A Symphony of Woods
The jatoba wood fingers provide an eye-catching accent and serve as an introduction to some of the design themes throughout the house. "It's like the overture to a symphony," says Rick. "It welcomes people to the house and introduces them to what's coming."
The entryway opens into a hall that is paved with solid jatoba, and, further on, there is a jatoba stair runner. Not only is Brazilian cherry hard, strong and tough enough to stand up to wear and tear, its rich, golden brown hue and beautiful grain imparts a soft warmth to the surrounding area.
Macassar ebony is jet black with brown or brownish-gray streaks, and, when polished, it gleams brilliantly. The Macassar ebony makes a bold statement in the living room, where a curved macassar ebony wall featuring a carved handrail with lighting embedded in a recessed pocket gives off a spectacular glow. In the bar area, macassar ebony is paired with American cherry wood in a distinctive cabinet application, and used as facing on the drawers.
A set of Donghia nesting tables adds a touch of zebrawood to the living room. Zebrawood has a distinctive striped appearance, with brown streaks pulsing through straw-colored wood. The tables are zebrawood, glass and soapstone in a layered configuration.
In the home's master bedroom, a floating bedwall/headboard offers an interesting textural contrast employing pearwood and robusta eucalyptus. Pearwood is a light, pinkish, very fine grained, hard wood with a creamy texture, while robusta eucalyptus is moderately coarse textured with an interlocking grain. In tone, eucalyptus is light red to reddish brown and it darkens over time to a rich reddish brown. The master bedroom also features an undulating, wave-like ceiling made of cedar tongue and groove.
Other applications throughout the home involving the use of woods, both exotic and domestic, include multi-colored aggregates of glass tile, copper, teak and limestone in the master bathroom, and curly ash bookshelves in the upstairs office. Rick's observatory is lined with birds eye maple shelving.
Frequently asked questions
What wood is used in the entryway and hallway of the house?+
Jatoba, also known as Brazilian cherry, is used for the fingers at the entryway, the solid hallway paving, and the stair runner. Its rich, golden brown hue and beautiful grain impart a soft warmth to the surrounding area.
What are the characteristics of Macassar ebony used in the living room?+
Macassar ebony is jet black with brown or brownish-gray streaks and gleams brilliantly when polished. It is featured as a curved wall with a carved handrail and embedded lighting in the living room, and paired with American cherry in the bar area cabinetry.
What is zebrawood and how is it used in the home?+
Zebrawood has a distinctive striped appearance, with brown streaks running through straw-colored wood. It appears in a set of Donghia nesting tables in the living room, layered with glass and soapstone.
What woods are featured in the master bedroom design?+
The master bedroom features a floating bedwall/headboard combining pearwood and robusta eucalyptus for textural contrast. Pearwood is light pinkish with a creamy fine grain, while robusta eucalyptus is coarser with an interlocking grain that darkens to a rich reddish brown over time. The ceiling is made of cedar tongue and groove in an undulating, wave-like form.
What wood is used for the shelving in the observatory?+
Rick's observatory is lined with birds eye maple shelving.
What materials are combined in the master bathroom?+
The master bathroom features multi-colored aggregates of glass tile, copper, teak, and limestone.