We've obviously got a thing for staircases on Apartment Therapy. We love spiral versions, floating steps, stairs with shelves, wallpapered steps...you name it, we've probably blogged it. Want more eye candy? How about a gallery of balusters (handrail supports) and banisters...
FIRST ROW
• 1 East Hampton House by Phoebe Howard
• 2 Brooklyn Rowhouse by Domestic Architecture
• 3 Staircase from the 1100 Architect Portfolio
• 4 Old Branch Clothes Rack from Emery & Cie
• 5 Alison and Joel's Light-Filled Victorian
SECOND ROW
• 6 Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon
• 7 Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
• 8 Stair Rail from Sköna Hem
• 9 Zoka's East Village "Open House"
• 10 Jeff and Jennifer Isbell's Half-Circle Home
Photos: Phoebe Howard, Domestic Architecture, Michael Moran, Emery & Cie, Elizabeth C, Janel Laban, boboroshi licensed via Creative Commons, Carina Gran/Sköna Hem, Janel Laban, Evan Thomas
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
the third one is like jewlery
view LoriSF's profile
My choice is 1. (I guess I'm very stressed out right now, and #1 is certainly calming.)
And see, Apartment-Therapy, stairs can be beautiful without injuring people!
view JoanneM's profile
The one from the Swedish home is so fascinating.
Emily
view Emily Sneds's profile
I thought #5 was from SF City Hall!
view Heather C's profile
I agree - #1 is so calming and elegant.
Perhaps it's a symptom of age, but I find that I'm attracted to traditional interiors more and more - They seem somehow more comforting and soothing than overly avant-garde/minimalist spaces.
view bepsf's profile
The second one is my fave, reminds me of when we lived in Iowa.
view clampers's profile
I also love #1... but can't help wondering if it would be a pain to dust...
view CozyLittleCave's profile
Great timing on this post, as my husband and I have been working on building a banister in our house for the past two weeks. I've got balusters on the brain, and my brain is officially hurting. So many measurements...
Quick question for contractor-types: Do people with non-traditional stairs simply ignore building codes and hope for the best?
For example, it seems to me that the railings in the last 2 images would not pass inspection where I live, because the widest point between balusters cannot be wider than 4".
Anyone know the rules on this?
view thirtyeight20's profile
Love the third one. And I've always had circular staircase envy, so that one's got me too.
view Catherine W's profile
I love #1 and #3 (I love practically everything 1100 Architect does, especially their stairs). #4 is scary - what IS that thing at the top of the stairs?
view Emily the Cat's profile
"Do people with non-traditional stairs simply ignore building codes and hope for the best? "
No, otherwise they won't pass inspection.
There are other options besides ballusters and rails tho - such as glass/acrylic panels, steel cables, etc...
view bepsf's profile
thirtyeight20 - Codes vary from region to region although the International Building Code is probably the most common code adopted. The 4" sphere rule is part of the IBC. I'm most familiar with commercial building code, however residential codes are usually different and more forgiving since the spaces are not public. You can call your local building department or check their website to see what code is in effect for your area. You can probably find a copy at a local bookstore or library to research what is or not allowed. Be sure to also ask if there are any local amendments to the code as well.
view dmstudio's profile
jeff & jennifer's is my favorite
view mysuitelife's profile