To Do: Interior Railings

Posted: January 8th, 2010 | Filed under: Our Projects, To Do List | Tags: | 5 Comments »

When we layed the stair treads (previously green shag over lumber) the stair railings came down, but we never put them back up, because we’d be drilling into the new hardwood treads… for a look we didn’t want to keep.  We made the copper railing immediately, but having the other side open is not very comforting to many who visit.  Not to mention..it’s against code, so we gotta deal.

Luckily, I don’t have toddlers or this simply could not be.  We want an open airy, yet safe rail for both the stairs and the catwalk… we keep coming back to glass.  We considered cable systems, but I really want the sleekness.  I love the idea of minimally framed glass all around, but the practical/resale minded side of me is considering this glass/sheet rock hybrid.  Not having priced glass railing systems yet, I’m betting it’s a big ouch.  If we mix the wall/glass, we can DIY it for not too much money.

photo from Dwell Oct. 2009

The idea is that up in the nook, where the lounger is…glass, then about a six foot section of wall, then glass at the corner, nice clean seam where the corners meet, then wall finishes it out.  The stairs will require a ton of research.  We’ll see how this idea sounds after said research.  Here are some other looks I liked…now to find out how unaffordable they are.

via Amorphous Studios Inc  on Flickr

via California Glass and Rail

via Remodelista

via Natural Elements Custom Homes on Flickr

This is the only non-glass option I have in my files so far…custom ironwork…ouch.

I’m so sorry, I can’t remember where this is from and I forgot to rename it with creds.

For my eagle eyed readers (you always amaze me) who wondered what the little brass plate in the ceiling is….that’s on the List as well.  That is where I lost my mind, and the siding decision was pretty much made.  That’s the hole in the ceiling where the squirrel and I had a staredown as it tried to chew its way into the house.  Good times.

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5 Comments on “To Do: Interior Railings”

  1. 1 Lannae said at 8:21 PM on January 8th, 2010:

    I think you need to make a SLIDE!!!! LOL! I love it! Really though, I did look at that “fantastic” green carpet in the ABOUT page, and I am not sure how you let that green carpet go! LOL! Just kidding. Your new stairs are just beautiful.

  2. 2 admin said at 8:39 PM on January 8th, 2010:

    Boy, would the Things love me if I could work that slide into the deal….I wish we had the width….

  3. 3 Clark said at 9:15 AM on January 10th, 2010:

    My wife and I are currently building a house and explored the idea of using glass for a total of around 40 linear feet of railing… We got prices back that ranged from almost affordable to out of this world (in excess of $11,000) wow… We went with a fabricated steel railing… Looking forward to seeing how you guys come along.

    And I hate to be so negative on the idea, because I truly. truly love to look of glass railings.. but one of the reasons we bailed on the ‘almost affordable’ glass option was because of the work required to keep it clean… which would be magnified with kids.

    Good Luck!

  4. 4 admin said at 9:27 AM on January 10th, 2010:

    That’s a really good point…fingerprints could make it a complete drag….

  5. 5 Carolyn said at 5:09 PM on April 22nd, 2010:

    Know that this is an old post, but have you checked out any architectural salvage places for wrought iron stuff that’s been ripped out of places before it’s torn down?
    We live in a ’68 deckhouse and have v. basic wrought iron and I love it. While I think glass is awesome looking, the cleaning would be a pain and I can’t imagine how expensive it would be…