Cynthia Taylor-Luce Wood steps are gorgeous to look at but absolutely treacherous, especially for the elderly or for children who run everywhere at top speed. I always recommend installing a stair runner. For the stairs photographed above, it would take some research and some design expertise to pick the right material, but it would be possible.
I think this idea for lighting the stairs. Anything up on the ceiling is too difficult to change the lightbulb. would like to think about a sconce on the landing step, the lights in the wall that are close to the step, and then lighting the upstairs hallway where reaching the lightbulbs to change them will be easier.