Top to bottom, staircases perform both functional and aesthetic roles in our multi-story homes. Typically a prominent feature — often in a front foyer or elsewhere near the front entrance — staircases can be anything from eyesore to eye-popping style statement, including bland and unremarkable.
Obviously, you want the style of your staircase to be compatible with your home’s overall look. But a staircase remodel can inject new character, helping lean your design in myriad directions from traditional to transitional to industrial, contemporary, or the ever-popular modern coastal, to name a few. Keep in mind that darker woods skew more formal, while lighter or grayer-toned woods, especially those with pronounced grain or distressing, lend a more casual feel. Light natural wood combined with white and, sometimes, black can create the increasingly popular modern coastal vibe.
If your current staircase is not bringing enough to the style party, following are a few ideas that will help. The options are myriad and can be overwhelming, so try thinking in terms of four main components: handrails and balustrades, treads, risers, and inner string wall — the interior wall where stairs attach. Regardless, choice of material will play a significant role.
Balustrades are often made of wooden spindles with various profiles topped by a wooden handrail. But there is a world of other options with handrails blending or contrasting. For balustrades, consider ultra-modern panels of clear or tinted glass; metals in a range of colors, with silver and black among the most popular; and styles from sleek cylindrical spindles to cable railing, mesh, panels or virtually any motif you can dream up — say, Hollywood Regency or art deco. Wrought iron with perhaps a stylized branch or other plant motif can lend charming rustic appeal. For an ultra-modern approach that still can look very warm if combined with wood, consider a steel stair-to-ceiling, spindle-style balustrade that creates a stair screen. Alternatively, these screens can be made of materials like cording or woven wicker.
For treads, consider wood, stone, concrete or even a carpet runner, especially if you have young children or pets. These days, carpet often gets a thumb’s down, but there are contexts where it is just right: It certainly muffles sound, but it can also skate that edge between traditional and current. A precast steel staircase supported by a wall and screen-style balustrade is an unexpected industrial option.
Risers in the same material as the tread will lend the most visual cohesion. But for a different kind of visual interest and focal point, choose for your risers wallpaper, tile or paint that is bold or subtle, sophisticated or whimsical. If you are game, wood and metal treads can float — that is, attach only on the inner string wall.
You can float all but, say, the first three stairs if you want some under-stair built-in storage. If you need more storage, the area under the stairs can be a prime spot for shelving, cubby or pull-out storage, as well as for handsome display.
Things get really interesting when you consider combining materials. One simple way to approach what can be overwhelming is to think in terms of contrasts like warm and cool, both to the touch and to the eye. For instance, wooden newel posts, handrails, treads and risers — “warm” — combined with black metal cable railing balustrades — “cool” — can evoke a farmhouse, coastal casual or industrial modern aesthetic, depending on the finishes and profiles. Stairs can even be edged with materials like metal for a bit of pizzazz.
The interior wall of your staircase is essential to its overall impact but can be easily overlooked. Wainscoting is traditional — with board and batten providing a coastal look — often with photos or art above. But why not contemplate blocks of monochromatic tile; veneers of brick, stone or wood; or maybe even a skim coat of concrete for a more industrial look.
Finally, in your stair makeover, consider lighting. Options include under the lip of the tread, intervals at the base of the interior wall, and under the handrail on the interior wall. Stair lighting is not essential, but it can raise the safety and drama of your staircase.
Chris Ettel is founding partner of VB Home and has been chairman of the CVBIA Remodelers Council. He is a longtime board member of the Virginia Beach Public Schools Education Foundation. For more information, contact Chris@vbhomesliving.com or go to vbhomesliving.com.
