Add A Dynamic Design Accent To Your Home With The Right Staircase
Aldene Fredenburg
Stairways are a wonderful thing. They suggest a path to things unseen,
hidden destinations, secret lives. If you have a multistory home or are
planning to build one, take a few minutes to think about the stairs. By
choosing to include a beautiful stairway instead of a mundane one, you
can change your home atmosphere from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether
you choose filigreed iron, steel, glass, or traditional hardwood, the
right stairway for your home can serve as a compelling design accent,
the focal point of a room, at once utilitarian and beautiful.
If you have an urban industrial loft, you may be
thinking of taking one large, high-ceiling room and creating a number of
living environments on different levels. If so, you'll be incorporating
a bunch of staircases. You may even be lucky enough to have an existing
industrial staircase made of rugged steel. If so, you have a decision to
make. Are you aiming for a high-tech industrial look, with stainless
steel commercial kitchen appliances and exposed electrical and plumbing
elements on the ceiling?
Then your steel staircase fits right in. If you're looking to emphasis
natural colors and textures, however, a sort of Zen retreat, you might
want to incorporate the natural beauty of hardwood stairs into your
design. A Straight, sturdy staircase leading to the upper levels can
make a powerful statement; a curving stairway winding around the center
of your loft adds elegance and a feeling of flow to your environment.
Historical homes, particularly in the eastern U.S., almost demand the
inclusion of hardwood stairs. Your antique home may have a staircase in
need of repair, or the existing staircase may need replacing. Either
way, you'll need the services of a company specializing in
custom-designed staircases. In fact, whether you're creating your own
unique home or restoring an antique home, custom designed and built
staircases are a must because of the exacting nature of the measurements
required.
When you go looking for a company to build your staircase for you, make
sure you choose a firm with an experienced staff of designers. A
designer should be willing to visit the site, take the appropriate
measurements, and present you with design suggestions and advice on
materials and costs, as well as troubleshoot the site and the design for
possible problems.
They also should be willing to supply you with detailed photographs of
their work for other clients. Who knows? You may find inspiration in
these photos and use them as a jumping off point for your own creative
ideas.
About The Author
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New
Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and Topics. She has
published numerous articles in local and regional publications on a wide
range of topics, including business, education, the arts, and local
events. Her feature articles include an interview with independent
documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature on prisoners at the New
Hampshire State Prison in Concord. She may be reached at
amfredenburg@yahoo.com.
articles@tipsandtopics.com