We are gradually entering the start phase, and I’m still a bit unsure about the entrance area, specifically the entrance width and the design of the stair railing.
According to the plan, the passage width between the utility room and the stairs is currently about 129 cm (51 inches). Our builder suggested angling the stair railing wall towards the front door. However, this would reduce the passage width by approximately 13 cm (5 inches), leaving us with only about 115 cm (45 inches) at the end.
Of course, the wall won’t be full height (about 110 cm (43 inches) high at the end of the stairs, rising to just over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) next to the exterior wall), and on the opposite side there is a coat area – but I’m still worried this could create a bottleneck.
If we place the railing on top of the stairs instead, the staircase itself would become narrower, and we would need to address that accordingly.
I’d appreciate your input.
According to the plan, the passage width between the utility room and the stairs is currently about 129 cm (51 inches). Our builder suggested angling the stair railing wall towards the front door. However, this would reduce the passage width by approximately 13 cm (5 inches), leaving us with only about 115 cm (45 inches) at the end.
Of course, the wall won’t be full height (about 110 cm (43 inches) high at the end of the stairs, rising to just over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) next to the exterior wall), and on the opposite side there is a coat area – but I’m still worried this could create a bottleneck.
If we place the railing on top of the stairs instead, the staircase itself would become narrower, and we would need to address that accordingly.
I’d appreciate your input.
Is it a concrete staircase? If so, a railing would probably be installed on the outside edge, since 1. it is more expensive to build a structure directly onto the concrete stairs, and 2. the stair width would be reduced, as you already mentioned yourself.
We currently have the same “issue” between the upper floor and the attic. We are going to solve it with glass because it is more affordable and doesn’t reduce the stair width.
In your case, however, it’s only about the short passage and not the entire hallway. I would suggest having it built as a wall. We have that on the ground floor as well, and I personally prefer it over a regular railing.
We currently have the same “issue” between the upper floor and the attic. We are going to solve it with glass because it is more affordable and doesn’t reduce the stair width.
In your case, however, it’s only about the short passage and not the entire hallway. I would suggest having it built as a wall. We have that on the ground floor as well, and I personally prefer it over a regular railing.
Hello Milkie, yes exactly – a tiled concrete staircase. Thanks for the input. That is currently the solution I would find best – although with some construction worries – I find it hard to imagine.
Alternatively, the wall of the utility room could be moved, but then both the utility room and the cloakroom space would be smaller.
Alternatively, the wall of the utility room could be moved, but then both the utility room and the cloakroom space would be smaller.
I agree with that. I wouldn’t build a wall there either. I think an entrance area should feel inviting, open, and bright, just like a hallway. If you build a wall, it creates a narrow, dark corridor.
With a width of 1.30 meters (4 feet 3 inches), even 15 cm (6 inches) make a difference. At the front door, you welcome guests, sometimes have long goodbyes, help yourself and your children put on rain gear (and then take off their dirty, wet clothes again), children put on rollerblades and full protective gear, you receive packages, set down groceries, carry furniture through, and might even have to carry a child with a casted leg. I would try everything to ease that bottleneck as much as possible.
With a width of 1.30 meters (4 feet 3 inches), even 15 cm (6 inches) make a difference. At the front door, you welcome guests, sometimes have long goodbyes, help yourself and your children put on rain gear (and then take off their dirty, wet clothes again), children put on rollerblades and full protective gear, you receive packages, set down groceries, carry furniture through, and might even have to carry a child with a casted leg. I would try everything to ease that bottleneck as much as possible.
We just recreated the setup with boxes in our apartment—it was a bit tiring since we had to move some furniture—but even with the simulated partition wall and a 1.14 m (45 inch) passage, it didn’t feel cramped, and three people could still move around comfortably. Whether we ultimately choose a prefabricated glass wall or the masonry wall is still undecided.
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