Sorry, here's a link to a local company with before and after shots.

http://www.grandstairways.com/

Thanks!!

I love that look. It's fairly common here in TN also. We built a house last year and that's what I chose.

Not seeing that here in the midwest... but it's lovely and I think you should go for it!

I was just going to say I am seeing it here in the midwest, mainly in the higher end homes.

Pretty much in every new home out in the PNW too. Love it!

Well... now that I've been looking at them and checking out the prices and ease of DIY... I might just end up seeing it here in the midwest afterall... at MY house!

beth, may I ask: what is on the stairs--carpet? wood? And is the floor mahogany as well or another wood?

Thanks. Beautiful modern use of the wrought iron and wood railing.

Flyleft,

Thanks! I admit when I first saw the house, I was immediately struck by the stairs and the sense of open-ness they created. Here it is, 20 years later, and I still like the look. The house is 30 years old.

When I remodeled, I replaced all the floors in the house (except for bathrooms and lowest level which has concrete sub-floor) with select red birch (finished on site), natural finish, no stain. I even put the select red birch on all the stairs and risers except for the flight you see leading to the top level of the house. Since those stairs are open, I went with wrapped carpet....I replaced the carpet on the stairs in the photo with a slightly darker shade -- maybe a bit darker than oatmeal color...but it's definitely not brown. You can see the wood stairs around the fireplace corner....they all look like that, except for the open flight.

We have iron spindles on our stairs. Our house was also built in the late 70's and I'm in TN, too (seems to be a trend on this thread???). Anyhow, here's a picture (I've since painted over that ugly green and ugly paneling :-))

{{gwi:1544616}}

We put an addition on our house a few years ago, and needed to "extend" part of this railing into the new part of the house. We had a friend that was able to reproduce the wooden parts of the railing and you can hardly tell it is new.

Love iron, have been seeing it here on West Coat for years now. But median house builders tend to stick with white/stained wood spindles. Upgrade adds on which most cannot afford to do. I do not think it is dated ever.

We have in our new house in midwest. Common here for anything new. However, sometimes I see posts with dark wood and white spindles and I think that looks classic. Guessing mine will feel dated in 10 years (or less?).

Lots of people are doing custom iron too, quite elaborate and too busy for my simple tastes but an incredible showcase of the iron workers talent on your stairs!

beth, thanks for the details--my oh my, an entire house of red birch...I *love* that wood. That's why that floor is so radiant! I couldn't place it-didn't look exactly like cherry--never would have guessed red birch all over--it's rather rare now, hard to find. You were prescient :)

So the rail is slightly darker than the floors, but in a related color family. Great thinking. Wish I had that kind of throughcomposition going...we're looking at replacing a LOT of carpet to match the white oak in about half of the first floor, along with the stairs. This discussion has convinced me to keep the iron, at least :)

flyleft --- Thanks for the info on the red birch. I remodeled the house in 2005, and now that it's completed, I never check out past decisions, so didn't know that red birch is less available. I will tell you that I still love my wood floors, still love the variation, grain, texture, etc. of the wood after living here for 2.5+ years. But, I'm the kind of person who can live happily with the same thing for decades and decades, if I like it. And, I'm going to live in this house until they carry me out feet first :)

You correctly read my my mind and my thinking on the mahogany. Related colors, so a good blend. I prefer blends to matching. And, I liked the idea of keeping the original treatment of the stairs. All I did was have the painter refinish the handrail -- didn't change the color, just patched up some gouges, deep scratches, and put a protective finish on it. It now feels like new.... I also had the carpenter build floating mahogany shelves, stain them the same color as the hand rails, and mounted them on the fireplace front, to soften the fireplace. The fireplace runs from floor to top of semi-cathedral (aka "shed") ceiling, and takes up 1 whole wall of the LR. The 3 mahogany floating shelves make a huge difference in the fireplace appearnance, and continue to blend colors together. Thanks for the compliment!

I don't think you'll regret keeping the wroght iron treatment for your stairs. As you said, it's all about tying everything together. Good luck as you tackle this!