CHAPTER FOURTEEN 



THE STAIRCASE 



N the planning of the staircase it is well that it should be in 

 scale with the rest of the house. In a small house it should 

 not be too extensive, but should represent the simplest and 

 easiest way of getting up stairs, and not necessarily a feature 



in the effect of the interior. 



It is not generally advisable to include an open staircase in a hall which is 

 used as a sitting-room, as it will often be a source of draughts, as well as 

 somewhat detracting from the privacy of the room. The staircase is really 

 part of the passage scheme of the house, and especially in cases where there 

 is no second stair it should be so placed that its use will not interfere with 

 privacy of the sitting-rooms. When placed in such a position, for instance, as 

 that shown in the house described as " Bexton Croft," it can be used by 

 servants and family without detracting from the privacy of the hall. 



One of the great advantages of low-ceiled rooms, an advantage which is 

 not always recognised, is that it reduces and simplifies the staircase, and makes 

 unnecessary that long precipitous flight which is usually such a painful feature 

 in the loftily- ceiled villa. It is generally desirable that the staircase should be 

 broken up into short flights of steps with intermediate landings. Not only 

 does this improve the appearance of the stairs, but it also makes it easier of 

 ascent and less dangerous. There are probably few who have escaped from a 

 tumble down stairs at some early stage of their existence ; and in view of the 

 prevalence of this method of descent amongst children, the division of the 

 staircase into short flights is desirable. Besides the main staircase, smaller 

 special stairs may often be introduced for convenience of access to special 

 rooms. In the house previously referred to, such a small stair starts on the 

 ground floor, at the side of the drawing-room window-seat. Here a panel 

 opens by touching a spring, and this little stair affords a means of reaching the 

 little gallery overlooking the hall and the bedroom beyond, into which it opens 

 through a door which in the room appears as part of a fitment wardrobe. 



In the " House for an Art-Lover," spiral staircases are introduced at the 

 angles of the building, which, besides affording a means of communication 

 between certain rooms, also gives access to the garden. Apart from their 

 practical uses, these little staircases help to give to a house a certain romantic 

 quality. Mere utility alone will never completely satisfy human demands in 

 the home. It is well that a house should be nicely adapted to its uses, but, 

 beyond such practical considerations, it should contain features which add to 

 its mystery and charm. 



Something may here be noted as to the general significance of steps and 

 changes of level in the house. It may generally be stated that steps up to a 

 room, or to any feature in the house, conveys at once an impression of dignity 

 and importance. In the church such an impression is suggested by the steps 

 to the altar, and the front entrance of a building always gains in dignity if 

 approached in this way. On the other hand, what is gained in dignity is lost 



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