from a blank canvas
to.... from a blank canvas
to....
a simple,
yet elegant finished painting that fits the environment.
Staircase Design Tips:
"Never force a square peg into a round hole"
Get acquainted
with the architectural theme of your home. If the home has a craftsman
feel, then a classical style freestanding curved staircase may be
introducing a foreign element to the overall design mix. Be aware of
the concept of "Continuity
of Design". Mixing the use of materials and wood species is
accepted procedure (within reason). Mixing design themes is often an
architectural
disaster unless supervised by an interior design
professional. When straying from the KISS method (Keep It Simple Stupid)
have a big hammer, a lot of money to remodel, and a ready supply of
headache medication. The term "simple" does not imply boring, or a lack of
originality. Eclectic design can be a financially dangerous road for the
novice. Get second opinions from those you know
would be honest with you.
contacts
(a subtle
hint). If it's never been done before, there may be a good
reason. I never squash creative originality, but not everyone is a socially accepted
artist.
"A picture is worth a thousand words"
Gather photos
from this site, anywhere on the web, or any books & magazines. There are some great
architectural, furniture, homebuilding, woodworking magazines
on-line. Anywhere you can find pictures. The local library is an often
overlooked good source of information.
Discover and identify the different architectural themes that you enjoy
looking at. This is a
great spring board to creative thinking, and helps convey those thoughts to
others. If you type the word "Stairs" into any search engine
(like the Dogpile® search below) you will have a day's worth of
surfing into photo galleries at
various stair builder/ and stair part manufacturer websites.
Hmm...maybe
the phrase should be
"one word is worth a thousand pictures"?
Before you wander off to surf the web, don't forget to add
Staircraft to your Favorites folder.
"Haste makes waste!"
My 3rd grade teacher always said that. She was so right! Take YOUR time
and don't be pushed into living with someone else's idea of a good thing.
It's your house and your money and you are the one who lives with your
decisions. Start with good, thorough planning and eliminate last minute surprises, delays and stress. Overnight shipping
costs can kill a budget. By taking the time now to educate yourself
about your project, you will ultimately save yourself time and money later. If you
are taking the time to read this, you already have the tools to succeed; patience, the
ability to read and comprehend, and a computer with a web connection.
Learn how to effectively
streamline the design/estimating process .
"Every rose has
it's thorns"
Material choices
greatly effect the everyday
practicality and safe use of your staircase. The most common and often
regretted faux pas in my opinion is the choice of using full hardwood treads
as shown in the finished photo at the top of this page. Although
they are beautiful to look at, the practical use is compromised by the
very slippery walking surface. I always advise against this choice
strictly from the hazards associated. See
staircase safety
information. Full treads are usually a more expensive finish
than partial treads with carpet and pad combined. Grandma's hip replacement is really expensive, and
we can't forget the cost of the attorney representing your klutzy neighbor's
insurance company! If you have kids and pets, full treads often show the wear
of heavy traffic in just a few months. A household "shoes-off" (or
"toenails off ") policy just added to the inherent dangers of navigating the
slippery slope. Think over your choices and imagine living with
them from every perspective. Ask the opinion of someone who currently lives
with a choice you are contemplating and see if they would do anything
differently if given the option. Sometimes the risks are worth it.... ask grandma her opinions.
"The only stupid
question is the one that remains unasked"
It never hurts to involve others in your design process. Ask questions! Send me an email.
chris@staircraft.com