Lofty goals: How to get there

A Client recently came in with a picture of a space saving stairway. Apparently this is a relatively common design in Great Britain.

He asked me if it was something I could do. I said yes because I love the problem solving involved in trying new things. This project wasn't too difficult once we settled on an angle. The material is 1.25" thick knotty pine, and the treads are dadoed into the carriages.

The concept of the alternating treads is pretty interesting. Since your right and left legs would naturally fall on alternating steps, this staircase has an effective rise/run of 9.25"/9.5". I'm curious to see how well this works once it's installed.


This client had been using a fiberglass ladder to access his sleeping loft and he wanted something that didn't take up much room, but looked "cool". I'd say we accomplished that goal.

All the Right Angles

Actually right angles are easy. It's the other ones that cause woodworkers to scratch their heads. But I like to design with angles for several reasons:

First, you can make better use of space. The bookcase in the top picture was designed to fit along a wall, but there was a window only 8" from the wall. The angle allowed me extemd the bookcase all the way across that wall without blocking the window. More room for books, more light streaming into the room, and a happy customer.

Second, ngles can also help to make a space more functional. The second picture shows an angled drawer above a cabinet with cookie sheet dividers. The stove is barely visible to the right. We were working around a chimney that jutted into the kitchen, and this angle enabled us to install the stove with and still have usable counter space and a full size bank of drawers.



Third, angles can serve to soften a corner. The last picture shows a cabinet with a reclaimed wood top and another angled drawer. This angle allowed us to avoid having a sharp angle jutting out into the kitchen. It has visual appeal while it prevents bruises.

The final reason I like angles is that it helps me to keep trigonometry fresh in my mind. Someday, my little boy is going to ask me to help him figure out an angle in a right triangle where the opposite side is 14" and the adjacent side is 24". And I'll be able to say something more meaningful than "thats's such acute angle."

In the Process Part V: Not done, but it's got wine storage.

It's good that this project is taking some time--that means that I have some more pressing work to attend to.

My favorite feature on the hutch are the columns. They have a slight taper (one inch over almost 7 feet), and they open up to reveal a broom closet on the left, and wine storage on the right.

The most technically difficult parts are finished. I have yet to complete the doors, some mouldings, and the finish.

This hutch is pretty big. It's nearly 8 feet tall, and five feet wide. That means that it needed to be constructed in such a way that it could be easily disassembled for transport. When fully assembled, it is difficult to guess where it comes apart.

When I finally complete this project, it is likely to end up in the showroom at Lumen Essence Lighting on the North Park Blocks. If you have any interest in old house lighting, you owe it to yourself to visit Larry at this amazing shop.