For our client, who had previous experience working with architects, we enlarged, completely gutted and remodeled this Twin Peaks diamond in the rough. The top floor had a rear-sloping ceiling that cut off the amazing view, so our first task was to raise the roof so the great room had a uniformly high ceiling. Clerestory windows bring in light from all directions. In addition, we removed walls, combined rooms, and installed floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall sliding doors in sleek black aluminum at each floor to create generous rooms with expansive views. At the basement, we created a full-floor art studio flooded with light and with an en-suite bathroom for the artist-owner. New exterior decks, stairs and glass railings create outdoor living opportunities at three of the four levels. We designed modern open-riser stairs with glass railings to replace the existing cramped interior stairs. The kitchen features a 16 foot long island which also functions as a dining table. We designed a custom wall-to-wall bookcase in the family room as well as three sleek tiled fireplaces with integrated bookcases. The bathrooms are entirely new and feature floating vanities and a modern freestanding tub in the master. Clean detailing and luxurious, contemporary finishes complete the look.

A new Seattle modern house designed by chadbourne + doss architects houses a couple and their 18 bicycles. 3 floors connect indoors and out and provide panoramic views of Lake Washington. The stair uses reclaimed wood and steel. The stair winds around an interior wall of backlit translucent fiberglass. photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Ben Benschneider
Inspiration for a contemporary wooden open staircase remodel in Seattle

Custom Bar built into staircase. Custom metal railing.
Small mountain style galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor seated home bar photo in Other with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, black backsplash and black countertops

Flooring: Solid Random Width Walnut Plank with a heavy bevel and hand distress. Photography by The Bowman Group
Mid-sized elegant wooden l-shaped staircase photo in Orange County with wooden risers

A custom designed and built floating staircase with stainless steel railings and custom bamboo stair treads. This custom home was designed and built by Meadowlark Design+Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Photography by Dana Hoff Photography

Brady Architectural Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary staircase remodel in San Diego

Located in Menlo Park, California, this 3,000 sf. remodel was carefully crafted to generate excitement and make maximum use of the owner’s strict budget and comply with the city’s stringent planning code. It was understood that not everything was to be redone from a prior owner’s quirky remodel which included odd inward angled walls, circular windows and cedar shingles. Remedial work to remove and prevent dry rot ate into the budget as well. Studied alterations to the exterior include a new trellis over the garage door, pushing the entry out to create a new soaring stair hall and stripping the exterior down to simplify its appearance. The new steel entry stair leads to a floating bookcase that pivots to the family room. For budget reasons, it was decided to keep the existing cedar shingles. Upstairs, a large oak multi-level staircase was replaced with the new simple run of stairs. The impact of angled bedroom walls and circular window in the bathroom were calmed with new clean white walls and tile. Photo Credit: John Sutton Photography.

Elegant medium tone wood floor and brown floor single front door photo in Birmingham with white walls and a medium wood front door

Cheryl Terramagra
Example of a mid-sized transitional wooden straight staircase design in Boston with painted risers

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

Interior staircase of an AIA East Bay Award-winning new construction home in the Berkeley Hills, CA. A two-story floating open-riser stair with hardwood treads suspended from a vertical black steel rod balustrade rises the full height of the board-formed concrete retaining wall. The hillside itself expressed as the home's most powerful interior material. The vertical steel rod balustrade creates a rhythmic screen of fine black lines against the raw concrete texture, while the continuous steel-framed skylight slot above floods the stair volume with natural light that rakes across the board-formed horizontal grain. An oak wall-mounted handrail runs the full height of the concrete wall on the right.

Located in Menlo Park, California, this 3,000 sf. remodel was carefully crafted to generate excitement and make maximum use of the owner’s strict budget and comply with the city’s stringent planning code. It was understood that not everything was to be redone from a prior owner’s quirky remodel which included odd inward angled walls, circular windows and cedar shingles. Remedial work to remove and prevent dry rot ate into the budget as well. Studied alterations to the exterior include a new trellis over the garage door, pushing the entry out to create a new soaring stair hall and stripping the exterior down to simplify its appearance. The new steel entry stair leads to a floating bookcase that pivots to the family room. For budget reasons, it was decided to keep the existing cedar shingles. Upstairs, a large oak multi-level staircase was replaced with the new simple run of stairs. The impact of angled bedroom walls and circular window in the bathroom were calmed with new clean white walls and tile. Photo Credit: John Sutton Photography.

An used closet under the stairs is transformed into a beautiful and functional chilled wine cellar with a new wrought iron railing for the stairs to tie it all together. Travertine slabs replace carpet on the stairs. LED lights are installed in the wine cellar for additional ambient lighting that gives the room a soft glow in the evening. Photos by: Ryan Wilson

Contemporary stairs and cable railings in black powder coated steel. Cables are type 316 stainless steel. The wood treads and hand rail are made from Brazilian Cherry. Keuka Studios, inc. - Stair and Railing builder, Michael DeCandia Architects, Kast Photographic

The stair utilizes standard steel profiles for the stringer and railing. Treads are laminated hickory, 3" thick.. Roger Wade photo.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional wooden straight open and metal railing staircase remodel in Other

RVP Photography
Staircase - contemporary wooden u-shaped staircase idea in Cincinnati with wooden risers

Example of a large trendy wooden floating open and glass railing staircase design in Portland

Casey Dunn
Inspiration for a large modern wooden curved open staircase remodel in Austin