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

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Carolina Coastal in Wilmington, North Carolina, effortlessly balances classic architectural details with modern elements. Specifically engineered for premium waterfront living, this custom house plan features a structural raised piling foundation designed to elevate the home, address regional rising tide concerns, and maximize panoramic vistas. Embodying elite coastal architecture, the layout incorporates a unique upside-down floor plan where the primary common living spaces are strategically elevated to the top level of the home. This upper level features an open great room, a private owner's retreat, and a chef-ready kitchen equipped with a huge central island. The main living zones open up to sweeping double porches on both the front and rear of the home, offering effortless indoor-outdoor flow and unmatched access to beautiful coastal views. The entry level of the residence offers exceptional functional space, accommodating three additional bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a large, versatile flex room conveniently located right off the foyer. Expanding the estate's footprint for private guest hosting or flexible family arrangements, the property features an attached, multi-generational casita. Connected directly to the main home by a scenic covered walkway, this independent guest cottage is fully appointed with its own dedicated kitchen, bedroom, and full bathroom, providing ultimate comfort, independence, and seclusion for long-term visitors.

A living room design by Beasley & Henley Interior Design, Naples, FL. A John Cannon Home. The designs featured sea-blue and citrus colored accents in the color palette. This soothing flow was complimented with a selection of beautiful dark wood floors and deeper accents, along with subtle yet elegant ceiling designs and other architectural accents featured throughout the home. The Beasley & Henley designers emphasized the easy views of the Manatee River that are enjoyed from almost every room. To keep all the views in perfect focus, the Cordini’s window treatments are light and open, and the furnishings are carefully situation away from the windows are at strategic levels.

Builder: Segard Builders Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography Symmetry and traditional sensibilities drive this homes stately style. Flanking garages compliment a grand entrance and frame a roundabout style motor court. On axis, and centered on the homes roofline is a traditional A-frame dormer. The walkout rear elevation is covered by a paired column gallery that is connected to the main levels living, dining, and master bedroom. Inside, the foyer is centrally located, and flanked to the right by a grand staircase. To the left of the foyer is the homes private master suite featuring a roomy study, expansive dressing room, and bedroom. The dining room is surrounded on three sides by large windows and a pair of French doors open onto a separate outdoor grill space. The kitchen island, with seating for seven, is strategically placed on axis to the living room fireplace and the dining room table. Taking a trip down the grand staircase reveals the lower level living room, which serves as an entertainment space between the private bedrooms to the left and separate guest bedroom suite to the right. Rounding out this plans key features is the attached garage, which has its own separate staircase connecting it to the lower level as well as the bonus room above.

In an effort to maximize sweeping views of the city of Houston, a number of freestanding partitions were strategically located to define specific areas while providing uninterrupted views on the main level. Aesthetically, the approach was one of a balanced blend between traditional and contemporary design. Using smooth walnut panels on the library partitions the home’s atmosphere is established from the moment one enters the home. The blocked paneled dining room partition complements the walnut in it’s texture, geometry and use of sage green paint. The gray walls are a neutral complement to both the walnut and sage partitions, while the horizontal white oak planks within the gray walls balance the traditional freestanding partitions. Photography: Carl Mayfield

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

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

In an effort to maximize sweeping views of the city of Houston, a number of freestanding partitions were strategically located to define specific areas while providing uninterrupted views on the main level. Aesthetically, the approach was one of a balanced blend between traditional and contemporary design. Using smooth walnut panels on the library partitions the home’s atmosphere is established from the moment one enters the home. The blocked paneled dining room partition complements the walnut in it’s texture, geometry and use of sage green paint. The gray walls are a neutral complement to both the walnut and sage partitions, while the horizontal white oak planks within the gray walls balance the traditional freestanding partitions. Photography: Carl Mayfield

Frank's Future Exterior: This residence captures the essence of modern design with its clean-lined facade and strategic use of high-quality materials. Floor-to-ceiling windows not only maximize the influx of natural light but also offer an uninterrupted view of the surrounding landscape. The precisely designed garden complements the architecture and provides a peaceful space for relaxation. An architectural jewel to appreciate natural beauty and comfort.

Aesthetic Value: This stair features custom turned newel posts complimenting the overall octagonal shape formed by a combination of standard treads and winder landings. Stair Safety: Strategically placed newel posts and balusters to not allow a 4-3/8” sphere passage. From the basement to the 2nd floor the walk-line does not exceed the 3/8” allowed variance. Quality of Workmanship: Stair manufactured with white oak stair parts, custom turned newel posts and stain grade fascia to create a high level of ambiance. Technical Challenge: Creating a walk-line that did not exceed the maximum allowance of 3/8” from the combination of standard treads and winder landings.

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Carolina Coastal in Wilmington, North Carolina, effortlessly balances classic architectural details with modern elements. Specifically engineered for premium waterfront living, this custom house plan features a structural raised piling foundation designed to elevate the home, address regional rising tide concerns, and maximize panoramic vistas. Embodying elite coastal architecture, the layout incorporates a unique upside-down floor plan where the primary common living spaces are strategically elevated to the top level of the home. This upper level features an open great room, a private owner's retreat, and a chef-ready kitchen equipped with a huge central island. The main living zones open up to sweeping double porches on both the front and rear of the home, offering effortless indoor-outdoor flow and unmatched access to beautiful coastal views. The entry level of the residence offers exceptional functional space, accommodating three additional bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a large, versatile flex room conveniently located right off the foyer. Expanding the estate's footprint for private guest hosting or flexible family arrangements, the property features an attached, multi-generational casita. Connected directly to the main home by a scenic covered walkway, this independent guest cottage is fully appointed with its own dedicated kitchen, bedroom, and full bathroom, providing ultimate comfort, independence, and seclusion for long-term visitors.

This four-level staircase commands attention from the moment you enter. Serving as the architectural centerpiece of the home, its open design works in harmony with strategic window placement to allow natural light to cascade down through all four levels of living space. The design makes bold use of contrast. The dark risers against light treads create visual drama, while wrought iron round balusters paired with painted wooden rails and newels ground the staircase in timeless elegance. The result is a semi-floating effect that feels both substantial and airy, anchoring the entrance without overwhelming it. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Aesthetic Value: This stair features custom turned newel posts complimenting the overall octagonal shape formed by a combination of standard treads and winder landings. Stair Safety: Strategically placed newel posts and balusters to not allow a 4-3/8” sphere passage. From the basement to the 2nd floor the walk-line does not exceed the 3/8” allowed variance. Quality of Workmanship: Stair manufactured with white oak stair parts, custom turned newel posts and stain grade fascia to create a high level of ambiance. Technical Challenge: Creating a walk-line that did not exceed the maximum allowance of 3/8” from the combination of standard treads and winder landings.

Natural stone slab steps transition up the slope, anchored by boulder retaining walls and softened with low-maintenance plantings. River rock mulch and strategic drainage maintain durability while keeping a clean Colorado aesthetic. A combination of wide risers and flagstone steppers creates a comfortable, visually appealing path between outdoor spaces.

This adaptive reuse of the ground and basement floors of an 1860s industrial structure integrates interior and exterior, existing and new, work and living, in a dense urban neighborhood using salvaged and low-cost everyday materials. Removing portions of the original rear yard extension and first floor enabled the installation of a garden, whose reflective surfaces animate and bring light deep into the interior. Organized on three levels, working spaces occupy the front, interfacing with living spaces that open toward the garden. The Loft’s strategic deletions and insertions construct a new sense of its urban site, reinterpreting its visible and invisible histories, and repurposing spaces and elements to allow new programs and relationships to emerge. The reuse of original materials from the existing space’s demolition defines new material assemblies, expressing an approach to sustainability that accesses the richness of history and place.* *Architizer.com

Inside, strategically designed volumes crescendo to create uplifting spatial experiences, while subtle level transitions unify the interior and exterior, harmonizing with the natural slope of the site. Operable façades frame views of the expansive public park to the north, and extend the family’s private living spaces into the southern rear yard, effortlessly blending the dining and living areas into an indoor-outdoor experience. Thoughtful window placement and the elegant, centrally located stair, designed as a light shaft, draw daylight deep into the home throughout the day. Warm finishes, echoing the exterior palette, enhance the sense of cohesion, while personalized details imbue the space with character, crafting a home that is both sophisticated and intimately tailored to its residents. MAKE Architecture | www.makearch.com | 323-669-0278

Builder: Segard Builders Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography Symmetry and traditional sensibilities drive this homes stately style. Flanking garages compliment a grand entrance and frame a roundabout style motor court. On axis, and centered on the homes roofline is a traditional A-frame dormer. The walkout rear elevation is covered by a paired column gallery that is connected to the main levels living, dining, and master bedroom. Inside, the foyer is centrally located, and flanked to the right by a grand staircase. To the left of the foyer is the homes private master suite featuring a roomy study, expansive dressing room, and bedroom. The dining room is surrounded on three sides by large windows and a pair of French doors open onto a separate outdoor grill space. The kitchen island, with seating for seven, is strategically placed on axis to the living room fireplace and the dining room table. Taking a trip down the grand staircase reveals the lower level living room, which serves as an entertainment space between the private bedrooms to the left and separate guest bedroom suite to the right. Rounding out this plans key features is the attached garage, which has its own separate staircase connecting it to the lower level as well as the bonus room above.

Builder: Segard Builders Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography Symmetry and traditional sensibilities drive this homes stately style. Flanking garages compliment a grand entrance and frame a roundabout style motor court. On axis, and centered on the homes roofline is a traditional A-frame dormer. The walkout rear elevation is covered by a paired column gallery that is connected to the main levels living, dining, and master bedroom. Inside, the foyer is centrally located, and flanked to the right by a grand staircase. To the left of the foyer is the homes private master suite featuring a roomy study, expansive dressing room, and bedroom. The dining room is surrounded on three sides by large windows and a pair of French doors open onto a separate outdoor grill space. The kitchen island, with seating for seven, is strategically placed on axis to the living room fireplace and the dining room table. Taking a trip down the grand staircase reveals the lower level living room, which serves as an entertainment space between the private bedrooms to the left and separate guest bedroom suite to the right. Rounding out this plans key features is the attached garage, which has its own separate staircase connecting it to the lower level as well as the bonus room above.

This four-level staircase commands attention from the moment you enter. Serving as the architectural centerpiece of the home, its open design works in harmony with strategic window placement to allow natural light to cascade down through all four levels of living space. The design makes bold use of contrast. The dark risers against light treads create visual drama, while wrought iron round balusters paired with painted wooden rails and newels ground the staircase in timeless elegance. The result is a semi-floating effect that feels both substantial and airy, anchoring the entrance without overwhelming it. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company