In my search for some of the better interior design blogs (yes, I love to read what others are saying) on the internet I came across Padstyle.com. They have compiled their list of the 25 of the best interior design and furniture blogs out there. I was familiar with Freshome.com, Desiretoinspire.com and Decore8.com but had not ever visited the others. I you have an interest in design trends, design ideas, where to buy or just inspiration you’ll do yourself a favor by visiting Padstyle
Archive for January, 2010
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Jan
Jan
I occasionally have customers that request a staircase with large balusters. The challenge with creating a staircase with extra large balusters is two fold:
- The handrail size required by codes restrictions will not accommodate a large baluster top. As such, most manufactured handrails are designed for 1 1/4″ or 1 3/4″ balusters.
- It may be difficult to accommodate the four inch rule spacing between balusters if the balusters are attached directly to the stair treads.
The solution to using larger balusters is also two fold:
- Use a custom handrail with a larger base that also accommodates the “grasping” requirement of the stair code.
- Use a closed stringer system that will eliminate the need to attach the balusters directly to the stair treads. The images below clearly demonstrate both design features.
The baluster size in the drawings below is 3 1/2″ at the squares – a much larger baluster than the more common 1 3/4″ balusters.
The image below is a cross section showing the handrail with the large base which enables it to “receive” the large 3 1/2″ baluster.
These poplar newels were produced for a customer in South Alabama. His wife wanted to simulate the newel in a Pottery Barn catalog image. I’ve had other customers that requested these but I normally will make them with a smaller ball on top. The originals remind me of the old gumball machines.
gumball newel
The image below is larger version of the same newel but with a smaller top.
pottery newel
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Jan
Jan
These fluted newels went to a customer in Aspen, Co. The large fluted newels are 7 inches in diameter. The shorter non-fluted newels are 6 inches in diameter. I questioned whether they really wanted the flat capitals on top of the newels. It will probably become a place to set things on top of – cups, clothes, etc.
I felt sorry for the installers knowing there was no suitable place to attach the handrail. The installer was forced to “cope” the handrail to a round, fluted profile, not the easiest method I could think of to say the least.
fluted newel
We have uploaded a few photo album sets on various places on the world wide web. I thought some of our customers might like to see them in total – nothing like a picture to get the creative juices flowing. The pictures contained in the album below are a random set of the stair newels and other wood turnings we have produced in our Baton Rouge, LA shop. Some pictures are of “one offs” – newels that were turned for one customer and never produced again. Others have been produced multiplied times over. You can follow the link below to see a good sampling of our stair newels.
