New Home Styles and Trends
Staircase Ideas and Options
Designing a Staircase for Your New Home
A staircase is necessary to reach the upper floor of your new home - but it can also be a statement of your own personal style and design. Here are some great ideas for staircases, from craftsman to traditional, wrought iron and more. Enjoy!
Most staircases are carpeted. This staircase features painted white balusters with a solid oak handrail.
The 6" newel post is also painted white, with a trimwork cap. The treads are exposed, with oak caps.
Since this staircase only has a few exposed treads, this is a cost effective method of adding more oak detail.
This is an example of an "Open Stringer" staircase.
An open stringer staircase has treads that overhang the trim stringer. The overhanging tread ends are called mitered returns. The balusters will attach directly to the treads from the handrail. The balusters are differing lengths.
Wrought iron balusters add a touch of elegance and permanence to a staircase.
Alternating baskets with standard balusters adds visual detail and avoids monotony.
A typical oak newel post supports the oak handrail.
This is an example of a "Closed Stringer" staircase.
A closed stringer staircase has a small wall that rises above the treads. The balusters in this case attach to this wall and not to the treads. The balusters are all the same length.
This oak staircase features oak treads with painted risers - the most common way to complete an oak staircase in the Southeast.
The bottom tread of the staircase is called a "bullnose tread". This tread is actually a double bullnose, because it wraps back around to the sides of the staircase.
This open stringer staircase adds more visual detail by wrapping additional balusters at the base of the staircase.
A staircase can be designed to be open and inviting, particularly when the staircase is part of a two-story or vaulted Great Room or Family Room.
This staircase features multiple angles anchored with newel posts and delicate, intricate wrought iron details.
Additional chair rail and crown moulding add to the feeling of luxury and lasting significance.
The exposed treads are also oak.
Curved staircases are almost a signature trademark of a luxury home.
They can be designed as part of nearly any home - but watch out, this type of staircase can add $10,000-15,000 to the cost of your new home, or more, depending on your preferences for design, curvature, and materials.
If your floorplan includes a curved staircase, but you'd rather work with some interesting angles, talk to your builder - most staircases can be redesigned in planning stages to suit your tastes and budget.
Most oak staircase risers are painted white, but using a deeper accent color on the risers can add a great detail of interest to your staircase.
An interesting newel can really change the look at feel of your staircase.
Newels can be boxy or round, small or large.
A newel is the "anchor" post, the main column that supports the handrail.
Newels can be custom designed for the homebuyer by the trim carpenters or staircase specialists.
With a multitude of options, the staircases in your new home can truly reflect your own personality.
Talk to your builder about cost and requirements for any design you have in mind. Even changing an angle just a little can add just the unique feel you may have in mind!
Contact us about the home you have in mind, and ideas for your new staircase. We can work with you to modify nearly any floorplan to incorporate your unique style and needs.
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Copyright Stanton Homes 2009. Provided for informational purposes only, photos may represent overall new home market trends and ideas as well as Stanton Homes specific homes.
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Article copyright Stanton Homes 2010. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of above lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan. Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.
Penny,
I'm a homebuilder by trade, and the thing I love most about woodworking is creating a curved staircase. So cool!
Mike in Tucson
Penny, Great post! Funny...my son just renovated a house...painted the whole railing white....opps He had to go back and strip the paint off the railing and stain it. Lots of work but came out beautiful
Penny only YOU could put together a great post on staircases!!! You bring us the most interesting topics to ponder! Thanks - I loved this one!
Mike - a curved staircase is truly a work of art.
Debbie - those are the kinds of mistakes that aren't very funny at the time, but make great stories after the work is done!
Pamela - glad you enjoyed it.