Photo of a small classic painted wood straight staircase in London with painted wood risers.

Stunning view of landing balustrade with large pitched windows to both sides

This is an example of a small modern wood straight wood railing staircase in Other with open risers and feature lighting.

Home office with hidden fold down bed. Stair steps lead to attic space. Built in storage solutions
Small modern home office in Sydney with a built-in desk, white walls and medium hardwood flooring.

Fotografia: Barbara Corsico
Small scandi painted wood curved staircase in Turin with painted wood risers.

Small scandi loft bedroom in Le Havre.

A carefully considered stairwell connects three levels of the home with both architectural confidence and visual continuity. Painted in a deep navy blue, the staircase brings depth and elegance, while the balustrade and handrail maintain a traditional form. Soft grey walls with dado detailing add subtle texture and guide the eye upward, complemented by warm brass switches that glint against the cool backdrop. Overhead, a spherical pendant light suspended from a ceiling rose introduces a touch of glamour and diffused sparkle, while natural light from the upper floor offers balance and lift to this otherwise cocooned vertical space. The juxtaposition of carpeted treads and timber flooring glimpsed through the doorways highlights a shift in atmosphere between the private and communal zones of the house.

Adrian and his family wished to generate more space in their property in Merton. As the area was convenient for work, he didn't want to move and his daughter was finally returning home from university. The family needed more space and after much deliberation, they decided to convert their attic. Photo credits: Huw Evans

Inspiration for a small carpeted curved staircase in London with carpeted risers.

'Cottage Cubed' - remodel of a 25sqm fisherman's cottage. A large plywood cube of storage was constructed. The top of which is a sleeping platform. The faces of the cube are the staircase and kitchen. The interior of the cube contains a bathroom and utility. Cottage Cubed was completed in 2012 by DMVF Architects. www.dmvf.ie. Photos by Ros Kavanagh.

Solid timber handrail supplied in one piece
Small contemporary wood spiral staircase in Hampshire with open risers.

Design ideas for a small contemporary open plan living room in Sydney with white walls, concrete flooring and a wall mounted tv.

Immagine con la scala "aperta" e la tavola apparecchiata. General view with the stairs in "opened" position and the lunch table.
Small contemporary mezzanine games room in Rome with white walls and light hardwood flooring.

Inspiration for a small modern family bathroom in Perth with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, white tiles, ceramic tiles and ceramic flooring.

Design ideas for a small contemporary ensuite bathroom in Perth with a console sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, white walls and ceramic flooring.

Marco Fazio

This image captures the heart of the vertical circulation in the home—a beautifully sculptural staircase painted in a rich, inky navy. The central balustrade and split stair direction create a rhythmic architectural moment, enhanced by soft wall panelling details and the consistent use of muted grey-blue tones on the walls. A pale wool carpet softens the space underfoot and elegantly delineates the walking path, contrasting nicely with the darker stair treads. Above, a delicate origami-inspired pendant light casts gentle shadows that draw attention to the ceiling’s height and form. The stair’s openness and the interplay of natural and ambient light elevate what could have been a purely functional corridor into a key visual anchor of the home’s design language.

2B Wellington Road is a private residence in Ballsbridge, Dublin. We were enlisted on this project to transform a former commercial optical surgery into a luxury private residence. The challenge was to transform this 300sqm sterile clinic into a cosy residence for two people. The building originally consisted of a number of small examination rooms, surgery rooms and narrow hallways. Our design intent was to create an open plan living space that would optimise natural light and create large and comfortable living spaces. The inclusion of a garden space was necessary as the client is an avid gardener. A 300sqm building with the client use as the central focus we decided on two bedrooms, one for the client and a guest bedroom as luxury was the primary goal of this property. The original building was connected to an exisiting coach house via a conservatory. Removing this facilitated a small city garden suitable for the clients needs. The original structure included 3 floors separately enclosed. By removing multiple sections of the original floors we created a dialogue between ground, first and second floor, linking the entire house as one and creating a series of double and triple height, light filled spaces. This connects the attic art studio down to the ground floor as one large volume of space. In this vast space, this links the floors so that the clients never feel far from each other. Removing a section at the rear of the house created a triple height living space for the kitchen / dining area and this allows both the ground and first floor to be flooded with natural light due to the inclusion of a 5.7 x 6m curtain wall window, externally clad in charcoal zinc oxide to contrast with the traditional red brick of the building exterior. We opened up the entire ground floor only enclosing the guest bedroom, bathroom and utility room. The removal of a floor in the master bedroom created a double height space that feels both spacious and luxurious. The first floor includes the living and sleeping space for the client. The master bedroom and ensuite on the first floor is entered via the walk in wardrobe. This walk in wardrobe acts as a decompression space for the client before rest in the bedroom or relaxation in the spa like bathroom. The second floor includes the art studio, attic space and a third bathroom. The addition of a dormer (also clad in charcoal zinc oxide) to the attic space makes for optimum natural light with full headroom for the art studio. Underfloor heating, hyper insulation and a central humidity system (to assist with the clients dry eye condition) were built into the shell and core. The integration of a heat / air exchange system makes this a more sustainable and comfortable build. Washing and repointing of the exterior brick completed the architectural renovation for this project. This project was Winner of Best Residential Interior Project and FitOut Designer of the Year in 2021.

Photo of a small contemporary dining room in Paris with yellow walls and terracotta flooring.