Lifewood Projects

Marri Flooring Project Como

michelle.li.au@gmail.com (Michelle Li) — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:56:03 GMT

Blackbutt Flooring: Waterfall Staircase Project Perth

mark@lifewood.com.au (Mark Hutchison) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 04:40:28 GMT

"The staircase is the first thing you see when you walk through the door. With Blackbutt's pale golden grain and the open waterfall design, we wanted to create something that would be memorable for generations — not just a floor, but a statement."

— Mark Hutchison, Founder, Lifewood

Blackbutt Waterfall Staircase: A Perth Project Showcase

This stunning new home in Woodlands, Western Australia, features one of Lifewood's most striking project installations — a premium Blackbutt waterfall staircase combined with Blackbutt flooring throughout the first floor landing, activity area, and passageway.

The open tread, waterfall-style staircase construction creates a dramatic, floating appearance that highlights the natural beauty of Blackbutt's pale golden grain. Combined with the surrounding neutral tones of the home, the result is a timeless, elegant statement that will age beautifully for decades.

Interested in Blackbutt flooring or a custom staircase for your own home? Download our 2026 Price Guide to explore species, grades, and pricing.

Download 2026 Price Guide

Project Specifications

Location	Woodlands, Western Australia
Type of Job	Supply and installation — new home build
Product	Lifewood Blackbutt flooring, 180mm prefinished Stabilised Solid®
Coating	Satin finish — 9-layer UV-protective polyurethane
Areas Covered	Open tread waterfall staircase, first floor landing, activity area and passageway
Staircase Style	Open tread waterfall construction

The Staircase: Making a Bold First Impression

The first thing every visitor sees when they step through the front door of this Woodlands home is the staircase. Using open treads and a waterfall style of construction, the design creates a sense of lightness and flow that immediately draws the eye upward.

The Blackbutt timber — with its pale honey-gold colour and subtle natural grain — adds warmth and balance to the surrounding neutral tones without dominating the space. It's a floor that makes a statement while remaining timelessly elegant.

The combination of Lifewood's prefinished 180mm boards and the precision craftsmanship of the staircase installation results in a feature piece that is as functional as it is beautiful.

Blackbutt Flooring: Warmth Across the First Floor

Beyond the staircase, Lifewood's Blackbutt flooring continues throughout the first floor landing, activity area, and passageway — creating a seamless flow of warm, natural timber through the home's most-used living zones.

The 180mm board width provides a modern, spacious feel that suits the open-plan layout of the home. The consistent pale golden tone of Blackbutt unifies the spaces, providing a calm and inviting backdrop for furniture, rugs, and interior styling.

Blackbutt's Janka hardness of 9.1kN makes it one of Australia's most durable hardwood floors — resistant to dents, scratches, and the wear of busy family life.

Open tread detail — Blackbutt 180mm prefinished

Waterfall staircase — natural grain of Blackbutt

First floor landing and passageway

Why Blackbutt is Australia's Leading Hardwood Floor

Janka hardness 9.1kN — one of Australia's hardest native hardwoods, excellent for high-traffic areas and staircases
Pale golden colour — works beautifully with neutral, Hamptons, coastal, and contemporary interiors
Stable grain — straight, consistent grain means less visible movement and a clean, refined aesthetic
Stabilised Solid® structure — Lifewood's patented design combines the look of solid timber with superior dimensional stability
9-layer UV-protective coating — prefinished in a controlled factory environment for lasting durability and scratch resistance
Sustainably sourced — responsibly harvested Australian hardwood supporting local forestry
Excellent for staircases — hardness, stability and aesthetic versatility make Blackbutt the number-one choice for open tread staircase installations

Lifewood's Stabilised Solid® — Only Available at Lifewood

All Lifewood floors are engineered using our patented Stabilised Solid® design. This unique structure combines the authentic look and feel of solid hardwood timber with an advanced engineered core — providing superior stability across all Australian climates and conditions.

Unlike standard solid timber, Stabilised Solid® floors resist cupping, gapping, and seasonal movement — making them particularly well-suited to Perth's warm, dry conditions and to staircase installations where dimensional consistency is critical.

The 9-layer UV-protective polyurethane satin finish is applied in a controlled factory environment, ensuring a consistently beautiful surface that is far more durable than site-finished alternatives.

Visit our Osborne Park showroom to see the full Blackbutt range in person and find the grade and width that suits your home.

Ready to Choose Your Perfect Timber Floor?

Visit the Lifewood showroom in Osborne Park to see our full Blackbutt range — open tread staircase samples, width options, and grades — and get a free quote for your new home or renovation project.

Download 2026 Price Guide Book an Appointment

Visit Our Showroom

See Blackbutt flooring and staircase samples in our award-winning Osborne Park showroom. Bring your house plan and our consultants will measure and quote on the spot.

Book an Appointment

2026 Price Guide

Download Lifewood's comprehensive 2026 Price Guide for full Blackbutt species listings, grades, width options, and transparent supply-and-install pricing.

Download Price Guide

Frequently Asked Questions: Blackbutt Flooring

What is Blackbutt timber flooring?

Blackbutt is an Australian hardwood native to eastern Australia. It features a pale golden-brown colour, straight grain, and a Janka hardness of 9.1kN — making it one of Australia's most durable and beautiful hardwood flooring species.

Is Blackbutt flooring suitable for staircases?

Yes — Blackbutt's high Janka hardness (9.1kN) and dimensional stability make it ideal for staircase installations. Its pale golden tone works beautifully in open tread waterfall designs, creating a dramatic and timeless statement in any home entry.

What is a waterfall staircase?

A waterfall staircase features open treads (no risers) where the timber appears to flow down the stair structure. This minimal, modern design maximises the visual impact of the timber's natural grain and colour.

What is Lifewood's Stabilised Solid® design?

Stabilised Solid® is Lifewood's patented flooring structure combining the authentic look of solid timber with an advanced engineered core. It provides superior dimensional stability — resisting cupping and seasonal movement — and is exclusively available through Lifewood.

How hard is Blackbutt compared to other Australian timbers?

Blackbutt has a Janka hardness of approximately 9.1kN, placing it in the top tier of Australian hardwoods. It is comparable to Spotted Gum and harder than many European species — excellent for high-traffic areas, hallways, and staircases.

What coating does Lifewood use on Blackbutt floors?

Lifewood's prefinished Blackbutt floors feature a 9-layer UV-protective polyurethane satin finish, applied in a controlled factory environment for consistent quality, durability, and scratch resistance.

How much does Blackbutt flooring cost in Perth?

Pricing varies by grade, width, and installation scope. Lifewood provides transparent pricing in their annual price guide. Download the 2026 Price Guide or visit the Osborne Park showroom for a free measure and quote.

Is Blackbutt flooring sustainable?

Yes — Blackbutt is responsibly harvested from sustainably managed forests. Lifewood sources its timber from suppliers committed to ethical forestry practices, supporting the Australian timber industry while protecting native ecosystems.

Blackbutt Staircase Project Woodlands

michelle.li.au@gmail.com (Michelle Li) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:40:46 GMT

Blackbutt Flooring: Contemporary New Home Mandurah

mark@lifewood.com.au (Mark Hutchison) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:40:45 GMT

"Blackbutt's warm, natural tones bring life to a new home like nothing else — bright, contemporary, and unmistakably Australian."

— Mark Hutchison, Founder, Lifewood

Blackbutt timber flooring is one of Australia's most versatile and loved hardwoods — light, warm, and perfectly suited to the contemporary homes being built across WA today. In this featured project, Lifewood completed a whole-home blackbutt flooring installation in a brand new Mandurah home, covering the majority of the living areas from front to back with our 180mm prefinished Stabilised Solid® Blackbutt boards.

Paired with white cabinetry and several hues of white paint throughout, the rich yet light tones of blackbutt give this entire home a contemporary and inviting look. This Australian hardwood also provides extraordinary versatility — sitting beautifully alongside existing furniture and decor styles as our clients settle in and make the home their own.

GET YOUR 2026 PRICE GUIDE →

Project Specifications — Contemporary New Home, Mandurah

Location	Mandurah, Western Australia
Job Type	Supply and installation — new home build
Product	Lifewood Blackbutt Flooring — 180mm prefinished Stabilised Solid®
Coating	Satin finish, 9-layer polyurethane UV-protective coating
Areas Covered	Entry · Passageway · Kitchen · Scullery · Dining · Living Room
Design Style	Contemporary — white cabinetry, multiple white paint tones
Installation	Dust-free process, ready to walk on immediately on completion

Contemporary & Inviting — Blackbutt Throughout the Home

Blackbutt flooring has been laid throughout the majority of this Mandurah home from front to back, with the exception of the entertainment room and bedrooms. The result is a seamless flow of warm, natural timber that connects every living space — from the entry and passageway through to the kitchen, scullery, dining, and living room.

What makes blackbutt timber flooring so exceptional for contemporary new builds is this very quality — its ability to create unity and flow across an open-plan layout. The warm honey-blonde tones of blackbutt don't demand attention; they enhance every room they enter, letting the architecture and furnishings take centre stage.

Blackbutt flooring's natural versatility also means our clients have creative freedom as they furnish and personalise their new home. Whether they choose modern minimalist furniture, coastal rattan, or classic Australian styles, blackbutt adapts effortlessly.

Dining & kitchen — blackbutt flooring Mandurah Kitchen — 180mm Stabilised Solid® Blackbutt Entry & passage — satin UV-protective finish

White Cabinetry + Blackbutt: The Contemporary Australian Combination

The design choices in this Mandurah home reflect one of the most popular contemporary Australian interior combinations — blackbutt timber flooring with white cabinetry and multiple tones of white paint. It's a palette that works for a simple reason: blackbutt's warm, natural honey-blonde tones provide just enough contrast to white without clashing, creating a space that feels bright, open, and liveable.

Several hues of white have been used across the different rooms — some warmer, some cooler — and blackbutt adapts beautifully to all of them. This makes it the ideal flooring choice for open-plan homes where the palette shifts subtly from one area to the next, something increasingly common in WA's new build market.

What colours go with blackbutt floors? The answer is almost anything. From bold navy and terracotta accents to soft sage and warm grey, blackbutt provides a natural foundation that complements virtually every interior colour direction.

Stabilised Solid® — Real Australian Hardwood, Engineered to Perform

Every blackbutt board in this Mandurah project is built with Lifewood's patented Stabilised Solid® technology — the same innovation that makes our floors unique in the Australian market. Unlike standard solid timber, Stabilised Solid® boards are engineered to eliminate the cupping, gapping, and movement that affects traditional solid floors in Australia's climate extremes.

This is genuinely solid blackbutt timber — not an engineered composite, not a floating floor — finished with 9 layers of UV-protective polyurethane in a contemporary satin sheen. The boards are prefinished at our factory and ready to walk on immediately on completion of installation, with no on-site sanding, staining, or coating required.

The result is a floor that gives our Mandurah clients everything: the authentic warmth and beauty of real blackbutt timber, the peace of mind of a dimensionally stable modern floor, and the ease of a prefinished installation with minimal disruption to their move-in timeline.

Why Blackbutt Flooring Is the #1 Choice for WA New Builds

Light and bright natural tone — Blackbutt's warm honey-blonde colour creates open, airy spaces ideal for contemporary homes and open-plan living
Exceptionally hard and durable — With a Janka hardness of ~9.1 kN, blackbutt withstands heavy foot traffic in kitchens, entries, and living areas
Naturally versatile — Complements virtually any interior palette — white, grey, coastal, natural, modern, or traditional
Termite resistant — Blackbutt's natural properties provide resistance to termites, an important consideration in WA's new home builds
Dust-free installation — Lifewood's prefinished boards require no on-site sanding or coating, minimising disruption during your build or move-in
Ready to walk on immediately — Prefinished with 9 layers of UV-protective polyurethane, the floor is complete and ready the moment installation finishes
Exclusively Australian hardwood — Blackbutt is native to coastal eastern Australia, with Lifewood sourcing boards from sustainably managed forests

Ready to Choose Your Perfect Floor?

Visit Lifewood's award-winning Perth showroom and see our full range of blackbutt flooring options in person. Our consultants will measure your home on the spot and provide a formal quote with samples to take home.

Download 2026 Price Guide Book a Free Consultation

Visit Our Perth Showroom

See blackbutt, jarrah, spotted gum, French Oak, and more in person. Our consultants will walk you through every option and measure your home on the spot with a formal quote.

Book Appointment

Get Your 2026 Price Guide

Download Lifewood's comprehensive 2026 flooring price guide — including blackbutt, jarrah, spotted gum, French Oak, and engineered options with supply and install pricing.

Download Price Guide

Blackbutt Flooring FAQ

How do you clean blackbutt timber floors?

Clean blackbutt timber floors with a dry or lightly damp microfibre mop. Avoid saturating the surface with water. Use a pH-neutral timber floor cleaner — never steam mops or harsh chemicals, which can strip the protective polyurethane coating. Sweep or vacuum first to remove grit. Lifewood's prefinished Blackbutt floors with 9-layer UV coating are designed to be low-maintenance and easy to care for.

What colours go with blackbutt floors?

Blackbutt's warm honey-blonde tones pair beautifully with white, off-white, and light grey walls, creating the bright, contemporary look seen in this Mandurah project. White cabinetry is a classic match. Warm terracotta, sage green, and navy blue accents also work well with blackbutt's natural warmth. Its versatility means it suits both contemporary and coastal interior styles equally well.

Can I mix spotted gum and blackbutt flooring?

Mixing spotted gum and blackbutt flooring in the same home is possible but requires careful planning. Both are Australian hardwoods, but their colours differ — spotted gum has stronger grey and brown tones, while blackbutt is warmer and lighter. If mixing, consider using them in separate rooms or zones rather than adjoining areas. Our design consultants can advise the best approach for your specific floor plan.

How much does blackbutt flooring cost per square metre?

Blackbutt flooring cost varies depending on the board width, finish, and whether supply-only or supply-and-install is chosen. Lifewood's prefinished Stabilised Solid® Blackbutt is available in 180mm boards with a satin or semi-gloss UV-protective finish. For an accurate quote specific to your floor plan and state, download our 2026 Price Guide or book a free showroom consultation.

What is Stabilised Solid® blackbutt flooring?

Stabilised Solid® is Lifewood's patented flooring technology that combines the beauty of solid blackbutt timber with advanced dimensional stability. Unlike traditional solid timber, Stabilised Solid® boards are kiln-dried, acclimatised, and precision-machined, then prefinished with 9 coats of UV-protective polyurethane — eliminating cupping, gapping, and twisting common in standard solid floors.

Is blackbutt good for a new build?

Yes — blackbutt timber flooring is an excellent choice for new builds, as shown in this Mandurah project. Its natural honey-blonde tones complement contemporary architectural styles, while its hardness (~9.1 kN) makes it durable enough for whole-home installation including kitchens, living areas, and hallways. Lifewood's prefinished boards are ready to walk on immediately, with no on-site sanding or coating required.

How long does blackbutt flooring installation take?

Installation time for blackbutt flooring depends on the area size and complexity. Lifewood's dust-free installation process is efficient and ready-to-use immediately on completion. A typical whole-home installation covering living areas, kitchen, passages, and entry (similar to this Mandurah project) generally takes 3–5 days. Our team works around your schedule to minimise disruption during your new home build.

Does blackbutt flooring work with white cabinetry?

Blackbutt and white cabinetry is one of the most popular flooring combinations in Australian contemporary homes. Blackbutt's warm, light honey tones provide a natural contrast to crisp white cabinetry without overwhelming the space. This Mandurah new home project demonstrates how this combination creates a bright, inviting contemporary look throughout the entire home, from entry and passageway to kitchen, dining, and living areas.

Jarrah Flooring Perth: Traditional Claremont Project

mark@lifewood.com.au (Mark Hutchison) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:40:41 GMT

"Jarrah is one of Australia's most iconic timbers — rich, red, and utterly timeless. When you walk into a home with beautiful Jarrah floors, you know exactly where you are."

— Mark Hutchison, Founder, Lifewood

Jarrah flooring is one of Western Australia's greatest natural treasures — a timber with a rich red-brown palette, exceptional hardness, and a legacy that spans over a century of Australian homes. In this featured project, our team completed a stunning jarrah flooring installation across a traditional Claremont home during a full renovation, transforming every ground-floor living area with Lifewood's 180mm prefinished Stabilised Solid® Jarrah boards.

From the entry and passageway through to the kitchen, living room, and dining room, jarrah flooring Perth homeowners have chosen for generations delivers warmth, character, and lasting beauty that truly cannot be replicated in any synthetic flooring product. This Claremont project is a perfect example of why jarrah remains Australia's most beloved native hardwood.

Get Your 2026 Price Guide →

Project Specifications — Claremont Traditional Renovation

Location	Claremont, Perth, Western Australia
Job Type	Supply and installation — traditional home renovation
Product	Lifewood Jarrah Flooring — 180mm prefinished Stabilised Solid®
Coating	Semi-gloss finish, 9-layer polyurethane UV-protective coating
Areas Covered	Entry · Passage · Kitchen · Living Room · Dining Room
Installer	Hank — Lifewood Installation Team
Installation Time	3 days (dust-free process, ready to walk on immediately)

Exquisitely Red — The Timeless Beauty of Jarrah

Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) is unique to the south-western corner of Western Australia. Its rich red tones with underlying brown and blonde hues create a natural colour palette that has graced Australian homes for over 150 years — and continues to look as beautiful today as ever.

In this Claremont renovation, our client made an inspired design choice: white walls, traditional skirting and cabinetry, all complemented beautifully by Jarrah's deep warm tones. The result is a home that feels both timeless and distinctly Australian — the ideal marriage of classic architecture and natural materials.

Jarrah timber flooring's deep red colour is also a natural sign of the timber's density and durability. With a Janka hardness rating of approximately 8.5 kN, Jarrah is one of the toughest native Australian timbers available for flooring.

Kitchen & dining room — Jarrah flooring Perth Living room — 180mm Stabilised Solid® Jarrah Entry & passageway — rich red semi-gloss finish

Design Pairing: White Walls & Classic Cabinetry with Jarrah

One of the most enduring interior design combinations in Australian homes is the pairing of jarrah flooring with white or off-white walls. This Claremont project exemplifies why this combination works so beautifully — the white walls and traditional cabinetry amplify the warmth and richness of the jarrah, creating a sense of light and space without washing out the timber's natural character.

Traditional skirting boards, architraves, and cabinetry all finished in white provide crisp definition alongside the jarrah's warm tones. This design approach works equally well in heritage homes as in newly built properties with a traditional architectural style.

What colours go with jarrah floors? The classic Australian answer is white — but the warmer the white, the richer the result. Cream, soft linen, and warm grey all work beautifully with jarrah flooring Perth homes have embraced for generations.

Stabilised Solid® Technology — Australian Jarrah, Perfected

Every Lifewood jarrah board in this project is manufactured using our patented Stabilised Solid® technology — an innovation developed specifically to overcome the natural challenges of solid timber flooring in Australian conditions. Traditional solid jarrah floors can cup, gap, and twist as they react to seasonal humidity changes. Stabilised Solid® eliminates this.

The result: a genuine solid Jarrah timber floor — not engineered, not laminate — that performs with exceptional dimensional stability across all seasons. The semi-gloss prefinish with 9 layers of UV-protective polyurethane coating means the floor is ready to walk on the moment installation is complete, with no sanding, staining, or coating required on site.

For this Claremont renovation, the entire ground floor was completed in just 3 days using a dust-free installation process. The family moved straight back in.

Why Jarrah Flooring Remains Australia's Favourite Native Hardwood

Exceptionally hard and durable — Janka hardness of ~8.5 kN resists dents and scratches in high-traffic areas including kitchens
Naturally termite resistant — Jarrah's natural oils make it unattractive to termites, giving peace of mind across all Australian regions
Rich, unique character — No two jarrah boards are identical; each floor is a unique expression of Australia's ancient forests
Grows more beautiful with age — Jarrah's colour deepens and mellows over time, adding warmth and character to the home
Exclusively West Australian — Jarrah grows only in WA's south-west, making it one of the most geographically specific timbers in the world
Long lifespan — Properly maintained jarrah floors can last 100+ years; many original jarrah floors in heritage Perth homes remain in perfect condition today
Dust-free installation — Lifewood's prefinished boards require no sanding or coating on site — ready to walk on in under 3 days

Ready to Choose Your Perfect Jarrah Floor?

Visit Lifewood's award-winning Perth showroom and see our full range of jarrah flooring options. Our consultants will measure your home on the spot and provide a formal quote with samples to take home.

Download 2026 Price Guide BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION

Visit Our Perth Showroom

See jarrah, blackbutt, spotted gum, and French Oak flooring samples in person. Our consultants will walk you through every option and measure your home on the spot with a formal quote.

Book Appointment

Get Your 2026 Price Guide

Download Lifewood's comprehensive 2026 flooring price guide — including jarrah, blackbutt, spotted gum, French Oak, and engineered options with supply and install pricing.

Download Price Guide

Jarrah Flooring FAQ

Is jarrah flooring good for kitchens?

Yes — jarrah timber flooring performs very well in kitchens. Its natural hardness (Janka rating around 8.5 kN) resists dents and scratches from everyday foot traffic. Lifewood's prefinished Jarrah boards come with 9-layer UV-protective polyurethane coating, making them easy to clean and resistant to moisture from spills when properly maintained. This Claremont project included the kitchen as one of the primary jarrah flooring areas.

How do you clean jarrah floors?

Clean jarrah floors regularly with a dry or slightly damp microfibre mop. Avoid saturating the timber with water. Use a pH-neutral timber floor cleaner and never use steam mops or harsh chemical cleaners, which can strip the protective coating. Sweep or vacuum first to remove grit that could scratch the surface. Lifewood's prefinished boards are designed to be low-maintenance and easy to care for.

What colours go with jarrah floors?

Jarrah's rich red-brown tones pair beautifully with white or off-white walls, creating the classic contrast seen in traditional Australian homes like this Claremont project. Neutral greys, warm creams, and dark charcoal work equally well. Darker timber tones in cabinetry complement jarrah's natural warmth. Steer away from stark blue-whites, which can clash with jarrah's warm red undertones.

What furniture goes with jarrah floors?

Jarrah floors suit traditional and contemporary furniture equally well. Lighter upholstery and pale timber furniture create a bright, airy contrast. Darker wood furniture in walnut or blackwood tones complements jarrah's warm red hues. Brass or copper metal accents in light fittings and handles work particularly well with jarrah's warm palette.

Can you stain jarrah flooring lighter?

Staining jarrah lighter is challenging due to the timber's natural tannins and density. Jarrah is quite resistant to penetrating stains, and attempting to lighten it significantly can result in uneven colour. Most flooring specialists recommend embracing jarrah's natural red-brown warmth. Lifewood's prefinished Jarrah boards are finished with a semi-gloss UV-protective coating that enhances the timber's natural colour rather than masking it.

What is Stabilised Solid® jarrah flooring?

Stabilised Solid® is Lifewood's patented flooring technology, engineered to eliminate the cupping, gapping, and twisting common in traditional solid timber floors. Each board is kiln-dried, acclimatised, and precision-machined before prefinishing with 9 coats of UV-protective polyurethane. The result is a genuine solid timber floor — not engineered — that performs with the dimensional stability of a floating floor.

How long does jarrah timber flooring take to install?

Installation time depends on the area size and complexity. For this Claremont renovation project covering entry, passage, kitchen, living room, and dining room, Lifewood's team completed the installation in just 3 days using a dust-free process. The floor was ready to walk on immediately after installation. Most residential jarrah flooring projects take between 2–5 days.

Is jarrah an Australian native timber?

Yes — jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) is a native Australian hardwood found exclusively in the south-western corner of Western Australia. It is one of Australia's most iconic and prized timbers, known for its deep red hue, exceptional hardness, natural termite resistance, and remarkable longevity. Many jarrah floors installed over a century ago remain in excellent condition today.