A Stunning Historic Home Staircase: The Best of the Best
Is anyone else a fan of a historic home staircase? You know – the graceful stairway that draws the eye and captures the heart. The type of staircase that’s perfect for hanging garland at Christmastime. The steps that you can envision the belle of the ball descending to greet her guests. See if you have a favorite from today’s collection, some of which are simpler but charming.
Photo by Urban Pioneering Architecture
I’m not exactly sure when my passion for stairs began. Perhaps it started when I watched Scarlet O’Hara glide down that grand staircase in “Gone with the Wind.” Or maybe it’s from all the beautiful historic home staircases I saw when working at my dad’s decorating business.
Sanding, staining, or painting the handrail and newel posts was always given to me to do. No one else liked the detail work, but I loved it. Trim work was my specialty. Curving banisters are a favorite of mine to this day.
Even a simple staircase is charming.
A cozy tread treatment on this set of painted stairs plays against the dark gray wainscoting.
This historic home staircase isn’t ridiculously grand, but it has a nicely curved handrail at the bottom along with a pretty stained glass window. Did you notice the books between the balusters?
And this historic home staircase is a bit grander with its curving steps and banister.
How about this charmer? Don’t you want to open the doors underneath the stairway to see what’s in there? It’s like what you’d see in the home of the three bears. A door for papa bear, mama bear, and baby bear!
Photo by Silver Maple Construction LLC
So the reason that I think I will never have a gorgeous staircase like these is because my next home is likely to be a one-story house. I’ve never enjoyed lugging a vacuum cleaner up and down the stairs! Maybe I should get a second vacuum – one for upstairs and one for downstairs.
When a home has an impressive stairway – it immediately becomes the focal point of the house. Whether it’s painted or stained wood, you can’t deny its architectural beauty.
Photo by DeGraw & DeHaan Architects
This historic home staircase reminds me of the one in my childhood friend’s home. Her family house in Geneva is so quaint and cozy and when her parents passed, she moved back into the house. I love the shade of green with the floral wallpaper.
Photo by Emily Pueringer Design Studio
Here’s a photo of my stairway before I painted the living room. And as I write this, I realize I haven’t shared the changes in my living room yet. I’ll have to get on that, but maybe I’ll wait until it’s decorated for Christmas.
More Historic Home Inspiration:
Tour a Historic Beacon Hill Home
Just add you a banister. It would probably just be for looks but it would be cute 😊.
I’m more of a single story home fan, but I can appreciate beautiful staircases. I was especially taken with the books in between the balusters in the one photo. I’ve never seen that done and I love it.
Your staircase is lovely and suits the architecture of your home perfectly, but for myself, at 77, and my balance not being what it once was, I would require much more assistance in the form of railings to get up and down your staircase safely.
I was thinking the same thing as Susan!!! A cute section of short newels would be darling AND give you a place for your Christmas garland 🙂 Go for it!!!
PS: Buy that second vacuum while you’re at it. You deserve it 🙂
At least it is open. LOL. Ours is totally enclosed. Like you, I duo love a graceful elegant staircase.
I love staircases too and the curvier the better. Those ones are so grand. I remember when I was growing up we lived in a townhome with 3 floors and the stairs were with shag carpet ( remember the 70’s ) my goodness they were a pain to vacuum every week I shudder to think doing that now as I’m older, no wonder my Mom had that as one of my chores lol.
Yes I would do something like what Susan has suggested to give it more interest. Or even 1 -2 trailing plants on the stairs themselves. For sure invest in a second vacuum it wont regret it.
I think yours is very charming. I wouldn’t change a thing.
I love your stairway and that window , i have a plain old one story house. I grew up in houses with stairways and always wanted one.
I think your is the most charming of the bunch!
Such a great showcase of staircases. Yours was my favorite.
All of these are gorgeous.
Wow, you gave me a whole lot of inspiration today, for my fairly plain and simple stairs and landings. Just paint, for one. And, yes, at 74, I should be looking for one story homes. There aren’t many where I live, and the prices are crazy high right now. Plus, I am very active, work out at my local Y 5 days a week, walk a lot, and using the stairs keeps me fit.