Founded in 1947, the fabulously reinvented Permanent Floors Carpet One is ready take on the next decade in style
By Patricia Nugent
With a showroom overhaul, all new displays, and an interactive, room-visualizing kiosk, the folks at Permanent Floors Carpet One are getting their shine on.
“From day one back in 1947, our mission has been to serve customers by offering the widest possible selection and best shopping experience possible,” says Shelly Szabo, who is the granddaughter of founder Ken Kassouf Sr. “Thanks to the new redesign, our 4,000-square-foot showroom houses thousands of samples that are sorted by color and style. That makes the selection process more streamlined. We match the product classes to the customer, considering things like whether they have pets and how much traffic they have? Do they dislike vacuum marks? How important to them is being 100% green?”
The Expressive Collection appeals to those who love patterns and varying textures. Those who want luxurious texture with family-friendly durability opt for the Relaxed group. And products in the Structured collection are the most durable, with a looped construction, like Berber styles, that do not show footprints.
With hard-surface flooring accounting for about 70% of sales, Shelly reports that people often look for area rugs to complement it.
“We can cut a custom size and shape to fit a room or stairs, which can create a total new look,” she adds.
Instant Visualization
“Our customers are loving the new Room by Room visualizer,” she says. “Either using it by themselves or with our help, they can see how any new flooring will look in a room. It brings to life how dramatically any color, shape, or texture will change your space.”
Here’s how it works: You take a product sample and scan its QR code, then upload a photo of the room you’re looking to upgrade. The visualizer instantly shows the new space.
“We also love that it does the legwork of the selection process, automatically listing the features, benefits, warranties and cost of each product,” she says.
In addition to boosting the overall shopping experience, when it comes to creativity, they’ve got you covered, too. The home remodeling superstore also offers complimentary design services with its jobs. A team of designers helps by pulling together cohesive looks with everything from flooring to fabrics, paint colors and window treatments. Patti Ricci, Diane Bedrick (a daughter of Ken Kassouf Sr.), and Joan Kassouf (wife of 2nd generation owner, Ken Kassouf Jr.) are fixtures at the showroom, with loads of talent and a special passion for home reinvention.
Joining their best-in-class products, such as Mannington, Shaw and Coretec, Fabrica is the newest line to watch. It includes high-end yet durable nylon carpeting and hardwood floors that interior designers crave.
And in the Tile Gallery you’ll find an expanded selection of granite countertops, many from MSI.
Extending the Beautiful Guarantee to Hard Surfaces
The Kassouf family has always believed enough in its products and installation to offer a no-questions-asked Beautiful Guarantee. If you don’t love your new flooring from Permanent Floors Carpet One within 90 days after it’s installed, they replace it for free.
“The guarantee always covered carpeting,” says Shelly. “Recently we’ve decided to extend it to hard-surface flooring too. Making sure people love the way their home looks and the shopping experience we offer here is our main goal. For the past 30 years, we’ve stood behind this guarantee and take pride in it.”
What’s Trending
It’s been the number one color for several years, but at long last, the color gray is fading out,” says Shelly Szabo of Permanent Floors Carpet One.
What’s taking its place?
“Barely-there whites and creams, accented by natural woods,” she answers. “But we’re seeing less white in kitchen cabinetry. People are opting for the warmth of natural wood looks for a more organic esthetic. I’d say there’s a sense of minimalism in the living spaces we’re seeing.”
For tile backsplashes, she says people are opting for classic subway tiles, a timeless look that goes with any style.
Another throwback, she adds, is flooring styles are going back to skinnier planks, whether LVT or hardwood flooring. “For the past few years, wide ‘barn-look’ widths of seven to nine inches were big. Now we’re back to more traditional two to four inches.”
Whatever the hues or shapes, across all the lines, performance is king.
Shelly reports that many of their carpets and hard surfaces are now 100% waterproof, allowing them to last decades longer than their predecessors.
Permanent Floors Carpet One is located at 5620 Ridge Road in Parma, less than a mile south of I-480. As part of a group of more than 1,000 stores nationwide, the family-owned showroom offers a vast selection and low prices. Call 440-884-3300 or visit PermanentCarpetOne.com for more information.