Sometimes a staircase doesn’t have a specific problem, it just doesn’t feel right. That was the case here: nothing was structurally wrong, but the space felt closed in and heavier than it should.

We removed the upper and lower pony walls, then painted and installed new skirt boards to give the staircase a lighter, cleaner line. Rustic White Oak caps, railings, and posts finished the look, and the client made a point of choosing round powder-coated iron balusters without base shoes, a small detail, but one that gave the whole staircase a more streamlined feel.