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The Evolution of Staircases

All fashion and design styles change regularly to keep up with current trends and staircases are no exception. In an era where aesthetics are vital, staircase trends are constantly evolving and contrary to the adage that ‘The Hearth is the Heart of the Home’ it is becoming increasingly common that the staircase is the central design focus in a home.

Since the origin of staircases, there are several designs which have stood the test of time, such as spiral staircases and grand bifurcated staircases, which have one main staircase that splits off into two smaller staircases. These designs are featured in some of the most famous buildings in the world, such as the Tulip Stairs in Queen’s House, Greenwich, or the grand staircase in the Titanic.

The first staircases ever created were used in castles in order to defend owners from intruders - the innovative spiral design meant that only one person could go up and down the stairs at a time and there wasn’t enough space to fight on the stairs. Since then, stairs have taken on a completely new purpose and although spiral staircases have remained popular, classic staircases with simple shapes and designs, such as a ‘u-turn’ or an ‘l-shape’, made with a variety of materials, such as wood, metal and glass, have become the standard in homes across the world.

A very popular current trend is the emergence of glass staircases, such as in the Apple Building in Shanghai. This trend can make even the darkest and smallest hallways and rooms feel light and open. Another exciting trend that incorporates glass elements is the ‘floating’ staircase trend, which combines architectural engineering with intelligent design.

Richard Burbidge offers several glass options for your staircase, including the Immix® collection which has sleek gunmetal connectors, plus light and space enhancing glass panels, combined with white oak.

An increasingly popular trend is the emergence of mixing old and new styles to create something completely unique. Combining classic shapes and styles with new and diverse materials can transform a staircase completely. An example of this is to create a glass bannister, which lets in light and opens the room up.  When combined with industrial or old-fashioned fixings it can create the perfect mix of traditional yet contemporary. Richard Burbidge collections suitable for this trend, include; Elements® - which combines glass panels with luxurious white oak features and Fusion®, which mixes oak or pine with chrome or brushed nickel features.

‘Scandi’ is a hugely popular trend at the moment, consisting of neutral colours, simplistic styles and natural shapes. This look combined with other neutral-tone and minimalistic furniture add a stylish touch to any home.  Our stylish Immix® collection would be a great choice for this trend.

To bring the staircase to the forefront of your home, a unique way of customising a classic staircase is to give it a pop of colour. Both wooden and metal staircases can be painted or coloured a bright and exciting colour to bring some life and excitement to your home.

No matter the design, the most integral part of any staircase is the quality of both the materials and the parts. Richard Burbidge is the UK’s leading supplier of stair parts, with over 150 years’ experience manufacturing timber products, you can be confident your Richard Burbidge staircase will be a great investment.

For more information, visit our shop page.

 
 

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