CasaSugar

Love It or Hate It? Painted Stair Railing

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:15:46 -0800

I love it when homeowners get creative with their staircases, and this design is no exception. While it's a little more traditional in pattern and color, I find it utterly charming. The only problem that I can see is that it is potentially difficult to decorate around.

Source: Flickr User Allie_Caulfield

Would You Want a Floating Staircase?

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:00:14 -0700

I've seen a few floating staircases in the past and they certainly look cool. But I think I'm too much of a wimp not to have a banister. And they're definitely not very safe for children or the elderly. Would you want one in your house?

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Before and After: Restoring a Victorian Staircase

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:00:32 -0700

Last year, San Francisco renovator John Clarke Mills bought an 1890s Victorian that needed a ton of work. So far, he's worked on everything from the foundation to rewiring.

His latest challenge has been tackling the staircase, which had been separated. The house had been divided into two rental units in the past, and the lower banister had been removed decades ago.

John writes, "Since the house was split into two units at one point in its life a wall was put up between the upstairs and downstairs. We were hoping that inside the wall we would find ourselves a banister like our neighbors did, but no such luck. Obviously whoever did the work on our house didn't have the foresight that the neighbors did. Anyway, we were only left with one choice; rebuild it ourselves."

To see the results of John's hard labor, read more.

John turned to San Fransisco Victoriana to help re-create the components of the banister, based on how it looked in the upstairs hallway. The results are impeccable, and a wonderful re-creation of the original staircase.

John writes, "After 5 days of working straight for ten hours and a lot of follow-up work including stain, multiple coats of varnish, and paint we are finally finished. I think it turned out wonderful and couldn’t be happier about the results. It was a great learning experience and not all that complicated as long as you have patience and some good do-it-yourself experience. The pride of building something like this yourself and saving thousands on highly skilled labor is enough to make me want to do it again someday."

Have you ever taken on a house project this challenging? Read more about John's renovations on his blog.

View 7 Photos ›

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Guess What These Banisters Were Wrapped With?

CasaSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:00:07 -0700

The banisters on the staircase in this San Francisco residence designed by Nicole Hollis were wrapped with a very affordable and common material, giving simple metal poles not only texture but also a graphic presence. Can you guess what they were wrapped with?

Do You Have a Spiral Staircase?

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:00:51 -0700

I love a grand, dramatic spiral staircase such as this one. But the narrow, very vertical kind you see on boats or small homes makes me feel a bit acrophobic. Do you have one?Source

Casa Quickie: Step Into Color

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:00:20 -0700

If you're in love with your white walls, but still want to add a hint of color to your life, take inspiration from this home. The stairs were painted an unexpectedly bright color, adding an infusion of freshness to the space. With otherwise neutral choices for the floors and walls, the staircase really stands out. It probably comes in handy for little ones learning to concentrate on climbing stairs, too, don't you think?

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Do You Decorate Your Stairwell?

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:00:22 -0700

Your stairwell may not be your first priority in decorating, but you can still make an impact there. Whether you go for an understated look with a trio of small photographs and a plant, or bold with a leopard-print stair runner, bright pink walls, and a glitzy chandelier, the space shouldn't be overlooked. If your front staircase lines up with your front door, it's the first impression your guests will have of your home. So, you should make sure it's a good representation of your taste. If not, you have more leeway to have fun and maybe be a little crazier than normal.

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Love It or Hate It? Mirror Tiled Steps

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:00:30 -0700

You all seemed to love the tiled text staircase I showed you, which makes me think you may warm up to these mirror tiled steps. I think the juxtaposition of the old, wooden banister and the small mirrored tiles makes this look work. But on a modern staircase, it might look tacky and too disco. You must admit the light reflected by the tiles is beautiful, though. It's a good thing the tiles are petite, so you can't actually see your own reflection. What do you say? Yea or nay?
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Love It or Hate It? Tiled Text Staircase

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:00:22 -0700

The tiled French text in this staircase in the portfolio of stylist Laurence Pasquier translates to "I climb, You climb, He climbs, We climb." It's a little bit tongue-in-cheek, and I think it has a nice visual effect. But, it's not for everyone. What do you say?
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Love It or Hate It? Bold Stair Runner

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:00:37 -0700

I just watched the 1966 Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole film How to Steal a Million, which is chock-full of talking points when it comes to interior design. But the one thing that truly blew me away (aside from the armoire that leads to a secret staircase) was the purple staircase and banister in Hepburn's character's foyer. In contrast to the rest of the reserved, gilded, French furnishings in the Parisian mansion, the purple stair runner is a very bold choice. Several important scenes take place on the staircase, so it was smart of production designer Alexandre Trauner to make it a focal point. Clearly, the décor in this home is dated and a little glitzy for most of our tastes, and this shade of purple isn't very popular these days. But what do you think of this effect in general? Do you like how they've used a stair runner to create visual impact? Would you want to replicate a similar look in your home with a powerful color, pattern, or stripes?
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