KP...This craze of using the beautiful woods for all these fabulous projects has gotten the truths and correctness out of line by all the so called "we know what we're doing" unprofessionals doing shoddy cut throat work. MOST don't even have business liscense much less morals and ethics of being masters ( that is anyone who can do a trade on their own in a professional and ethical manor AND provide leadership in seeing trade is being taught correctly). I'm sorry if this sounds like a rant....IT IS!!! BUT I hope it's an eye opener and gives you good guidance. I'm seeing SO MANY people that are getting bad info and are going to be disappointed when their tops (or whatever) warp and twist and the bugs start coming out.
Let's start with your issue/question. 1) YES it needs to be dry.....the correct MC (this is what the interior of the wood should be NOT the outside!!!) Interiors of the average "USA" home is 7-10% and most use 9% as the ideal average. AD ,depending on your location, average in USA is 12% and this can be used IF all the stars are lined up and the project is made to "float".
2) AD vs KD...MANY arguments on this but the truth is both have their pros and cons.....I personally do both...long term ADing is good on stress relieving in the wood but once below 25% MC it's not as critical but I dry on down to the 12-14% range, then I KD on down to 7% MC, then sterilize....
3) Sterilizing/debugging.....THERE IS so much wood being reclaimed, regenerated...whatever the name they use this week LOL....that is NOT being sterilized/debugged and being introduced into homes and businesses that could cause future problems when they decide to come out......YES you need to do this step also AFTER drying.
I just talked to a lady this week and she was "doing" her own workmanship. She is planning to build walnut countertops BUT running the grain front to back instead of lengthwise....for 15-18'...I didn't have the walnut to fill the order BUT I thought I misunderstood the direction...after calling her back and inquiring, I asked her IF she knew how much it was possibly going to move that way....her reply if it's KD'd it won't move...WRONG!! I guessed and informed her possibly 2+" from winter to summer on a unregulated humidity home.
KP, you have a great vision and can be very self rewarding if done correctly. Gene the Wood Dr. here can give better specs than I recall from memory. Check out my website to see wood from start to finish.
Have a Blessed day,
Tim