The Western Springs newel.
A multi-flight curved stair anchored by a massive paneled walnut newel — turned white balusters, a coffered ceiling overhead, and a two-step bullnose at the entry.
Some stairs lead with the rail. This one leads with the newel. A massive, chunky paneled walnut post anchors the bottom of the run — square, formal, hand-built in our shop — and the rest of the stair sweeps off it like a sentence off a strong verb.
The newel is doing structural and editorial work at the same time. Structurally, it's the anchor for the handrail's lower terminus — a single solid post that takes the load of the entire rail above. Editorially, it's the first thing you see when you walk into the foyer. It has to hold the space.
The flare at the bottom is the supporting move. A two-step bullnose curves out into the foyer beneath the newel, softening the geometric strictness of the post with a sweep underfoot. Walk up the stair and the curve resolves into a straight run. Walk down and the geometry opens out into the room.
The stair runs multiple flights through a two-story foyer, with an upper balcony rail in the same vocabulary — turned white balusters, walnut top rail, mitered corners. A coffered ceiling overhead and a brass-and-glass lantern pendant lighting the well. The whole composition is traditional in vocabulary, contemporary in proportion.
Some stairs lead with the rail. This one leads with the newel.
The wide bullnose foyer from outside the entry — full sweep, full newel, full ceiling overhead.
Vertical context with the coffered ceiling and dining room visible through the run.
From inside the dining room — the stair as the structural centerpiece of the entry.
Underside of the upper balcony rail — turned balusters and mitered walnut.
The bullnose flare with a built-in banquette nearby, the run ascending past.
The newel in its full editorial weight — settee, sconces, foyer, stair.
Upper landing detail — the rail crossing the balcony with the same balustrade vocabulary.
Tell us about the stair your house deserves.
The Western Springs newel.
A multi-flight curved stair anchored by a massive paneled walnut newel — turned white balusters, a coffered ceiling overhead, and a two-step bullnose at the entry.
Some stairs lead with the rail. This one leads with the newel. A massive, chunky paneled walnut post anchors the bottom of the run — square, formal, hand-built in our shop — and the rest of the stair sweeps off it like a sentence off a strong verb.
The newel is doing structural and editorial work at the same time. Structurally, it's the anchor for the handrail's lower terminus — a single solid post that takes the load of the entire rail above. Editorially, it's the first thing you see when you walk into the foyer. It has to hold the space.
The flare at the bottom is the supporting move. A two-step bullnose curves out into the foyer beneath the newel, softening the geometric strictness of the post with a sweep underfoot. Walk up the stair and the curve resolves into a straight run. Walk down and the geometry opens out into the room.
The stair runs multiple flights through a two-story foyer, with an upper balcony rail in the same vocabulary — turned white balusters, walnut top rail, mitered corners. A coffered ceiling overhead and a brass-and-glass lantern pendant lighting the well. The whole composition is traditional in vocabulary, contemporary in proportion.
Some stairs lead with the rail. This one leads with the newel.
The wide bullnose foyer from outside the entry — full sweep, full newel, full ceiling overhead.
Vertical context with the coffered ceiling and dining room visible through the run.
From inside the dining room — the stair as the structural centerpiece of the entry.
Underside of the upper balcony rail — turned balusters and mitered walnut.
The bullnose flare with a built-in banquette nearby, the run ascending past.
The newel in its full editorial weight — settee, sconces, foyer, stair.
Upper landing detail — the rail crossing the balcony with the same balustrade vocabulary.