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 staircase is so much more than circulation. It provides a space to create dramatic interior architecture, a place for design to carve into, where a staircase can either embrace or stand as its own design piece. In this custom stair and railing design, completed in January 2020, we wanted a grand statement for the two-story foyer. With walls wrapped in a modern wainscoting, the staircase is a sleek combination of black metal balusters and honey stained millwork. Open stair treads of white oak were custom stained to match the engineered wide plank floors. Each riser painted white, to offset and highlight the ascent to a U-shaped loft and hallway above. The black interior doors and white painted walls enhance the subtle color of the wood, and the oversized black metal chandelier lends a classic and modern feel. The staircase is created with several “zones”: from the second story, a panoramic view is offered from the second story loft and surrounding hallway. The full height of the home is revealed and the detail of our black metal pendant can be admired in close view. At the main level, our staircase lands facing the dining room entrance, and is flanked by wall sconces set within the wainscoting. It is a formal landing spot with views to the front entrance as well as the backyard patio and pool. And in the lower level, the open stair system creates continuity and elegance as the staircase ends at the custom home bar and wine storage. The view back up from the bottom reveals a comprehensive open system to delight its family, both young and old!

It's the square metal balusters and simple white square newels in this four-level U-shaped staircase that make a dramatic impact in this home. The stain on the oak treads and handrails matches the home's hardwood floors perfectly, while the white newels echo the wainscoting found throughout the house. The result is a staircase that ties the home's interior finishes together, creating visual harmony across multiple levels while serving the practical needs of a busy household. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Olson Photographic
Example of a large classic wooden curved metal railing staircase design in New York with painted risers

Modern Floating staircase with glass walls, steel stringers and wood treads. Open concept living with living room, and kitchen open to the entry. www.keuka-studios.com

James Gray Photography Spacious open modern iron staircase overlooking the open deck and pond, cable rails with eagle windows. Custom Built Modern Home in Eagles Landing Neighborhood of Saint Augusta, Mn - Build by Werschay Homes.

Designed by the homeowners themselves, this striking staircase rises through multiple levels with architectural precision. Dark-toned square balusters and newels create bold contrast against crisp white risers, while horizontal stainless steel rods maintain visual lightness. The brilliance lies in the interplay of angles, levels, textures, and natural light. Strategic design choices transform the staircase into more than a connector. It carves out cozy sunny nooks and creates focal points throughout the open floor plan, proving that thoughtful geometry can shape how a home feels and functions. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This residence was a complete gut renovation of a 4-story row house in Park Slope, and included a new rear extension and penthouse addition. The owners wished to create a warm, family home using a modern language that would act as a clean canvas to feature rich textiles and items from their world travels. As with most Brooklyn row houses, the existing house suffered from a lack of natural light and connection to exterior spaces, an issue that Principal Brendan Coburn is acutely aware of from his experience re-imagining historic structures in the New York area. The resulting architecture is designed around moments featuring natural light and views to the exterior, of both the private garden and the sky, throughout the house, and a stripped-down language of detailing and finishes allows for the concept of the modern-natural to shine. Upon entering the home, the kitchen and dining space draw you in with views beyond through the large glazed opening at the rear of the house. An extension was built to allow for a large sunken living room that provides a family gathering space connected to the kitchen and dining room, but remains distinctly separate, with a strong visual connection to the rear garden. The open sculptural stair tower was designed to function like that of a traditional row house stair, but with a smaller footprint. By extending it up past the original roof level into the new penthouse, the stair becomes an atmospheric shaft for the spaces surrounding the core. All types of weather – sunshine, rain, lightning, can be sensed throughout the home through this unifying vertical environment. The stair space also strives to foster family communication, making open living spaces visible between floors. At the upper-most level, a free-form bench sits suspended over the stair, just by the new roof deck, which provides at-ease entertaining. Oak was used throughout the home as a unifying material element. As one travels upwards within the house, the oak finishes are bleached to further degrees as a nod to how light enters the home. The owners worked with CWB to add their own personality to the project. The meter of a white oak and blackened steel stair screen was designed by the family to read “I love you” in Morse Code, and tile was selected throughout to reference places that hold special significance to the family. To support the owners’ comfort, the architectural design engages passive house technologies to reduce energy use, while increasing air quality within the home – a strategy which aims to respect the environment while providing a refuge from the harsh elements of urban living. This project was published by Wendy Goodman as her Space of the Week, part of New York Magazine’s Design Hunting on The Cut. Photography by Kevin Kunstadt

This urban home in New York achieves an open feel with several flights of floating stairs accompanied by cable railing. The surface mount posts were manufactured from Aluminum and finished with our popular black powder coat. The system is topped off with our 6000 mission-style handrail. The floating stairs are accented by 3 1/2″ treads made from White Oak. Altogether, the system further’s the home’s contemporary design.

Floorians
Staircase - large modern carpeted floating metal railing and open staircase idea in Toronto

Modern farmhouse custom staircase in a 2-storey entry. This custom-built open riser staircase features solid white oak treads and stringers in a natural clear stain, square white oak newel posts, white oak handrail, and matte black powder-coated metal balusters for a clean modern contrast. The open tread design allows natural light from the tall entry windows to flow through, making the space feel larger and brighter. Paired with wide-plank light white oak hardwood flooring, shiplap accent wall, white trim, and recessed pot lighting for a warm, Scandinavian-inspired transitional look. A perfect example of modern custom stair craftsmanship that balances warmth, minimalism, and durability for a new build / full home renovation. Features: white oak staircase, open riser stairs, black iron spindles, custom wood railing, white oak floors, shiplap wall detail.

Modern farmhouse custom staircase in a 2-storey entry. This custom-built open riser staircase features solid white oak treads and stringers in a natural clear stain, square white oak newel posts, white oak handrail, and matte black powder-coated metal balusters for a clean modern contrast. The open tread design allows natural light from the tall entry windows to flow through, making the space feel larger and brighter. Paired with wide-plank light white oak hardwood flooring, shiplap accent wall, white trim, and recessed pot lighting for a warm, Scandinavian-inspired transitional look. A perfect example of modern custom stair craftsmanship that balances warmth, minimalism, and durability for a new build / full home renovation. Features: white oak staircase, open riser stairs, black iron spindles, custom wood railing, white oak floors, shiplap wall detail.

Modern farmhouse custom staircase in a 2-storey entry. This custom-built open riser staircase features solid white oak treads and stringers in a natural clear stain, square white oak newel posts, white oak handrail, and matte black powder-coated metal balusters for a clean modern contrast. The open tread design allows natural light from the tall entry windows to flow through, making the space feel larger and brighter. Paired with wide-plank light white oak hardwood flooring, shiplap accent wall, white trim, and recessed pot lighting for a warm, Scandinavian-inspired transitional look. A perfect example of modern custom stair craftsmanship that balances warmth, minimalism, and durability for a new build / full home renovation. Features: white oak staircase, open riser stairs, black iron spindles, custom wood railing, white oak floors, shiplap wall detail.

Modern farmhouse custom staircase in a 2-storey entry. This custom-built open riser staircase features solid white oak treads and stringers in a natural clear stain, square white oak newel posts, white oak handrail, and matte black powder-coated metal balusters for a clean modern contrast. The open tread design allows natural light from the tall entry windows to flow through, making the space feel larger and brighter. Paired with wide-plank light white oak hardwood flooring, shiplap accent wall, white trim, and recessed pot lighting for a warm, Scandinavian-inspired transitional look. A perfect example of modern custom stair craftsmanship that balances warmth, minimalism, and durability for a new build / full home renovation. Features: white oak staircase, open riser stairs, black iron spindles, custom wood railing, white oak floors, shiplap wall detail.

Modern farmhouse custom staircase in a 2-storey entry. This custom-built open riser staircase features solid white oak treads and stringers in a natural clear stain, square white oak newel posts, white oak handrail, and matte black powder-coated metal balusters for a clean modern contrast. The open tread design allows natural light from the tall entry windows to flow through, making the space feel larger and brighter. Paired with wide-plank light white oak hardwood flooring, shiplap accent wall, white trim, and recessed pot lighting for a warm, Scandinavian-inspired transitional look. A perfect example of modern custom stair craftsmanship that balances warmth, minimalism, and durability for a new build / full home renovation. Features: white oak staircase, open riser stairs, black iron spindles, custom wood railing, white oak floors, shiplap wall detail.

Modern farmhouse custom staircase in a 2-storey entry. This custom-built open riser staircase features solid white oak treads and stringers in a natural clear stain, square white oak newel posts, white oak handrail, and matte black powder-coated metal balusters for a clean modern contrast. The open tread design allows natural light from the tall entry windows to flow through, making the space feel larger and brighter. Paired with wide-plank light white oak hardwood flooring, shiplap accent wall, white trim, and recessed pot lighting for a warm, Scandinavian-inspired transitional look. A perfect example of modern custom stair craftsmanship that balances warmth, minimalism, and durability for a new build / full home renovation. Features: white oak staircase, open riser stairs, black iron spindles, custom wood railing, white oak floors, shiplap wall detail.

Modern farmhouse custom staircase in a 2-storey entry. This custom-built open riser staircase features solid white oak treads and stringers in a natural clear stain, square white oak newel posts, white oak handrail, and matte black powder-coated metal balusters for a clean modern contrast. The open tread design allows natural light from the tall entry windows to flow through, making the space feel larger and brighter. Paired with wide-plank light white oak hardwood flooring, shiplap accent wall, white trim, and recessed pot lighting for a warm, Scandinavian-inspired transitional look. A perfect example of modern custom stair craftsmanship that balances warmth, minimalism, and durability for a new build / full home renovation. Features: white oak staircase, open riser stairs, black iron spindles, custom wood railing, white oak floors, shiplap wall detail.

This open tread staircase lets natural light into the main entry and upper floor.
Example of a mid-sized transitional wooden u-shaped open staircase design in Vancouver

Stair diameter: 1200mm ( 48" ) Stair total riser: 2600mm ( 102") The stair is customized for college library project, fabricated by Demax Staircase&Railing. The client required only ten steps, so the step riser is a little bit high, but it is also okay to go up and down. The metal post and banister in matt back finish, with solid timber tread and PVC handrail looks great. Want a custom spiral staircase? Please contact us right now.