Winning athletes have many traits that transfer well to entrepreneurship. They must be physically and mentally tough, bouncing back and redirecting efforts when there is a setback. They quickly pivot to capture unexpected opportunities. They maintain a positive attitude to press on to the next scoring opportunity. So it makes perfect sense that avid volleyball players and brothers Jake and Glenn Elliott have built a successful Lowcountry business working with homeowners and builders. Through Elliott Brothers Woodworks, they supply an expansive range of domestic and imported new, engineered and reclaimed wood flooring for both newly constructed homes and renovation projects.
Originally from Georgetown, South Carolina, the brothers remained in Charleston after attending the College of Charleston 30 years ago. They are both avid beach volleyball players and enthusiasts. “I retired from the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) beach volleyball tour after playing for 12 years,” says Jake Elliott, who went on to coach the sport at the College of Charleston for a decade and now coaches at Lucy Beckham High School. “My brother created and coached the beach volleyball program at Wando High School for a while.”
After their careers in volleyball, they saw a need in the early 2000s for a reputable wood business in this booming market, and that’s where their flooring company began. “Because of a long history in the industry, we have established great relationships with the top vendors in the U.S. and around the world through Elliott Brothers Woodworks,” Elliott says.
The brothers are very in tune with the Lowcountry aesthetic, and along with their detailed customer service and superior products, have greatly expanded the business since forming Elliott Brothers Woodworks in 2008 to provide almost endless options for their customers. They still import wood and use their vetted suppliers from around the world to provide new and reclaimed antique flooring in about any imaginable species, working closely in the tight-knit family business they have built.
Elliott Brothers Woodworks provides both solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring to give homeowners and builders a range of products to consider when constructing or renovating a home. More than 30 species of solid wood planks provide numerous possibilities when choosing flooring. Some planks originate from trees grown in the United States while exotic species come from overseas. Regardless of origin, the company’s deep U.S. supplier connections allow it to source lumber locally, which translates into time savings for homeowners, who won’t experience lengthy waits for imported exotic wood.
For those who want the character and sustainability of reclaimed wood flooring, the brothers have stocked the showroom with planks milled from reclaimed beams and lumber salvaged throughout the country. They reclaim and refinish heart pine and oak flooring in a variety of ways to provide different looks. Antique heart pine flooring comes from pre-1920s milled beams that are quartersawn for an elegant effect; rustic heart pine shows evidence of original saw marks for a distressed look. Oak fence planking is milled from historic fencing from the Midwest and Northern states, with holes and knots that show its original use.
The brothers lean on their suppliers to scout for reclaimed barnwood, beams and mantels from dismantled industrial buildings, warehouses and barns, which they then kiln-dry, fumigate and de-nail. It’s interesting to see the axe marks on the beams that were hand-hewn long ago and are now ready for homeowners to discover and create one-of-a-kind focal points in their homes. “These antique boards come from old-growth timbers in the Southeastern part of the country. They can be turned into beautiful ceiling beams, wall paneling, a floating mantel over the fireplace, barn doors, custom vent hoods or anything a homeowner imagines,” Elliott says.
The company sells wood decking, such as ipe and garapa, ready for outdoor applications. Hard-to-find woods, such as pecky cypress that sunk in Southeastern rivers 100-plus years ago, are reclaimed from river bottoms by local divers and refinished for use in home projects.
In addition to the many flooring products, Elliott Brothers provides all of the services needed—finishing, refinishing, installation and custom design of special projects—that enable customers to have the full experience under one roof. While the team designs for the commercial sector, such as building wooden restaurant tables, benches and unique bar tops, homeowners also can rely on the design and installation teams to bring their ideas to fruition. A custom live-edge walnut table, for example, may be the conversation starter needed in a new dining room design.
Everything is pulled together in a Mount Pleasant showroom that is open weekdays or by appointment. Showroom manager Holly Moses ensures there are plenty of pre-finished and site-finished wood samples and a revolving showcase of antique reclaimed mantels for customers to peruse. “It’s so interesting to learn the story behind some of the pieces of reclaimed wood,” she says. “Whatever a customer is searching for, we offer high-end options as well as a range of budget-friendly products that can fit any budget. Most wood flooring providers don’t have a dedicated showroom like we do but often share space with other products, such as carpet. We are not a big-box retailer and offer a family-style welcome to both homeowners and professionals in the trade.”
“It’s so nice to have a design eye like Holly’s in the showroom to help homeowners design unique elements and patterns in their wood flooring,” adds Elliott.
With all of the products and services offered by Elliott Brothers Woodworks, a homeowner can enjoy the complete package of a custom-designed wood floor and wooden architectural elements that fully complement their home’s style.
Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and fine art.
