An Ashanti Stool, a masterpiece that embodies the rich heritage and exceptional craftsmanship of the Ashanti people. This unique piece not only serves as functional furniture but also as a cultural artefact that tells a story of tradition and artistry.
This month, I’ve been sourcing one of West Africa’s most profound design pieces for a client, the Ashanti stool. At first glance, it appears simple: a curved wooden seat resting on a sculptural base. But its quiet form holds centuries of identity, craftsmanship, and cultural symbolism.
Beyond that, I’ve been thinking about the spaces in our homes that tend to go unnoticed. The staircase wall. The transitional areas that rush us from one room to another. These quiet stretches are opportunities to add depth and personality, just as thoughtfully as we would with a revered object like the Ashanti stool.
Today, let’s explore both: a masterpiece of West African design and a missed canvas within our everyday interiors.
The Ashanti Stool: Minimalism Rooted in Meaning
At its core, the Ashanti stool is a single block of wood carved with precision from sese, odum, or tweneboa. Its structure is harmonious:
- A soft, concave seat
- A base of interlocking forms
- Geometry that speaks before ornamentation ever does
Each stool carries a message. Some represent unity, others leadership, others spiritual protection. Its simplicity isn’t an aesthetic trend. In Ashanti culture, the stool is personal, spiritual, and often inherited.
The Golden Stool
The most revered example, the Golden Stool, is believed to hold the soul of the Asante nation, an embodiment of ancestry rather than an object of possession. It isn’t sat upon. It is honoured.
What makes the Ashanti stool extraordinary is not only how it looks, but how much story it carries without needing embellishment. Minimal design, maximum meaning. Here is more information about the history behind this piece of furniture.
A gallery wall doesn’t need identical frames or rigid symmetry. Mix photography, children’s art and watercolours, each framed and positioned in its own way.
The Staircase Wall: A Missed Moment of Beauty
Now, to a quieter thought: the power of the spaces we pass through daily without noticing. Staircases. Hallways. Transitional walls. These surfaces are often treated as blank corridors—spaces to rush through rather than curate.
Yet, they hold some of the best potential for quiet beauty.
1. Introduce Subtle Lighting
If the staircase is wide enough, slim wall sconces are transformative. Look for designs that sit close to the wall. Think soft glow, not spotlight—lighting that guides rather than demands attention.
2. Rethink the Wall Finish
Instead of paint, consider full-height panelling in warm neutrals. The depth of texture creates calm, not clutter. It becomes a quiet architecture of its own—supporting the handrail, guiding movement, framing art.
3. Redefine the Gallery Wall
Forget matching frames and perfect symmetry. Blend photography, children’s sketches, watercolours, handwritten quotes. Let the arrangement feel rhythmic, not rigid. This creates movement and meaning—your life unfolding vertically through the home.
The staircase isn’t just a passage.
It’s part of your home’s narrative.
Why These Two Ideas Belong Together
Both the Ashanti stool and the staircase wall remind us of the same truth: beauty often hides in simplicity and intentionality.
One is revered because it carries meaning beneath quiet craftsmanship.
The other becomes powerful when we stop overlooking it.
Design is not only about what stands out, but also what holds us in small, passing moments—what we touch, what we walk past, what we inherit, what we choose to live with.
Closing Thoughts
Homes become soulful when every detail—quiet or bold—has intention.
Whether it’s a handcrafted stool with centuries of history or the way light grazes a staircase wall, the meaningful choices always reveal themselves in time.
If you’re curious about how to bring cultural depth, heritage pieces, or intentional design into your own space, I offer one-hour consultations to help guide your vision.
Ready to design with meaning?
You can book a discovery call by reaching out through my website.
Until next time.
+ view the comments
