Shaker stairway with a slender wooden handrail and simple balusters — Adjawstw / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0 (license). View source

Stairway in the Dwelling House, Canterbury Shaker Village (1793)

The stairway of the 1793 Dwelling House at Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire, with a slender handrail, simple balusters and a carefully proportioned stairwell.

Shaker stairs are notable for their lightness. This one in Canterbury's Dwelling House uses a thin, continuous handrail, plain square or round balusters and a stair stringer with no applied decoration. The eye follows the rail rather than any ornament. For a modern home, a Shaker-style stair is one of the best ways to create a timeless look: slim parts, a warm wood rail and painted elements around it.

Have this made · Essential tier

Slim handrail, balusters and newel in cherry or maple; Essential tier.

A custom version typically runs $7–$14 per linear foot, shipped.

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