The old staircase was removed and this new staircase built. ©Michelle Wimmer Photography mwimmerphoto.com
Staircase - large transitional wooden u-shaped mixed material railing staircase idea in Other with wooden risers

Virginia AIA Merit Award for Excellence in Residential Design | What appeared to be a simple, worn-out, early 20th century stucco cottage was to be modestly renovated as a weekend retreat. But when the contractor and architects began pulling away the interior wall finishes, they discovered a log cabin at its core (believed to date as far back as the 1780’s) and a newer addition (circa 1920’s) at the rear where the site slopes down. Initial plans were scrapped, and a new project was born that honors the original construction while accommodating new infrastructure and the clients’ modern tastes. The attic stair enclosure was removed in deference to – and in order to visually expand – the original one-room log cabin. Wood floors, partially ravaged by termites, were repaired and refinished. The interventions of new steel structure, simple black iron handrail and glass stair guard provide a distinct counterpoint to the rusticity of the original construction, while the color palette of warm, natural tones harmonizes the composition.

The red oak flooring continues into the foyer. We refinished the wood on the staircase and stained the handrail to blend beautifully with the new flooring that now runs throughout the first floor. We tore down the walls between four rooms to create this great room in Villanova, PA. And what a difference it makes! This bright space is perfect for everyday living and entertaining family and friends as the kitchen, eating and living areas flow seamlessly. With red oak flooring throughout, we used white and light gray materials and crown moulding to give this large space a cohesive yet open feel. We added wainscoting to the steel post columns. Other projects in this house included installing red oak flooring throughout the first floor, refinishing the main staircase, building new stairs into the basement, installing new basement flooring and opening the basement rooms to create another entertainment area. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

The old staircase was removed and this new staircase built. ©Michelle Wimmer Photography mwimmerphoto.com
Example of a large transitional wooden u-shaped mixed material railing staircase design in Other with wooden risers

Staircase - small industrial wooden straight staircase idea in New York with wooden risers

Shoe storage under stairway
Example of a classic wooden staircase design in New York

Custom, removable iron stair rail art/feature.
Inspiration for a mid-sized 1960s staircase remodel in Minneapolis

Homeowner had a very tight space which prevented any furniture or other items from getting into the basement. We tore out the existing railing and rebuilt a new oak railing with a removable system - the railing itself is one unit and can be removed and reinstalled with just nine screws. This new system will allow large furniture and other basement play things to be moved up and down the stairs without having to gut the stair railing.

Bates Masi Architects LLC
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Entry hall with panted newel posts and balusters, oak flooring and stair treads, mahogany handrail. Pete Weigley
Huge elegant wooden u-shaped wood railing staircase photo in New York with wooden risers

Pat Sudmeier
Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic wooden u-shaped open and mixed material railing staircase remodel in Denver

This is a custom bench designed by 27 Diamonds. In addition to our interior design services, we also offer high quality custom furniture without the hefty designer price tag. We service all of Orange County, CA. If you dream it, we can make it! Visit our website for more information: www.27diamonds.com All furniture can be custom made to your specifications and shipped anywhere in the US (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Contact us for more information.

Inspiration for an industrial metal floating open staircase remodel in Seattle

Home built by JMA (Jim Murphy and Associates); designed by Jonathan Jang. Photo credit, Tim Maloney, Technical Imagery Studios. This elegant, two-story French manor encompasses 7200 square feet, plus a 900 square foot cabana beside the vanishing edge pool. Colored concrete terraces, inlaid with limestone borders, surround the house on three sides. Importing many of the finish materials from old European estates, JMA's expert carpenters crafted the exquisite interior trim on site - five miles of millwork! The craftsmanship is evident in the cherry paneled library with its polished granite fireplace, as well as the cantilevered spiral staircase and foyer skylight, focal points in the round entry. The home also incorporates state-of-the-art controls for the HVAC, electrical, security and communications systems. Excavating the rocky soil site did not require blasting but did involve removing one rock the size of a small car!

Staircase - large modern concrete straight staircase idea in Orange County with concrete risers

Mark Woods
Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped staircase remodel in Seattle

Greg Hubbard Photography. Stair by StairMeister Log Works.
Inspiration for a rustic staircase remodel in Burlington

This project was a renovation of an 1824 antique farmhouse in Fairfield, CT. Additions that were constructed in the 1940's were removed, portions of the original structure including the roof and framing were selectively demolished in order to maintain the charm and beauty of the original home. Three additions were carefully designed to complement the remaining original structure and meet the space and function requirements of the homeowners. The additions include a new lower level playroom an au-pair bedroom, and additional mechanical space. The first floor received a new kitchen, living room, great room and mud room as well as two powder rooms. The second floor is outfitted with a new bedroom, laundry room, master bedroom suite and balcony. The renovated space includes the dining room, study, butler's pantry, entry hall stair and two bedrooms. Finally, new electrical and energy efficient mechanical systems and windows and doors were installed throughout the home. Starting with the main entry at the north side of the house, the home was totally renovated inside and out. The entire exterior of the home was restored. A new entrance portico was constructed while incorporating the original entry stoop. A custom hand built balustrade was installed on all of the balcony rail areas. Inside the dining room, the colonial feel with oversized fireplace was maintained, and the original wide-plank pine boards were reused to keep the warmth and charm of the original room intact. The main entry ceiling was removed to create space open to the second floor. This space was adorned with a wonderful antique pendant fixture which now hangs from the second floor ceiling. Two arched stained glass doors were purchased from an architectural salvage shop and installed to separate the Entry from the Study.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo