers.
7 And also around the floor electrical outlet covers.
8 Next, the carpet was unrolled and fit into place.
9 Dave used a long straight edge and began trimming around the perimeter.
10 As he trims, the floor beneath is protected with another piece of carpet.
11 This is the binding tape for the edges of the carpet.
12 And this is a carpet binding machine.
13 The spools of binding tape are attached to the machine.
14 The binding tape is fed through the machine, folded over the edge of the carpet, and sewn in place.
15 The machine is equipped with little wheels and the operator pulls it along as it sews, making a very neat edge.
16 Knee pads - A great idea for work like this
17 When seams are required, the installer uses carpet seam tape.
18 A carpet seam iron is used to heat the adhesive on the tape, joining it to the carpet.
19 A seam weight is placed over the seam. It has a perforated white plastic base with an air space between the base and steel weight to allow heat and moisture to quickly dissipate.
20 A carpet seam roller is used to blend the carpet yarn for better looking carpet seams.
21 The carpet was trimmed around the floor outlets and the brass plates were replaced.
22 The floor ducts were exposed.
23 And the registers replaced
24 I was thrilled with the idea of carpeting the staircase.
25 With bare wood, the stairs were treacherous!
26 Dave showed me the hardware for the stair rods and I approved.
27 A thicker padding was used on the stairs.
28 The bound stair runner was set in place using a carpet kicker and a carpet stapler.
29 Next, the rod hardware was installed.
30 The stairs were measured.
31 And the stair rods were cut to fit.
32 The completed stairs - What an improvement!
33 The living room - I can't wait to finish decorating!
34 One of the two bedrooms upstairs, which has two built-in beds
35 Between rooms, I had the installers make little bound mats from the trimmings.
36 Because of the added thickness of the carpet, only one door of the cottage needed to be trimmed and sealed.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
The floors turned out beautifully. Did you use your brand?
The living room ceiling looks like it may have been a porch at one time. I really like it,
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | July 20th, 2011 at 12:16 am
Oh this is going to be fun! Can't wait to see the finished 'tenant' house - the carpet is fabulous - looks so soft and durable! Just perfect for some little knees!
Posted by: Donna | July 20th, 2011 at 12:17 am
I am surprised that you did not have the wood floor restored to be usable. Just curious as to why that was not done. Otherwise, the sisalon option is lovely. with the wood on the perimeter.
I visit your blog daily to be inspired. I am never disappointed. You capture the everyday in a most artistic manner with the photos of the life of everything from berries to barns. Well done! You indeed are magnificent and lead a magnificent team.
Posted by: Sandra McCurry Chitty | July 20th, 2011 at 7:54 am
This choice of floor covering should be very comfortable for little Jude's knees and bare feet. Grandchildren add such dimension to one's life and I hope we see and hear more about Jude in your upcoming blogs.
Posted by: Jane Lennox | July 20th, 2011 at 8:32 am
Hi! I love sisal, but how do you clean it? Professional steam cleaning? I have two black labradors, so while I think it's a great look, I'm not sure about the practicality. Thoughts?
Thanks!
Kelly
Posted by: Kelly | July 20th, 2011 at 9:24 am
Hi Martha, Thank you for this fascinating blog post about a terrific group of guys installing beautiful Sisalon carpeting in your cottage at your Bedford farm! I love seeing all the processes these guys did to produce this fantastic installation so that Alexis and Jude will feel comfortable when they visit you at the farm! The color of that carpeting is similar to the Sharkey color of your carpeting at Home Depot that I want to have installed in my home! I recall the Daily Wag blog about your dogs having trouble walking on the slippery floor in the Tenant house back on July 5th. Speaking of Sharkey, sure hope she is doing better! Bet you had fun last night visiting MOMA and having dinner with Jane Heller, etc. at that India restaurant! Loved seeing your tweets and twitpics again! Thanks also for the websites about the carpeters and the Sisalon carpets. Hope you have another wonderful day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 20th, 2011 at 10:11 am
May I suggest renaming of the House Jude's house or Baby Jude's? I think it is wonderful that you would want the baby and Alexis to have some private space designed lovingly by grandmother, especially for them.
Posted by: Melany | July 20th, 2011 at 10:16 am
Hi Martha,
The carpeting looks great and thanks for showing us the carpet binding machine. I’ve never had sisal carpeting so I’ve never seen one of those machines. We don’t have finished floors under our carpets so I don’t think sisal would be a good choice for us. I like the rods on the stairway and I especially like the windows in the house. They look nice low to the floor like that. One of our houses in Michigan had sills like that but here in Florida they are 33 inches from the floor and all are marble. We have to beware of termites so wood is minimal and fences are all treated. I hope you will take a picture of Jude when she is old enough to crawl which won’t be much longer – and then the fun really starts! Trish
Posted by: Trish | July 20th, 2011 at 10:36 am
i have twins with spanish tile floor. i have been laughed at and called a bad mom for not carpeting the floor. i did put area rugs where they played. not a rug person. yeah, they fell sometimes, but mostly if they tripped on their toys. love the wood floor. my tile was supposed to look like that but the company screwed up. i guess baby jude will love it.
Posted by: chris | July 20th, 2011 at 10:54 am
A gorgeous tenant house...love all the beautiful windows and the floors...and now, the floors covered with a smart looking carpet. More baby friendly, i'm sure.
How great for Alexis and Jude to have their own special place when visiting the farm.
Posted by: sherey | July 20th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
What a delight to see photos of a really sharp team of professional carpet installers at work. The right tools, thoughtful expertise, quality materials --- this is the Martha Stewart standard we have loved in the past and are thrilled that it continues. Doing it right. A person only has to experience "doing it wrong" once to know "there must be a better way." And here it is, not just the better way, but the BEST WAY. Thank you, Martha !
Posted by: Penny | July 20th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Shoot Martha, I think the rug is more inviting to the likes of me who once down on the floor would struggle to get up with a slick floor. Now everyone can crawl around and play with blocks, jacks or just scoot the wheeled toys around.
I imagine it will be more comfortable walking around barefooted as well.
Posted by: Margie | July 20th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | July 20th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Hi, Martha,
I really enjoyed learning your logic behind your decisions and the processes the team went through to achieve what you needed and wanted. I hope you will keep us updated on your decorating progress, both your thought processes and the installations. I learn so much! Thank you!
Posted by: Bobbie | July 20th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Thank you for sharing. I have always hoped to see the interiors of the other buildings on your property. What a beautiful space! I hope you'll share more in the future. What are your plans for the contemporary home on your property? I thought for sure you'd turn that into a minimalist retreat for Alexis & Jude.
Posted by: Happy to see this... | July 20th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
So cute - it's like a little dollhouse for Alexis and Jude. You MUST show us the rest as it's decorated. I'll bet that little white bedroom upstairs will be a favorite of Judes' growing up!
Posted by: stephanie | July 20th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Sorry, I'm not with you on this one. I hate wall-to-wall carpet, it holds so much dirt even when cleaned regularly, and those wood floors were lovely. I'd have gone with a few area carpets and runners, and maybe special traction paint on the stairs, and left the beauty of the wood to show.
Posted by: Maggie | July 20th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Oh, I LOVE the floor-to-ceiling narrow windows and the high gloss painted wainscoting on the ceiling. That is a great way to make a lot of ambient light bounce around. I actually prefer the wide plank wood flooring, but this is a great way to make it baby-friendly and we still see some of the beautiful wood. What a very nice compromise.
Posted by: Barbara Gookin ~ Nantucket | July 20th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
I love everything about this space absolutely beautiful! The windows are so gorgeous!
Posted by: Lina | July 20th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Hello Martha- It's absolutely "gaa-jiss!" I do love carpeting in the colder climates. And you'll always have the beautiful floors below. Don't forget to protect those electrical outlets from childhood curiosity! Thank you for bringing us into your home.
Posted by: Lillian | July 20th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Love seeing the whole process. I have fir wood floors and use area rugs and room sized carpets. I keep thinking about getting carpeting in the living and dining room but between the dog (an active Brittany) and the cats (4 of them - the terrible twins only 1 year old) I just think that carpeting may be less ideal for me but I love the way yours turned out. The stair rods give such a wonderful, crisp, classic look. It will be so fun to have "the girls" come visit and you are creating a doll house that Jude will remember forever. Thanks for sharing the slideshow!
Posted by: Kyra - Portland, OR | July 20th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Martha,
Thank you for giving us a glimpse of the interior of the tenant house. I know I'm not the only one who loves that house just from seeing the exterior pictues, and I have to say it is even nicer on the inside than I had imagined. Can't wait to see the completed project with furniture in place.
Posted by: Lee | July 20th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Beautiful!
Posted by: Janna Lufkin | July 21st, 2011 at 7:02 am
I made the mistake once by using furniture polish on my parkay floors. I about killed my self when I walked acrossed it. I wanted the floor to shine but it was like a skating rink.
Posted by: Rev Kathy Nelson | July 24th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Hello Martha! With your very busy life I don't know if you have the time to read these comments but I hope you do. How fortunate for your daughter to have such a wonderful Mom. To create a space so lovely, so close, yet a private home for her when she visits with Jude. Congratulations on the first grandchild! I have four grandchildren from 9 months to 7 years old and they bring a ton of joy into my life. This cottage looks lovely, I hope you will let us see the finished job when it is all decorated, and the outside too! You have greatly influenced my home decorating, but my purchases are more tag sales and second hand stores than retail. So far, I am quite pleased and want to thank you for all the great ideas you share in so many areas. Sincerely, Debra
Posted by: Debra | July 31st, 2011 at 4:17 pm
I love the paint color in the tenant house, I am building and looking for the perfect white, not too bright or too yellowy. Please help , thanks
Posted by: Trisha linford | July 31st, 2011 at 8:24 pm
I love that off white paint color in the tenant house, could i somehow find out what color that is? it is so difficult to choose an off-white paint color, there are sooo many........that one looks perfect. does anyone know what that color is?
thanks
Posted by: Maureen Sicari | February 29th, 2012 at 7:22 pm