Take in-person tours of homes featured in Dwell. Sign up for Open House!
SubscribeSign In
Collection by David M. Dreger

step by step

A set of stairs can be a piece of artwork all on their own.

View 44 Photos
The addition’s most eye-catching feature is the steel staircase with recycled blackbutt wood treads. The bottom steps double as benches to supplement the six Arne Jacobsen Series 7 dining chairs for Fritz Hansen and a Nomos table base by Sir Norman Foster for Tecno.
The addition’s most eye-catching feature is the steel staircase with recycled blackbutt wood treads. The bottom steps double as benches to supplement the six Arne Jacobsen Series 7 dining chairs for Fritz Hansen and a Nomos table base by Sir Norman Foster for Tecno.
The steel-and-wood stairs lead to the master bedroom and study.
The steel-and-wood stairs lead to the master bedroom and study.
chadmellonphotographer
chadmellonphotographer
chadmellonphotographer
chadmellonphotographer
When Alan Ricks and Cristina de la Cierva moved into their Boston condo, a ship’s ladder was taking up space in the main living area. Following a lengthy renovation, a spiral staircase provides rooftop access.
When Alan Ricks and Cristina de la Cierva moved into their Boston condo, a ship’s ladder was taking up space in the main living area. Following a lengthy renovation, a spiral staircase provides rooftop access.
The cork stairs with a rope railing lead down to the kids’ level.
The cork stairs with a rope railing lead down to the kids’ level.
© Vojteck Ketz courtesy of Marta Nowicka & Co.
© Vojteck Ketz courtesy of Marta Nowicka & Co.
A thin floating staircase rises to the second floor almost weightlessly.
A thin floating staircase rises to the second floor almost weightlessly.
The staircase’s steel guardrail and the custom black bookshelf create a link between the kitchen, the living space, and the entryway.
The staircase’s steel guardrail and the custom black bookshelf create a link between the kitchen, the living space, and the entryway.
The husband’s home office is furnished by a Toot lounge chair by Piero Lissoni for Cassina, a vintage Desk BO69 by Finn Juhl, and a Swivel chair by Hans Wegner. A custom picture rail, filled with family photos, is made of bands of wood that keep contents in place.
The husband’s home office is furnished by a Toot lounge chair by Piero Lissoni for Cassina, a vintage Desk BO69 by Finn Juhl, and a Swivel chair by Hans Wegner. A custom picture rail, filled with family photos, is made of bands of wood that keep contents in place.
Though they give the appearance of bent plywood, each curved layer of this ribbed staircase's corridor was constructed with flat, laminated cutouts, including the rounded hand rail.
Though they give the appearance of bent plywood, each curved layer of this ribbed staircase's corridor was constructed with flat, laminated cutouts, including the rounded hand rail.
The Can Calau Farmhouse in Catalonia, Spain
The Can Calau Farmhouse in Catalonia, Spain
The ground level contains the living and dining spaces. Upstairs there are two bedrooms, plus the master suite.
The ground level contains the living and dining spaces. Upstairs there are two bedrooms, plus the master suite.
Arkitekthus charges a little extra for the see-through staircase; the basic house has under-staircase storage, which is more practical but less beautiful.
Arkitekthus charges a little extra for the see-through staircase; the basic house has under-staircase storage, which is more practical but less beautiful.
In the kitchen, a staircase with a wood backbone supports floating glass treads. The home’s main entrance is located on the top level, due to the property’s incline.
In the kitchen, a staircase with a wood backbone supports floating glass treads. The home’s main entrance is located on the top level, due to the property’s incline.
Another peek at the perforated interior windows, which are made from cropped sections of the steel wall in the courtyard.
Another peek at the perforated interior windows, which are made from cropped sections of the steel wall in the courtyard.
An interior courtyard provides even more space for entertaining, as well as another opportunity to reference the building’s history. Backlighting transforms this 16-foot Cor-Ten steel light fixture into an image of super-sized tulips, a nod to Cruickshank’s history. To create the design, a heavily pixelated image of tulips was translated into perforated steel.
An interior courtyard provides even more space for entertaining, as well as another opportunity to reference the building’s history. Backlighting transforms this 16-foot Cor-Ten steel light fixture into an image of super-sized tulips, a nod to Cruickshank’s history. To create the design, a heavily pixelated image of tulips was translated into perforated steel.

24 more saves