In the early 1900s, we seemed to place more value on the idea that we should surround ourselves with beauty.
The staircases shown in the 1927 Builders’ Woodwork Catalog ranged from simple to fancy, and yet they’re all elegant and beautiful.
Too many modern staircases (post-1970) are not just utilitarian; they’re seriously ugly. Looking through several online listings of “new” houses for sale (under $500,000), I didn’t see any staircase pieces and parts that I haven’t seen for sale at Lowes. In other words, the focus of modern staircase building seems to be “fast, cheap and easy.”
What happened to the idea of making a beautiful entry?
As the 1920s text says below, “The staircase is the central feature of the hall or living room and must be judiciously selected to be in harmony with the architectural treatment of the dwelling.”
Perhaps that explains why contemporary staircases are so blasé and unappealing.
The pedestrian staircases in modern homes are “in harmony” with their pedestrian surroundings.
Many thanks to Bill Inge for sharing his historic architecture books with me!
Read about bookcase colonnades here!
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Even the front page for this chapter is a thing of beauty!
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"The designs...represent harmonious units." The text also adds, "The staircase...must be judiciously selected to be in harmony with the architectural treatment of the dwelling." How many builders today stop and think about how much "harmony" is expressed by their creations? (In the text above, K.D. stands for "knocked down.")
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"For the modern American small home, this design is very pleasing and practical."
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Another very simple design, and yet it's quite attractive. This type of staircase is often found in mail-order kit homes, because it's both simple and easy to construct.
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According to the accompanying caption, those doors lead out to an "elevated sunporch." I don't recall ever seeing an elevated sunporch off a landing like this - in real life.
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Another simple staircase, but with a 90-degree twist.
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"The unusual panel effect is a distinctive feature of this staircase..."
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This staircase is categorized in the original literature as a "Colonial design."
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Another favorite staircase. Years ago, I looked at a house for sale in South Norfolk (Chesapeake, VA) on Park Avenue and it had this very same design, all with original varnish/shellac. I thought it was the prettiest bit of "permanent furniture" that I'd ever seen. I shudder to think what's become of that house and it's gorgeous interiors. Note the phone niche next to the bench.
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"This panel buttress staircase is suitable for English or modern American homes. The complete absence of balusters and handrail make it easy to keep clean." While I do love the rope, I'm sure modern codes would not allow it.
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"The charm of this Colonial stairway is the continuous handrail ending in the graceful turning of a volute." Please raise your hand if you knew that this "round thing" at the end of the banister was known as a "volute." 😀
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"Very suitable for the modest home without a reception hall." If a mother could have favorites, this would be one of mine. So pretty and so elegant, and yet, "suitable for a modest home."
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"The attractive arches give it real character."
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Another beautiful staircase. The window mirrors the pattern on the built-in bookcase.
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"The large central hall is an attribute of the Colonial home, the main feature of which is the stairway." This is the same stairway we had in our 1925 Colonial Revival on Gosnold Avenue (Norfolk), even down to the tapered spindles and center post. Lone difference is, we had three spindles per tread, where this has two. Nary a soul entered that reception hall without making a nice comment about the beauty of that staircase.
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"This is one of the simpler lines, very economical in construction."
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Not my favorite, but it must be a design of enduring appeal, because I've seen it in many post-WW2 houses. Original caption says the "sturdy lines of English architecture are faithfully retained in this beautiful stairway."
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"The unusual feature is the handrail is mitered into the newel cap." Makes sliding down a bannister much easier (and less painful). Although it's a mighty short run.
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"For real charm and beauty, a winding stairs can not be excelled."
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"This Colonial stairway is very impressive." I agree. Check out the phone niche.
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The image on the left is from a $500,000 house currently for sale in Hampton Roads. The image on the right was a very simple design offered in the 1927 "Builders' Woodwork" catalog. In the 1920s, we seemed understand that low-priced and simple didn't have to equate with cheap and ugly.
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To end on a happy note, I've always loved old houses, and that's due in large part to my mother, an artist, who always felt it was important to surround herself with beauty and light and color. She's shown here, sitting on the beautiful staircase of our Colonial Revival home in Waterview (Portsmouth, Virginia). It was about 1968, and she's holding "Bernard," a mutt she'd recently adopted from the local SPCA.
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To read Permanent Furniture, Part I, click here.
To read one of the most popular blogs at this site (featuring a beautiful staircase), click here.
Ready for a change of pace? Read about a really spooky basement here.
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Great blogs on “permanent furniture!”
I loved that built-ins were marketed as ways to easily and inexpensively furnish your new home without having to purchase as much “other” furniture.
So many things could be furnished as built-ins back in the day. Some of my favorites are the niches, the bookcase and built-in desk colonnades, and the fireplace-bookcase built-ins, especially when they are part of the whole “inglenook experience!”
Those are marvelous – almost like some special little private hide-away, where one could curl up with a good book, some cushy pillows, a crackling fire and a mug of hot cocoa on a snowy evening, and not be bothered!
And the 1927 catalog you used is my favorite “art book” of all.
I have it on my laptop, and I love perusing through the pages of such wonderfully creative designs, even the simplest pieces are so beautifully and clearly illustrated!
Is there going to be another chapter here?
Great post, Rose!!! As an old house architecture lover (and a new house clone hater) I lament to everyone who will listen about how much character and beauty older homes contained.
Admittedly, the staircase is something that I never quite thought about, till now. Your pictures prove how big of an impact a beautiful staircase makes.
I LOVE, love, love this “permanent furniture” series!!