The anatomy of a staircase is not something most people will contemplate or take the time to know. After all, unless one is a stair guy, why would one need to know the difference between a ball top and a tread cap? While it’s true that stairs are more complicated than just about anything else a carpenter could tackle, it’s also true that if you have stairs you will eventually find yourself standing in front of a stair guy, trying to decide what to do about your out-of-date or -code stairs. At... more

I used to fly up and down the stairs all the time. Lately I have discovered myself holding on to handrails. There are reasons for handrails; if you don’t know, you will quickly discover them on the way down. Imagine going down a steep flight of stairs that has no handrail; you slip and proceed to grab for something, but there isn’t anything to hold onto. New stylized handrail that replaces the original (above) with code requiring returns back to the wall. Adult handrail, and the “Little... more

The truth is that although older homes are beautiful and charming, they aren’t as accommodating to today’s lifestyle. We do more work from home. We have man caves, media rooms, home gyms, project rooms, and generally want our homes to be our own little versions of paradise. If we want the charming old bungalow we are going to have to adapt it, bend the house, and make it the home we need it to be. We love the old telephone cubby, the thick paneled pocket doors, the old wobbly doorknobs, the vintage... more

A staircase can reveal a lot about a house’s personal history – particularly its age. We’ve all seen those outdated oak staircases, or the staircase hemmed in by half-walls. A dated staircase can be a turn-off for a would-be homebuyer, or seem too costly a project for a homeowner. This may be why homeowners tend to overlook the staircase when doing home improvements. However, if a staircase is a prominent feature in the home it is well worth considering an update. Before After There... more