Treading Lightly

For a young family of five, an upper level addition was an obvious design opportunity.

​A less obvious design solution, however, was how to make navigating the new stairway safer for the three young kids, who often found their way downstairs during the night or early morning.

BEING NOSY Some design solutions are obvious, others are more subtle. Changing the wood species of the stair nosing at the top of the steps and landing qualifies as a subtle solution.  

The First Step
For all of us, the most dangerous moment descending the stairs is the first step. Not seeing the stair nosing or tread can be scary, especially for little ones or the elderly. Being able to see all of the floor level changes clearly before entering the stairway dramatically increases safety.

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​To address this concern in a subtle way, we altered the wood species of the stair nosing to differentiate it from the hallway. A clear, blonde maple hardwood makes up the flooring field, and a red oak stair nosing provides a simple yet obvious delineation between hallway and stairs.​

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​Source of the Solution
​It's a solution pulled from my experience as a commercial architect. When designing public buildings, any change in floor level is required to be highlighted by a change in color or texture. The edge of a train platform or the curb at an intersection are prime examples. Rather than painting the nosing safety yellow, we simply altered the wood species to make the new space safer for everyone. Here, the first step in the stair run and at the landing, red oak stair nosings contrast with blonde maple treads.

​Design is not always about aesthetics. In fact, I have found that pragmatic, nuts and bolts design solutions can be as impactful as beautiful tile or countertops. Making a home "work" is often about solving less glamorous, real-world concerns, such as safely descending a beautiful new staircase.