In my last ideabook I looked at stairs made from thin plates of steel that appeared ribbonlike in their continuity from step to step. One impression you get from that combination of form and material is that they appear... more »

“Every mother needs a cockpit," says architect Elizabeth Emerson of E/L Studio. In this case the cockpit includes her client's long and linear office, extensive craft and wrapping paper storage, and a... more »

After quitting her city job and moving to a beach cottage in northwest Michigan to start a new life with her family, Erin Southwell was in no position to spend extra money. "We were living on savings... more »

On any remodel or new build, special consideration should be given to lighting hallways and stairs. Navigating stairs can be a challenge for people of all ages, for different reasons. Poor or diminishing eyesight afflicts some of us later in life, for... more »

All-glass stairs, made popular by architect Peter Brohlin's for the iconic Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York, have started to show up in many a residence. These stairways are luxury items, often... more »

I've heard architects and designers mention "dead space" three times in the past week. I took it as a sign to tackle a common spot where dead space tends to dwell, and share ways to bring it back to life. Today's space is the staircase landing, which... more »

Stairs are a funny thing when looked at relative to other spaces in a house. They are essentially vertical corridors of movement, but in many cases they are part of other spaces — open to them physically or taking over part of a space to connect downstairs... more »

Water gives shape to nature — carving places like the Grand Canyon, for example — but it also determines much of a house's form and how it relates to nature. Beyond the roofs, walls and windows — the barriers that keep water from getting inside... more »

Since rounding up my favorite striped stair runners, I haven't been able to get runners off my mind. And I've come to the conclusion that I love... more »

While my current home is a staircaseless bungalow, I dream of one day owning an abode with a grand stairway decked out with a funky striped runner. I like to think of staircases as large-scale pieces of furniture in need of upholstering. And what better... more »

In architecture, moving from point A to point B is an opportunity to do something special. A well-designed passageway can make movement meaningful and make us more aware of ourselves and our surroundings. It's something I've explored previously in more »

It's not easy to be discovered when you're a craftsperson working in a small city in Kentucky. But after being in business for over 12 years, Maynard Studios is finally... more »

I have a nightly ritual. After we put the children to bed, my husband and I head back downstairs to watch a show before hitting the hay ourselves. Last night, when our stair landing was clean from the toys and clutter of the day, I was struck... more »

An open stairwell presents its own special design challenge: What's the view from behind? Instead of leaving the rear of the stairs plain and unfinished, don't miss an opportunity to give it a stylish spin. Need inspiration? Here are eight ideas to consider.... more »