How a dangerous landing became the most architectural moment in the house.
This entry landing had a problem: it was a wide open drop-off. The house flows across multiple levels – entry, then down to the bourbon room, kitchen, and dining, then further down to the family room. Beautiful house. Dangerous landing.
More railing was the obvious fix. But there were already lines everywhere in this space – stair rails, balusters, window frames. Another run of traditional railing would have added visual clutter without adding anything interesting. Safe, but wrong.
So We Thought Differently
We paired a large decorative screen panel with a tall planter base. The result looks like it was designed for the space – because it was designed for the space.
It’s a safety solution that doubles as the focal point of the entire entry.
The plants add softness. The graphic pattern on the screen adds texture. The scale commands the room. And the open drop-off? Gone.
Why You Can’t Just Buy This
Box Stores sells screen panels. They sell planters. They sell brackets. What they don’t sell is the concept – and they definitely don’t sell it sized correctly for your specific space.
Getting this right required careful calculation – ceiling height, landing dimensions, sight-lines from the staircase. The difference between something that looks intentional and something that looks like a workaround is scale. Get it wrong by even a few inches and the whole thing falls flat.
That math, that sourcing, that vision – that’s what you’re hiring a designer for.