Stairs
Arial view of spiral staircase and balcony high lighting steam bent cherry balusters in an off set Gothic arch pattern. The staircase is completely held together by interlocking wooden joints and glue. there are no nails or screws anywhere in the staircase. I first built this staircase directly on the straight board wooden floor. It didn’t look right. So I designed and built, working closely with the client, the slate and cherry circular piece you see at the base of the stair. The slate represents the dark textures and colors of the rich soil of the earth and the pattern is an abstraction of the spiral staircase going on down another level into the earth.
Vaise Scaled - Lou Kern Master Woodworker Oakland California
I did this stair early on in my career. The owner had grown up on the Oregon coast in a small city. He went to college, became a professional and eventually made enough money to retired back in his home town. In the mean time he had also become a collector of “bordello furniture” from the Gold Rush era. He purchased the old and badly aging small town mansion that he remember fondly from his youth and wanted the interior to match his furniture collection, including this staircase.
Don Doyd Scaled - Lou Kern Master Woodworker Oakland California
Tony Diaz - Lou Kern Master Woodworker Oakland California
This is a staircase and railing system from a home in the mountains of Oregon…deer hunting country. The owner wanted the interior to have the look of a lodge.
Three story oval staircase in oak and popular (paint grade wood). I built the staircases and the trim. The metal railing was done by others.
This was a very difficult project. It is a bit hard to see in this picture but the balconies are all curved. The glass came in not matching the curves it was suppose to….this after weeks of waiting for it. I had to develop work arounds. It is not possible to force tempered glass to bend.
King Cheon Scaled - Lou Kern Master Woodworker Oakland California
Moore Scaled - Lou Kern Master Woodworker Oakland California
These are images form a re-creation of a grand old San Francisco Victorian. The job started with a few of the original balusters. Most of the balusters were made from scratch and so was the hand carved curved “easement”.
These are images form a re-creation of a grand old San Francisco Victorian. The job started with a few of the original balusters. Most of the balusters were made from scratch and so was the hand carved curved “easement”.
A curved railing add on to a spiral staircase done in mahogany.
A railing add on to a spiral staircase done in mahogany.
Three story oval staircase in oak and popular (paint grade wood). I built the staircases and the trim. The metal railing was done by others.
Three story oval staircase in oak and popular (paint grade wood). I built the staircases and the trim. The metal railing was done by others.
Clausen - Lou Kern Master Woodworker Oakland California
Clausen Partly Finished - Lou Kern Master Woodworker Oakland California
Clarke Scaled - Lou Kern Master Woodworker Oakland California
Clarke Scaled - Lou Kern Master Woodworker Oakland California
This is a relatively simple expression of the Arts and Crafts style. The Bay Area has long been noted for this style. The contrasting woods here, typical of Greene and Greene are red oak and wenge.
Arts and Crafts style railing system in red oak.
A redwood “eyebrow” deck for morning coffee or afternoon reading in the shade.
