Making A Statement with Stairs!
Staircases That Make a Statement!
Stairs seem like a fairly regular design element that you wouldn’t spend a lot of time figuring out. However, the possibilities with stair design are endless!
Stairs are no longer just a functional necessity but rather have become an opportunity to make a powerful design statement in your home or cottage. When thoughtfully designed, a staircase can act as a sculptural element, setting the tone for the entire space and guiding how you experience it. From materials to detailed work, stairs have the ability to elevate the everyday home feature into something architectural, expressive, and deeply connected to the overall design story of a home or cottage.
Example of a gorgeous light oak staircase we did in our Gull Lake project!
The oak wood contrast with white walls lets the outdoor view take centre stage.
Stairs are often treated as a necessity rather than a design opportunity, quietly doing their job without much thought. As interior designers we approach stairs with intention, a staircase can become one of the most impactful features in a home or cottage. It’s a space we move through every day, and because of that, it has the power to shape how a home feels, flows, and is experienced.
As designers, we see stairs as more than a way to get from one level to another. We instead see stairs as architectural moments. Whether sculptural and bold or subtle and refined, stairs can anchor a space and create a sense of arrival. The choice of materials plays a significant role. For example, warm woods add character and timelessness, steel and glass introduce a modern edge, and stone brings weight and big presence. Open risers can enhance light and airiness, while closed treads offer solidity and tradition. Details like custom railings, integrated lighting, or a styled handrail elevate stairs from functional to expressive.
The open risers in our Romany Ranch project keep an airy feel to the expansive interior while connecting the first floor to a cozy primary bedroom upstairs with a loft space.
The upstairs loft space connected by stairs to the open great room below.
In both homes and cottages, stairs can quietly reflect the lifestyle and personality of those who live there. When thoughtfully designed, they become a focal point that blends form and function. We believe that even the most practical elements of a home can be beautiful and that doesn’t mean expensive necessarily! It’s all in how you approach and think about these lesser known elements.
Using Stairs to Connect Space
Stairs act as the connective thread within a home or cottage, linking one space to the next both physically and visually. More than just a transition between levels, they guide movement, create flow, and shape how rooms relate to one another. A well-designed staircase can soften the shift from private to shared spaces, frame views, and draw light through the home, making the journey between floors feel intentional and seamless. In this way, stairs become an essential connector like we show in the photos, bringing cohesion, continuity, and purpose to the overall design.
This staircase separates two homes in a multigenerational build. Keeping it minimal and behind the scenes means it doesn’t take up space that is otherwise used for the shared great room.
Sometimes stairs are about making an entry so details like paint colour and the actual door choice go hand in hand to create the entire design picture. The stairs in Project Corn Cobb become the cohesion for the entry.
Inside, stairs connect the entry to the living space. Stairs take you up one level to delineate the entry and make for a separate feel and as a result the cottage reveals itself to you as you enter.
The stairs in Corn Cobb also help keep the historical charm of having two levels. The old cottage feel lends itself to the two levels and the stairs help convey that character.
When Stairs Meet Style
Stairs play a role in further telling the design style of a home or cottage and are most impactful when they feel aligned with the overall style of a home or cottage. In a modern home, clean lines, open risers, and minimalist railings can create a sleek, architectural feel, while a cottage setting may call for warm woods, traditional detailing, or a more relaxed, handcrafted look. When materials, proportions, and finishes are thoughtfully chosen, the staircase becomes a natural extension of the space that reflects the character of the home and enhances its authenticity. In cottage style we like to keep the stairs in wood tones to further play up the traditional style we are typically working with. In modern cottage design, wood also works to demonstrate a contemporary theme while also warming up the feel of the space.
The open riser wood stairs in our own home, help enhance the hand built feel of how Tim’s dad envisioned connecting multiple floors.
We love bringing you unexpected considerations for your own home or cottage design! Stairs are one of those elements that you think doesn’t need a lot of thought. However hopefully we have demonstrated how integral they are to a home or cottage design and how special stairs are as it pertains to the overall role they play in your space. Whether you give people an unexpected view from a landing or close off your stairs, thinking and planning for how you need your stairs to function is all part of the design process we help our clients discover!
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Tim + Chris
