stair treatments
Show off a favorite color. If you love a particular color, why not create your own custom runner out of that color with paint? Designer Alison Kandler color-matched a treasured scarf to get just the right lilac for a painted stair runner in her Santa Monica, California, home. To avoid overwhelming the space with too much color, she used white paint on either side of the runner, on the balusters and handrail and on the walls. This really allows the color, as well as the artwork, to take center stage.
Cooley & Rose Here’s a view of the same staircase from the top of the flight, looking down. Crisp, unadorned white walls allow the varying colors to stand out, without distraction from other decorative elements. Hits of these colors appear in the rest of the home, most notably in the eclectic living room’s vibrant seating.
Create a posh path with lighting. Stairway lighting is critical for safety, but it can also be used to help create a particular mood. Here, LED lights on either side of the stairs create an ethereal glow that adds a modern, even futuristic touch. Combined with the home’s minimalist architecture and aesthetic, the lighting also feels luxurious. If you’re interested in creating your own LED-lit staircase, you’ll want to consult with an experienced electrician who can size up your staircase to let you know the extent of work that would be involved.
1. Run wild with a runner. One classic way to boost your stair style is with a runner, and choosing a knockout pattern can add a fun vibe. From animal prints to bold stripes, there are patterned runners out there for a wide range of tastes. Prints and patterns are great options for high-traffic areas such as stairs because they help conceal wear and tear. Animal print runners are among my favorite patterns to use because they’re timeless, neutral patterns that still feel brave. In this example, the black paint on the stair treads and handrail echoes the black accents in the runner, pulling the whole look together elegantly.
Gray paint helped give the staircase some life and highlight the details, such as those on the newel post.
1. Reading Nook The small dimensions of the space under the stairs make it ideal for creating a cozy reading nook. This Los Angles book nook, designed by JWT Associates, is wrapped in tongue-and-groove wood paneling for a down-on-the-farm aesthetic.
Finally, this cleverly designed space under the stairs in a Montreal home has a washing machine and dryer, as well as an alcove where the family cat likes to hang out.
If you don’t have enough room for a walk-in wine cellar under your stairs, a few stylish wine racks might do the trick. This modern space in Los Angeles can hold up to 33 wine bottles.
7. Wine Storage For the wine enthusiast, finding storage space for bottles can be a challenge. Consider the space under the stairs as a prime location to add wine racks or even a walk-in wine cellar, as seen above.
6. Powder Room Adding a bathroom, even just a powder room, is a great way to raise the value of your home. The space under the stairs may provide just enough space for a toilet and sink, as seen in the marble-clad powder room above.
4. Office If you don’t have an entire room available for a home office, consider the space under the stairs as a great alternative. The built-in desk and bookshelves of this modern office in Austin, Texas, make for a stylish workspace.
4. Office If you don’t have an entire room available for a home office, consider the space under the stairs as a great alternative. The built-in desk and bookshelves of this modern office in Austin, Texas, make for a stylish workspace.
Brosh wanted the flooring throughout to feel like the original wood. First he removed the laminate and installed underfloor heating. Before laying engineered oak on top, he used an aging technique on the boards, which involved putting them in a giant machine with chains and stones for a few minutes. The machine tumbles the boards so that they come out looking distressed. He then stained them dark with Old English oil. “The flooring on the stairs didn’t look old enough,” he says. So with his attention to detail, he went over each tread with a hammer.
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