Oak, Ebonised, Banister, Staircase, Angles, Bespoke
Oak Line
This bespoke solid oak banister was designed to become part of the existing architecture of the house, following the changing direction of the staircase while tying into the black-and-white interior.
Rather than painting the timber, the European oak was ebonised to create a deep black appearance while keeping its grain and texture visible. The simplicity of the finished piece puts the focus on the material and proportions, with much of the complexity hidden within the joints and changing angles.
BRIEF.
The client wanted a new banister that would work naturally with the existing black-and-white details throughout the house.
The design needed to remain simple and understated while still having the character of solid timber. Keeping the oak grain visible was important, so an opaque painted finish was avoided.
The banister also needed to follow several changes in direction along the existing staircase, meaning the complete piece had to be designed around the geometry of the space rather than assembled from standard components.
CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS.
The main challenge was accurately following the changing angles of the staircase.
Several changes in direction created compound angles where even a small error could become increasingly noticeable as the banister continued along the wall. Detailed measurements were taken on site, but rather than relying on measurements alone, the critical sections were recreated as a physical mock-up in the workshop.
This allowed the joints, angles and overall geometry to be tested and refined before any of the finished oak was cut, reducing the amount of adjustment required once the banister reached the house.
The finish presented a different challenge. The banister needed to read as black within the wider interior without losing the character that made using solid oak worthwhile. Ebonising achieved that balance, darkening the timber while allowing its grain, texture and natural variation to remain visible.
THE MAKING PROCESS.
The project began with a detailed survey of the staircase, recording not only the overall dimensions but each change in direction and the individual angles created as the wall moved through the space.
Back in the workshop, the more complicated sections were recreated as a full physical mock-up. This provided a reliable reference for developing the compound joints and meant the geometry could be adjusted and tested before moving onto the finished timber.
Once the angles were resolved, solid European oak was selected, prepared and machined to the required dimensions. Each section was individually cut and fitted, with particular attention given to the points where the banister changed direction so that the joints met cleanly and the complete piece followed the architecture accurately.
The oak was then ebonised to create the deep black finish. Unlike paint, the treatment leaves the grain and texture of the timber visible beneath the colour. Once the required depth had been achieved, the finished components were protected with Osmo Polyx Oil.
Because so much of the difficult fitting had already been resolved in the workshop, installation could then focus on accurately positioning and fixing the completed sections rather than making extensive adjustments within the client’s home.
“Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship, we're extremely happy with the care and attention throughout the project. Thanks so much!”
- Anthony Stindum, Lewes