Friday, June 5, 2015

Crazy Twisted Volute




Here a view from the backside and you see the crazy stair design results in a incredible volute and twisting handrail, I think it has to be a conversation piece as you come into the house.


 This is a really interesting stair design, I'm also amazed how someone would come up with a design like this, it has to be from years of experience taking design to the extremes, or trying to create a piece of art and not just a way to get up and down a set of stairs safetly

Awesome Stair Design




Here is another example a stair designed to create a breathe taking handrail. The layout is a very basic and common that is seen in many homes around the country, but by adding a curved section at the bottom and bringing it 90 degrees to the foyer hallway makes it a very inviting staircase. 


Looking down the handrail one can see how the handrail falls sharply down through the lower curved section of the stair, you can also see how the balusters follow the falling line of the bottom of the handrail. Square Rail Caps and Saddleback upeasings complete the upper balcony area with a ver unique clipped radius corner


This view shows just how much detail this handrail system has designed into it. The balusters alone are a very complicated design and take a lot of effort to come up with a design with compromised areas. Taking notice of the Saddleback upeasings I notice how there is a long straight section on the upeasing.... I wonder how that is machined?

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Chunky Handrail



Great old Octagon newel post, a little different style then we are used to seeing with the octagon upper section for the handrail to die into. But a lot of great detail and carving work done to the post. I think the inset panels also have a burl veneer apply to there face.


I'm still trying figure out what this design period or style is called, I've seen a bunch of times and have not found it referred to as any special but I think it has a unique look for the period.


  A lot of unique carvings done on the face of these newel posts, I'm not sure if it represents something or are symbols?

Gas Lamp





Here is a first for me a picture of a octagon rail cap and octagon turnings thats incredibly hard to make. The gas lamp adds to the overall look of the newel posts. It had to be the coolest thing to install and stand back and fire up the lamp. The newel post also an interesting hollow plow detail down the face of the octagon panels.



Now that's a "Rail Cap" with just the smallest amount of twist.


Damn display case is in the way to see the rest of the twist fittings.


Great view from behind


Just a lot of cool details and awesome handrail...

Square Rail Caps



This is great example that staircase doesn't have to be big and grand, that a good design and selection of parts can make any stair look great. The square Twisted Rail Cap and the remaining square rail caps add a lot of class to the entire staircase.



How far should we drop the posts? How about to the floor..... Someone was trying to make a statement. The overall look is very formal, but the design is very clean and uncluttered.


Monday, June 1, 2015

Stair Brackets





Great close up of a 180 Transition as it twists and turns through the landing . I like this profile baluster, they must have been produced by a big parts manufacture because there are used fairly often in our area. The stair bracket is a design I have never seen been, it has nice clean lines.


Nice "Twisted Rail Cap" on top of a beautiful octagon newel posts, the balusters appear to be the same profile as the ones used in the picture above


                             I'm not sure what this period of design is called, but a lot of heavy trim and angle corners are used to make bold a statement. The rake handrail uses a twisted upeasing to make its way out of the newel posts and up the stairs, the landing features a incredible twist fitting as it
transitions to the upper stair.

Twisted


Looking out to another octagon newel post and a tight Twisted Rail Cap as it runs up the stairs
The stair brackets on this are very standard for the times, I often wonder if they were purchased or just the style at the time, I really like the look.


Good close of the stair brackets and the balusters, a very nice clean look


A look down the hallway balcony handrails it transitions into the turn to make its way down the stairs


I'm sure the drop in the turn is so high, but it has a nice smooth flow around the 180 turn.


     This shows  the reason, as the turn starts one tread down the stair thus adding a extra rise into the turn, this also helps to add some extra length to the fall of the handrail at the turn.