Designed Stairs

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

  • Plan for Success on Your Curved Stair Project

    Plan for Success on Your Curved Stair Project

    What every custom builder and homeowner should understand before starting a curved staircase project

    Curved stairs bring unmatched beauty, elegance, and architectural impact to any home. But unlike straight or L-shaped staircases, a custom curved stair requires careful planning, precise design, and expert fabrication to ensure it meets code, fits the space, and delivers the smooth, sweeping look people expect from a luxury staircase.

    Here’s what every custom builder and homeowner should understand before starting a curved staircase project.

    1. The Planning: Beautiful Curves Require Experience

    On an architect’s plan, curved stairs look effortless. In the real, 3-D world? They can get complicated fast. Common issues include:

    • Plans that don’t meet code requirements for riser height, tread depth, or headroom
    • Insufficient planning for the stair/stringer layout and curved railing
    • Not enough physical space to achieve a smooth, attractive radius
    • Architectural drawings that don’t match field conditions, especially in new construction

    A curved staircase is not the place for guesswork. Early coordination is everything.

    2. DSI Solutions: Bring Us in Early (Seriously—Before you frame)

    The single biggest cost-saver in the world of curved stair design is early involvement. When Designed Stairs steps in early, we can:

    • Design a code-compliant curved staircase that balances efficiency, comfort, and aesthetics
    • Engineer the most attractive, cost-effective curve that fits your footprint
    • Define/direct your framing of curved walls to assure a geometry balanced stair
    • Prevent costly mistakes that often appear after framing, when changes are far more expensive

    Bringing in a specialist early avoids delays, rework, and budget creep—especially on luxury homes in Chicagoland, Naperville, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Western Springs, Glenview, and the North Shore, where curved stairs are highly sought after.

    And if your project isn’t local? No problem. We’ve completed curved staircases as far away as Alaska, Hawaii, England, and even Japan, providing remote guidance, templates, and engineering support to ensure the final result is flawless.

    3. The Process: Why Curved Stairs Require More Time

    A custom curved staircase is a handcrafted architectural element, not a mass-produced component. That’s why timelines look different.

    Expect:

    • Extra time during framing to place and build the curved template
    • Longer fabrication in our shop—a straight stair may take hours; a curved stair often requires a full week or more of precision work
    • Longer lead times to get on the schedule, since curved staircases require specialized craftsmen and equipment

    The result is worth it: a grand, sweeping focal point that elevates the entire home. But it’s important to plan far ahead—especially during busy building seasons.

    4. The Cost: What to Expect with a Luxury Curved Staircase

    The grace and elegance of a curved staircase generally come at a premium—often three times the cost of a similar L-shaped option. This is due to:

    • Custom kerfing and lamination
    • Hand-crafted curved railing systems
    • Precision layout and engineering
    • Longer shop and installation time

    If you’re building a luxury home, a curved stair isn’t just a feature—it’s a statement piece that adds real value and architectural impact.

    5. DSI Cost-Saving Tip: Choose Pin-Top Balusters

    For curved railing systems, Pin-Top balusters are both elegant and budget-friendly:

    • They match the formal aesthetic that curved stairs naturally carry
    • They are significantly easier (and faster) to fit into a curved rake rail
    • Square-top and panel-style balusters cost more, as they require precise hand-fitting and complex joinery on a curved rail

    A smart baluster choice can reduce labor costs without compromising style.

    Benefits of a DSI Curved Staircase

    • Installation time. Because we fabricate so much in our shop, time on site is minimized.
    • Our production volume and experience means predictable quality and reliable timelines
    • We’ve built over 5000 curved stairs, and we continually expand capacity to meet growing demand for luxury curved staircases around the world and in our home.

    Your project gets seasoned expertise—not trial and error.

    Ready to Plan Your Next Curved Staircase?

    If you’re a homeowner, builder, or architect planning a curved stair or custom staircase project, bring Designed Stairs in early. You’ll save time, avoid costly framing issues, and get a staircase that becomes the centerpiece of your home.

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  • Can Red Oak look like White Oak?

    red-oak-versus-white-oak

    Red Oak is generally more affordable than White Oak, prompting many to explore finishing techniques to achieve a similar look.

    At first glance, some Red Oak may resemble White Oak, but they have distinct differences. White Oak features a light brown hue, tighter grain, and greater density, while Red Oak has a red tint and a more open grain.

    Some red oak is more or less “red”.   Each piece of wood is unique, so results vary.

     One simple option is to reduce the red tint is using a stain with some gray in it.  This stain can help neutralize the red tones in Red Oak, making it look more like White Oak.  Minwax Weathered Oak is a good option.

    You can also lighten Red Oak using Zinsser Wood Bleach (A-B solutions) and enhance its appearance with various stains. The bleaching process can significantly reduce the red tones, allowing for effective color alteration.   

    If you have existing wood you want to keep, bleaching may be a good option. However, for new projects, starting with White Oak might be more cost-effective. Keep in mind the labor costs. Bleaching Red Oak for an interior project can nearly double your overall expenses.   

    If you’re seeking the look of White Oak, you’ll likely be happier with the final product if you choose White Oak from the start, but that does come at price. 

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  • Will Designed Stairs provide nosing or should the flooring company provide nosing?

    Will Designed Stairs provide nosing or should the flooring company provide nosing?

    Nosing is required anywhere there is balustrade or newels.  Typically, nosing from a flooring company has a shorter overhang and does not have the space for trim under it.  Typical floor nosing overhangs 1-1/4”, whereas Designed Stairs nosing overhangs 1-3/4” to allow for trim under the nosing.  This includes apron and cove.  Designed Stairs provides all of the nosing where there is balustrade or newels so that the nosing and trim will match the stair style.  i.e., If the stair has square-nosed treads and square cove, the nosing, apron, and cove would also be square to match.

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  • Red Oak versus White Oak

    red-oak-versus-white-oakRed oak (quercus rubra) is far more plentiful in all hardwood markets than White oak (quercus alba), and therefore, will be less expensive in every aspect. Red oak usually has a pinkish hue and distinct “tiger stripes” in the surface grain, while white oak tends to a light brown coloration with less distinctive grain patterns. While both woods are extremely strong, white oak has a greater density, more strength, and can be used for liquid containing barrels, ship building and exterior products, while red oak is confined to interior use, such as cabinets, staircases, trim and furniture. Historically, white oak has been used in fine woodworking applications that indicate a higher-end product. The dense grain of white oak would have a practical advantage over red oak when used in bathroom and kitchen floors, where moisture would be expected.

     

    The vast majority of stocked stair parts are red oak and white oak is very likely to be a custom order. Since the raw material of white oak is more expensive and White oak parts are generally custom ordered, a white oak staircase will cost more than a red oak staircase.

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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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  • Is This a Spiral Stair or a Circular Stair?

    The most common confusion within the stair building world is, without a doubt, the spiral versus the circular stair.  It will not take long to clear this up. 

    The most common confusion within the stair building world is, without a doubt, the spiral versus the circular stair.  It will not take long to clear this up. 

    A spiral stair has treads that are supported by a central support post.  They usually have a very tight diameter of 48 to 72 inches, and are not recommended as main stairs in any inhabited structure.

    A circular stair has two stringers supporting treads and (typically) risers, and will take up a much larger floor space than a spiral.

     

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

    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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  • Stair Quality Across the US

    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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  • 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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