Singing the Praises of Beautiful Staircases
Custom Builder Magazine - March 2008By Susan Bady, Senior Editor, Design
In a finely detailed custom home, the staircase isn’t merely functional; it’s an art form that in some cases can take a year or more to complete. The stair systems featured here were designed to delight the eye, complement their surroundings and create an experience for homeowners and guests.
Stair Sculpture
This unique helical staircase serves as the central core for vertical movement throughout the home. Its steel framework has a veneer of 3/4-inch mahogany and lacewood. All stair treads are inlaid with honed limestone. The structural tempered curved glass railings help support the custom bronze metal balustrades. A 12-foot-diameter skylight cascades light through decorative glass floor panels in the upper balcony.
Builder: Homeowners
Architect: DesRosiers Architects
Photography: Beth Singer
Fit for a Palace
Unfurling like a flag, this two-story staircase rises through a 45-foot-high turret of 14-foot arched windows. A challenging 90-degree turn was required at the foyer; therefore, the underside of the compound curved stair was made of plaster on site. The hand-carved wood handrail is supported by an expertly designed wrought-iron pattern. Brass accents were hot-brushed on during fabrication, and individual flower designs were incorporated into the railing, which took over a year to complete.
Builder: Uzstan Construction
Architect: DesRosiers Architects
Photography: George Dzahristos
In a finely detailed custom home, the staircase isn’t merely functional; it’s an art form that in some cases can take a year or more to complete. The stair systems featured here were designed to delight the eye, complement their surroundings and create an experience for homeowners and guests.
Stair Sculpture
This unique helical staircase serves as the central core for vertical movement throughout the home. Its steel framework has a veneer of 3/4-inch mahogany and lacewood. All stair treads are inlaid with honed limestone. The structural tempered curved glass railings help support the custom bronze metal balustrades. A 12-foot-diameter skylight cascades light through decorative glass floor panels in the upper balcony.
Builder: Homeowners
Architect: DesRosiers Architects
Photography: Beth Singer
Fit for a Palace
Unfurling like a flag, this two-story staircase rises through a 45-foot-high turret of 14-foot arched windows. A challenging 90-degree turn was required at the foyer; therefore, the underside of the compound curved stair was made of plaster on site. The hand-carved wood handrail is supported by an expertly designed wrought-iron pattern. Brass accents were hot-brushed on during fabrication, and individual flower designs were incorporated into the railing, which took over a year to complete.
Builder: Uzstan Construction
Architect: DesRosiers Architects
Photography: George Dzahristos
