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Holland Kitchens & Baths: Shaping Living Spaces with a Lifelong Love of Building and Design

By Irene O’Connor, Linked Media

Rich Dalene is the Director of Retail Sales for Dalene Flooring Carpet One, a company that has grown from a small hardwood flooring operation into one of New England’s most respected full-service floor covering businesses. But long before he held that title, Rich was a kid hiding in stacks of padding at the warehouse, sweeping floors as a teenager, and doing deliveries – learning all the details of the business.

Dalene Flooring Carpet One’s story begins in 1949 with Rich’s grandfather, Arne Dalene. Originally from Norway, Arne came to the United States as a young boy and later put his carpentry skills to work in East Hartland, Connecticut. He started the company as a hardwood flooring business, specializing in installation often working alongside fellow Norwegian installers who shared his craftsmanship and work ethic. Arne passed away in 1991, leaving behind not just a company, but a standard of quality that still defines Dalene Flooring Carpet One today.

In 1980, the business passed to Arne’s son, Steven Dalene, who expanded operations and helped guide the company through decades of growth. After relocating to South Windsor, Dalene Flooring Carpet One continued to evolve, and by the 1980s had expanded far beyond hardwood floors alone.

From left: Alexi Dahlstrom, Micky Dalene, Steven Dalene, Rich Dalene. Courtesy photo

Today, Dalene Flooring Carpet One offers every type of floor covering – hardwood, tile, carpet, luxury vinyl, epoxy garage floors, high-end rugs and runners, and even custom backsplashes for kitchens and bathrooms. With six retail showroom locations across Connecticut including their location in the Design District of West Hartford, the company serves homeowners, builders, contractors, and commercial clients throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and beyond. While New England remains its core market, Dalene Flooring Carpet One also supports substantial commercial projects across the country for large national companies.

Dalene Flooring Carpet One has 95 employees across retail, installation, warehouse, and commercial divisions and many employees have been with the company for decades, some for as long as 40 years.

“I don’t really know anything different,” Rich says. “But what I love is the end result. You finish a project, and it’s instant – you’ve upgraded something, solved a problem, and made a space feel brand new.”

That transformation is at the heart of Dalene Flooring Carpet One’s work. From restoring hardwood floors, to creating spa-like bathrooms, epoxy-coated garage hangout spaces, and refreshed living areas for families who are choosing to stay put rather than move, the company helps clients reimagine their homes in meaningful ways.

Master bath by Dalene Flooring. Courtesy photo

Rich grew up in Barkhamsted, just a mile from the family farm, and even his sixth-grade yearbook hinted at a future in the family business. After college, there was never much doubt about where he would be working. Today, Dalene Flooring Carpet One remains a true family business. Rich works with his father Steven, his sister Alexi and two cousins. His mother, Micky Dalene, previously handled HR and continues to support the business. Even the next generation is stepping in – Rich’s 23-year-old son works in the business as a tile installer.

“There are a lot of advantages,” Rich says. “You get to see your family, work with people who are just as invested as you are, and build something together. We just went on vacation together – that says a lot.”

As housing trends shift and homeowners look to improve rather than relocate, Dalene Flooring Carpet One continues to adapt – offering solutions that add style, value, and function to everyday spaces. Whether it’s installing hardwood floors, designing a custom tile bathroom, or helping a builder with large-scale commercial project, the company’s mission remains the same as it was in 1949: do it right and stand behind the work.

More than 75 years later, Dalene Flooring is still built on craftsmanship, family, and pride – proof that when you start with a strong foundation, everything else can grow from there.

Courtesy image

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