I admit. This glass staircase was designed and built for a celebrity client. I had a month to conceptualize/manufacture/install while they were on tour. But the one detail that I am really proud of was an IKEA hack.
The manager-husband wanted glass, zebrawood veneer handrails, and illuminated treads. I used miniature ceramic plant pots as LED bulb housing. A sheet metal shop fabricated special weldable pods for each one. We were able to conceal the wiring inside of the steel tube stringer. It worked.
Even more sensual than by day, the staircase comes alive with the help of subtle illumination. Hidden light sources make shapely treads glow. Lit inconspicuously, the expressive globs of glass shine.
The composition exudes a remarkable degree of ease. The whole is more than the sum of its parts. No matter where you are in the room, you feel its presence. It’s startling.
