Rising in a geometric design that looks as though it was borrowe…
Rising in a geometric design that looks as though it was borrowed from M.C. Escher, this Modernist staircase combines austere concrete with warm wood. Built by Art + Tec Development, the staircase’s use of concrete contributed not only to a chic Modernist aesthetic, but also helped the builder comply with the Miami-Dade hurricane building code.
Treve Johnson Photography
Punched-out metal panels add a unique touch to the stair and lof…
Punched-out metal panels add a unique touch to the stair and loft elements of this transit-oriented community in Berkeley, Calif. Designed by Christiani Johnson Architects, the project is anchored by a rehabbed Spanish colonial train station, a style theme lightly echoed by the repeating leaf motif in the stair panels.
Barry Halkin
This airy steel and wood staircase allowed architects at Studio …
This airy steel and wood staircase allowed architects at Studio Agoos Lovera to maintain the 1953 home’s open plan while adding an updated aesthetic. Both in the staircase and throughout the home, warm woods and other organic materials were incorporated to balance out the home’s rectilinear character.
Kevin McManus Photography
As part of the home’s maritime theme, this custom curved libra…
As part of the home’s maritime theme, this custom curved library stair evokes a lighthouse’s climb and leads to a retreat with 360 degree views of a nearby lake and mountains.
David Dietrich
This beautiful staircase is homegrown in every good way. Using r…
This beautiful staircase is homegrown in every good way. Using regionally harvested lumber, the teams at Carlton Architecture + DesignBuild and Cardinal Building Systems employed local artisans to lend their skill to the architectural woodwork seen here and throughout the home.
Anice Hoachlander
…
Adding a new twist to a historic row house in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood, this beautiful floating stair consists of a center steel stringer fitted with custom walnut treads. Designed by Barnes Vanze Architects, the staircase is as practical as it is beautiful, with a gentle rise-to-run ratio that is easy on elderly climbers. Plaster was stripped from the adjacent wall to reveal raw brick, which when combined with the slick stair elements dramatizes the contrast between old and new.
Erik Kvalsvik
Historic detailing on the staircase of this Washington, D.C., ho…
Historic detailing on the staircase of this Washington, D.C., home turns a functional element into a visual focal point.
Brian Vanden Brink
In this Martha’s Vineyard vacation home, views are of the esse…
In this Martha’s Vineyard vacation home, views are of the essence. Even the staircase, designed by Hutker Architects, lent to the cause with a breezy frame and transparent treads that don’t obstruct the scenery. However, in its effort to preserve sightlines, this glassy installment’s sleek design becomes a vista in its own right.
Gregg Shupe
Rather than write off under-stair space as a dead zone—or an a…
Rather than write off under-stair space as a dead zone—or an awkwardly shaped closet—the team at ICON architecture thoughtfully appointed this sleek, modern staircase that leaves room for a work nook underneath.
Benjamin Benschneider
This masterful staircase, designed by
Lawrence Architecture, wa…
This masterful staircase, designed by
Lawrence Architecture, was formed by casting rods directly into the home’s main concrete wall, then fitting them with steel tubes for the treads.
If your floor plan calls for multiple levels, stairs are a must. But necessities don’t have to be necessary evils. As most staircases are built on site, they present a perfect opportunity to turn a functional element into an artistic installment. The staircases featured here not only get their homeowners up and down, but also go the extra mile to improve views, accommodate the elderly, or create usable space, all while enhancing the home’s design. So put a little spring in your step. Your buyers will thank you.
Editor’s Note: Please be aware that some of the staircases featured here are not up to code. The International Residential Code requires a handrail along a staircase’s wall side and a guardrail and handrail along the open side. However, some architects and builders choose to photograph their projects with the aesthetic they prefer, and then later add the necessary elements to meet code. We hope that you will be able to garner design ideas from these projects while making adaptations to meet your local code requirements.
