From the sweeping width of Rome’s Spanish Steps to the steep staircase of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat Temple, spectacular examples of man’s solution for ascending vertical spaces can be found all over the world. If you are searching for a masterpiece staircase for your home, you are probably overwhelmed with the variety of styles, materials and embellishments that are available. Fear not, we have gathered together everything you need to get started.
Character
Before you look any further, ask yourself what ‘feel’ you want your staircase to have. Does your staircase need to compliment a modern, traditional, rustic or abstract environment? Some materials lend character to certain environments more than others (e.g. glass is popular for modern interiors). The character of your staircase will also be affected by the width of the thread (the part that is stepped on) and the height of the riser (the vertical part that joins each thread).
Style
There seems to be an endless variety of staircase styles. A popular modern style is the open-riser staircase. Open-riser staircases have no riser, therefore you can see through each step. This allows light to filter through the staircase but isn’t the safest option for small pets (who could fall through the gaps). Another popular modern style is the floating staircase. For a floating stairs effect, each step is separately mounted onto the wall (almost like a shelf). The lack of a handrail or underlying support makes them appear as if they are floating. A similar idea to floating staircases is the suspended staircase. Suspended stairs are hung from the ceiling using strong wires. More traditional styles include the spiral staircase, the curved staircase and the split staircase. Most styles can be incorporated to include a balcony or a mezzanine.
Stair Case Materials
Interior staircases can be built with steal, stone, concrete or a large range of wood including: oak, maple, beech, teak, ash and walnut. Spindles (the vertical poles that hold up the handrail), newal points (the vertical posts at the end and top of the stairs) and handrails also come in a variety of material including wood, glass and wrought iron. There is no ‘best option’ so it really boils down to personal taste.
Embelishments
You can embellish your staircase with decorative tiles, a coat of paint, feature lighting or a runner carpet. Runner carpets can be nailed, stapled or secured down with a staple rod depending on the effect you want.
Now that you are aware of the different options available to you, go have a look and see what’s out there.
This article was written by Jenna Crotty who recommends www.connollystairs.ie for stairs manufacturers.