The left side going up does not need a railing unless you need one. Taking down the half wall, you will need all new treads as the ones you have will not have the finished side. But it will look good.

"Taking down the half wall, you will need all new treads as the ones you have will not have the finished side"

You mean a new stringer. If you are at that point it would be better to just install new stairs, as opposed to rebuilding with new treads and stringer for one side. I would definitely get prices as this may not be inexensive to do.

New treads will be used.

There would be a "false" or "external" stringer attached to the sheetrock wall nearest sofa, with new treads that would overhang the stringer by a few inches and the ballisters would be mounted in the treads.

Just wanted to see if anyone could put the photo in photoshop and see what it would look like.

Idea looks like this................

Notching that 2x4 wall to realize your "written vision" of adding new notched "skirt" externally and lapping/extending new treads and thus extending / installing new risers over it is a major expensive project if you UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR CURRENT STAIRS ARE BUILT under that wall. Its not cost effective. Before we dream with you what is your budget for this.

The easier way is to shorten that wall add A new cap and railing system on top of or a full bannister. Unless you have 8-10K+...to throw at this.

Sounds expensive....what would it look like if you left the stairs as they are, but put spindles from banister to ceiling? Might have to take off the top wood railing and put a flat piece down and one on the ceiling to put the spindles in...

Tundra Finish Works LLC

"Notching that 2x4 wall to realize your "written vision"
of adding new notched "skirt" externally and lapping/extending new
treads and thus extending / installing new risers over it is a major
expensive project if you UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR CURRENT STAIRS ARE BUILT
under that wall. Its not cost effective. Before we dream with you what
is your budget for this.

The easier way is to shorten that wall add A new cap and railing
system on top of or a full bannister. Unless you have 8-10K+...to throw
at this."

How can you cap the existing wall and treads? Only way I know of to do it that way would be to only cut the 2x4 wall to a certain height ABOVE current treads, say 6". Then cap the cut 2x4 wall, install bottom rail, balisters, top rail.

Does it open up the stairwell? Yes, but doesn't give that fully open look that a new exterior stringer, new risers, new extended treads would give.

No way that's an $8K project (unless you are in NYC/CA/etc).

Heck, we ripped the entire 15 steps, stringers, risers, etc out of another house, rebuilt to exactly the look I am trying to do in this house for less than $3K all in.

Please tell me if I am not understanding you correctly.

Interesting your'e here looking for help yet you've done all this before for 3k and you have it all figured out

Now sinceI i quote and install stairparts I guess i cant possibly look at your photo and read your description and roughly estimate it as well as you...Im just glad i didnt drive to your home to do so.

I cannot help you with FREE design drawings . enough said ...Good luck:)

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Tundra Finish Works LLC

Interesting youre here looking for help yet youve done all this before for 3k and you have it all figured out

Now sinceI i quote and install stairparts I guess i cant possibly
look at your photo and read your description and roughly estimate it as
well as you...Im just glad i didnt drive to your home to do so.

I cannot help you with FREE design drawings . enough said ...Good luck:)

Never said I didn't know what I was doing. Certainly said I was looking for ideas and a quick photoshop mock up to see how it would possibly look. Would take about 3 minutes in photshop.

As I said, my original thought has been accomplished in a different home and for the cost I stated. And that includes a full length rail set up on the top floor. Wanna see a pic?

In any event, anyone who would pay you $8-10K for a 4 day (max) job I described has more money than sense. Like I said, you obviously work in the "high rent district" if you can charge those prices and people willingly pay. Heck, just the 3 minute photoshop mock up would cost about $750 using your pay scale.

Have a wonderful evening....................