Trade Secrets: How to Create a Jaw-Dropping Feature Stairway

As much as we appreciate a magazine-worthy room shot, we also know that great design goes beyond creating a 2D moment. “You have to stand back in different points of the house to see what views are available and how you can experience that space from each view,” says Nancy Surby, principal of Nako Design in Squamish, B.C. “We wanted to create little pockets of experiences in unexpected places all over.”

One particular delight here: an archway that neatly frames a spectacular staircase. From the dark entryway, the curved doorway reveals a wooden stairway climbing up, up and up beneath a double-vaulted ceiling, artfully trimmed by black stainless-steel spindles that hit the sweet spot between trendy and timeless. “The homeowner really wanted a feature stairwell that complemented the style of the home—and a place to wrap garland during the holidays,” says Surby. A 360-degree design, intended to please 365 days of the year.