Ooh, that IS a real danger. Suggest adding a black, wall-mounted "railing" in place of the console table. That should be enough to indicate the change in level. Another option is a very low container with knee-high plants. If the planter isn't visible from the upper level it will also alert someone to the change. I truly hate these one-or-two-step "features".

I think one of the two black line of tiles has to come out. That is a big problem you are right. So dangerous, especially for seniors. That is a broken hip for sure.

I'd be contacting a custom metal worker and getting a handrail installed on each side. I couldn't negotiate a step without something to hold on to

I don't know how you can "fix " that without re-tiling. That was not good thinking on the part of whoever did that. Whenever there is a change is elevation in an open step like that, you need a change in flooring in some way to indicate that. If you don't have that, then you need a railing so that people see that and realize what is happening. The only other thing you can do there is get large urn type vases and create a visual "railing" by putting two urns on the top step on either side of the opening, and then two more on the lower step on either side of the opening. That will draw people's eyes down to look at the urns and they will see the difference in heights. Lighting will also be necessary, I could see putting wall lights in low on the walls to highlight the step.

We have a step like that in our house and when we first looked at the house, I feel down and unfortunately grabbed onto a couch, as I fell and twisted my arm. I broke my arm in a spiral fracture and tore my rotator cufff. We ended up being the house because we loved it dearly despite my broken bones. We had a blue border painted on the top step which defined it from the bottom step. No one has fallen since.

That is an accident waiting to happen and a lawsuit for the homeowners who have created a dangerous condition.

The black with black creates an optical illusion of there being no step.

The safest way to proceed is to get a really gorgeous handrail - this would alert people to the change in elevation AND provide a much needed safety feature because there are people who cannot safely go up even one step without having a rail of some kind to help with balance. Function and safety trumps whatever look they thought they were going for.

we had a step down like that; basically whenever we had guests i'd guide them to the step one at a time and point it out... 'there's a step down here, watch out'.

that worked ok, no one fell, but i solved the problem by moving. never will i ever have a home with a step down again. also, no appliance garages.

Removal of the black strip on the lower part will help a lot

Can they install stair lights on the riser? At least that will alert people that there is a step if kept on 24/7. I wouldn't imagine LEDs would eat up that much electricity.

Thank you to ALL who have offered help. I will be sharing every suggestion with my neighbors. I don't get to choose what gets done, but I do think removing the black tile on the bottom will help a lot. I also think at least 1 handrail would be a wise idea. I never would have thought of the chair rail, but I think that is a very creative and smart idea. Thank you so much for all your ideas. I hope to let you know what they do choose to do after the work is completed.

I don't think a chair rail is sufficient - my opinion. Some people would not be looking at the walls when entering a home and even if they saw the chair rail, it might not register as meaning there was a step down.

I really think an attractive hand rail is the only safe solution - because it is a universal signal to everyone that there is a step and because it provides a necessary aid to any visitors who need a rail to help them go up and down a step. There are some people who have difficulties going up and down a curb without some form of balancing aid - your step is pretty much the equivalent of a curb.

Try etsy.com for a possible solution. I had this decal made for a client’s cellar stairway which was a huge accident waiting to happen. It is a rental, so doubly important for the unfamiliar tenant.

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Artists are clever and I bet someone could come up with some kind of warning in a nice design.

At the landing below there was another dangerous step which was not code. I had the carpenter hammer shiny upholstery tacks every three inches at the edge of the steps.

???? bull nose stair treads with adhesive backing in two colors.