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and you can see that a straight staircase takes up a lot of space."

A straight stair usually fits best against one wall. Adding a landing halfway down a straight run of stairs adds visual interest, but also takes up more floor space.

The L-shaped stair is versatile because it can be tucked into a corner without looking cramped, Schuttner says. For the equivalent rise, an L-shaped stairway actually needs a little more floor space than a straight stair. "But you don't have to find one long, straight chunk of floor space, which is difficult in a small house." he savs.

An L-shaped stair, also called a quarter-turn can be more appealing to the eye than a straight staircase.

It's possible to turn an L-shape into a T-shape by building two flights of stairs from a common landing. This type of stair will not fit into a corner and can't be considered space-saving, but it will maintain visual symmetry if you are trying to divide a roort.

You may be able to give an existing staircase new life without replacing the entire thing. For a typical L-shaped staircase, replacing a metal balustrade system with hardwood handrails, balusters and posts would cost about $2,500, says Tom Myer, general manager of curved stairway manufacturer Staircase & Millwork Co., Atlanta, Ga.

His company sells oak, cheny, poplar and maple stair parts in a variety of styles including sleek contemporary, elaborately detailed traditional or simple colonial. Fluted, curved and twisted balusters in different designs can be mixed in the same staircase for a unique look. Stained treads and handrails paired with white painted risers, stringers and balusters are a popular choice. Hand-forged iron balusters can be combined with hardwood handrails for a Mediterranean feel.

For homes with enough room, a straight staircase could be replaced with a curved oak staircase for about $10,000, Myer says. If there's not enough room for a curved staircase, the last five steps of a straight staircase can be flared out to add visual interest, he says.

For especially tight spaces, the spiral staircase is worth considering. This type of stairway, with treads attached to a center pole, takes about a third less space than a straight staircase, estimates Marc Tirey, owner of custom wood staircase maker Cincinnati Stair, Loveland, Oh. He has installed hardwood spiral staircases in libraries, game rooms and basements. "It's a real conversation piece," Tirey says.

Staircase storage

Storage niches can be built into the actual structure of a staircase or spun off from landings and railings, notes architect Joanne Kellar Bouknight, author of Taunton's Home Storage ldea Book.

"Benches with hinged or sliding lids can be incorporated into the staircase, creating a perfect storage space for bulky items, such as blankets and pillows," Bouknight explains. "Smaller box units can organize and hide games and toys."

Recessed or projected shelves can be used for books, photos or collections. Small play areas or work spaces can be created in the niche underneath the stairs.

"It is important to remember, however, that the stair's primary function is as a pathway to and from other floors, so storage should not disrupt traffic," Bouknight says. "And potential fire hazards, like old newspapers, should not be stored in or around the staircase."

In a recent San Francisco remodeling project, architect English designed kitchen cabinets that form the first of three flights of maple stairs. Stainless steel tension cables rise 35 ft. to the ceiling at the top of the stairwell, where they are attached to a steel bar.

"stairs should be shaped to show off a person moving through space, either from below or above," English says. "In that way, stairs can be part of a choreography."