Traditional Staircase Ideas and Designs

Inspiration for a medium sized traditional carpeted straight metal railing staircase in Denver with tongue and groove walls and under stair storage.

New Project

Summit Homes

This is an example of a medium sized traditional wood straight wood railing staircase in New Orleans with painted wood risers.

Ft. Beauregard Estates Curved Oak Stairway

The Stairway Shop

Design ideas for a medium sized classic wood curved staircase in San Diego with wood risers.

Hudson Avenue

The Walker Group, Ltd.

Photo of a medium sized classic wood u-shaped wood railing staircase in Chicago with painted wood risers and feature lighting.

Beautiful Gates

Gatekeepers, LLC

Design ideas for a traditional staircase in Other.

Noe Valley Townhouse

BCV ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS

This is an example of a traditional wood u-shaped metal railing staircase in San Francisco with open risers.

Under Stair Storage

Red House Remodeling

A family of four was ready to expand their usable living space by finishing their spacious basement to include a family room, kitchenette, full bath, guest room and plenty of storage. Prior to the remodel, the family chose to relocate utilities to what would be the storage area and upgrade utilities for energy efficiency.

Wrought iron baluster installation

The Finishing Company

stairs, iron balusters, wrought iron, staircase
Photo of a medium sized traditional wood l-shaped mixed railing staircase in Richmond with painted wood risers.

Hillsborough Gothic Living Room Space

User

Photo of a classic staircase in San Francisco.

Modern Craftsman Design

Gauge Design Group

Michael Walmsley
This is an example of a large traditional wood l-shaped staircase in Seattle with wood risers.

Smith Cabin

Nguyen Architects, Inc.

Paul Owen of Owen Photo, http://owenphoto.net/.
Classic staircase in Minneapolis.

Northcote Additions - Light and Bright

Rebecca Naughtin Architect

Ben Hosking Photography
Photo of a medium sized classic wood u-shaped staircase in Melbourne with wood risers and under stair storage.

An English Tudor Home

Parker Stuckey Residential Design

With a landing wide enough for a couple of chairs, the library wall just seemed to make sense. The homeowners have filled this space with books and photos that make the it more than just the area at the top of the stairs but a family gallery, sitting room, and landing in one. What you can't see is the secret closet behind one of the sections of shelving. We wanted to take advantage of every square inch of storage so why not?

Carriage House Garage Conversion

Kraft Custom Construction

The homeowner of this old, detached garage wanted to create a functional living space with a kitchen, bathroom and second-story bedroom, while still maintaining a functional garage space. We salvaged hickory wood for the floors and built custom fir cabinets in the kitchen with patchwork tile backsplash and energy efficient appliances. As a historical home but without historical requirements, we had fun blending era-specific elements like traditional wood windows, French doors, and wood garage doors with modern elements like solar panels on the roof and accent lighting in the stair risers. In preparation for the next phase of construction (a full kitchen remodel and addition to the main house), we connected the plumbing between the main house and carriage house to make the project more cost-effective. We also built a new gate with custom stonework to match the trellis, expanded the patio between the main house and garage, and installed a gas fire pit to seamlessly tie the structures together and provide a year-round outdoor living space.

Island Perch

Maugel DeStefano Architects

John Benford
This is an example of a medium sized traditional wood l-shaped wood railing staircase in Boston with painted wood risers.

Farnham Ln. Custom Home

Jeffrey L. Henry, Inc.

Dimitri Ganas
Medium sized classic wood l-shaped staircase in Philadelphia with painted wood risers.

Curved oak staircase, Hetton, Yorkshire Dales

Silvanus Interiors

Solid European oak staircase with alternated spindle pattern.
Design ideas for a large classic wood curved staircase in Other with wood risers.

LuAnn Development

LuAnn Development, Inc.

Beautiful CA craftsman style home in the heart of Hermosa Beach, CA. Photos by Bowman Group
This is an example of a classic staircase in Los Angeles.

Custom Curved Wide Binding Sisal Runners

Custom Stair Runners

By Adam Jarrett
Inspiration for a traditional staircase in New York.

Stair Runners

RugMaster

Classic staircase in Boston.

Traditional Staircase Ideas and Designs

A beautiful traditional staircase can serve a purpose far beyond the functional, with many homeowners transforming the stairs of their home into an architectural centrepiece. Statement staircases will wow your guests – less of a staircase than a showcase – and you may only need to keep the stairs clean and balustrades and newels polished to have a focal point to your decor. For a real talking point, modern staircases make use of non-traditional materials like glass and steel. Planning a new stair can be big projects, but if you’re undergoing a loft conversion, loft stairs are an essential part of your renovation and you’ll need to think carefully about how they will fit into your home. Browsing through inspiring photos of staircases and find pictures who will help you to choose the right design.

How do I choose a new traditional staircase design?

In terms of renovation, replacing staircases is a big decision and must be considered as carefully as replacing a structural wall. If your current staircase is badly positioned then it may be worth the investment in a new flight. A standard straight staircase can be bought virtually out of the box, but for real excitement you may want to look into bespoke staircase design, including ideas custom handrails. This could certainly be the case when it comes to loft stairs as you’ll need something that fits with your area and space below. Storage staircases can be a great option for a small room – drawers or doors can pull out from the side of the staircase, utilising the space under it, or the stairs themselves can serve as drawers and cubbies. Spiral staircases are clever and can make a stunning feature in every room – choose a winding spiral staircase for smaller rooms or a sweeping one if you have the room for dramatic appeal. Glass railings are ideal if you have a preference for light and spacious interiors. If you have a more traditional wooden flight of stairs already in place, then you can add a more modern feel by opting for a sheet glass balustrade. Open stairs, an alternating tread or a floating staircase are great additions to any home but may be out of the question if you have small children.

How should I decorate my traditional staircase?

Despite the fact that the stairs can be one of the most frequently used areas of your home, they are often overlooked when it comes to a home redesign. Your staircase, much like your hallway, can be an opportunity to inject some colour or personality into your overall design scheme and an update can be as simple as putting a lick of paint on the spindles or stripping off the worn carpet to reveal the beautiful hardwood treads beneath. If you want to keep some cushioning, then stair runners are a popular design choice, as they draw the eyes upward and add a flash of colour or pattern whilst offering plenty of grip. That said, ensure stair runners are properly fitted to avoid any missteps! A nice touch to connect staircases to the hallway they lead to is choosing a complementary rug or floor runner that echoes the colour scheme of the stair runner. If your staircase is alongside a wall, make the most of that space with attractive wallpaper, framed pictures and artwork. Stair spindles are a decorative element in their own right but you can jazz them up by painting them in a multi-tonal palette of complementary colours or graduating between dark and light. Putting a nice chandelier over a staircase can add a final, dramatic touch; if you prefer a more subtle way, consider recessed floor-level lighting for an atmospheric glow.

How should I install loft stairs?

Luckily, there is no minimum width for staircases. If you have a loft conversion stair that are less than one metre wide then you should have a handrail on at least one side. If you’re wondering about how steep your steps can be, then the maximum rise according to Building Regulations Part K is 220mm and all steps should be the same size and level. If you’re worried about crowding your foyer below your loft, there are options that are light and ladder-like so not much space is used, but they will still be more sturdy and safe than normal ladders. You must have two metres headroom at the top of your loft stairs, too, to ensure entering the lost space is not dangerous. A spiral staircase may be the best option for a small room, but remember that the staircase will be narrower and could be more dangerous for young children or older users.The building regulations for spiral staircases are slightly different – if you’re going to use a spiral staircase as loft conversion stairs and it’s only a secondary staircase leading to one room, then the stair treads themselves must be 60mm wide and no more than 145mm in length.

United Kingdom

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