Do you like a central staircase?
We’re skiing in Montana this week, and I’ve fallen in love with Big Sky Resort. Its mountains both comfort and calm us. Because nature has its way of reminding us of how small we are, how we are all part of a bigger plan.
Last night, the five of us checked out of our hectic lives, and came together as a family. We played Dominoes by the fire until our children yawned.
Then Matt and I delved into our home design plans. A central staircase appeals to both of us, but we can’t agree on what it should look like. And so we turned to one of our favorite magazines, This Old House, for ideas.
Matt prefers a staircase that shoots straight upstairs to show our home is open to you.
While I prefer the hint of privacy that one gives when it winds out of sight.
He likes the directness of straight lines.
Whereas I think stairs that pool at their base add elegance.
Which staircase do you like?
*All staircase photos courtesy of This Old House
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I think they’re all beautiful, though I personally prefer your option only because I grew up in the option your husband prefers, and a lot of our childhood memories are surrounded around how many times we fell down those steep stairs as kids….(even our parents took a tumble a few times, though not as many times as we did). In our new house, I leaned towards your choice, and love the look of the landing…
(love this blog, btw…)
I LOVE a grand staircase with lovely broad bannisters that pool out at the end. Ours is built into the side of our house so no nice banisters for me to decorate with lighted garland. I HATE that.
didn’t think about that when we built and totally regret it now. I say go BIG and GRAND!
I am not a fan of ostentatious staircases. There is something off-putting to me about walking into a home and seeing a giant staircase staring me in the face. It seems a waste of space and put there simply to make a statement. To me, a home feels much homier if the staircase is hidden, even if the home itself is huge. Stairs are the heaviest family traffic area, where kids drag their bookbags, sit with tears in their eyes after a fight with a sibbling, or slide down on sleds when mom isn’t looking. Stairs lead to the family’s private, quiet spaces. So why should they be the first thing guests view when they arrive on your doorstep?
…as a youngster I remember fondly of throwing one leg over our banister and sliding down backwards…just imagine how much fun your children will have sliding down the wonderful banister in the last photo!!!…hugs…ma
Your vacation sounds wonderful! We haven’t done anything like that in a very long time!
I like the combination of pooling & winding staircases, but it all depends on the placement in your home though what will fit.
It’s been a while since I came out to check on your home building plans, so it’s time to get caught up!
You can combine the staircase looks, as was done in the 1890′s vintage home of my childhood. To the right of the entryway door was a 3-stair pooling-effect to the first broad 4ft square landing in the front corner of the home with stained-glass windows on the 2 outer wall sides. A 90-degree turn to dozen wide stairs straight up to the second 3 ft square landing, another 90-degree turn then 8 slightly narrower stairs to the top floor.