Designed Stairs

Designed Stairs has the experience to design structural, open-riser staircases that are also beautiful works of contemporary art.

  • Fitting a Curved Stair into Your Budget

    Sometimes your design calls for an elegant curved stair, but the budget falls short.  Here are some variations on a full curved stair.  These take up less space and cost less than a full curved stair, while still providing an elegant and unique solution.  These designs save on the cost of stringers and rails, as some are straight and only some are curved.  In general, the less curved pieces you have, the more savings compared to a full curved stair.

     

    Here are four curved design solutions for cost savings:

    • The curve 3-Winder has come to the center with a std winder newel, but the back /wall side is curved.
    • By curving only 3 or 4 treads at the bottom/ wall side, you can a dramatic curved start to your stair – the area people look at the most. 
    • Bowing starting treads and risers give you a very elegant curved look, at a fraction of the cost.
    • A hand carved descending volute is costly, but it pulls in curved elegance at a fraction of the cost of a full curved rail.

     

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  • Luxury Staircases in the Midwest

    Traditional European stair-building methods were transferred to the US along with immigrant craftsmen in the early years of our country’s history. The Great Depression caused the stair-building arts to almost disappear. The resurgence of the two-story home in the 1950’s and 60’s caused stair-builders to spring up in most major metropolitan areas across the country with a concentration from New York to Chicago.

    The highest concentration of traditional full-milled stair shops remains in the Midwest, with Chicago being one of the most concentrated markets.

     

    The popularity of the stair trade in the Midwest is partly due to the strong tradition of the open staircase in single family homes. Farm house style and a strong urban element from historic Chicago architecture have combined to create high standards for open staircases. As with all free-market supply and demand, the importance of the open staircase in the Midwest has fed the strength and development of the stair industry to perhaps the highest level in history. 

    The strong background and tradition of the stair trade has been boosted by CNC technologies, to bring design and quality to new levels. This also means that the average Midwest home is able to have stair and rail designs that may be out of the question in other regions of the country.

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  • Glass Treads

    An important consideration when designing any space is the presentation and distribution of light.  This is especially true when considering a staircase, since the available light will have a direct effect on safety.

    We recently completed a project where we were presented a design for a contemporary home with a staircase featuring glass treads.  The architect had a very specific design in mind, featuring a welded steel structure that would support structural, textured glass treads wrapped in a wood frame.  Our head design technician ended up working directly with the architect to verify each detail and maximize the efficiency of the fabrication process.

    The glass treads are very effective for the vision the architect had in mind.  Light is able to pass through from above to light the basement stairs during the day, and from above and below at night.  The glass, wood, and steel design is clean and ahead of its time.

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  • Freestanding Curved Staircases

    Most staircases are supported, at least partially, by walls built directly below the stair. Designing a staircase to be freestanding, or at least partially open below, is a great way to gain useable floor space in your design. 

    A true freestanding stair will not have a wall on either side, whereas a stair that only contacts one wall could be referred to as “open below”. These designs are particularly useful in large open rooms where walls would segment the space and destroy the open feel.

    A freestanding staircase has the ability to stand in the middle of such a space and enhance it, not detract. An “open below” staircase will be set to one side or the other of a room and allow the space beneath the stair to be utilized.  

    Either choice can be spectacular, so the next time you are designing a staircase, don’t “wall yourself in” from the start.

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  • High-End Staircases in the Midwest

    Traditional European stair-building methods were transferred to the US along with immigrant craftsmen in the early years of our country’ history. The Great Depression caused the stair-building arts to almost disappear. The resurgence of the two-story home in the 1950’s and 60’s caused stair-builders to spring up in most major metropolitan areas across the country with a concentration from New York to Chicago.

    The highest concentration of traditional full-milled stair shops remains in the Midwest, with Chicago being one of the most concentrated markets.

    The popularity of the stair trade in the Midwest is partly due to the strong tradition of the open staircase in single family homes. Farm house style and a strong urban element from historic Chicago architecture have combined to create high standards in the role of the open staircase. As with all free-market supply and demand, the importance of the open staircase in the Midwest has fed the strength and development of the stair industry to perhaps the highest level in history.

    The strong background and tradition of the stair trade has been boosted by CNC technologies, to bring design and quality to new levels. This also means that the average Midwest home is able to have stair and rail designs that may be out of the question in other regions of the country.

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  • Should painted balusters be installed at the same time as the stair?

    If you are buying a stair with balusters in a contrasting material, such as painted balusters on an oak stair, questions will likely arise regarding the finishing of the stair. “Should my painter finish the balusters separately from the stair, then have the balusters installed when the stair is finished?

    Here are some things to consider:

    • Your painter will generally opt for painting the balusters before installation. This allows them to be sprayed instead of brushed and eliminates a lot of “cut-in” work.
    • Painting balusters separately also means that the stair installers will have to come back to the site, remove the railings and install the balusters. There will be charge for this “second trip” to the job site. You will have to remember to schedule this “second trip” in coordination with the completion of the finish.
    • Leaving your balusters out for painting means that they are more likely to be lost or stolen during this time. You will be responsible for balusters left at the job site.
    • Once the painted balusters are finally installed, there will be additional “touch-up finishing required at the rail joints. Holes will have to be filled and stain and finish re-applied for the final finish.

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  • Site-built vs Shop-built Stairs

    The main distinction in the world of stair building and design is shop-built vs site-built staircases.

    Site-built stairs

    Carpenter building stairs onsite

    Site-built stairs are the result of parts and material being brought to the site uncut, then a tradesman using those parts to build a stair according to his design and skill level.

    One drawback to this procedure is that most site-built stairs place finished materials (kiln dried hardwoods) over standard framing material using screws and nails. Because the framing materials are pine and have a higher moisture content, this type of stair almost always loosens over the years, resulting in a squeaky staircase.

    Perhaps a more obvious drawback to the site-built method is that the quality and overall finish is dependent upon the skill and interpretation of the tradesman you hire at the site. The skills you need are not only the woodworking skills, but also the design skills to consider each intersection and connection. If you get a talented tradesman with extensive stair experience, you will probably get a good stair. If you don’t hire the best tradesman, your results will usually be disappointing. There are few experienced stair experts available to build a site-built project. The best, honest assessment, is that there is risk involved.

    The cost factor

    In most cases, we find a perception or assumption that building on site will cost less. The labor and material costs are mixed in with other labor and material, so a true cost is never known. Even if the labor rate is less, the lack of expertise and slower install along with paying for any rework or problems along the way will likely exceed the cost of hiring an experienced stair company.

    Shop-built stairs

    Shop-built stairs in process

    • Are usually well-thought-out projects supported by accurate framing dimensions taken at the site, detailed shop drawings, and professional woodworkers.
    • Start with a more intentional design process. The components fabricated in the shop are produced to exacting tolerances on woodworking machinery run by professional woodworkers.
    • Use milled techniques for stringer, tread, and riser assembly that will maximize strength and ensure decades of squeak-free use.
    • Should provide you great budget control by locking in the price up front and knowing your end costs.

    Pro tips

    Visit the shop to see their quality and shop environment, and to verify the experience and skill-level of their craftsmen. An experienced stair company will always provide you with a superior product compared to site-built stairs.

    No matter who you hire to build your stairs, you should scrutinize their history, integrity, and abilities, as there will always be good and poor performers out there.

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  • Luxury Staircases Across America — What might surprise you

    Having had the opportunity to work on Luxury stair projects from coast to coast, we have been intrigued by the vast differences in design and construction from one region to another.

    The greatest distinction is shop-built versus site-built. Shop-built stairs are typically milled staircases made by companies that specialize in stairs. They design and build custom hardwood staircases in a shop environment, then transport to the jobsite for installation. The term “milled” staircase refers to the fact that the stringers are milled, or routed. The treads and risers are wedged and glue blocked into the stringers. Most milled staircase builders have their roots in the tradition of European joinery and staircase techniques.

    The East Coast through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and on to Chicago have the highest concentration of milled staircases. Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, and South Florida have some noted stair specialists as well.

    The West Coast and Southwest frequently use masonry stairs over-laid with tile. Since most of this work is done at the job-site, the quality varies greatly from site to site and craftsman to craftsman. Although many of these site-built jobs turn out well, there’s always risk.

    There are vast areas of the country where stair companies are not located, and therefore milled staircases are not available. Throughout much of the country, staircases are framed at the site with standard framing material, and trim carpenters overlay hardwoods and stair parts to finish the job. This can present any number of problems, from squeaks to joint quality issues. It’s never easy to cover up framing with hardwood.

    As in most things in life, if quality is what you are after, it’s best to find a highly skilled professional who has specific experience with the task at hand.

    If you are interested in the finest milled staircase, please contact us with your print or job site information. We are happy to help you — throughout the USA.

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  • Getting the Most from Your Stair Dollar

    Part 1 of 4 — Overview

    Milled stairs may cost from $2,000 for a hardwood stair with wall rails, to $200,000 on the high end.  Most of us are shopping in the $5,000–20,000 range.

    When designing your stair and railing plan, there are three basic factors to keep in mind in order to use your budget wisely: shape, style, and material.

    If you have the luxury of starting from the general shape of your stair (new construction in the blueprint design stage) consider the shape first.  If your space/shape is already defined, it may limit controlling that aspect of your budget, but there are still two aspects to consider.

    Which is more important to you: style or material?  If are you are dead set on walnut, you may need to look at mixing it with stocked poplar parts for balusters and newels. If you have a style you are set on, such as stainless cable, most of your budget will go to that, and you may consider a simpler oak stair.

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  • A Second-Generation Family-Owned Business

    Bob at a work site

    We are a second-generation family-owned business. Bob DuCharme started Designed Stairs in 1969.

    Like most stair companies, Designed Stairs was initially focused on installing stairs, and parts were purchased from other companies. After many incidents of parts coming in late, or not meeting our quality standards, we started manufacturing our own. Today we are a full service custom mill manufacturer. Each part is made to the highest level of precision, which was our first step in improving stair parts.

    In 1981 we incorporated under the name of DESIGNED STAIRS, INC. (DSI). The name was chosen to reflect the fact that we RE-DESIGNED stairs as we knew them. If you look outside the Midwest you will still see companies using inefficient or outdated methods. DSI continues to lead the development of the stair industry in the Chicagoland. 

    We are the largest stair builder and manufacturer in the Chicagoland, and the leader for high-end stairs. We employ 40 individuals who have a combined stair experience of nearly 700 years. Nowhere else in the world can you find the level of stair expertise that is under our roof. 

    From the beginning, Bob DuCharme instituted a culture of learning, growth, and problem solving. Whether we are making custom parts or designing stairs, our focus is always on how we can do this efficiently, to a higher degree of accuracy, and with the greatest aesthetic appeal. The foundational principles that Bob put in place 50 years ago still ring true today. These principles are what continue to set us apart.

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