Mid-Century Step by Step

As part of a whole-home remodel, this central staircase, visible from nearly every room in the three-story Mid-Century Modern home, deserved as much attention as the rest of the space. The homeowners wanted solid white oak flooring in a light finish, a showstopping stairwell light fixture, and, most importantly, to get rid of the carpet. Because we were redesigning the entire home, we had the freedom to create a staircase that not only matched the new floors but also honored the home’s original mid-century roots, erasing the overly traditional style left by a recent low-quality flip that was done to sell the home.

Custom stair treads were crafted to perfectly match the new white oak floors, and the existing railing was refreshed with paint for a cost-effective upgrade. To keep the staircase functional throughout the project, steps were installed one at a time. The crowning feature is a striking gold-and-black chandelier, selected alongside the homeowner, whose scale and presence bring drama and balance to the space. The result is a staircase that’s both functional and beautiful, seamlessly tying together the home’s renewed mid-century style.