Staircases

The caged staircase was designed by architect Patrick Ousey, with whom Flournoy collaborated in the home’s design. Although initially unconvinced by the staircase detail, “it is a great example of how collaboration brings in different perspectives,” says Flournoy.

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The storage cubbies a hold the residents' books. Zames used walnut veneered plywood to build the staircase. The exaggerated finger joints used in the millwork adds practical visual interest to the steps. "Because the stair is a kind of 'ship ladder' stair it can be a bit tricky to walk on," Zames says. "We wanted to have a detail at the top of each step to act as a visual cue to help people climb safely."