Cesar Rubio
Large urban wooden straight open staircase photo in San Francisco

Centrally located stair sits adjacent to dining room which is framed by a large window opening to an outdoor garden. Living room and front entry beyond Photo by Dan Arnold

Living room and stair detail of a new construction home in the Berkeley Hills, CA. Open-riser floating walnut wood stair treads cantilevered from a black steel stringer rise against a white wall anchored by a custom full-height geometric laser-cut birch plywood panel. Glass stair railing with black steel balustrade and handrail. Large-format dark concrete tile flooring on the lower level transitions to walnut hardwood on the upper floor, visible through the open stair structure. Birch plywood ceiling panels with recessed linear track lighting. Floor-to-ceiling steel-framed sliding glass door opens to a cable railing deck with forest views beyond. Architecture by CB Architecture + Design in collaboration with Timbre Architecture.

Positioned in a central corner of this home, this U-shaped staircase features light-colored wood treads and handrails. Thick wood posts anchor the design, while crisp, white-painted risers provide beautiful highlights beside the blonde wood tones. The defining feature is the sleek horizontal black rod railing that lines the staircase's turns. The combination of natural wood components and modern black metalwork creates an inviting vertical connection that encourages movement throughout the home. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

A grand staircase with dark wood treads and white risers in the front entry. Coastal dark wood floors and white walls throughout this classic interior.

Michael Moran/OTTO photography. The objective of this award-winning gut renovation was to create a spatially dynamic, light-filled, and energy-efficient home with a strong connection to Long Island Sound. The design strategy is straightforward: a gabled roof covers a central “spine” corridor that terminates with cathedral ceilinged spaces at both ends. The relocated approach and entry deposit visitors into the front hall with its curvilinear, cantilevered stair. A two-story, windowed family gathering space lies ahead – a straight shot to the water beyond. The design challenge was to utilize the existing house footprint and structure, while raising the top of foundation walls to exceed new flood regulations, reconfiguring the spatial organization, and using innovative materials to produce a tight thermal envelope and contemporary yet contextually appropriate facades.

Living room - mid-sized contemporary open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in Minneapolis with a metal fireplace, white walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Custom designed wallpaper on the stair risers. Photo by Lee Manning Photography
Eclectic wooden l-shaped staircase photo in Los Angeles with painted risers

Family area integrates new stair to upstairs Master Suite + new family area with additional storage for books, games, coats, and A/V - Architect: HAUS | Architecture - Construction: WERK | Build - Photo: HAUS | Architecture

Double free shanding circular staircases with wood and iron balustrade with oval balusters.
Huge trendy wooden curved mixed material railing staircase photo in Salt Lake City with wooden risers

OVERVIEW Set into a mature Boston area neighborhood, this sophisticated 2900SF home offers efficient use of space, expression through form, and myriad of green features. MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING Designed to accommodate three family generations, paired living spaces on the first and second levels are architecturally expressed on the facade by window systems that wrap the front corners of the house. Included are two kitchens, two living areas, an office for two, and two master suites. CURB APPEAL The home includes both modern form and materials, using durable cedar and through-colored fiber cement siding, permeable parking with an electric charging station, and an acrylic overhang to shelter foot traffic from rain. FEATURE STAIR An open stair with resin treads and glass rails winds from the basement to the third floor, channeling natural light through all the home’s levels. LEVEL ONE The first floor kitchen opens to the living and dining space, offering a grand piano and wall of south facing glass. A master suite and private ‘home office for two’ complete the level. LEVEL TWO The second floor includes another open concept living, dining, and kitchen space, with kitchen sink views over the green roof. A full bath, bedroom and reading nook are perfect for the children. LEVEL THREE The third floor provides the second master suite, with separate sink and wardrobe area, plus a private roofdeck. ENERGY The super insulated home features air-tight construction, continuous exterior insulation, and triple-glazed windows. The walls and basement feature foam-free cavity & exterior insulation. On the rooftop, a solar electric system helps offset energy consumption. WATER Cisterns capture stormwater and connect to a drip irrigation system. Inside the home, consumption is limited with high efficiency fixtures and appliances. TEAM Architecture & Mechanical Design – ZeroEnergy Design Contractor – Aedi Construction Photos – Eric Roth Photography

Floating staircase with steel mono-stringer and white oak treads as seen from below. The wood top rail seamlessly flows up the multi level staircase. Stairs and railings by Keuka Studios Photography by Dave Noonan

After photo of our modern white oak stair remodel and painted wall wainscot paneling.
Example of a large minimalist wooden straight wood railing and wainscoting staircase design in Portland with painted risers

Floating staircase with steel mono-stringer and white oak treads as seen from below. The wood top rail seamlessly flows up the multi level staircase. Stairs and railings by Keuka Studios Photography by Dave Noonan

Light cascades through the windows, highlighting the white oak of this contemporary staircase. The white oak risers and treads stand out against the crisp white stringers as the U-shaped staircase turns up the three levels of this Virginia home. The white oak is echoed in the railing as square chamfer-top newels support a post-to-post handrail system that forgoes traditional goosenecks for a cleaner architectural line. The satin black balusters add a custom, chic feel with their geometric pattern. The result is a stair system in balance, easy on the eye at every turn. It is a centerpiece worth taking in, not just traveling through. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company Photos courtesy of Classic Cottages

The hardwood flooring is custom made, 5/8" x 3,5,7" plank. Wirebrush rustic white oak with a custom bevel, stain and finish. Stair treads are solid white oak with paint grade risers to match the floors.

This staircase breathes traditional elegance into the home with classic design elements. Dark-stained treads and handrail create rich contrast against crisp white risers, newels, and vertical balusters. Wainscoting runs alongside the staircase, adding another layer of traditional detail that enhances the home's refined character. Centrally positioned, the staircase features a second-story balcony that wraps two sides above the main floor. This thoughtful design allows natural light to flow freely throughout the home while creating visual connection between levels. The result is a staircase that honors traditional craftsmanship while serving the functional needs of contemporary living. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

To create a more open plan, our solution was to replace the current enclosed stair with an open, glass stair and to create a proper dining space where the third bedroom used to be. This allows the light from the large living room windows to cascade down the length of the apartment brightening the front entry. The Venetian plaster wall anchors the new stair case and LED lights illuminate each glass tread. Photography: Anice Hoachlander, Hopachlander Davis Photography

Multi colored risers create a playful appearance to this beach themed and colored home renovation project.
Staircase - mid-sized eclectic wooden u-shaped staircase idea in Sacramento with painted risers