Category Archives: Staircase & Railing

Wooden staircase design upgrade ideas

7 Wooden Staircase Design Upgrade Ideas of 2022

Wooden staircases are an integral aesthetic element in every home’s design. Whether you choose to create them in modern, traditional, transitional, or vintage, they can seamlessly make a style statement. However, staircases do not need to be bland. You can bank on modern home decor trends for wooden staircase design upgrade ideas. It doesn’t need to be simple when there is an option to make it exclusive and customized to match your style and taste. A good staircase contributes to your home decor and can consequently enhance your mood. When you know that you have the best of luxury, it positively affects your mental health too.

What Are Some Best Wooden Staircase Design Upgrade Ideas?

Modern home decor trends in wooden staircase design primarily focus on upgrading specific elements to make them chicer. It could be the balustrades, the treads, and nosings, or the railings. Apart from that, cabinets under the staircase are gaining popularity amongst most homeowners. Check out these wooden staircase design upgrade ideas and design elements to amp up your home’s wooden staircase design.

Glass treads and risers

When you think of contemporary design, nothing tops it off better than glass stairs. The fact that they are transparent contributes to creating a roomy, spacious design that does not feel cluttered. You can further pair them with wooden railings or cables for a transitional touch and enhance them with staircase lights. However, glass stairs can get stained easily and may be difficult for people with disabilities to navigate. To overcome this, add luxury carpeting that goes through the center of the staircase.

Stairs with dual-stringers

Dual-stringer stairs can easily enhance a minimalist contemporary home’s look. Instead of traditional railings, these balustrades are made of two beams that run parallel along the stairs. Ideally, these look best when paired with floating stairs and can be enhanced by adding more stringers or panels in between. They are chic and simple, and can still efficiently make a bold style statement.

Cabinets under the staircase

Some traditional homes are known to have extra storage cabinets under their staircase. However, they do not need to sport the same old, boring designs. Depending on your needs and the space available, add aesthetic bookshelves, bench seats or elegant custom cabinets with a textured finish. You can enhance this further by installing shelves of similar make along the wall of the staircase. These are perfect to put up your photos, plants, books, awards or just to store your extra stuff. Pick unfinished or rubbed wood, sleek glass paneling or a colorful pop of acrylic finish.

Tweak those balustrades

Most stairs have banisters (handrails), balusters and balustrades, that are each elegant in their own ways. Most popular staircase design trends revolve around ameliorating these elements creating more refined designs.

  • If you want to incorporate a more traditional staircase look, nothing fits better than regal wrought iron balustrades. You can even play around with the banisters to add intricate stair railing design.
  • Farmhouse designs are much-loved for their minimalist take on home decor. Install wooden balustrades to give your stairs a farmhouse look.
  • However, if contemporary is your style, consider attaching your floating staircase with floor-to-ceiling vertical rail systems. They help make efficient use of space and create a visual style statement in your home.
  • Lastly, glass always helps amp any wooden design. Add a transitional touch to your staircase with glass-paneled balustrades. Usually, the glass used here is toughened, and laminated and offers a gorgeous view of the home. Pro-tip: add these to your balcony or terrace balustrades to create the perfect space for some me-time.

Ship-lap walls

Staircase design does not have to be restricted to reworking its main body. Enhancing the design of the surrounding spaces can contribute to making your overall staircase look prettier. Paint ship-lap planks in a fun color such as black, green, maroon or the good old white. The vertical planks can add a very rustic feel to the entire space and create the perfect backdrop for some photos and shelves. You can either aim to add contrast by pairing wooden browns with a neutral black or white or just go retro by playing a mix-match with colors.

Color play

If you don’t mind thinking out of the box, consider color play for your staircase. Ideally, most homeowners love detailing their staircases with risers and treads in contrasting colors. You could pair whites with dark browns, blacks with lighter browns or consider adding colorful funk. Give your home a statement personality with stairs in pastel shades. You could make the entire area one color (Eg. yellow), pair white and pink or just go rainbow. The textured look can give your home a fun, retro makeover.

Wallpaper design

If you want to create a particular vibe for the area around your staircase, consider using wallpapers. You can add these to the wall behind your stairs and even underneath. You could consider tropical prints, neon designs or some intricate art for a regal touch. However, if not planned right, wallpapers can make your entire design feel chaotic or cluttered. Consult an expert and pick fun wallpapers that don’t disrupt the flow of your home’s decor.

Conclusion

Staircases are not usually the center of attraction in many homes. However, they hold so much design potential to give your decor a revamped look. Modern home decor trends for wooden staircases incorporate unique balustrade designs and wall finishes for a more streamlined and elegant look. If you feel like your home needs a personality change, adding color, metal or statement cabinets to your staircase can be a wonderful idea. You won’t need to remodel your entire home, end up cutting a hole in your pocket or live in a cluttered space while changes are being made. It’s simple, budget-friendly, and extremely impactful in making your home reflect your taste and amp your mood.

Hardwood Flooring Refinishing

A Quick Guide to Hardwood Flooring Refinishing

Luxury hardwood flooring can bring a touch of sophistication to your home. Floors in darker stains and a rugged look are chic, have a long lifespan and age like fine wine. Most homeowners prefer premium hardwood flooring for its durability, sustainability, elegance and biophilic qualities. Incorporating natural elements such as light, air, plants and wooden items in your home can help boost mental health and motivation. That said, there is a lot you need to know and learn before hardwood flooring installation in your home. Maintenance practices, especially hardwood flooring refinishing can be a tough challenge to tackle without some insight. Hence, here is a quick guide for you to understand hardwood flooring refinishing and why it is important.

What is hardwood flooring refinishing?

Hardwood flooring refinishing is the act of removing the floor’s topmost layer by scrubbing it with a drum sander. Once that’s done, a fresh stain (dark or light) along with lacquer is applied to the surface. This makes your floor look completely new by adding fresh color and shine to it. What’s more, the hardwood floor refinishing is easy enough to be done by anyone at home, on their own.

Do I need hardwood flooring refinishing?

If your hardwood flooring shows discoloration, scratches, or splinters, or has endured minor spills, you should consider refinishing. A hardwood floor refinish mainly evens out the old floor and adds a new coat of stain and lacquer. This way the floor gets back its color, shine and uniformity. However, if there are holes in the floor, missing nails or signs of extreme damage then resurfacing your hardwood floor might be the better choice.

Benefits of Hardwood Flooring Refinishing

Hardwood flooring requires maintenance to retain its longevity. Refinishing your hardwood floor is like giving it that additional health boost and keeping it healthier for longer. Here are some ways in which refinishing a hardwood floor can enhance its look and quality:

1. Increase its durability

The most common causes of hardwood floor damage are water spills and dust. Moreover, a damaged hardwood floor can fall apart sooner than it should have. However, you don’t need to replace the entire floor, especially for smaller damages. These can be easily repaired through hardwood flooring refinishing. This not only improves the quality and durability of the hardwood floor but also fixes any potential safety hazards such as splinters.

2. Makes it look as good as new

The best part about hardwood flooring refinishing is that it restores the floor’s original lustrous shine and quality. Any scratches, dents and uneven parts of the floor can be done away with through skilled hardwood floor refinishing. If you are looking to remodel your home, your floor need not be left behind. A quick refinish will make sure it matches your home’s new look by appearing as good as new.

3. Keeps it free of pest infestations

Wet or damaged hardwood floors can be prone to all kinds of pest infestations. The humid environment they create supports and feeds termites, ants and even beetles. A neat coat of stain and lacquer however can easily prevent this from happening. A hardwood flooring refinishing will protect your floors by destroying the nurturing environment and laying a barrier of protection.

4. Amps up your home’s resale value

A home that keeps up with all the housing trends has the most value in the real estate market. Regardless of whether you are planning to sell your home or rent it out, up-scaling its interiors will help you get your dollar’s worth. A hardwood flooring refinishing gives your home that edge when it comes to offering style and luxury. A floor with a lustrous sheen is bound to impress everyone who lays their eyes on it.

5. It’s the budget-friendly alternative

The smaller hurts to hardwood flooring such as stains, spills, dents and scratches can accumulate over time causing significant damage. In most cases, replacing the hardwood floor is an expensive affair which could have been avoided with regular maintenance. Hardwood flooring refinishing prevents the possibility of you having to empty your pockets for a replacement.

Conclusion

Hardwood floors are a luxurious way to make a stylish statement in your home. They come in rich shades, are sustainable and durable, and add an element of nature to your home. However, it is important to care for your hardwood floor through regular cleaning and maintenance. A hardwood flooring refinishing is one such way to bring back your floor’s sheen and uniformity. Apart from that, it also improves your home’s value and durability, prevents pest infestation and is a budget-friendly alternative to floor replacement.

Professional cabinet maker

Why do I need a professional cabinet maker for my home?

It goes without saying that no home is complete without elegant and organized kitchen cabinets. The kitchen cabinet industry in the USA was estimated at $4.5 billion as of 2020. What’s more, these numbers are predicted to keep increasing as the need for trendy and functional cabinetry keeps increasing. However, good cabinetry is one that aligns with your kitchen’s layout and your home’s general decor. In order to get the best for your home, consider a cabinet maker with plenty of experience and knowledge. A professional cabinet maker can help you with not just finding the best cabinets for your kitchen layout, but also ensure that the furniture is durable and optimizes storage.

Benefits of hiring a professional cabinet maker for your home:

A professional cabinet maker is an artist who will dedicate their entire skills and experience to creating unique cabinetry for you. If you want to install strong, durable cabinets in your kitchen or are looking to remodel it, invest in a professional cabinet maker. Here are some reasons why you should hire a professional to make your kitchen cabinetry:

1. The cabinet design aligns with your home

You might own a cozy contemporary apartment or a colossal colonial-inspired home, each having its own unique design needs. Pre-made cabinets might not always be available in the dimensions required for your kitchen. This could lead to a waste of space or an uncomfortable placement of the cabinets. You don’t want to have to bend and twist yourself to reach something, do you? A custom cabinet maker can help you create cabinetry that utilizes the available space in your kitchen, creates customized storage for different items and ensures that your kitchen looks like a streamlined unit. This is especially helpful if you have kitchens in unusual layouts or with unnecessary corners.

2. Get your hands on the best materials

The material that you pick for your kitchen cabinets can make or break the kitchen’s entire design. Plywood, Melamine, Particle Boards and Marine Ply are generally preferred by most homeowners for classy and durable cabinetry. These materials can be further enhanced with veneer, acrylic, laminate or PU finishes. While pre-made kitchen cabinets are available in specific materials and combinations, a custom cabinet maker can pick the best ones for your home. You don’t need to settle for materials that aren’t to your liking due to limited availability. Go crazy with picking the ones that will survive any kitchen catastrophe and still look fabulous.

3. Create cabinetry that fits your budget

A professional cabinet maker will have their own pricing for a particular project. However, they will help you install the best kitchen cabinets within your budget. Most ready-made kitchen cabinets are available within fixed price ranges. This means that you either shell out more for the bare minimum (e.g. handle-less drawers) or settle for less (e.g. regular steel handles). A cabinet maker, though, could inform you about the different types of handle-less cabinets and which ones fit your budget. You get exactly what you need in your kitchen within your expected budget.

4. Inculcate sustainable cabinetry

When you hire a professional cabinet maker, you automatically prevent excess wastage of materials. Moreover, you are opting to support a business that does not mass produce ready-made cabinets. Along with that, you can consciously opt for more Eco-friendly materials to make your kitchen cabinets. To start with, you can choose paints with no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and use certified wood. There is a rising consciousness toward mindful living and opting for sustainable kitchen cabinetry can be your step toward being more Eco-conscious.

5. Cabinets that reflect excellent craftsmanship

As opposed to pre-made cabinetry, a professional cabinet maker ensures fine workmanship for your cabinets. When you sign up for a professional cabinet maker, you invest in your home. You can survey the entire process and their work will be backed by their portfolio and client reviews. You won’t have to worry about delays, poor quality of work or shoddy installation – everything will be done perfectly to your contentment. Furthermore, you get cabinets that are aesthetically appealing, complement your kitchen color palette and have a space for storing exactly what you need. While pre-made cabinetry usually comes with fixed drawers and cupboards, custom-made kitchen cabinetry will be tailor-made for you. You can pick the number of drawers, cabinets, magic corners, supply closets and so on that fit your needs and your home’s dimensions.

Conclusion

Does your kitchen look overcrowded or too compact? A professional cabinet maker can optimize your kitchen to make it look aesthetically appealing and spacious. It might seem like a cumbersome process to get involved in as opposed to just purchasing ready-made kitchen cabinetry. However, a cabinet maker is an investment that guarantees you durability and customization in return. Assess your kitchen and see if it deserves a bespoke makeover. You can get cabinets in your preferred size and materials that perfectly align with your kitchen’s layout too. Moreover, a reputed professional cabinet maker promises perfection and skilled craftsmanship that reflects your values and investment. If you want bespoke cabinets for your home, hire a cabinet maker with a good portfolio and client review.

What is trim carpentry

Types of Trim Carpentry Accents and Trends for Your Home

Wood has the potential to give your home an elegant, bold statement. Even though compelling home decor pieces such as carpets, paintings and futons are preferred today, they don’t match the elegance of a good accent in trim work finish. Trim carpentry adds more delicate elements to a home that are noticed through the emphasis they create. If you want to give your home that added edge, you should definitely consider trim carpentry accents.

Types of Trim Carpentry Accents for Your Home:

First things first, before you dip your hands in the world of trim carpentry, it is important to educate yourself about it. You need to know what trim carpentry is and how it can be introduced in your home. Trim carpentry deals with adding all the woodwork and finer accentuation in your home – from doors to paneling and even floorboards. All of the finish work fine-tuning is done at the end of construction – it’s like giving your painting the final touches. Some essential finish work elements to consider are:

1. Crown Molding

Crown molding is the chicest trim work element that you can add to your home. It is essentially woodwork that separates your walls from your ceilings. It can also be added to doors or windows to give them a finished look. This element of trim carpentry refers to a specific trim shape fabricated to fit the space between the wall and the ceiling. However, they do range in size and style and can be incorporated with different moldings such as baseboard, bead board or cove. They create an impactful feature in any space from a large courtroom to a room in your home.

2. Floor Trim Moldings

Floor trim moldings are similar to crown moldings and separate floors from the walls. They fill up the gap created while adding a touch of sophistication to the entire decor. Moreover, they are great at providing an additional coat of protection against mops and vacuum cleaners. You also get to choose what style of floor trim moldings you wish to add. There are several styles available such as Mop Board Trim, Two Piece Base Trim, Profiled Base Trim or Baseboard Trims that you can choose depending on your needs. You can further have them tailor-made to suit the rest of the trim work in your home and your house’s general theme.

3. Casing in Trim Carpentry

Doors and windows in every home can be accentuated to look like showstoppers instead of just functional holes in walls. Casing woodwork is the type of trim work that deals with adding fine finishes to doors and windows in a home. You could either include it in your construction plan or in your next home remodel.  Some popular casing profiles to consider are Colonial, Stafford, Windsor, Belly and Ranch for a traditional and classy design. These are included in various casing styles ranging from Farmhouse, Craftsman to Minimal that complement different home decor styles.

Modern Trim Carpentry Trends to Consider for Your Home:

Once you get a grasp of the different types of trim work, you can move on to picking the right design for your home. A good finish carpenter can help you pick elements that align with your home’s style and vision. Moreover, they can also help you pick the right wood type that can brave your location’s climatic conditions. That said, being updated with modern trends in trim work means your home gets the cream of the crop. Here are some trim work and accent trends for 2022:

1. Monochrome Casing, Crown Molding and Floor Trim

Monochrome trim accents make a bold statement and are not for the faint-hearten. Their sophisticated elegance adds a vintage pop of color to any space. As opposed to white and nude tones, interior designers and architects recommend going for brighter shades. While imposing colors have been a hit during the mid-20th century, they are making a dramatic comeback and are here to stay.

2. Duo-tone Trim Work Accents

If you prefer minimalist home decor, this trend is for you. The idea is to not incorporate more than 2-3 tones in your home’s design while retaining some vibrancy. Depending on what color your walls are, you can pick trim moldings and accents in a contrasting color. For example, if you have walls in earthy tones, trim work in neutral shades can really add that exciting pop.

3. A Rich Natural Wood Trim

Biophilic home decor that is nature-inspired is the trend of the future and is here to stay. You can inculcate open spaces in your home that allow natural light and ventilation in your home. Apart from that a little green and plenty of woodwork create a calming and natural living space. Rich wood trim accents are one of the ways to incorporate nature into your home. You could pick a rich hardwood with dark stains for a really classy look. This can be further complemented with some rich wall color for an added touch of elegance.

4. Bring back the colonial look

Tapping into vintage home decor styles has become a very popular home decor trend. For instance, designers are bringing back the popular colonial home designs to the modern home. Wainscoting is one such sophisticated style in trim carpentry that involves covering your walls with panels. They are really chic and intricate, and make for a powerful design statement. While they were traditionally made in stock boards, you can even go a step further and have them installed in wood.

Conclusion

Trim work accents are an upcoming modern home decor trend to look into. While finish carpentry has a lot of scopes when it comes to home decor, the accents make for easy and classy styling. You don’t have to overturn your entire home and they last for years with minimal fuss. What’s more, they subtly accentuate your home to create a statement style. Good trim work can really give your home the elegant look that it needs.

Staircase Design Ideas

7 Modern Wooden Staircase Design Ideas for Your Home

Wooden staircases are timeless and elegant. Their lustrous shine, sleek shape and fluid placement make for a strong home decor statement. Moreover, modern trends in home decor have allowed wooden staircase designs to fit into a more contemporary home design.

You do not need to settle for simple staircases when you can have something more exceptional. Experiment with balusters and balustrades, go for cantilever stairs and don’t shy away from getting fancy railings. The best way to go about this is to consider different wooden staircase designs and pick the ones that align with your home decor.

Modern wooden staircase design ideas for your home:

While your wooden staircase design needs to be functional, it doesn’t have to be simple. These modern wooden staircase design ideas promise to add a touch of sophistication and permanent elegance to your home. Here are some popular contemporary staircase designs to consider:

Offbeat Repurposed Staircase

If you are a Potterhead, this wooden staircase design ideas are just for you. Instead of opting for the traditional staircase with treads and risers, imagine repurposing bookshelves. You can design your library or wine cabinets such that the shelves double up as stairs. If you are not a fan of shelves, opt for cabinets or cupboards under the stairs. This design not only optimizes space but also enhances the look of a traditional staircase. Take it a notch higher by adding creepers such as bougainvillea and other potted plants.

Traditional Staircase with Designed Tiles

Tiled staircases are a lesser-known decor style derived from traditional tile art in India. The idea is to replace the regular risers with exquisitely designed porcelain tiles. A classic favorite has been the Arabic-European-influenced Azulejos tiles. Apart from that, classic mosaic tiles act as the perfect modern design idea for stairs. Select a pleasing color palette to make a striking style statement on your wooden staircase. While creating a chic, Bohemian look, they also pull together the entire look of your home.

Helical Wooden Staircase Design Idea

The Helical staircase is fluid in form and elegant in its presentation, making for a charming addition to your home. These stairs are built to resemble the curve of a helix and ascend in a flowing circular path. The best bit about this design is its exclusive nature which adds a sense of luxury to any living space. Pair it with glass-paneled railings to give it that glamorous finishing touch.

Floating Wooden Staircase

A truly contemporary element your home deserves is the floating wooden staircase. The minimalist structure effortlessly packs a powerful modern touch. Moreover, they also optimize space and fit into any corner. These stairs can be fabricated by either fixing treads into a supporting wall or attaching them to a single spline stringer. You can further amp up the staircase by adding small decor pieces, vases, hanging plants and even photo frames.

Curved Railings on L-Shaped Wooden Staircase

Adding fluid railings is a simple yet powerful way to beautify your modern staircase design. Most L-shaped and U-shaped staircases have a very geometrical structure with sharp lines. Adding railings that end in curves can create a balanced elegant look. Go for intricate designs in metal and pair them with a wooden finish to add a contemporary touch. Another way to make them look classy is by opting for hardwood in darker stains and sticking to a rugged, unfinished look.

Spiral Wooden Staircase Design

A traditional spiral staircase goes around a central column and is usually connected to a wall. These stairs don’t take up much space while adding a chic bohemian touch to your home. A more modern take on the spiral wooden staircase would be the addition of glass paneling or the absence of risers to give it a floating look. You can also add elegant railings with intricate designs for a more premium feel.

Zigzag Wooden Staircase with Carpets

The zigzag wooden staircase adds a very futuristic touch to your home’s design. However, if you are tired of its same old design, you can spruce it up with carpets. Patterned carpet for wooden staircase adds a vintage touch to an otherwise plain design. You could either choose to carpet the entire length of them or be picky with the treads. Another idea would be to add the carpet along a central line of the entire wood staircase. Regardless of how you choose to do it, this will make your traditional staircase look a lot more classy.

How to care for your modern wooden staircase?

Hardwood stairs are durable and can last for ages if taken care of properly. However, it is important to protect them from moisture and other damages. Clean any spills immediately and avoid using soggy mops. Use a wet cloth to clean the hardwood staircase regularly to prevent the collection of grime or dust. Lastly, avoid scratching or denting them. If there are any, fix them with a coat of wax or by applying a new finish.

Conclusion

Wooden staircases create a sense of luxury in your home design. They are timelessly elegant, regardless of whether you choose to stick to the traditional designs or spice them up a little. If you do want to add a modern touch to your traditional wooden staircase design, there are multiple ways to do it. You could opt for unusual structures, play around with mesh or glass railings, and even add carpets or tiles to the mix. That said, wooden staircases require a lot of care and maintenance to increase their lifespan. Regular cleaning and refinishing can ensure they stay the same for years and years.