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Keep Your Balance: Cool Railings

Railings are a detail that can make or break the look of a room or even a whole house. Sometimes choosing the right railing gets lost in the shuffle of the construction or remodeling process, but it’s a design element that deserves careful attention.

I’ve learned this the hard way. After months of construction, in a moment of fatigue, I agreed to use my contractor’s stock railing recommendation. I’ve spent every moment since regretting that instant of weakness, as I look out on garish white plastic that completely clashes with my modern, mahogany deck.

I have to live with my mistake for a little while, but in the meantime, I’m busy picking out my next railing look. Here are some of my favorites:

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Sometimes just a simple wall is most appropriate. On this deck, the rail is simply an extension of the floor, which keeps the focus on the real attraction: the view.

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I love this combination of black and white. In a clean, white interior, spotting simple black rails adds interest and an artistic element - it's almost like a Franz Kline painting come to life.

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This railing remindes me of a cross between a stained glass pattern and champagne bubbles. Either way, it's cool and adds something unexpected and interesting to a standard stairway.

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The railing is an unexpected detail in this traditional home. The geometric pattern of the wood rail is different, but still in sync with the conservative overall look.

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This shaded deck is cool for a lot of reasons - the tree is definitely one of them - and the railing complements the overall look. With a combination of wood to match the house and metal, the rail is unobtrusive and matches the woodsy modern look of the house.

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In another great example of using the wall to great advantage, this outdoor stairway uses a simple railing but adds interest with a stepped wall. The effect is simple but interesting.

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This bright, fun, Deco-inspired interior lets the wall do the heavy lifting, railing-wise. I love how the yellow of the wall contrasts with the bright blue, and the way that the railing wall creates a cool geometric shape.

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In this traditional home, stained glass is complemented by a detailed, heavy wooden rail with Mission overtones. I like how the lines of the railing draw attention to the pattern of the glass.

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Sometimes no railing makes the best statement. In this case, open stairs are protected by thin metal poles. I love the clean, sophisticated look (even if I wouldn't let a baby crawl up those steps).

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My favorite thing about this railing design is the slight curve. It evokes a naturalistic, art nouveau feeling - next stop, Paris? - without being overly ornate. It still feels clean.

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This plexiglass is modern and unobtrusive - but also safe. I love how the glass on the stairs echoes the wall of windows at the back, and how the combination of wood, concrete and steel works together.

Keep Your Balance: Cool Railings

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