A light faux stone was used for the walls in this porch, complimented with oak grained doors to give an overall warm, light & spacious feel.

This door has been grained in Italian walnut with Ancona burr walnut panels, to give a formal & sophisticated feel. This highly prized & exotic timber was used in solid & veneer form, for high class furniture, doors, & panelling, & was the principal cabinetmaking wood in Italy since the fifteenth century. The best examples can be found in the Monastery at Monte Casino, Italy. Now a protected species due to de-forestation, its availability is extremely limited, hence its value has become almost priceless, with the best examples reaching the sum of £15,000 for one door. It has been used in this setting in conjunction with an Italian sienna marbled fire place. (see Marbling) If you are interested in the steps involved to grain this door, click here for a walk through demonstration.

The floor in this hallway had been extensively re-layed with real knotted oak flooring. The doors & banister have been grained to match the floor exactly, giving an overall rich, sumptuous feel.

A traditional medium English oak has been used in this staircase & door feature, with oak heartwood being used for the lock-rail, & quartered oak being used for the panels, as would be done traditionally by the carpenter.

knotted oak bannister.

Following microscopic paint analysis by the Scottish National Trust, it was discovered that these doors at Greenbank House had been mahogany grained in the Victorian era, & it was decided that the colour schemes & graining of that time were to be reproduced. I was commissioned to grain the doors in Honduras mahogany, to complement the formal surroundings & traditional Victorian décor.

Although bold & distinctive, the mild tones & mellow characteristics of this antique pine fireplace give warmth & a focal point to the room, contrasting the cast iron fire.

These Main Doors at Knock Castle in Largs have been painted to give a "distressed French craqueleur finish". The door mouldings & carved ornament were given an antique patina to complement the overall finish.

Fine detail close up of the Main Doors at Knock Castle.