This is an example of a midcentury staircase in DC Metro.

Aesthetic Value: The designer wanted a nautical themed stair that fit a small space and gave the area a more open feel than the original outdated stair. Mirror polished stainless steel and Honduran Mahogany accomplished the objectives. Stair Safety: Each tread is skewed but careful layout provided for a very comfortable stride when traversing the stair. Quality of Workmanship: Solid Honduran Mahogany treads and rail. Horizontal bar balustrade and custom machined posts are mirror polished stainless steel. Technical Challenge: Providing a structure that was freestanding on one side of the lower portion and completely freestanding on the upper portion. Laying out the stair to fit the small well hole and still feel comfortable.

The Atherton House is a family compound for a professional couple in the tech industry, and their two teenage children. After living in Singapore, then Hong Kong, and building homes there, they looked forward to continuing their search for a new place to start a life and set down roots. The site is located on Atherton Avenue on a flat, 1 acre lot. The neighboring lots are of a similar size, and are filled with mature planting and gardens. The brief on this site was to create a house that would comfortably accommodate the busy lives of each of the family members, as well as provide opportunities for wonder and awe. Views on the site are internal. Our goal was to create an indoor- outdoor home that embraced the benign California climate. The building was conceived as a classic “H” plan with two wings attached by a double height entertaining space. The “H” shape allows for alcoves of the yard to be embraced by the mass of the building, creating different types of exterior space. The two wings of the home provide some sense of enclosure and privacy along the side property lines. The south wing contains three bedroom suites at the second level, as well as laundry. At the first level there is a guest suite facing east, powder room and a Library facing west. The north wing is entirely given over to the Primary suite at the top level, including the main bedroom, dressing and bathroom. The bedroom opens out to a roof terrace to the west, overlooking a pool and courtyard below. At the ground floor, the north wing contains the family room, kitchen and dining room. The family room and dining room each have pocketing sliding glass doors that dissolve the boundary between inside and outside. Connecting the wings is a double high living space meant to be comfortable, delightful and awe-inspiring. A custom fabricated two story circular stair of steel and glass connects the upper level to the main level, and down to the basement “lounge” below. An acrylic and steel bridge begins near one end of the stair landing and flies 40 feet to the children’s bedroom wing. People going about their day moving through the stair and bridge become both observed and observer. The front (EAST) wall is the all important receiving place for guests and family alike. There the interplay between yin and yang, weathering steel and the mature olive tree, empower the entrance. Most other materials are white and pure. The mechanical systems are efficiently combined hydronic heating and cooling, with no forced air required.

Inspiration for a contemporary glass floating staircase in Boston with open risers and glass railing.

Traditional l-shaped staircase in Los Angeles.

Stunning Spiral Stair Case, Wainscoting all the way uppppp! Black painted wooden Spindles and hand rail.
Design ideas for a large transitional wood spiral staircase in Charleston with painted wood risers and wood railing.

Ben Hosking Photography
Photo of a mid-sized traditional wood u-shaped staircase in Melbourne with wood risers.

Photography by Brad Knipstein
Design ideas for a large country wood l-shaped staircase in San Francisco with wood risers, metal railing and planked wall panelling.

Expansive beach style wood spiral staircase in Orange County with wood risers.

Inspiration for a modern staircase in DC Metro.

Photo of an eclectic staircase in London.

This luxury home includes a modern kitchen, upscale outdoor kitchen, and a signature primary bathroom. Gold accents are found throughout this home. The outdoor space is great to entertain a large amount of guests.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary carpeted curved staircase in Orange County with carpet risers and glass railing.

Inspiration for a transitional staircase in Other.

THE AMBIANCE OF LIGHT. Add a touch of drama to a space that transitions from room to room such as a stairway or hallway. Seves Glass Block provides the extra ambiance without sacrificing transmission of light. Discover how designers and contractors are utilizing glass block in new ways in our North American Design Guide @ sevesglassblockinc.com

Large traditional wood l-shaped staircase in Baltimore with wood railing and painted wood risers.

Adam Curtis
Small contemporary wood straight staircase in DC Metro with metal risers.

Photographed by John Gruen
This is an example of a traditional staircase in Dallas.

Photo of a staircase in Miami.