Like many other small space dwellers, we have almost no closet or storage space in my home. The tenants before us took the first step to maximize the dead space under the stairs by removing a partition wall to open up the area, and installed a drop down hatch under the stair. Unfortunately they didn't install a railing and instead only those awkward, sharp rectangular boxes — after several falls down the stairs it was painfully obvious something needed to change!
I'm sure there are people who prefer the 'before' design, and we really did appreciate the previous tenant's efforts, but it wasn't really our style, and wasn't functioning well. The exterior grade painted treads were really slippery, and without a railing to grab on to, we'd tumble down into the edges of those sharp boxes. So we ran with the original concept, but totally overhauled the implementation:
• Replaced painted plywood treads with stained oak
• Boxes and out-of-scale newel post were replaced with new railing and handrail using scrap wood
• Structural post was recovered with finish-grade stained wood
• Drop-down hatch was replaced with better functioning, and more discreet doors
• Reinstalled some old hooks and a closet rod to hang out of season coats
We could've gone really fancy and further customized the storage, but we wanted to keep the space flexible for our constantly changing storage needs. For us, refinishing the under stair storage was a much needed improvement on an already good concept.
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So much better
Looks great! Really lightens up the space plus makes it look cleaner.
Great transformation and in my opinion, much needed. I don't even UNDERSTAND the before. Way to add storage and class.
that's a zillion times better. well done!
Nice job. What were they thinking?? The before would never pass code.
Muuuuuch better. Wonderful job.
The before was so unfabulously 80's. Much better now! You won't believe what people rig up in their homes that are not to code. I won't even get specific about my dad, don't want to get him in trouble lol!
Surprise it sold to you without meeting code standards. Love the after!
Oh wow! This is exactly what I have been trying to design on paper for the useless space under my stairs as a DIY project. My space has so much potential for better use of this storage space, but I don't want the ugly small door that is currently there, as I have to crawl through it, to get to my stuff...a big hassle. ;(
Any chance you can provide tips or instructions on how perfectly you got the doors to meet up so evenly? I love how clean and simple the doors are and especially how they open up without having to crawl into a tight space to access items.
Thanks so much for sharing!
MUCH better!!!
Looks awesome! You are very generous in your assessment of the 'before'.
Just curious: I assume you are renting? Did your landlord share costs with you and was it difficult to get him or her on board? Also, curious to know the price tag for this. We would love to talk our landlord into something like this.
So much better now ! I don't get the before either !
I thought the 'before' were chalkboards!
Waaaaaay better after. Nice job.
Very nicely done! Really pretty and probably also better in terms of functionality.
It looks like it's much safer now as you have a banister.
piano hinges?
Well thank god that was changed. What a mess in that before picture!
bravo! (im w julia- "i don't even UNDERSTAND the b4...")
Much better! Love the after :-D
This is truly an improvement.
Lovely. I bet the previous owners probably fell down the stairs too but just didn't quite know how to make it better. A vast improvement!
Improvement in terms of hodge-podgey-ness, but rather bland. Was hoping there would be some personality/uniqueness/eccentricity to the re-do.
I'm so scared to come across my "brilliantly planned renovation" 20 years later in a blog as a "before" photo... haha. This looks great.
All -- thanks for all the lovely compliments! We really did appreciate the idea the tenants before us had, but yes, it needed some tweaking. We do own - it's a duplex condo in a 12-unit historic building, and for some reason we're the ones who've taken advantage of the under-the-stair space!
We did not use piano hinges for the doors, they're just heavy duty cabinet/institutional style hinges. While having the top edge of the doors sloped is not ideal, it was the best way to maximize the door openings. And, it took a little readjusting and sanding through the seasons to get it to open smoothly.
Because our stair 'redo' was actually a smaller part of a larger renovation project in our unit, I'm not actually sure of the cost. I designed the remodel, but we worked with a woodworker/contractor colleague of mine who did all the rough carpentry work, while my husband and I shared all the finishing duties.
So much better!
What a difference, looks great!
That is a world of difference. The white looks so clean and sophisticated.
way awesome! thank you for changing it...that before frightens me.... >>