Tag
17 articles tagged with “Stair Styles”
July 2, 2026
A staircase is one of the most powerful architectural elements in a home. When most homeowners think about staircases, they think in terms of function — getting from one floor to another. But in a well-designed home, a staircase does far more than connect levels. A staircase shapes how a space feels, how light moves, […]
Read Article →
September 6, 2022
Nosing is required anywhere there is balustrade or newels. Typically, nosing from a flooring company has a shorter overhang and does not have the space for trim under it. Typical floor nosing overhangs 1-1/4”, whereas Designed Stairs nosing overhangs 1-3/4” to allow for trim under the nosing. This includes apron and cove. Designed Stairs provides […]
Read Article →
April 20, 2022
Sometimes your design calls for an elegant curved stair, but the budget falls short. Here are some variations on a full curved stair. These take up less space and cost less than a full curved stair, while still providing an elegant and unique solution. These designs save on the cost of stringers and rails, as […]
Read Article →
January 11, 2022
the difference in a nutshell
Read Article →
March 11, 2021
Traditional European stair-building methods were transferred to the US along with immigrant craftsmen in the early years of our country’s history. The Great Depression caused the stair-building arts to almost disappear. The resurgence of the two-story home in the 1950’s and 60’s caused stair-builders to spring up in most major metropolitan areas across the country with a […]
Read Article →
February 24, 2021
An important consideration when designing any space is the presentation and distribution of light. This is especially true when considering a staircase, since the available light will have a direct effect on safety. We recently completed a project where we were presented a design for a contemporary home with a staircase featuring glass treads. The […]
Read Article →
February 18, 2021
A spiral staircase is the most compact stair design. Spiral stairs have a center support post, a landing deck at the top and usually have a diameter of 48″ to 96″. The small size of a spiral allows it to fit into corners and service lofts, attics and other secluded areas where traffic will be […]
Read Article →
February 17, 2021
A curved staircase has been an architectural highlight for centuries. While the geometries of curved staircases are all closely related, the fit and finish options are virtually unlimited. Let’s take a look at the use of stone treads overlaying a wooden stair structure. Of all available building materials, nothing presents a timeless feel more than a stone […]
Read Article →
February 11, 2021
Most staircases are supported, at least partially, by walls built directly below the stair. Designing a staircase to be freestanding, or at least partially open below, is a great way to gain useable floor space in your design. A true freestanding stair will not have a wall on either side, whereas a stair that only […]
Read Article →
January 20, 2021
The most common confusion - the spiral vs. circular stair
Read Article →
March 18, 2020
Create a stress-free process and a happy ending
Read Article →
February 27, 2020
What's in and what's new in the world of stairs
Read Article →
January 29, 2020
Part 4 of 4 As with styles, components made from wood species that are stocked will always cost less than custom orders. We have noticed a trend over the past eight to ten years to natural or brown toned species such as walnut and white oak. Within the United States, red oak is the most […]
Read Article →
December 6, 2019
Part 2 of 4 — Shape In the last blog, Getting the Most from Your Stair Dollar (Part 1), we introduced the three basic factors to keep in mind when thinking of your stair budget. Here we’ll explore the first of those three factors: Shape. A straight stair is the least costly and also takes […]
Read Article →
December 30, 2011
With the endless choices we have today, making the many decisions required for a building project can be overwhelming. It’s easy to make decisions based on “I like it”, but if that is your only criteria for selection, it is unlikely that you will end up with consistent design. Establishing design goals can help keep […]
Read Article →
December 30, 2011
Modern design is simple, which is why it amazes me how many forms of modern styles have developed over the past 100 years. Modern stairs come in forms for all tastes and preferences. It can be the simplicity of a shaker style stair, or the stylistic design of a metal and glass stair. Modern styles […]
Read Article →
December 30, 2011
We often get asked the question: “What parts of my stair should I paint and what should I stain?” When determining what to stain and what to paint, think about the overall feel you want in your space. The more parts you paint, it will be a lighter and airier feel. The more parts you […]
Read Article →