Led by a locally-raised innovator, stairs and railings receive a luxurious makeover at this prestigious firm.
The fact is, most people take staircases, steps, rails and bannisters for granted. We go up and we go down, without taking much notice – usually as a last resort when the escalator is broken. Luckily for us, Seattle’s own Shawn Christman has a different eye for this sort of thing. Christman founded Seattle Stair & Design in 1978; since then, the company has designed some of the most elegant stairways in the city and abroad.
Take our word for it – there’s no missing these beauties. Much of the credit for these breathtaking marvels of interior design goes to SS&D’s craftsmen, which include students from the legendary Compagnon woodworker’s guild of Europe. In 2004, Christman became the first North American stair maker approved by this elite group to train their apprentices and masters.
Since the company was founded, SS&D has designed stairways for a number of notable local clients, such as the Bellevue Hyatt and Barney’s New York (located at 6th & Pine). Additionally, the renderings of Christman and his team have appeared in Hawaiian beachfront homes, luxurious Rocky Mountain resorts and penthouses in downtown Tokyo, as well.
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of SS&D’s operation is their commitment to eco-friendliness. Whether a client desires stairs made from tropical imported wood or a species indigenous to the Northwest, the utmost care is taken to ensure the trees are planted, grown and replaced responsibly, in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council. Often, just a single tree is used to construct these elaborate stairways; if there is scrap material left over, it is donated to local woodworkers and artisans.
For more information about Seattle Stair & Design, the company’s history and an extensive photo gallery, please visit their official website.
Seattle Stair & Design | 3810 4th Ave. South , Seattle | (206) 587-5354
Wonderful story and so interesting!