Shaker Grove Idea Home 2002

Modeled after a bench used in a Shaker meeting hall, this 6-foot-long settee greets visitors in the entry hall at Shaker Grove. Illinois artisan Marty Travis hand-planed and finished the piece following methods devised by the Shakers. The hand-turned spindles repeat the lines of the stair rail balusters, creating a rhythmic design element. Shutters on the windows electronically adjust to filter afternoon sunlight. A carpet runner from Mohawk, of crush-resistant nylon, cushions the stairs and quiets stairway traffic.