Stairway Runners

A stairway in a foyer can make or break the space. It is the first impression a house gives to its visitors; a good stairway is like that indispensable broche on a dress. A stairway’s railing is one of its most important components; depending on the style of a home, railings can be richly ornate or simple and understated. Complementing the railing is the treatment used on treads and risers; some spaces call for stone, wood, stone and wood or runners. It is important to be cautious of how much detail you use on railings and how much detail you use on the steps, it is rarely necessary to make a strong statement with both. This photograph shows an eclectic residence where I kept the railings very geometric and unfussy, I did so because I wanted to create a dynamic effect on the runner, using different patterns on treads and risers. That way you perceive one pattern at eye level when all you see is risers and another pattern when you are stepping on its treads. I wanted to create an element of surprise in the way the stairway is experienced. Remember: always elegant, never boring!