Red Grandis Throughout the Home
Red grandis (Eucalyptus grandis) is abundant in the residence with more than 23,000 board feet of the species throughout the home. The interior and exterior doors, Bahama shutters, base and crown moldings, door jams and casings and plinth blocks at the base of the doorways are all made of red grandis. Inside the home, eucalyptus ship wrap siding clads the walls instead of sheet rock.
"We used 5,000 board feet of red grandis for the doors alone," said Mitchell. "I even used it to build a bunk bed with a fire truck ladder for my son who is crazy about fire fighting equipment," he added.
"I became familiar with red grandis when we received a shipment of it from Uruguay in 2007," Mitchell said. "Since the wood was not up to our quality standard, I went to Uruguay to advise the producer on improving their grading and kiln drying processes. While I was there, I just fell in love with the product."
The barn doors show the beauty and grain detail of staining red grandis, while the interior shiplap siding highlight the smooth canvas red grandis creates when painted. This same dichotomy is noticeable in their son's bedroom (below). The custom-made bunk beds are painted red grandis, doors and custom mouldings are made from stained red grandis.
Frequently asked questions
How much red grandis was used in the home?+
More than 23,000 board feet of red grandis (Eucalyptus grandis) was used throughout the residence, including 5,000 board feet for the doors alone.
What parts of the home are made from red grandis?+
Red grandis was used for the interior and exterior doors, Bahama shutters, base and crown moldings, door jambs and casings, and plinth blocks at the base of the doorways. Eucalyptus ship wrap siding also clads the interior walls in place of sheet rock.
Can red grandis be used for custom furniture?+
Yes. Mitchell used red grandis to build a custom bunk bed with a fire truck ladder for his son, demonstrating the wood's versatility for furniture applications.
Where does red grandis come from?+
Red grandis is sourced from Uruguay. Mitchell became familiar with the species after receiving a shipment from Uruguay in 2007.
How does red grandis look when stained versus painted?+
When stained, red grandis reveals its beauty and grain detail, as seen on the barn doors. When painted, it creates a smooth canvas, as demonstrated by the interior shiplap siding and custom bunk beds.
Why did Mitchell travel to Uruguay to work with red grandis producers?+
The initial 2007 shipment of red grandis was not up to Mitchell's quality standards, so he traveled to Uruguay to advise the producer on improving their grading and kiln drying processes, and fell in love with the product during his visit.