Designing a Neoclassical Stair: Part 2
As I had mentioned in my previous post, our client wanted to know what an elaborate wrought iron stair would cost, based on these to stairs as conceptual starting points.
Using as many standard components as possible, we created a design that looked like this.
Our client was not happy with the look, so I sketched up another option which she found to be acceptable.
Working with King and Company, the stair fabricator, we priced the stair several different ways, all of which required drawings… (I now call Bob King The Stair Meister! The man id GOOD!) The above the stair priced out at about 3.5 times the originally proposed and budgeted wood stair, which used standard wood balusters from a company such as L. J. Smith, custom hand rail and exposed treads.
We then looked at what a stair would cost using simple individual wrought iron balusters, a custom hand rail and exposed treads. That was about 1.3 – 1.5 times the original budgeted stair. The price was right, but we could not find any balusters that were acceptable.
Our last option was a fully custom wood stair with a curb. This priced out at about 1.3 times the original budget. King and Company turned the custom baluster we used is on the left.
Every step of the way, Bob King showed us what the stair would look like. The final curb design looked like this.
Over, the effect looked like this.
King and Company turned 6 different baluster heights due to the compound curve of the defending stair!
Fast forward to the last month or so…
The walnut stain was selected for the floors and stair treads.
Fabrication was well under way in Bob King’s shop…
And then today’s installation!
With the stair in place, the arched opening under the stair leading to the living room can be completed. YES!!!
Tomorrow, the custom back stairs will be installed. Finally feels like things are coming together!
Note: We have some concerns about the paint color on the balusters and will probably be tweaking them a little, possibly “graying them out” somewhat.
Cheers,
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Congratulations John! You are so talented!!! Love the staircase!!
I know that iron staircases are so expensive! But the wooden staircase turned out wonderful!
xx
Greet
Thank you Greet. I couldn’t have done it without the talented and skilled people at King and Company! They made it all possible.
Nice work! I agree with you. If she is trying to get an classical look, I would not do white. It’s hard to make something recede after all of that detailed work, but they will need to be toned down considerably in order to draw the eye to the curve of the rail in the way that iron would have. Terrific post! You are very talented. xo, N.G.
A newly painted baluster is in the works. I feel a follow up post coming, Nina.