Incorporating a reclaimed wood wall into this newly renovated East Village Duplex, brought in warm materials into an open stairwell. © Devon Banks
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary dark wood floor and brown floor hallway remodel in New York with white walls

This unique project has heavy Asian influences due to the owner’s strong connection to Indonesia, along with a Mountain West flare creating a unique and rustic contemporary composition. This mountain contemporary residence is tucked into a mature ponderosa forest in the beautiful high desert of Flagstaff, Arizona. The site was instrumental on the development of our form and structure in early design. The 60 to 100 foot towering ponderosas on the site heavily impacted the location and form of the structure. The Asian influence combined with the vertical forms of the existing ponderosa forest led to the Flagstaff House trending towards a horizontal theme.

Photo credit: Greg Grupenhof; Whole-house renovation to existing Indian Hill home. Prior to the renovation, the Scaninavian-modern interiors felt cold and cavernous. In order to make this home work for a family, we brought the spaces down to a more livable scale and used natural materials like wood and stone to make the home warm and welcoming.

Main stairwell at Weston Modern project. Architect: Stern McCafferty.
Inspiration for a large modern wooden u-shaped open staircase remodel in Boston

This elegant new stairway transformed the main entry of this residential remodel. The original adobe wall and wooden stair was completely removed and a self-supporting steel stair was put in its place. Transparency of the new system opened up the entire home and brought a modern touch into the once traditional architecture. The steel stair was framed with 6 inch channel and custom tread supports. The railing matched the industrial look with solid flat bar and half inch solid round bar. The treads were finished with a clear polyurethane to complement the raw steel finish of the stair. Contact Pascetti steel to help transform your outdated home or office with new modern metal fabrication. At Pascetti Steel we specialize in custom and pre-fabricated, ready-to-assemble stair units. From formed steel plate and channel stringers to stair units with aluminum ADA compliant treads. We can ship complete pre-finished stairs directly to the job site with all necessary hardware. Custom railings can always be added to match the style of stair. Working with architects and designers at the initial design stage or directly with homeowners, Pascetti Steel will make the entire process from drawings to installation seamless and hassle free. We plan safety and stability into every design we make, the railings and hardware are fabricated to be strong, durable and visually appealing. Choose from a variety of styles including cable railing, glass railing, hand forged and custom railing. We also offer pre-finished aluminum balcony railing for hotels, resorts and other commercial buildings.

Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Homes Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States The design of this 4500sf, home….the steeply-sloping site; we thought of it as a tree house for grownups. Nestled into the hillside and surrounding by Aspens as well as Lodgepole and Ponderosa Pines, this HERS 38 home combines energy efficiency with a strong mountain palette of stone, stucco, and timber to blend with its surroundings. A strong stone base breaks up the massing of the three-story façade, with an expansive deck establishing a piano noble (elevated main floor) to take full advantage of the property’s amazing views and the owners’ desire for indoor/outdoor living. High ceilings and large windows create a light, spacious entry, which terminates into a custom hickory stair that winds its way to the center of the home. The open floor plan and French doors connect the great room to a gourmet kitchen, dining room, and flagstone patio terraced into the landscaped hillside. Landing dramatically in the great room, a stone fireplace anchors the space, while a wall of glass opens to the soaring covered deck, whose structure was designed to minimize any obstructions to the view.

This striking modern staircase pairs twin metal stringers with thick solid oak treads that appear to float in space. The parallel lines of the stringers combined with the rectangular treads create a strong geometric rhythm, while contrasting tones between metal and wood add visual interest. Echoing the stair design, the horizontal stainless steel rod railing and wood newels reinforce the openness and contrasting tones. The open design maintains transparency and light flow, transforming a simple connection between floors into an eye-catching architectural focal point and perfect example of how thoughtful design can elevate an entire entry space. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

This striking modern staircase pairs twin metal stringers with thick solid oak treads that appear to float in space. The parallel lines of the stringers combined with the rectangular treads create a strong geometric rhythm, while contrasting tones between metal and wood add visual interest. Echoing the stair design, the horizontal stainless steel rod railing and wood newels reinforce the openness and contrasting tones. The open design maintains transparency and light flow, transforming a simple connection between floors into an eye-catching architectural focal point and perfect example of how thoughtful design can elevate an entire entry space. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Marcie Heitzmann
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary wooden curved staircase remodel in Orange County with wooden risers

Large arts and crafts wooden straight staircase photo in Denver with wooden risers

Vertical lines define this sleek contemporary staircase. The dark stained treads and newels contrast beautifully with crisp white risers, while round metal balusters emphasize the clean vertical rhythm. The dark square-cut handrail anchors the design, creating visual weight against the home's light walls and open floor plan. The interplay of light and dark tones, combined with the strong vertical emphasis, gives the staircase a sense of height and elegance that grounds it in this contemporary home. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Photos by Spacecrafting
Mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and brown floor entryway photo in Minneapolis with a white front door and gray walls

The home's central axis connects the front entry, back entry, and the vertical circulation. Oversized tiles in precise alignment define the strong axis, punctuated by a modern staircase with floating treads and a railing composed of continuous blackened steel rods.

We maximized storage with custom built in millwork throughout. Probably the most eye catching example of this is the bookcase turn ship ladder stair that leads to the mezzanine above. © Devon Banks

This three story, 9,500+ square foot Modern Spanish beauty features 7 bedrooms, 9 full and 2 half bathrooms, a wine cellar, private gym, guest house, and a poolside outdoor space out of our dreams. I spent nearly two years perfecting every aspect of the design, from flooring and tile to cookware and cutlery. With strong Spanish Colonial architecture, this space beckoned for a more refined design plan, all in keeping with the timeless beauty of Spanish style. This project became a favorite of mine, and I hope you'll enjoy it, too.

In 2014, we were approached by a couple to achieve a dream space within their existing home. They wanted to expand their existing bar, wine, and cigar storage into a new one-of-a-kind room. Proud of their Italian heritage, they also wanted to bring an “old-world” feel into this project to be reminded of the unique character they experienced in Italian cellars. The dramatic tone of the space revolves around the signature piece of the project; a custom milled stone spiral stair that provides access from the first floor to the entry of the room. This stair tower features stone walls, custom iron handrails and spindles, and dry-laid milled stone treads and riser blocks. Once down the staircase, the entry to the cellar is through a French door assembly. The interior of the room is clad with stone veneer on the walls and a brick barrel vault ceiling. The natural stone and brick color bring in the cellar feel the client was looking for, while the rustic alder beams, flooring, and cabinetry help provide warmth. The entry door sequence is repeated along both walls in the room to provide rhythm in each ceiling barrel vault. These French doors also act as wine and cigar storage. To allow for ample cigar storage, a fully custom walk-in humidor was designed opposite the entry doors. The room is controlled by a fully concealed, state-of-the-art HVAC smoke eater system that allows for cigar enjoyment without any odor.

Vertical lines define this sleek contemporary staircase. The dark stained treads and newels contrast beautifully with crisp white risers, while round metal balusters emphasize the clean vertical rhythm. The dark square-cut handrail anchors the design, creating visual weight against the home's light walls and open floor plan. The interplay of light and dark tones, combined with the strong vertical emphasis, gives the staircase a sense of height and elegance that grounds it in this contemporary home. 1976-2026 © Century Stair Company

Photo Whit Preston
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard l-shaped pool house remodel in Austin

Example of a mid-sized trendy wooden u-shaped open staircase design in Orange County