Rising To The Occasion: 5 Homes With Exceptional Staircases
Whether eye-catchingly ornate or minimal and sculptural, a dramatic staircase is a glamorous centerpiece to any home, from a renovated Victorian in San Francisco to a one-of-a-kind penthouse in Manhattan.
Contemporary Meets Victorian
San Francisco, California | Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage
Soaring ceilings and plentiful windows create a wonderful sense of airiness throughout this chicly updated 1889 Victorian, located on a prominent corner in Pacific Heights. Linking the main-level great room and the five bedrooms on the home’s upper levels is a sweeping modern staircase. Other highlights include a gym, a marble-lined 330-bottle wine wall, a family room with its own kitchen, an office with a private entrance and a kitchenette, a four-car garage, and a landscaped backyard with a built-in grill and a fire table.
Beverly Hills Beauty
Beverly Hills, California | Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage
This 6,254-square-foot Georgian-style residence features high ceilings, French doors, hardwood floors, four fireplaces, and stunning views of the ocean and skyline from its hilltop perch. A striking sculptural staircase anchors the home, connecting the sophisticated, light-filled living areas and an exceptionally outfitted kitchen with the generous owner’s retreat and four restful guest suites on the levels above. A refreshing swimming pool, sunny terraces, and an alfresco dining area are nestled amid verdant landscaping.
Penthouse at the Dakota
New York, New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage
High atop the distinguished Dakota, this duplex penthouse is a masterpiece of unique architectural flair. Artisanal stained-glass doors in the entry vestibule hint at the distinctive style beyond, from the skylit octagonal cupola that houses the media room to the two primary bedrooms separated, one on each side of a brilliantly lit hall—with a floating glass staircase serving as a striking centerpiece. The enviable terrace offers enchanting views of the surrounding rooftops.
Greenwich Grandeur
Greenwich, Connecticut | Sotheby’s International Realty – Greenwich Brokerage
Tucked amid dense greenery in Greenwich, this stately residence brings rich detailing—including custom moldings and quartersawn oak floors—to an array of light-filled modern living spaces. From the regal foyer, a dramatic stairway leads to the upper level and the primary suite—one of seven bedrooms—which encompasses two walk-in closets and baths and a sitting room. The lower level features a family room with a fireplace, a gym, a full bath, and versatile space ideal for a theater or a wine cellar.
Old World Elegance in Houston
Houston, Texas | Martha Tuner Sotheby’s International Realty
This 7,021-square-foot Houston manor combines classical elegance with comfortable livability. The grandeur begins immediately, in a foyer boasting an ornate iron and wood door, vaulted ceilings, a dazzling chandelier, tumbled travertine flooring, and a graceful spiral stairway with a custom wrought-iron railing. An elevator also accesses the two main levels, which feature formal living and dining rooms, a kitchen with a breakfast area and family room, an office, four suites, a media room, and a study or library that could serve as an additional bedroom.
This article was originally published in Sotheby’s International Realty’s Extraordinary Living Blog in December 2021.
