Penthouse with a Feature Stair

Bethesda, Maryland

This beautifully located penthouse came with gorgeous treetop scenery and an abundance of natural light — all of which was blocked from view by a dark wood and metal stair that overwhelmed the entry hallway. The homeowners wanted to open things up a bit with a more modern style interior, more light and better views of the skyline.

That meant that the enclosed wooden staircase had to go. We replaced it with a custom, floating glass stair with LED lights on each tread. We also eliminated the adjacent den, which allowed more room for a spacious kitchen, living and dining area.

To create an even cleaner look, we rearranged bulkheads and installed flush-mount linear diffusers for a sleeker, more modern appearance overhead. Highly finished millwork throughout the home helped further achieve the contemporary style the owners envisioned for their home.

Project Details

After removing the existing staircase, we constructed a Venetian plaster wall to anchor the new glass stair, which connected the main living area to an upper-level office and rooftop terrace. On the rooftop, our renovations included a weatherproof TV and outdoor fireplace making this true entertainment space.