A Dancer's Stair in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut

This 1920's farmer's cottage was one of our earliest projects as a firm. In the early 1980s, a young family of four approached us to turn the space into a home away from home. As they grew with sons-in-law and grandchildren, they returned to us to upgrade the home. Our design goals included altering the layout for more overnight guests and increasing space to accommodate the growing family. To help define spaces, we designed the Dancer's Stair – a shining feature of the open concept main living space.

Much of the work consisted of reconfiguring the space within the existing volume for better circulation and more useful spaces. Updating the kitchen and systems allowed for better proportions and relationships in the main living areas. We also included a small addition to act as an entryway for the three families who share the home.

When designing the staircase leading from the entryway to the living room, our client's career as a professor of choreography inspired us. The stair spindles are set in a pattern and rhythm perceived differently from every vantage point. This conceptually mirrors the way a dancer creates patterns unique to each viewer's perspective. The spindles "dance" on the reclaimed maple stair treads sourced from a tree that was removed from the property years prior – truly a Dancer's Stair.