Awkward stairway
Rhonda Schulte
2 months ago
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2 months agopalimpsest
2 months agoRelated Discussions
Awkward Floor plan. Need Advice!
Comments (4)I'm assuming the wall between the kitchen and living room is load bearing. If that is the case you can install an LVL (laminated veneer lumber) or steel beam as long as you have column supports at each end. There's not much to be done about the stair unless you can move it. If not it will continue to act as a divider between the living room and kitchen although at the upper end of the stair the division will become less as there will be more head height. This might allow for moving the living area to the end opposite the entry and garage door and creating an "L" shape. That would require moving the powder room also. Hard to make real determinations without seeing more detail plan or seeing it in person. So, take my comments as generalizations. Good luck!...See MoreWhat is this stairway railing?
Comments (21)Hi Sammy - thanks for asking. We had planned to remove our awkward, splits the main floor into the worst place, beige-carpeted, mirror-backed, painted-white-Brady-Bunch-banistered-stairway this year, but it’s not going to happen. So I’m considering a facelift of that poorly-placed stairway. We’ve lived with it for 10 years, and it’s time to take action. House is 1895 Victorian with some Art Deco, and Art Nouveau, fixed elements that were here when we bought the house. Instead of fighting them, I’m working with them. One is a black and brass gas fireplace. It served as the inspiration for black and gold backsplash in kitchen (in progress). When I saw that stair photo on Maria’s blog, I thought the vibe is right and the shape echoes - but doesn’t repeat - the gas fireplace. And it has a mix of metals which pulls in some stainless. Pic of fireplace (with tile hearth that will be replaced when we replace the wood floors in a couple years) attached. Your suggestions have been specific and helpful - big thanks!...See MoreIs there a standard for handrails on a stairway? For a 1920s craftsman
Comments (7)I've gone through this on my old house, and yes it does require a railing by current code. However, in most cities you are not required to bring it up to current code unless you are doing a renovation of that area. When you install the new railing, in most cases the first step is to use a piece of 1"x4" lumber, cut to the right length, and screw it to the studs just below railing height, and parallel to the baseboard. You could also add trim to this piece to make it match a baseboard design. This new board then provides a secure place to bolt any brackets for the new railing, and you don't have to match brackets up with studs. Now find a railing you like, possibly one with lower profile brackets than the standard ones at the home store, and bolt it to the 1"x4". You might also try using something like a pigs ear handrail, and may be able to bolt it on the wall without the 1"x4", which would get it closer to the wall. Here are some examples. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/98234835605074441/?lp=true Bruce...See MoreNeed help with the stairway wall
Comments (13)you can. just depends on what look you want. The wood appears to be decent quality from the photo. hard to tell. But if you want a lighter, brighter look, you'd have to prime the wood (or seal w/a shellac. makes it easier to remove if you want to go back to wood) and spray the entire wall the same color. Or paint the panels white and the wall a darker color....See Morela_la Girl
2 months agoRhonda Schulte
2 months agoapple_pie_order
2 months ago
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