There may be just a few weeks left in Season 11 of Barnwood Builders on the DIY Network, but fans of the show can now enjoy the designs of Mark Bowe and his group of hillbilly builders in their home all year long.
Thanks to a partnership with Bruce Hardwood Flooring out of Elkins, WV, a new collection of hardwood flooring designed by Greenbrier County resident, craftsman and popular television host Bowe is hitting sales floors.
According to Katherine Shelton, director of operations for Barnwood Living, Bowe designed the hardwood flooring to be built at the West Virginia manufacturing plant using 100% Appalachian hardwood.
Bowe took his own personal style and challenged those at the flooring company to use pieces that would have otherwise been overlooked to bring out the character in those materials, Shelton explained.
“It is a lovely line of flooring,” Shelton continued. “All of the designs are named after different counties in West Virginia.”
Each county represented in the collection showcases the type and color of wood that is unique to constructions typically found in those areas, Shelton said.
For example, the Greenbrier flooring collection is a soft color made of White Oak that reminds Bowe of the open spaces of his home county. The Monroe Collection is designed after the first church built in Monroe County.
The collection of flooring will be sold at independent retailers including S.J. Neathawk Lumber Company in Lewisburg, Tri-County Furniture in Covington, VA, and Raleigh Tile in Beckley and Princeton.
“You have the look of a vintage wood floor, with the ease of a modern tongue and groove flooring system,” Shelton said. “There are finishes from light to dark and things that really reminded us of the different counties they were named after.”
“The flooring has already won two design awards,” Shelton stated. “They were very prestigious awards for our first venture in hardwood flooring design.”
As for the popular television show that features Bowe and his crew reclaim and rebuild pioneer-era structures, there have been a few changes this year, Shelton said.
A new owner took over the Boneyard at Roundtop at the Texas home of Barnwood Builders, so the crew did not attend the three-week-long antique show this year, but they still plan to make a second home in the Texas area soon, Shelton noted.
Also, the crew is prepping for building and filming to begin for season 12.
In addition to Bowe, Graham Ferguson, the semi-retired Johnny Jett and Sherman Thompson, new crew members include Ryan Franklin, Teshawn McCoy and Evan Canterbury, all from Greenbrier County, according to Shelton.
The Barnwood lifestyle brand has become more popular than ever, and the storefront located on Main Street in White Sulphur is still going strong, but with a bigger online presence, Shelton noted.
The store is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m and features one-of-a-kind artisan items including ladies’ clothing, handmade bags, Bowe’s favorite tools and tool belts, and much more.
“We feel like we have been given a very unique opportunity to share what we do with millions of people every week,” Shelton added. “The journey with our production company and with DIY Network has been lovely. We really appreciate the fans who watch the show and have made it popular to see what a handful of hillbillies do for a living.”
New episodes are being aired on the DIY Network on Sundays at 9 p.m.
The new flooring collection can be viewed online at bruce.com under the Mark Bowe Collection, by visiting local retailers, or by visiting the storefront in White Sulphur Springs.
