PROJECT STORY · STAIR CAPPING & BIRDCAGE RAILINGS · BURLINGTON
Stair Capping & Birdcage Railings in Burlington
A staircase in the middle of an open-plan home is never out of sight. For this Burlington project, we removed the stair carpet, capped both flights and updated the railing with square posts and satin-black birdcage balusters. Dark treads and white risers and stringers gave the staircase a new finish without letting it overwhelm the room.
- Location
- Burlington, Ontario
- Setting
- A central staircase in an open-concept home
- Stair work
- Carpet removal and tread caps on the basement and second-floor flights
- Finish
- Dark treads with white risers and stringers
- Railing
- New square posts and satin-black birdcage balusters
- Design goal
- An attractive focal point with a lighter appearance and clearer views through the railing
- IS YOUR STAIRCASE DOMINATING AN OPEN-PLAN ROOM?
The staircase was always in view
The staircase stands in the centre of the open-plan main floor. Brown carpet and a wood railing were visible from the surrounding rooms, on both the upper and basement flights.
Two flights, one finish
We removed the carpet and capped both flights. Dark treads contrast with the white-painted risers and stringers, while new square posts and metal balusters replace the old railing components.
White risers against dark treads
Seen from the main floor, the white risers and stringers cover much of the staircase’s larger surfaces. The dark tread edges outline each step.
Birdcage detail without the bulk
Satin-black birdcage balusters add an open, decorative twist to the railing. Their slender profiles leave more of the room visible between the spindles, with square posts at the ends and turns.
The view around the landing
The same railing continues around the landing above the main floor. The staircase keeps its position in the room, with new tread surfaces and a different view through the metal spindles.
Planning answers
What homeowners can learn from this project
Were both staircases capped?
Yes. The project included the flight to the basement and the staircase to the second floor. Both were finished with dark tread caps, white risers and white stringers.
Was this stair capping or stair refinishing?
The stairs received new tread caps after the carpet was removed. This was not simply a matter of sanding and restaining the original treads. New posts and metal spindles completed the railing update.
Why were the risers and stringers finished in white?
The staircase stood in the middle of an open-plan room and was visible from many angles. White risers and stringers helped its larger surfaces feel lighter, while the dark treads still defined the steps.
What railing design did the owners choose?
They chose satin-black metal spindles with birdcage details and new square posts. The slimmer spindle profiles made the railing easier to see through, while the decorative details kept it interesting.
Did the renovation create an open-riser staircase?
No. The finished stairs retain risers, painted white between the dark treads. The more open appearance comes from the colour treatment and the slimmer railing—not from removing the risers or relocating the staircase.
CONTINUE EXPLORING
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Is your staircase dominating an open-plan room?
Send us photographs from the main floor, upper landing and basement stairs. We’ll review how tread caps, finishes and a different railing design could update the staircase from the angles you see every day.