Stairways are often throwaway spaces, dismissed and undecorated save for the random diagonal march of old school photos. Not if you venture down the colorful rabbit hole of Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke, the dapper duo behind Madcap Cottage. Hang on to your knickers boys and girls, because the After is like Dorothy's first step outside Kansas. White, it's not.
For this client project, ("a charming-on-the-outside cottage on Long Island," says Jason) fearless colorists and daring decorators John and Jason (of The Madcap Cottage) did what they do best, and what has become their signature style: a modern cottage jumble of cheek and cheer. Nothing matches, but everything goes, partly for the riot of pattern, color and obvious sense of happy the guys regularly impart, with paint, paper, a love of textiles and trim.
"The staircase," says Jason, "was boring, glaringly white and lacked soul." In their colorful wake, nothing remains of the original. But soul, it now has.
With "Coco" wallpaper from Thibaut's Chelsea collection, bright buttery yellow on baseboards and trim, and a zippy runner from Dash & Albert, no inch was left unconsidered. But it's not all whimsy: that striped runner is hardwearing, space-expanding, color-unifying and dirt-defying.
Above the window, a jaunty valance in a Jim Thompson fabric, edged in a bold orange grosgrain ribbon. "We love using grosgrain ribbon: It's so chic and so economical."
This Long Island lily was further gilded with a gallery-style installation of prints that give the walls instant history, and dare you not to run up the stairs. That mix of fun and fine art is also another Madcap signature. "Really have fun with your artwork... mix square and rectangular pieces with circles and ovals for visual interest and engagement."
"We wanted to make the staircase into a focal point, a place to linger and enjoy the journey up and down the stairs." Step by step, its seems like they did exactly that.
You might remember the color-fearless John and Jason from their Brooklyn House Tour, so chock-full and detail-laden it had almost as many installments as the Twilight saga. See it here, here, and here!
(Images: The Madcap Cottage)
Must-See Small Cool Homes: Week Two
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Shaw's Original Fir...
How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
stair makeover? Yes!!!
with that wallpaper?
no.
holy smokes! But I do like it!
Yay. Maximal!!!
Wow!
Those stairs went from Blahhh to Exciting!
A little busy for me I think it would've still looked really good if the color was slightly toned-down. But overall I like the makeover.
I guess grandma took over the renovation....
I agree with Lisa13. I think you need to pick between either the wallpaper or stairs. Together it's a bit too much. If the trim and the stairs go dark, the wallpaper will look great!
I would so do this. In fact, I may.
great idea but...the wallpaper and stripe combo is really not my thing.
I think its great! I actually really love the busy look of it, reminds me of a British grandmother's cottage with all the pictures on the walls. It makes me happy to look at.
Hmm...the stair carpeting would have looked is it were a runner. Other than that it looks very Brady Bunch.
In a bad way.
Wow, from sleep inducing to epileptic seizure psychedelic acid trip...too much going on!
A BIT WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME BUT I DO LIKE THE IDEA. I, LIKE OTHERS, WOULD PROBABLY TONE IT WAAAY DOWN BUT THE OWNER IS LOVING IT, THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS.
Its totally vintage chic with an unexpected twist. I find it fascinatingly bold. What a fun space for a once lac luster stairwell!
Wow! I love it!
I'm not 100% sold on the wallpaper... but it could be a lot worse, and I do prefer it to the "Before."
So charming and invigorating! Looks very professional.
I know it's not to everyone's taste, but I think it's a nice, modern take on Arts and Crafts. Nice job.
A small space is a perfect place to put something bold - and this wallpaper is definitely bold! Not my personal choice, but charming and lively.
Love it. I can see where the striped runner with the floral wallpaper could be too much for some people, but to me it just looks charming and fun. And yes, it totally does make me want to run up the stairs.
I've been strongly against adding a runner to our wood stairs, but I may rethink that.
Too much of too many good things, for my taste. But this piece is a welcome reminder that stairways can be design elements that make statements large or small.
Love the look of the stairs. The wallpaper looks a bit busy to me. Not my style but a big improvement from the before photo!
I love the new look but i wish the wall paper was something more neutral so that those amazing art works can pop out more.
I think the wallpaper is wrong with so much art.
I love this. It's lively and personal. I would never, ever, have it in my home, but I would love to visit.
love it. bravo!
I usually hate wallpaper, but that's pretty cute.
i love it!
Totally awesome! I admire you for doing it, and the way you arranged your artwork, and the artwork itself is so cool. The window valance and design is also great, and I love your boldness of COLOR!!
Very nice!
I love love love that wallpaper.
I applaud the effort and the stairs definitely look more exciting, but it went from undecorated to over-decorated. I think if they lost the wallpaper it would be a win. In any case, stripes or wallpaper: not both.
These guys can do no wrong (in my eyes)! Love it.
This is amazing. This says, "home". It's something that would make me feel welcome and at ease instantly in your home. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm far less sophisticated in my decor, but seeing spaces like this help me grow.
I like me a makeover. And the before was bland. But the wallpaper? Looks like every single wallpaper I've removed from every house reno I've ever done. 1968 called?
The sisal on the ceiling is pretty interesting... and I like the runner in areas where you can see the black painted stair peeking out on either side. But, whoa, this entire look is a whole lotta something. The photo of the woman in a hat with flowers on top sums it up best for me. Kind of the same genre as the black and white photos of kids wearing adult clothes kissing (with tinted color highlights) that they used to sell at poster shops in the mall back in the 90s.
I'm not the biggest fan of the wallpaper, but I really like the mix of color, floras, stripes and (as Tiffanyseattle pointed out) the sisal on the ceiling. I think it's a huge improvement from the before and there's a very fun, whimsical element to the whole thing.
I also checked out their website and I really, really, really like their rooms. If I could afford them/lived closer, I would hire them.
"WHOA! Watch out says that bird!!"
That's totally delish.
Well, hmmm, here's what I would have done differently. The background color of the wallpaper is not right. It should be the same as one of the paint colors (black of the stairs or the butter yellow woodwork). That would have gone a long way to harmonize the whole area. And personally I think flooring like sisal on a ceiling is just not a good call - it always looks a bit Crazytown. Better to run the wallpaper over that sloped ceiling area too. And lastly, all the frames should be black.
I love the wallpaper, but not the stairs. If they matched, it would be a lot better. I would be afraid of getting dizzy looking down the stairs and fall. I've fallen up stairs, so it's not a stretch...
tooooo much. I love most of the individual aspects of this, but I'd feel like I was getting punched in the face every time I took the stairs.
I love it:))!!!! It's perfect..I wouldn't change a thing!
Woahhhh. Too much for my blood.
But I do love the colours.
Madcap indeed! But I love it!
"A BIT WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME BUT I DO LIKE THE IDEA. I, LIKE OTHERS, WOULD PROBABLY TONE IT WAAAY DOWN BUT THE OWNER IS LOVING IT, THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS."
Welcome to the internet, Lyonstill. I'm guessing you haven't been here before. It may interest you to know that, on the internet, writing in all capitals equates to shouting. This makes your comment louder than the colourscheme in the stairs. Perhaps you will want to consider this fact before making your next comment.
Personally I wonder if this stair renovation is the spiritual heir to the worst excesses of 70s interior design, when too much clashing was barely enough.
April Fools Day is next month. Is this real life?
I've been a fan of their work for years! I love how they mix patterns in vibrant candy colors. It reminds me of some of the sets from Pushing Daisies.
I don't get grandma or 1968 from this at all. It's interesting and exciting. The dark floor tiles, peek of stairs and banister are enough to ground this for me. Not for minimalists, and that's exactly why it makes my eyeballs happy!
Completely not my taste but I can totally appreciate the work that went into this. Looks a million times better! I do love the carpet!
*whistles*
holy wow. I would love to see a before/after of this whole house. Not for me to live in, but just for entertainment.
In a small probably dark house such as this one, I'd take all the amazing color and personality any day over the depressing ( before ) greige!
Bravo! :)
Bells and Whistles!
love it..
I love both the stairs and the wallpaper, but maybe together is too much. I would have personally gone for the wallpaper only. It's yummy!
The valance is my favorite component. (Least favorite is the cold slate at the bottom of the stairs, a reminder that you are now leaving the fun part of the house.) Looks like the owner and the decorators really enjoy living. Good job!
Bold choices for sure! I used the fabric version of the wallpaper (different color) for a young girl's bedroom...duvet cover. I love the pattern and color!
Kind of terrifying. Too much can sometimes just be too much. Like Ethel Merman doing a self-parody. I like the runner.
Love it! Wish I had a little space where I could do something bold like this. I've been dying to put one of those Dash & Albert runners on my stairs for ages but don't know how well they hold up - especially with a big dog and two little kids who somehow manage to forget to take their shoes off. The article says: "But it's not all whimsy: that striped runner is hardwearing, space-expanding, color-unifying and dirt-defying. " Is that true? If so, I am so getting myself one of those!
For those who think this is "grandma," I want to meet your grannies! They must be outrageously cool!!
This *is* totally my thing! But it is true that if given a time machine, the first thing I'd do is go back to the 1960s and go shopping.
...she turns, looks back...and leaves hoping her vision is not impared.
love it...but I am a less is less & more is more kind of girl.
luckily it's just wallpaper; if they start now, they can get rid of it by sunday.
Everything but the wallpaper... not convinced it goes with anything else. I get it, though.
It's happy and fun like a cottage should be. It was thoughtfully done and I'm guessing there was attention to detail.
Wow. So fun!
I love the wallpaper. There are so many great wallpaper designs around these days. I need to get over my fear of applying wallpaper and just do it!!!!
1971 Easter at Aunt Thelma's
whoa I don't even... I would never ...
But let's face it, the owner of that house never leaves feeling sad. Maybe I could use a little wallpaper in my life too.
love it !
awesome!! you even did the ceiling! <3