Front entrance with live-edge maple bench and stone walls.

Before

It’s been well over a year since I did any work on my own house, bought as a ‘contractor special’. My 60-year-old house is well built, but terribly outdated.

The front entrance had a 4-foot by 4-foot linoleum area to stand in and somehow get your coat and shoes into the closet, then another doorway, then wood floor.

Only one person at a time could stand in the front entrance. Plus, no place to put a chair. My parents live with me, so a place to sit and put on boots is helpful.

Working with Maureen McDonald at Centura, I chose floor tiles and wall stone. Cutting away several feet of hardwood floor made the tiling area larger so more than one person at a time can enter the house.

Hallway in progress. Live-edge slab shelf

Floor materials:

• Wall stone: Golden Sand Natural Stone, Centura Tile
• Floor tiles: Centura Tile

The incredible live edge spalted maple slab that forms the bench is from KJP Select Hardwoods off Merivale Rd. At nearly $400, it was an investment, but is absolutely stunning.

My dining room plan includes making a coordinating light from a similarly stunning piece of wood.

Live edge wood bench, recessed shelves and stone walls.

With space at a premium, the shelves are recessed into the closet of an adjacent room. The shelves were built from inexpensive MDF, recessed between studs, then I used fine offcuts from the maple slab to make veneer trim for the exposed parts.

Done. Am really, really pleased with the result.