What Goes Up, Down, Around in a Circle, and Takes You to a Different Level?

When I start a project, I always do a little research for inspiration.  But when I began looking for some “unusual” staircases, I got a lot more than I expected.

This staircase from Levitan Architects is a book lover’s dream!  I love the staggered “tab” detail on the treads!

 

This is a great example of an alternative to a ladder!  Sometimes you just want something a little more!  Not sure about meeting building codes, but I love the functionality for a steep space. The “safety conscious” part me wants to put a railing, though!!

 

Ditto for the building code and need for a railing, but these stairs are a piece of art, just as beautiful from the underside!

 

The transparency of these stairs creates a unique and contemporary design focal point for the entire space.  Beautiful!  (As long as you’re not afraid of heights!)

 

Olafur Eliasson creates amazing functional pieces of art.  This staircase feels like a rollercoaster in an amusement park!

 

To get back to reality, sometimes just a unique application of color will transcend a staircase into a beautiful artistic element.  I love the green tones on this staircase paired with the trees painted on the walls.  Imagine the wall and stairs all white – gives you an entirely different feel!

 

A grand staircase is just that- its grandeur comes from the workmanship that created it.  Here is a traditional, yet timeless example, straight out of the Titanic!

 

And another beautiful example of traditional craftsmanship in the stairway of a late 1800’s Victorian that I am helping the owners restore to an “modernized version” of its original form.

 

Sometimes we use nature to help us carve a path from top to bottom.  These “built-in stairs” become part of the natural landscape.

 

 

I love tile as a riser.  These stairs at the Hearst Castle are so vibrant and completely transform the feeling of the space.

 

Where are your favorite staircases?  Send us your pictures!