The Railing System

What is there to know about a railing system? 

I love interior architectural details and mill work.  Over the last 100 years, we have let these details slip out of the mainstream process of interiors finishing, and it's a sure tragedy.  It's almost like we've made ourselves believe that these simple and inexpensive details are only for the upper class, and are too expensive for everyone- but it's generally untrue. 

Stairs are such a defining and beautiful element in our built environments, and along with the stairs, there is always a railing system- something that should be a beautiful feature in every space, and not a utilitarian afterthought. 

As a rule of thumb.....wrought iron should be used outside....

They are built for the weather.  They shouldn't be combined with wood, except on the rare occasion that it actually works with the style.  Railing systems should always coordinate with the exterior style of the building. 

This is an Italian Exterior, and the next image is a much simpler Spanish style exterior.  Both have totally different railings that mesh with their exterior styles.

 A traditional colonial apartment building works with this straight-lined wrought iron railing on the exterior.

 A simple exterior with little or no defining style is nicely set with a railing that is also simply undefined.

Another distinguishably traditional American colonial exterior is very well accented by cast iron box newels, and cast iron balusters that replicate a turned baluster. This is very well used as a companion to the style.

*****

We've had this unsettling TREND in Utah, (and let's face it- other states too)....where we've become obsessed with the 'knotty alder box newel and wrought iron ballusters' and it's just not OK to let everyone think this is an acceptable cure-all for the railing needs of the general public.  Here's some examples of the offenders:

See the stunning white mill work of the columns beneath, and the crown molding above?  It leads me to believe that a house with this optimal opportunity to feature a dramatic balustrade, combined with classical mill work would really work better with a captivating and substantial system like this one:

*****

 The railing system in this space is almost presented as the focal point- because nothing that can be seen from this viewpoint is fantastic at all....it's too bad they didn't opt for a real show-stopper for the railing system.  Instead they picked this undefined, boring, and overdone alder and wrought iron- double-single-double- knuckle system that defines nothing about the style of the home. The white trim and color of the wood floor lead me to believe a simple white painted square baluster would have been a better choice. 

*****

 The mill work in this home is undeniably gorgeous....but they blew it with the wrought iron balusters.  And let's also point out- the stain grade box newel cap and handrail....there should REALLY be another stain grade cap on the upper box newel to tie it together.

White risers with stain grade oak treads on the stairs are about as timeless and classic as you can get.  A simple stain grade box newel with handrail is a nice touch, but adding in the iron balusters loses the appeal of the more traditional elements.  White turned balusters would have been the optimal choice again for this space.

*****

There are a few good ways to use wrought iron for a balustrade in an interior space.  Here are some beauties:

I can't help but just peek at a few final photo's of interior wrought iron railing systems that have gone bad, or just apply nothing at all as far as style to the space:

 I think this one is obvious: something simple, white, and turned with a classic design would be much more elegant than these hideous wrought iron BLACK balusters.  They do nothing for the traditional and architectural appeal of this home.

 I hate this one.  On SO MANY levels.

 I ALMOST wanna say ALMOST on this one...I like the airiness the wrought iron brings to this massive spiral stair case....BUT the fluted box newels, the bright white trim, the feminine light fixtures...really lead me to believe that a REALLY dramatic iron application would have been better used here instead of the double knuckle cliche.  Another option would be something stain grade, but delicate. And, I would really like to see a custom carpet runner on these stairs, but that's another story all-together.

 Always erring on simple doesn't ALWAYS work.  This house would be much more stunning with a bright white box newel, and painted cedar, or white vinyl square balusters. Instead, this wrought iron system looks utilitarian and almost disappears.  I would really love to see this entrance beg people to come to the door.

 Another ALMOST.  I really like the simple but interesting geometric use of wrought iron on this balustrade.  But, after you notice the use of siding, and the tapered columns- this exterior is clearly a play on craftsman style- which makes this balustrade a little too deco-chic to really work well.  I would love it though, if it were painted creamy white to match the exterior trim.

The belly Baluster.  A great way to err on the side of what everyone else is doing (wrong).

The belly shaped iron balusters should really only be used on the exterior, and only when it's suitable to the architectural style of the building. 

A French Provincial home would be a good opportunity to use this option for a baluster: