A modern staircase that is both curved and u-shaped, with fluidly floating wood stair railing. Cascading glass teardrop chandelier hangs from the to of the 3rd floor. In the distance is the formal living room with a stone facade fireplace and built in bookshelf.

A staircase is so much more than circulation. It provides a space to create dramatic interior architecture, a place for design to carve into, where a staircase can either embrace or stand as its own design piece. In this custom stair and railing design, completed in January 2020, we wanted a grand statement for the two-story foyer. With walls wrapped in a modern wainscoting, the staircase is a sleek combination of black metal balusters and honey stained millwork. Open stair treads of white oak were custom stained to match the engineered wide plank floors. Each riser painted white, to offset and highlight the ascent to a U-shaped loft and hallway above. The black interior doors and white painted walls enhance the subtle color of the wood, and the oversized black metal chandelier lends a classic and modern feel. The staircase is created with several “zones”: from the second story, a panoramic view is offered from the second story loft and surrounding hallway. The full height of the home is revealed and the detail of our black metal pendant can be admired in close view. At the main level, our staircase lands facing the dining room entrance, and is flanked by wall sconces set within the wainscoting. It is a formal landing spot with views to the front entrance as well as the backyard patio and pool. And in the lower level, the open stair system creates continuity and elegance as the staircase ends at the custom home bar and wine storage. The view back up from the bottom reveals a comprehensive open system to delight its family, both young and old!

Photography by Picture Perfect House
Expansive transitional wood straight staircase in Chicago with open risers and wood railing.

Floating staircase, open floor plan
Photo of an expansive contemporary wood straight staircase in Los Angeles with open risers and mixed railing.

Expansive transitional wood floating staircase in Houston with wood risers and metal railing.

Brady Architectural Photography
Expansive modern wood spiral staircase in San Diego with wood risers.

This grand 2 story open foyer has an eye catching curved staircase with a patterned carpet runner, dark treads and dark stained handrail. A round center hall walnut table graces the space and is visually balanced by the orb "globe" style hanging pendant fixture above it. The patterned oval rug plays homage to the coffered ceiling above and aids in bringing ones eye up to this beautifully designed space. The living room with it's comfortable yet elegant furnishings and curved wall sconces with petite shades are also seen from the center hall. Off of the living room one can see a glimpse of the hallway's "curved" coffered ceiling, the console table with globe and wooden sculptures. The contemporary painting above the console's table brings everything together culminating into an elegant and welcoming environment. Philadelphia Magazine August 2014 issue to showcase its beauty and excellence. Photo by Alicia's Art, LLC RUDLOFF Custom Builders, is a residential construction company that connects with clients early in the design phase to ensure every detail of your project is captured just as you imagined. RUDLOFF Custom Builders will create the project of your dreams that is executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsman, while creating lifetime client relationships that are build on trust and integrity. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area including West Chester, Gladwynne, Malvern, Wayne, Haverford and more. As a 6 time Best of Houzz winner, we look forward to working with you on your next project.

Wide board engineered timber flooring in split level home. Brass insert nosing with shadow line detail.
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary wood staircase in Other with wood risers and glass railing.

This residence was a complete gut renovation of a 4-story row house in Park Slope, and included a new rear extension and penthouse addition. The owners wished to create a warm, family home using a modern language that would act as a clean canvas to feature rich textiles and items from their world travels. As with most Brooklyn row houses, the existing house suffered from a lack of natural light and connection to exterior spaces, an issue that Principal Brendan Coburn is acutely aware of from his experience re-imagining historic structures in the New York area. The resulting architecture is designed around moments featuring natural light and views to the exterior, of both the private garden and the sky, throughout the house, and a stripped-down language of detailing and finishes allows for the concept of the modern-natural to shine. Upon entering the home, the kitchen and dining space draw you in with views beyond through the large glazed opening at the rear of the house. An extension was built to allow for a large sunken living room that provides a family gathering space connected to the kitchen and dining room, but remains distinctly separate, with a strong visual connection to the rear garden. The open sculptural stair tower was designed to function like that of a traditional row house stair, but with a smaller footprint. By extending it up past the original roof level into the new penthouse, the stair becomes an atmospheric shaft for the spaces surrounding the core. All types of weather – sunshine, rain, lightning, can be sensed throughout the home through this unifying vertical environment. The stair space also strives to foster family communication, making open living spaces visible between floors. At the upper-most level, a free-form bench sits suspended over the stair, just by the new roof deck, which provides at-ease entertaining. Oak was used throughout the home as a unifying material element. As one travels upwards within the house, the oak finishes are bleached to further degrees as a nod to how light enters the home. The owners worked with CWB to add their own personality to the project. The meter of a white oak and blackened steel stair screen was designed by the family to read “I love you” in Morse Code, and tile was selected throughout to reference places that hold special significance to the family. To support the owners’ comfort, the architectural design engages passive house technologies to reduce energy use, while increasing air quality within the home – a strategy which aims to respect the environment while providing a refuge from the harsh elements of urban living. This project was published by Wendy Goodman as her Space of the Week, part of New York Magazine’s Design Hunting on The Cut. Photography by Kevin Kunstadt

Photo of an expansive wood straight staircase in Munich with wood risers and glass railing.

Floating stair stringers with horizontal round-bar railing
Expansive modern wood floating staircase in Denver with metal risers and metal railing.

Photo of an expansive modern wood curved staircase in Seattle with metal risers.

Chris Spielmann
Photo of an expansive modern wood staircase in DC Metro with open risers.

Scala di accesso ai soppalchi retrattile. La scala è stata realizzata con cosciali in ferro e pedate in legno di larice; corre su due binari per posizionarsi verticale e liberare lo spazio. I soppalchi sono con struttura in ferro e piano in perline di larice massello di 4 cm maschiate. La parete in legno delimita la cabina armadio

Special care was taken by Century Stair Company to build the architect's and owner's vision of a craftsman style three-level staircase in a bright and airy floor plan with soaring 19'curved/cathedral ceilings and exposed beams. The stairs furnished the rustic living space with warm oak rails and modern vertical black/satin balusters. Century built a freestanding stair and landing between the second and third level to adapt and to maintain the home's livability and comfort. CSC 1976-2023 © Century Stair Company ® All rights reserved.

A modern staircase that is both curved and u-shaped, with fluidly floating wood stair railing. Cascading glass teardrop chandelier hangs from the to of the 3rd floor down to the Basement.

Inspiration for an expansive transitional wood u-shaped staircase in Denver with wood risers, mixed railing and decorative wall panelling.

Mid Century Modern Contemporary design. White quartersawn veneer oak cabinets and white paint Crystal Cabinets
Photo of an expansive midcentury wood u-shaped staircase in San Francisco with wood risers, metal railing and wood walls.

Located right off of the main entry, a curved staircase welcomes the guest into an expansive foyer.
Expansive transitional wood curved staircase in Chicago with painted wood risers and wood railing.