The image captures a remarkable display of craftsmanship, featuring a staircase and flooring created from live-edge black walnut wood.
This project exemplifies the utilization of natural wood beauty in home construction, blending traditional techniques with a unique approach to material use.
Live-Edge Woodwork Integration
The flooring is a testament to the wood’s natural elegance. The live-edge boards create a fluid, organic feel as they lead up the staircase.
The live-edge is maintained throughout, showcasing the wood’s original contour and texture and strikingly contrasting the conventional straight-edged flooring typically seen.
Technical Execution of the Stairs
Creating a staircase that gives the illusion of a single plank extending upwards requires intricate planning and execution.
The grain continuity was preserved by extending the boards before cutting them to tread size. This meticulous process involved “folding” the cutoff under and affixing it to the underside of the tread above, maintaining the wood’s visual flow.
Scribing and Joinery
Scribing adjacent boards precisely to match the live-edge contour demonstrates an advanced level of skill.
Filling the spaces with a mixture that includes materials such as ground bark and coffee grounds provides an innovative solution to achieving a seamless finish.
Material Preparation and Finishing
The wood underwent a comprehensive journey from milling to installation, including air drying and acclimatization at the installation site.
The chosen finish, a water-based polyurethane, protects the wood and highlights its rich, dark tones and unique grain patterns.
The Outcome
The final result is a stunning combination of staircase and flooring that is a focal point in the space. It reflects the countless hours of meticulous craftsmanship and the thoughtful adaptation of the wood’s inherent characteristics.
This project is a fine example for woodworkers, showing how innovative thinking and respect for the material can lead to extraordinary outcomes in wood-centric designs.