From an old tree to a beautiful home
The tree had started decaying from the inside, making it unsuitable for producing quality timber during the construction of their home. Instead of discarding it, Were and her husband decided to give it a new purpose.
Dr Lucy Mulugo Were opening her front door. (Photos by Jovita Mirembe)
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Modern homeowners are increasingly choosing metallic doors and windows for security and contemporary appeal, while tiles and terrazzo have largely replaced cement floors. Yet some continue to embrace wood for its warmth, beauty and durability.
Dr Lucy Mulugo Were is one of them. Her home features wooden front and back doors, timber flooring, a handcrafted staircase, wooden rails, mirror frames, cups and trays. “I love nature and having wood around me brings me joy,” she says.
“I believe the love for wood was inherited from my grandparents. Seeing it, touching it, walking on a wooden floor or using wooden kitchen utensils gives me a deep sense of satisfaction because wood is beautiful and unique.”
Were believes that although there are many alternatives, nothing fully matches the elegance and environmental sustainability of natural timber. She also dismisses the perception that wood is too expensive.
“People think wood is costly, but you can use what you have and create something that looks beautiful and expensive,” she says. Visitors to her home are often captivated by the wooden staircase, mirror frames, rails, sink surround and flooring. Much of the wood has a story that began with an ageing tree on the family farm in Nakawuka, Wakiso district.
They cut the tree into logs and transformed them into staircase rails and a sink surround with the help of a skilled carpenter. Were also drew on knowledge gained while studying for a bachelor of science in forestry at Makerere University, where she spent two weeks learning basic carpentry.
“That experience enabled me to guide the carpenter on the designs I wanted,” she says.
“I love the wooden floor because it feels warm and comfortable underfoot in both hot and cold weather, unlike tiles, terrazzo and cement, which always feel cold,” she says.
Were says maintaining wooden fittings is simple. Doors, windows, floors and other fixtures can be treated with wood varnish every six months or when necessary.
For wooden kitchen utensils such as trays, spoons, sauce pots and pounding mortars, she recommends washing and drying them thoroughly before rubbing them with a little fresh cooking oil instead of varnish.
“Fresh cooking oil is safer because these utensils come into contact with food,” she explains.
Although she bought her wooden kitchen utensils rather than making them herself, Were says she chose them because of her love for wood and the distinctive warmth and character they bring to her home.