I have to confess this is a newel that I have not made nor is it one that I cannot “easily” make. I don’t have the proper equipment to make it. The machine that would make this newel is called a hauncher (hence the title). Though I cannot presently make it, I can draw it. If there is enough interest in the style I will purchase a hauncher to make it. The newel is 8 inches wide at the base and about 50 inches high. I really like this design.
I thought it would be neat (different) to turn a baluster with a round or tapered base instead of the more traditional square base. These are two of the ideas I tried. The first is simply a tapered foot base with a length of square . The square and tapered foot are horizontally oriented The top taper is elongated to follow the handrail angle – “rake” angle. The newel used is my fluted N105.
The second idea was to use rope twists above and below a square center. The square section follows the rake angle. The second taller baluster has a longer foot.
I think everyone loves lighthouses- at least my wife and I do. And as stair newels have a the general shape of a lighthouse it seems appropriate that some would take the form of a lighthouse. I have to say that I designed one for a contractor in New York several years ago and he really didn’t like the outcome. One of the challenges of designing one is figuring out where to attach the handrail. Since lighthouses are predominately cylindrical there is no natural “flat” in a post-to-post lighthouse newel to easily attach the rail. An over-the-post version would eliminate (or minimize) the top of the lighthouse features. The only reasonable alternative is to attach the rail to the upper cylindrical part of the newel – an installation challenge.
Whatever!! The following renderings was designed by me as a prototype. It is 5 1/2 inches across the octagonal base. The handrail (not shown) would attach just below the band below the lighthouse lens.
The design below was copied by me from a magazine image provided by the customer. The base is 10 inches (mammoth) X 54 inches high
This is the same newel as above with the stair detail shown. The tread sort of wraps around the newel base. We turned this in poplar and the newel was painted as shown. The customer installed square balusters however.
The following renderings are different versions of a pedestal newel I am developing. They go from about 5 1/2 inch base with 3 1/2 inch turning to about a 8 inch square base with 5 1/2 inch diameter turning. All models depict over the post style newel but certainly a post to post newel could be made. These would have to be shipped in pieces so that the final length of the base could be cut. The column and moldings could be attached after the base is cut and installed.
The spiral top of the newel below is another variation on a theme. Of course, there are endless possibilities. The bases on these have recessed flat panels which could be made with raised panels or left plain. The ionic columns could be fluted as well as plain.
This is another model and rendering I did recently exploring mantel design with split rope twisted columns. Presumably this would be made in cast stone but it certainly could be fashioned from wood. The eyebrow arch makes for an additional good show I think – I love eye brow arches. The mantel shelf is visually supported wit ha large crown molding.
As you can tell I enjoy modeling and rendering probably more than creating the actual thing though I do get a kick out of seeing the finished product come into being. I design quite a few newels and balusters for stairways. I don’t however design many box newels. This one is quite simple with fluting, and an inserted star (great for the lone star state). For Louisianians, a Fleur de le (especially after the Saints won the Super Bowl) would be nice – maybe a magnolia flower for Mississippi.
The newel also has a chamfered top.
These balusters were turned for a customer in San Francisco. The sort of odd thing about these is that although the center diameter is 1 3/4 inches the square ends (not shown) are 1 1/4 inches. That is why I am turning the center area separately. The square top and bottom will be added after.
These alder stair newels were turned for a customer in the Colorado Springs, CO area. They measure 5 1/2 inches X 44 inches. The newel cap is not shown but will match the handrail sample sent to me (below). Obviously the newels are over-the-post newels. The newel cap (with matching handrail profile) will be mitered to receive the handrail.
Pictured below are four of a set of poplar columns we made for a customer some time back. The fluted columns are tapered to simulate the Greco – Roman columns of old. The rope twist are simply cylindrical. These are solid (though laminated) poplar. They came off quite nicely I think and would make a fine addition to any home.
Poplar Columns
I occasionally like to look at newel and baluster designs online to “rev” up my creative juices since I often am called upon to design both for my customers. I found this beauty on Jerry West’s Flickr account and thought I would post it here. Hat’s off to him for a fine design and execution. You will enjoy seeing some of the other pieces he has posted in his account. Click on the link below the image.
walnut newel
