apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Don't put a guardrail. If they have to for inspection, take it down immediately after. Hang a piece of (translucent) fabric from the ceiling that falls on the edge of the floor upstairs. Could be potentially dangerous, but probably worth it as long as they don't have kids.

lucite half-wall with stainless posts.

The solution seems pretty simple to me, use a tempered glass staircase wall (baluster) topped with a nice railing. The railing could be made of the same wood as the staircase treads.

My first instinct is a brushed metal angular guard rail. It suits the modern decor and matches clean-edged metal trim on the steps.

Oh, and a lucite wall would be nice too, though difficult to maintain I imagine and not particularly helpful if you have elderly visitors who need a railing to hold onto.

Tempered glass, or steel cable and turnbuckle.

Combination of steel and glass with custom pattern.

An example of what I am talking about.

I hate hard-angular handrails. Ok, they might look fantastic, but I definitely prefer something that feels like it should be in your hand.

Rug like this or this.

(I did almost have to throw up doing some of the research for this post).

A combination of chrhardy's fabric idea and the glass guardrail idea: put up glass guardrails against the wall, then a fabric divider that acts as a wall between the staircase and the drop. This way, you can preserve the uncluttered look while still providing assistance to elderly folks trying to climb your stairs.

I think steel wire will look nice. See what we did here:

http://blueantstudio.blogspot.com/2007/02/diy-wire-railings-for-stairs-part-1.html

and here:

http://blueantstudio.blogspot.com/2007/02/diy-wire-railings-for-stair-part-2.html

We had a blend of laminated glass (that you can use on the top floor) and the steel wire. You need to keep the wires with a 4" space to pass regulations. We never had any problems with our 3 year old Isabella!
regards,
-joel

I have no idea except that the first picture reminds me of Hitchcock's "Vertigo"

batpole.

ha! johan... that made me giggle for some reason.

We just hired a guy to create a custom steel and cable rail system for us. It came in under $5,000.00. I don't know if that number is a budget buster for them, but we are happily awaiting our beautiful stair rail.

The photo makes me kind of dizzy. I'm not sure I'd be able to go down those stairs. I love the steel cable/wire ideas. It would look as cool as these stairs deserve and would be easier to keep clean than a glass or lucite option.

I like the railing on the cover of this months dwell magazine...

http://www.dwell.com/homes/new/20023139.html

and I also like the other solution in the same space, thin wires from stair to ceiling...

http://www.dwell.com/products/slideshows/20492534.html?itemID=20492534&articleID=20023139#id=a_1&num=6

A simple metal pipe about 3 feet up, in the same tone as the base of the steps should do it. One anchor at the top, one anchor where the stairs turn, and one at the bottom will maintain the airy feeling.

And some potted plants or books / tchotchkes on the other edge (in the last photo) to make sure people know where the stairs begin, saving them from accidentally walking off a precipice.

I also like the idea of cables but instead of floor to ceiling how about something like eye hooks on each of the stairs with cabling going from each individual stair to the ceailing?

the comment made above by aerie9 reminded me of an outdoor railing at my first apartment here in seattle: it was made entirely out of copper piping, curves and all.

maybe a silver-toned version of this, painted to match the metal of your staircase, if need be? pipe fittings can be assembled to fit almost any angle, and it will give your hand something solid to grasp.

just a thought, good luck!

hollo, I'm from krakow, jestem zbulwersowany, że to nie ja pierwszy wysłałem swoje zdjęcia do AT.

I think it's gorgeous as is, and railing would detract. Maybe a plain, tempered glass wall on the fall-to-your death side, and a totally plain, inconspicuous (stainless?) railing on the other wall?

I am feeling the look as is however to meet code I would install Stainless steel post, one on each step but then do not connect them with a handrail! Just the posts; like candles on a tiered cake.

I'd definetely get a guard rail. That's a lawsuit waiting to happen.