Have you bought it or are you considering buying it?

Wow, this beautiful, but it is a lot of space taken up. The plan itself looks like an older style (with rooms divided with walls when typically "now" we see more open plans). It's always nice to open up the kitchen, but since there is a staircase to the basement, that may be difficult to move. You could maintain one stair (and stain top rail and newel posts) near the kitchen and move the library into this open space (tall ceilings would allow for rolling, library ladder) and use the existing library for an extension of garage / workshop space / large mud entry with laundry / space to fold clothes, wrap gifts, dog wash (if applicable). You will still have to contend with the lowered floor near FP / inglenook, so that will be challenging (it must vent through the back wall?) And maybe that FP could go?

Eliminating one stair will make it very "unsymmetrical" and with all the open rail around the top, you may not like it looking "lopsided", so maybe you eliminate the FP and both sets of lower stairs and extend one of the back stair sections (probably the one over the powder room) to be a full / straight run stair along back wall? and then this becomes a "sitting room"?

There is plenty of space so there are plenty of options. It looks like a fun and exciting transformation, be sure to post AFTER pics if you do something!

Very ornate and space-hogging, but not really dated -- sort of classical. I'd darken the railings for sure, but I can imagine getting an architect involved if you want to really redesign this space to use more of it as house.

Man, hard to give away that cute bench area down by the fireplace! I want to sit there and warm my toes!

IMO the FP and the chandelier are fighting each other.

Here is an additional picture

From the 2nd floor

There isn't a need for stairs in that small kitchen(12x17), and in the huge entry foyer. I'd put my money into getting rid of the stairs in the kitchen and opening it up to the foyer to create a great room, by reconfiguring the entire foyer area.

What a colossal waste of space at the expense of small closed off boxy rooms. I'd reconfigure it all, for sure!

Lg wrought iron chandelier. Paint spindles and rivers black. Strip and stain railing dark wood tone. Add runner to the stairs. Rug in front of fireplace, cushions and pillows, table? Large rug in main entry, round table with two antique chairs, books candles, flowers. Just thoughts , maybe some , not all. Maybe none. Hate that I can't see pictures while writing.

Reconfigure! Is there a laundry room on the 2nd floor? There should be!

The house was built in 1927, per real estate website. Room arrangements and sizes were different back then. My guess is that the stairway banisters and ceiling beams in the hall were dark like the library's fantastic woodwork.

What do you think about adding new flooring on the 2nd level?

Remove 1 of the staircases + remove the fireplace.

Close off the top ceiling to create more 2nd floor

Could this reclaim any usable sq footage on the first floor?

Vape, it depends. Talk to a local realtor.

Wouldn't recommend you buy that home unless you're looking for space for very frequent formal parties (such as charity benefits and/or political fundraisers) -- it doesn't look like a "home".

That space gave me a chuckle. It looks like a composite of a bunch of spaces. Sorry.

Vape Boxes - you asked:

What do you think about adding new flooring on the 2nd level?.... Do IT!

Remove 1 of the staircases + remove the fireplace.........Yes!!

Close off the top ceiling to create more 2nd floor............Yes!!

Could this reclaim any usable sq footage on the first floor?........Absolutely!!! It would create a great room!!

There's no gracefulness to this double staircase! It lacks style and flow. The step down to the fireplace with the benches( for what may I ask) looks so awkward! I would blow that whole thing out; put French door to the outside. Yes the space is large but , Hmm....

And the saved space from all this reconfiguring would be needed where? How many sq. ft. in this house? You need a large gracious, ornate table for the center of the hall with a large ornate rug underneath. Stain or paint the stairs so they look more modern, change out the chandelier, but before chopping this up, there should be a good goal.

For a different look, I'd suggest stripping the spindles to their original color or simply painting them. Your chandelier and fireplace should also be changed/ updated. I would also add runners on the stairs, a rug at the front with a table and art work on the upper walls.

The fireplace I would take out. I'm not understanding a fireplace in the middle of a set of stairs ? Does that stay ? If you keep both staircases , then do areally beautiful round table in the middle. It is a grand entrance , make it one ! The staircase all white , I would change that as others mentioned. The light fixture , gone .You can really add a beautiful one in its place .

Ok..

• Get rid of the fireplace and raise the floor
• get rid of both staircase
• get rid of the kitchen staircase
• Open up the kitchen
• add a new staircase with smaller footprint
• add new flooring to 2nd level

$$$$$$$$

Oh dear!!!

As the world turns, so does the variety of opinions. Now, what are you going to do?

Reconfiguring the space might not be that expensive. It's not like there is a ton of plumbing, tile work, expensive appliances, etc. It won't be cheap (lots of millwork and you are still going to want very nice stairs), but I am guessing way less than a top of the line kitchen re-do, or even a magazine worthy master bath.

But I would really like to understand more about the house. I suspect the front and rear elevations might be very interesting. Also, it looks like you already have lots of space. Do you need more? What is a the basement like? If you do change the stairs, I would try to get the basement stairs out of the kitchen square footage.

This house screams "Christmas open house" to me. With a giant tree in the reception room and all the kids eating cookies on those fireplace benches. Or poker or bridge party house.

Any exterior pictures of the home? It looks very Federalish...