Whether grand or utilitarian, staircases are necessities in multilevel houses, but how do you find the right style for your house and your lifestyle? Where should you locate a staircase to make it most convenient for a busy household? Should you renovate or replace a worn, old staircase?

Stairscaping celebrates and demystifies the residential staircase, Through well-researched, accessible text, and detailed, stylish photography and illustrations, this book shows you how to enhance your existing staircase or envision the staircase of your dreams. Practical information on building codes, safety, and how-to projects as well as a resource section providing information for staircase restoration, tools, and industry contacts, make Stairscapingan indispensable guide and idea book.

If you’ve ever paused to admire a set of stairs or ever appreciated the feeling of a well-worn railing, then this is a book for you. If your own home has a staircase that doesn’t seem to work as well as it should--or look as good as you would like--this is a book for you. A staircase can be a house’s most distinctive and useful feature. In the pages that follow, you’ll find example after example of this in some of the finest and most innovative staircases in houses of today and yesterday. As you find inspiration and ideas in the photographs, the text and illustrations will explain what works well about these magnificent stairs, giving you insight into how to build, revamp, or redecorate your own staircase.

It’s a marvelous time for home design and construction. Many of the best construction methods and styles of the past are being reborn and reimagined by today’s architects and builders. At the same time, the very latest in modern materials are making things possible in construction that were hardly imaginable only decades ago. In short, there’s no excuse for a boring staircase.

Introduction

Part I: Home Staircases

CHAPTER ONE WHAT'S iN A STAIRCASE?

Means to an End

Conception

What: Stairway Anatomy

Typical Layouts

Vocabulary

Where: Siting Stairs

Traffic Rules

Multiple Staircases

How: Building Stairs

Initial Steps

Doing It Yourself

CHAPTER TWO CLASSIC STAIRS

Right Stairs, Right Place

Formal Stairs: The Grand Entrance

Asymmetric Elegance

Casual Stairs

Comfort and Convenience

Quality Materials

Secondary Uses

CHAPTER THREE CONTEMPORARY STAIRS

Form Follows Material

Reimagining the Traditional

Freestanding Open Stairs

Stairs as Sculpture

The Disappearing Act

The Old Substantial Materials--

New Again

CHAPTER FOUR ALTERNATIVES TO STAIRCASES

Other Means of Ascent

Spiral Stairs

Ladders

Accessible Alternatives

CHAPTER FIVE DETAILS

What Trim Contributes

Starting Steps and Flares

Winders

Skirtboards

Embellishments

Balustrades

Railings

Lighting

Landings

Under the Stairs

CHAPTER SIX OUTDOOR STAIRS

Front Door Stairs

A Little Excitement for Concrete

Stairs

Garden Stairs

Deck Stairs

CHAPTER SEVEN

REPAIRING AND RESTORING STAIRS

Repairing Squeaks

Repairing Balustrades

The Staircase Makeover

Do it Yourself

Project: Installing a Carpet Runner

with Decorative Rods

Project: Stenciling Risers

Project: Installing Picture Frame

Molding

Project: Installing a Shadow Rail

Part II: What Makes a

Great Staircase?

CHAPTER EIGHT GREAT STAIRS IN DETAIL

Glossary

Resources

About the Author