Do you have a floorpan you can post?

What is next to the base of the stairs? I can't tell by looking at the plan if there is a closet or something between the stairs and the powder room.

Depending on what is in that space between the base of the stairs and the powder room, you may be able to do something like this. Have you spoken with your architect (do you have one)?

Can't seem to find a photo of exactly what I have in mind, but would an open or floating staircase for the last few steps reduce some of the bulkiness? It seems that moving the staircase or bumping out a wall would be very difficult and expensive changes.

Ah, I see. I agree it's odd how much they are sticking out into your kitchen. It's going to be really tricky to redesign those stairs in the current location, but an architect should have some clever recommendations. There are several on this forum who post regularly, so hopefully one will chime in with some suggestions. Best of luck! Looks like a nice house.

Math doesn't care for clever. You need a certain amount of rise and run, period. You can fiddle with that in that you can go straight or turn, but that's it.

Get used to this. It looks fine and will be even better when the rails are installed.

This is a pretty big error - who did the plans? Somebody needs to make this right - or were these purchased plans and the contractor made revisions as required (and goofed)? Anyway - I think your best bet would be a floating staircase of some sort as the one you've got now is certainly not a great solution. You will need railings on the outside edge (by any building code I'm familiar with) and that will add to the visual bulkiness of the existing bottom of the staircase, unless you use glass or cable (as in flopsycat's pic). But you'll have to see what is possible by code in your area. It might be worth it to hire an architect to see if you can find a solution that doesn't involve spending thousands of dollars.

Looking at your plans, the only thing that makes any sense at all (maybe) is putting an L-shaped staircase in - using space in the sitting room on the second floor and relocating the powder room on the first floor, so the bottom of the staircase is at the wall, not sticking out into the kitchen some 3.5' or so. However, without being able to overlay the plans, and also knowing that this would require structural work and relocating plumbing, electrical etc. it's hard to say if this is a practical solution. It most certainly wouldn't be a cheap one.

It is not practical. Finishing the house and selling it makes more sense.

It is totally fine. 6'? That isn't cramped. It's spacious. There is just no other furniture in the house. Take a deep breath and move on. That shiplap was a much worse decision than the layout there!

It looks weird because there is no balustrade. You don't quite know what you're looking at. I mean, you literally know, but your brain isn't able to recognize it as an instinctual level, so it feels weird.

Big mistake. The builder should have caught this and whoever drew the plans should be responsible I don't see any other way without a total redo of the upper level. You could try an Architect but I doubt that they could fix this easily. To be honest. If you said you planned it this way and you liked it, I too would be fine with it. The 6' walkway is more than enough space. I think the railing design can make it very unique, functional and attractive. De-stress and focus your energy and mind on the rail system. After it's completed and looking great post a pic. All the best.

Someone changed the ceiling height. And didn’t think it through.

I'm sorry you had to deal with this -- I'm sure it was stressful. I think this will be ok, and it could even look really sharp if you pick the right railing. I wouldn't make floorplan changes at this stage, where your finishes are so far along. All the walkways look fine to me, and I think it will be fine in the context of a finished and occupied house -- in an empty/in-progress space, the most recent change stands out to you like a huge sore thumb. Give it a little time and you'll find it recedes in your awareness.

6 feet is lots of space between a wall and a kitchen island.

i agree a great looking rail will make the whole thing appear to be a 'feature' not 'bug'. don't spend more money working around it. its no more ridiculous than 2 story foyers with windows that need to be covered cuz too much light comes in during the day and neighbors can see into the bedrooms at night... and people do that one all the time.

Get rid of the shiplap wall, find and install an open railing. It will be fine.

K.HC, as Joseph says, it’s likely impractical to change it (at least not without great expense) but I think one of the problems is whatever has been used to enclose the stair; remove that and make it plain drywall. Whatever is there now makes the bottom of the staircase look like a slapped together error. Explore your railing options. Unfortunately one of the problems with that will be proportion and the fact that the top of the railing on the landing will have to be quite high, which may look odd. Another option is to enclose the bottom of the stair - take the wall right to the ceiling. That would likely make it look more intentional, and possibly less odd. You could test that option out by propping up some plywood or hanging some sheets to simulate the wall, and see how it feels, both from the kichen side and from the staircase itself.

6’8” is a huge space between the stairs and the island relax

Remove the ship lap, add an attractive railing, and it will be fine.

ohhhhh i'm liking paddy's comment. the height requirement of the rail there would be almost to the ceiling, which would be odd. i think sheetrock to the ceiling, with just the last few turned steps having the rail, would give you the best 'supposed to be this way' look. then you can hang art on that end wall instead of just looking up the steps.

Be careful with enclosing the stairs with a wall. Consider moving furniture. Is this the only access to upstairs? A queen boxspring may not make the turn.

"I like the idea of closing in that wall of the staircase for a lot of reasons. My only concern is would it make the stairwell too dark and closed in feeling?"

That's why I suggest that you try it out by hanging some sheets or putting some plywood against the bottom of the staircase so that you can visualize and experience it at least to some degree.

Both of the issues - potentially making the staircase dark and making it more difficult to get furniture upstairs do need to be looked at. Is the bottom end of the staircase also 4' wide? BTW - there are split queen box springs - and some people don't use box springs; our mattress is on slats, so that may or may not be a worry. If the finished inside dimensions of your stairs are 42" or so you should be fine. As for the light issue - yes, it will be darker, but there are various ways around that too - good artificial light or you could look at the possibility of a light tube or skylight above as it appears that you have unfinished attic space/no living space directly above the lower end of the stair.

I like the ship-lap. I was thinking cable railing

all that fuss for nothing, looks great

Congratulations! Enjoy your new home.

I think you're going to come through this with your enjoyment and functionality intact. Yay!!

Looks good. :) Way easier than anything else, that's for sure!

Congrats on your lovely home. I definitely see where your issues are concerning the core of your home. You are right the kitchen is tight, especially with all the activity of the kitchen and laundry and back entrance and stairs. Also the powder room does not look comfortable and the entrance to the master bedroom is underwhelming. Here is a solution that might work for you.

The walls are kept in the same location noting they are load bearing. Relocating the entrance to the Master Bedroom and giving in a grander approach with a private hall and double doors will give it it's proper due.

Since the utilities were moved, the powder room can be elegant and it will share the Master Bedroom hall. Please tuck away the toilet so that you don't see it if the door is open, especially that close to the dining and kitchen. Looking in and seeing a beautiful vanity is a better view.

The staircase approach is from the family room, eliminating the jog Master Bedroom entrance and tighten the stairs to that wall. Do you have to have a door on the Family Room? Opening it up to the ceiling would open the flow from the kitchen to the family room. By having the stair freestanding, visually it will make a huge difference as you will read the wall where the master bedroom door used to be. Take a look at the pics below. Hope this helps.

I love staircases for the sculptural quality they add to a home allowing it to feel like the custom home you built.

The following are examples of free standing stairs. The style can be changed with the stair and railings, and not doing open treads, to suit your own style. What you should note is the open area under the stair to visually add space to the kitchen. It will also add about 2'-0" to the much needed kitchen island walk thru. Obviously that little sitting room at the top of the stairs will be reconfigured.

See? Looks fine.

The entrance to the master bedroom off the kitchen and family room really bothers me, both visually and resale. Please seriously consider relocating it. See plan submitted above.

Looks to me like that area under the turned stairs has enough room for a wine fridge and/or a wine rack or at the very least; some shelves or a cupboard. While the electricians are on site, it shouldn't take much to run a cable under the stairs if it can still be accessed and tie everything off in a J box. It'll be there if you ever want to do something down the track. On second look at the original photos, perhaps your builder has had that in mind too as I think I see an outlet there. Kudos to your contractors.

The stairs don't look bad at all. Except for the shiplap, of course. Looks like somebody slapped leftover 1x6's up there and painted them. Looks cheap. Oh, wait - that's what shiplap is!

With the railings installed I think it looks great. Use the space under the stairs as a feature. Built in shelves to hold cookbooks, a cozy space for dog bed/child's reading spot, storage, etc.

Glad I could help. I love space planning and mostly love architects, but sometimes they forget humans will be living there.

Powder Room: the toilet could be on the common wall with the master bedroom having the stairs to your right when you are sitting. Also the exposed stair run is longer on the family room wall with less angled head room. Needs to be studied.

Lots of comments about the shiplap, which is the least of your worries, but I do have one suggestion! If you like the shiplap, continue it up the wall of the stairs.

I think it’s amazing how the railing really shifted the stairs from appearing as a mistake to something intentional. It really looks great. Are you concerned about the space because you intended to place something like a table between the island and the stairs?

It would be really hard for me to justify such a huge change so late in the game when it really looks great, but hearing you clarify that the changes to the stairs also impacted other parts of the floor plan we can’t really see from the pictures is rough. If this is the home you plan to stay in for many years, and you can swing it financially knowing it won’t add value to the home, I can see why you would consider it. I would be more concerned with underestimating how much time it would take to make those changes.

I am not Joseph, but , for what it's worth, will respond anyway.. I think you are second guessing and stressing yourself out way too much. I can't see reworking the core of your home to obtain double doors opening from the master bedroom to the dining room. As it is currently, you have much more privacy. I've had double doors to my bedroom and usually kept one closed .The stairs looks so much better with the railing, although I still feel that a floating stairway in the kitchen is a visually lighter option.

Sure, the initial planning could have been a little tighter, but, from what I've seen, your home looks lovely. Don't sell and start all over. You've put so much time and energy into this project and have not even had a chance to live there. Great idea to speak with your contractor if you're that unhappy. Then, hopefully, move on and enjoy your home. Best of luck

"But for $10,000 could a solution be reached?"

No, I don't think so, not at this stage of the game. Maybe at rough framing.