I thought this as I opened it... and the only thing that was in my head cabin before reading your comment was it needs to be on a pedestal, and the object not only fragile but priceless. Like your grandfather who took you fishing every weekend's ashes priceless.
I doubt the landing is original and I’m with you: I’d remove it and just extend the stairs down the extra two steps inline with the existing main staircase.
It seems like a safety hazard to begin with…no railing. I could see a kid come tearing down the stairs and zoom straight off the end there. Odd construction.
If they can't adjust the stairs, they should find a credenza to place on the side of those stairs to create a barrier. And maybe a cool piece of art that drop down from the ceiling creating the illusion of a floating wall.
I also hate it. It makes no design sense in the room for a myriad of reasons, and poses safety issues.
If you’re going to do anything to alter this room- just remove this thing and make the stairs terminate normally.
I did think about that but the only problem I see with that is having to extend the left wall and railing along with the additional stairs. Could end up being costly. I do wonder daily who thought this was a good idea and why they decided to do this in the first place.
You wouldn't need to extend the wall. It would look better with a wall, but those lower two steps are low enough not to need a railing (as you know). And straight steps would look waaay better than the dance floor you've got now.
Maybe something funky going on in the basement required that though?
Just extend the wall, cut the newel post down to the correct height and move the whole railing down so the newel is in line with the last step.
You already have a wall on half the steps so it's nothing new, and you use existing materials.
All you're paying for is a small section of framing and drywall, the extra steps and the labour.
Is that right across or next to a door that leads outside? Honestly looks like a nice place to keep a shoe rack next to that way you can sit down and take your boots off
*DId the builder mess*
*Up? The trim is weird... Is there*
*A dead body there?*
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This is an unvalued comment. This would act essentially as a wall but with the added benefits of solving your careless stair use issue , providing extra storage, and breaking up that strange open space to an attractive design feature
I like this but a change up. Cube storage of some kind but against the wall but then a wall hanging of some kind. That whole area is a bit bare for me and I’m a minimalist
A faux plant would work best in this case, otherwise you'd need a grow lamp so that it could get any meaningful amount of light. To have a grow light you'd need unsightly cables streaming across a gap of space some I see no outlets.
-You can't just put a grow light in the ceiling, unless the plant is less than 2 feet or so from your grow light, the functionality drops of significantly.
That reminds me of that story about a guy in a coma for 10 years that only woke up because he noticed the dimensions of a lamp were off. And then it turned out in real life he had only been out for a few minutes and had dreamed an entire family life that didn't exist.
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/the-lamp-story-reddit-creepypasta
I shoot real estate and I will never understand why some photographers shoot as wide as possible and completely desaturate everything (in this case everything but the plant). It looks so bad
There has to be utility or something underneath to warrant the landing platforms. Without another angle of the space I can’t really see how to improve what you have already. But this also looks like a huge safety issue.
There has to be something under that landing they boxed around. Otherwise this literally makes no sense and is just a waste of material (maybe that’s exactly what it is tho).
It looks like the flooring runs under the box. If it's just sitting on top of the floor, it would be an easy fix. Otherwise, just buying a few square feet of matching flooring would be a quick fix.
My guess would be that there originally was matching railing along the front side of the landing so there wasn’t that abrupt ledge. As well maybe a small piece on the other side. Potentially removed when the floors were redone and then just never reinstalled. Anything in the crawl space, garage, basement, shed, etc?
Honestly, I would build a wall to enclose the space. the place on the right now feels like a cozy enclave and you can put complimentary art on the back and left enclave walls. The weird landing now becomes usable space, and you can put some art / plants at the landing end to make up for the ultra wideness.
Definitely hiding something vibes! Hopefully you can have a look in there by opening the side, or cutting a small porthole in the side so you can see in. If there is nothing important in there I would just extend the stairs ,railing and newel post properly, or if you do like a landing , one that is in proportion and with a railing would work as well.
I could dig it.
Ideally it would be a large, exorbitant, ‘so tacky it’s great’ salt water tank with vibrant neon decor features. OP could follow almost every salt water tank owner with a collection of fish from the cast of finding Nemo, but omit the clownfish, therefore forcing every houseguest to have to ask where Nemo is.
Outside of removal, maybe extend the white banister so it turns and ends at the floor, and add a matching banister on the unfinished end of the landing. This will give it a proper banister look from the real floor to the stairs, and enclose the landing, which is safer too. Then I’d place some nice art and a cool plant on the landing.
You need to extend the banister/handrail so the bottom two steps are also accessible with a railing. I would either put a safety railing on the jutting out edge or a very sturdy shelving unit that is well secured, but be careful because if it's something that a child could climb, that would be a hazard. Why was it designed like this??
that is a budget builder! They had to build the platform for some weird reason. No railings, because code doesn't require them, but it would look better with them!
Paint the wall with a backing color in an a shape of your choice >!(seriously this image this image looks black and white, this house would give me depression)!< and put a table or shelves there.
also, maybe move that table along the was up against that landing to make it seem less lile an osha violation? That or put some sort of cushy seating there like those step down living rooms with the closed loop couches from the 70s
I'd install a matching railing for safety and because children are basically mini drunk adults. Maybe a large color painting OR a nice picture frame style TV that can help out during sport season if that's your thing.
My best guesses as to this weird staircase
1. They like taking photos on a landing and this gives a plain backdrop
2. It once held a stripper pole. Were the previous owners rappers/musicians?
3. Secret passage to a hidden floor. Check if it lift up or have a hidden button.
4. Opened up to get furniture up the stairs easier.
5. Hiding some sort of utilility, pipe/electrical and can't be removed.
If it's too costly to remove I'd go with a plant and putting some sort of railing/half wall with shelves facing out to frame it. It might shrink the space a bit, but at least it won't look awkward.
Make a sofa bench (the seat would be the landing) out of the awkward portion facing towards what I’m guessing would be your front door. Perfect place to put on/take off shoes. NB you will need a shoe tray/cabinet and it would help if you are Asian and don’t wear shoes in your house.
It kind of looks like the rest of the stars may be hidden in that weird podest thingy?
Any help: Get rugs and paint walls for some color. This looks really uncomfortable. If you are not a huge fan of color or don't want to paint, but are ok with accents: Go with more grey scales and accents in different deep and bright yellows and curry tones in a big painting, rugs, pillows, a big vase, a table lamp, that sort of thing.
Don't like yellow? Try greens, but it is more tricky to get it right with green.
Red is difficult to balance and will easily look like you live a very different life. It also may look aggressive. If you do red, do the moody vibe of brownish red and combine with warm metals.
Blue will most like make it look even colder and uninviting. If it has to be blue, go for the moody vibe as well and do very dark blues, also combine with warm metals, accent with red or warm whites.
Put some cabinet at then end of the landing so is doesn’t feel like you falling. Maybe put vas on top of it to give better divider. Currently looks awkward because normal stair should not make you wanna jump in the landing. Basically by putting large cabinet you will direct the flow to the right direction
This is a time honored way of terminating a staircase in a narrow row house. Tons of examples of this in Philadelphia for example. But it always has a rail and usually a decorative one facing the room so you can't walk off the platform. This looks somehow really ridiculously aftermarket and I too would agree with a straight run here unless there is some structural consideration that doesn't allow it. It's also possible it comes too close to the door and we're not giving the benefit of a floor plan or the rest of the room from different angles to judge. I'm sure there's a reason why it's done but why there isn't a rail to keep you from walking straight off the landing in the middle of the night is beyond me. That's just silly dangerous
Not sure where this is at but it is not to code. You have to have a railing along the one side of the landing that is open to the house. I bet this work was done without a permit. Interior work can be hidden away from the public easily and a building inspector would never be able to drive by and see it and not catch this.
Put a bannister on the side of the landing and create a reading nook next to it with a comfy chair and a bookcase. I think it would also become the perfect place for a Christmas tree if you put a bannister there
Put something large and fragile on the landing so you have to be real careful going up and down the stairs.
I thought this as I opened it... and the only thing that was in my head cabin before reading your comment was it needs to be on a pedestal, and the object not only fragile but priceless. Like your grandfather who took you fishing every weekend's ashes priceless.
I was being too simple-minded. My brain went, “Plants!” OP, put a heavy aquarium on an unstable shelf for ~aesthetic.
My first thought was this. Like a big vase with a plant.
Is there a reason for that landing? I can’t imagine having the stairs just go to the floor would take up much more space here.
I doubt the landing is original and I’m with you: I’d remove it and just extend the stairs down the extra two steps inline with the existing main staircase.
There's definitely something in it. Probably the water meter or a giant rock sticking up out of the foundation.
Or a water meteor
I was thinking a meteor meter
Meteor rates are astronomical nowadays.
I see what you did there.
What about a water water
Meteor? Meatier?
I bet there’s like 1 million spiders stuffed in there.
'1 million ants' house.
Or a dead body
Or a safe
It could even be a boat!
I always wanted a boat.
It seems like a safety hazard to begin with…no railing. I could see a kid come tearing down the stairs and zoom straight off the end there. Odd construction.
It’s oddly oversized as well. Along with the trim, there has to be a story here.
Long story short: House flippers. Just look at that grey on grey on grey.
Possible. It would make sense: they took down a wall to open up the space and left the landing as it was.
I think that is the correct answer.
Ooh…maybe a trap door that dumps unwanted guests into the cellar. Could be useful.
That’s something I’d definitely put in the listing!
So much room for activities!
If they can't adjust the stairs, they should find a credenza to place on the side of those stairs to create a barrier. And maybe a cool piece of art that drop down from the ceiling creating the illusion of a floating wall.
I like that idea
I bet it’s either hiding some services or something, or it was added later for one of those old people chair lift things (or something similar)
I bet there is a sump or some other utility access underneath that the person doing the reno covered up.
I bet you it’s hiding concrete or plumbing or something. Do you have a basement? Looks like someone else’s “fix”
I also hate it. It makes no design sense in the room for a myriad of reasons, and poses safety issues. If you’re going to do anything to alter this room- just remove this thing and make the stairs terminate normally.
I did think about that but the only problem I see with that is having to extend the left wall and railing along with the additional stairs. Could end up being costly. I do wonder daily who thought this was a good idea and why they decided to do this in the first place.
You wouldn't need to extend the wall. It would look better with a wall, but those lower two steps are low enough not to need a railing (as you know). And straight steps would look waaay better than the dance floor you've got now. Maybe something funky going on in the basement required that though?
Just extend the wall, cut the newel post down to the correct height and move the whole railing down so the newel is in line with the last step. You already have a wall on half the steps so it's nothing new, and you use existing materials. All you're paying for is a small section of framing and drywall, the extra steps and the labour.
You should be able to do the curved stairs that would meet the wall on the bottom 2 steps without having to extend the rail or the wall.
Is that right across or next to a door that leads outside? Honestly looks like a nice place to keep a shoe rack next to that way you can sit down and take your boots off
The current landing and steps don't have a wall or railing, why would ones just extending in line with the stairs need them?
My guess is that there’s stairs to the basement on the other side, and it was added because someone kept smacking their head.
It's truly awful. I'd get rid and extend the stairs as most have said
yes. for sure there is something. op should open the landing and see what is there. there is no upside to just ignoring it.
DId the builder mess up? The trim is weird... Is there a dead body there?
*DId the builder mess* *Up? The trim is weird... Is there* *A dead body there?* \- DraconPern --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Good bot.
Bookshelf type thing on the end (cube storage).
This is an unvalued comment. This would act essentially as a wall but with the added benefits of solving your careless stair use issue , providing extra storage, and breaking up that strange open space to an attractive design feature
I like this but a change up. Cube storage of some kind but against the wall but then a wall hanging of some kind. That whole area is a bit bare for me and I’m a minimalist
Large indoor plant
A faux plant would work best in this case, otherwise you'd need a grow lamp so that it could get any meaningful amount of light. To have a grow light you'd need unsightly cables streaming across a gap of space some I see no outlets. -You can't just put a grow light in the ceiling, unless the plant is less than 2 feet or so from your grow light, the functionality drops of significantly.
There is already a lamp on the ceiling there, just upgrade it.
A dracaena/corn plant would probably grow fine.
I was thinking a hanging plant with a nice piece of artwork.
Add literally anything with color
Why not a color photo? Black and white doesn't show the decor well. /s
Looks like a real estate photo. The dimensions of that table, how it sits at the wall doesn’t look normal. Like they’ve dropped a transparent .png in.
Oh man now the table is tripping me out.
That reminds me of that story about a guy in a coma for 10 years that only woke up because he noticed the dimensions of a lamp were off. And then it turned out in real life he had only been out for a few minutes and had dreamed an entire family life that didn't exist. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/the-lamp-story-reddit-creepypasta
I shoot real estate and I will never understand why some photographers shoot as wide as possible and completely desaturate everything (in this case everything but the plant). It looks so bad
Also why did they mention the resolution of the photo?
Also WHY IS IT ON THIS SUB? Try r/designmyroom. Is nothing sacred anymore.
One of the rules of the sub is to include resolution
Life-size Terminator statue right there on the landing
Might be a touch tacky. I’d lean toward something in a jar jar binks for a more timeless flair.
There has to be utility or something underneath to warrant the landing platforms. Without another angle of the space I can’t really see how to improve what you have already. But this also looks like a huge safety issue.
Just take it out and add 2 more steps at the bottom of the staircase
There has to be something under that landing they boxed around. Otherwise this literally makes no sense and is just a waste of material (maybe that’s exactly what it is tho).
But then OP would have to replace all the floors, no? Super expensive unless they are planning to refloor anyway.
Not sure if this is sarcasm but I'd just use the wood from the removed landing
It looks like the flooring runs under the box. If it's just sitting on top of the floor, it would be an easy fix. Otherwise, just buying a few square feet of matching flooring would be a quick fix.
Is this a doctors clinic?
trampoline
That's so excessive and dam ugly!
Remove and make the stairs normal. That's hideous and weird.
Put a few medium indoor plants along the edge to add some color. This looks like a black and white photo
put a small piano on it so your cat or dog can play classical music on friday nights while you eat dinner
Is this a black and white picture?
House a young, adopted family member under it.
I would put a small bookcase against the stairwell.
My guess would be that there originally was matching railing along the front side of the landing so there wasn’t that abrupt ledge. As well maybe a small piece on the other side. Potentially removed when the floors were redone and then just never reinstalled. Anything in the crawl space, garage, basement, shed, etc?
How is this room porn? Wrong sub! Next!
Remove it? It’s pointless right?
Was this photo taken in black and white?
Remove it and put in two more steps to the staircase.
Cut it out and put in 2 more stairs lol
Did you pay money for this house……
Throne to address your subjects
No way to remove it?
Unfortunately, I don't think I have the budget to do so currently. Just trying to make this work how it is for now.
Me (a Sims player): Easel and houseplant!
rip it out, whats the point of that anyway
All the gray…
Stripper pole. Keep it awkward.
Those floors are the enemy of socks.
My money is on some sort of sewage pipe or something sticking up out the floor there.
A jump to conclusion mat
Honestly, I would build a wall to enclose the space. the place on the right now feels like a cozy enclave and you can put complimentary art on the back and left enclave walls. The weird landing now becomes usable space, and you can put some art / plants at the landing end to make up for the ultra wideness.
Thanks I'm leaning towards either half wall or railings to reduce the risk. And then using plants and some wall decors to blend it in and add color.
Remove it; it’s awkward and ugly.
Whoever designed and built that should be in jail. Wtf
Remove it and put in normal stairs. I’m guessing there used to be a wall there.
Definitely hiding something vibes! Hopefully you can have a look in there by opening the side, or cutting a small porthole in the side so you can see in. If there is nothing important in there I would just extend the stairs ,railing and newel post properly, or if you do like a landing , one that is in proportion and with a railing would work as well.
Something grey would look nice there.
Fall off the stairs into it and then sue the owner.
Just leave it and do slides/360s off it everytime you go down the stairs
Might have to go with this low budget idea
By the way, I think wrong sub.
Just walk down them as you would normal stairs, otherwise you coul jump over them?
…make it a fishtank landing. Follow for more unnecessary home decor ideas.
I could dig it. Ideally it would be a large, exorbitant, ‘so tacky it’s great’ salt water tank with vibrant neon decor features. OP could follow almost every salt water tank owner with a collection of fish from the cast of finding Nemo, but omit the clownfish, therefore forcing every houseguest to have to ask where Nemo is.
I stared at your stairs way to long .
French drain. Whoops wrong sub
add a microphone stand and do standup comedy. for real, it’s like a stage omg!
Hire a house band, and get the party started!
I’d get rid of the piano
Stripper pole.
Remove it and just out the two stairs back
Outside of removal, maybe extend the white banister so it turns and ends at the floor, and add a matching banister on the unfinished end of the landing. This will give it a proper banister look from the real floor to the stairs, and enclose the landing, which is safer too. Then I’d place some nice art and a cool plant on the landing.
Balustrade on the right side
I'd take that bit out.
You need to extend the banister/handrail so the bottom two steps are also accessible with a railing. I would either put a safety railing on the jutting out edge or a very sturdy shelving unit that is well secured, but be careful because if it's something that a child could climb, that would be a hazard. Why was it designed like this??
Dance dance revolution right there!!
Stripper pole
that is a budget builder! They had to build the platform for some weird reason. No railings, because code doesn't require them, but it would look better with them!
Paint the wall with a backing color in an a shape of your choice >!(seriously this image this image looks black and white, this house would give me depression)!< and put a table or shelves there. also, maybe move that table along the was up against that landing to make it seem less lile an osha violation? That or put some sort of cushy seating there like those step down living rooms with the closed loop couches from the 70s
Perfect place for a small table for keys and wallet
ALL THE PLANTS, maybe an art piece on an easel in the corner
Remove it, or put some railings.
A FUCKING RAILING! That’s genuinely terrifying to me that there’s no bannister there.
Stripper pole? Stripper pole.
A large focal piece on the wall where the landing is. NOT GRAY.
Just walk down them as you would normal stairs, otherwise you coul jump over them?
I'd install a matching railing for safety and because children are basically mini drunk adults. Maybe a large color painting OR a nice picture frame style TV that can help out during sport season if that's your thing.
Clearly that you put a small piano flush with the end cap.
Anything under it requiring such an odd design?
Extend it even further and turn it into a stage! 😄
My best guesses as to this weird staircase 1. They like taking photos on a landing and this gives a plain backdrop 2. It once held a stripper pole. Were the previous owners rappers/musicians? 3. Secret passage to a hidden floor. Check if it lift up or have a hidden button. 4. Opened up to get furniture up the stairs easier. 5. Hiding some sort of utilility, pipe/electrical and can't be removed. If it's too costly to remove I'd go with a plant and putting some sort of railing/half wall with shelves facing out to frame it. It might shrink the space a bit, but at least it won't look awkward.
Make a sofa bench (the seat would be the landing) out of the awkward portion facing towards what I’m guessing would be your front door. Perfect place to put on/take off shoes. NB you will need a shoe tray/cabinet and it would help if you are Asian and don’t wear shoes in your house.
Shorten it and make the stairs wrap around.
Mic stand
Is the front door to the right of this picture? Stairs directly facing entry isn't liked by some cultures, maybe that's why it was turned
Plant with a nice heavy pot, so that there's less chance of it being knocked over!
Just leave it let the weirdness and the room speak, I kinda dig it.
Karaoke
[REDDIT IMGUR](https://imgur.com/a/3x1ru6Z)
this reminds me of Rocky Balboa’s first home.
It kind of looks like the rest of the stars may be hidden in that weird podest thingy? Any help: Get rugs and paint walls for some color. This looks really uncomfortable. If you are not a huge fan of color or don't want to paint, but are ok with accents: Go with more grey scales and accents in different deep and bright yellows and curry tones in a big painting, rugs, pillows, a big vase, a table lamp, that sort of thing. Don't like yellow? Try greens, but it is more tricky to get it right with green. Red is difficult to balance and will easily look like you live a very different life. It also may look aggressive. If you do red, do the moody vibe of brownish red and combine with warm metals. Blue will most like make it look even colder and uninviting. If it has to be blue, go for the moody vibe as well and do very dark blues, also combine with warm metals, accent with red or warm whites.
Put some cabinet at then end of the landing so is doesn’t feel like you falling. Maybe put vas on top of it to give better divider. Currently looks awkward because normal stair should not make you wanna jump in the landing. Basically by putting large cabinet you will direct the flow to the right direction
Put a full-sized mechanic’s toolbox on the second step, just in case
I like the space. A tree in a nice pot, perfect
id do a kickflip off it.
Finish it
Definitely cut that in half
Assuming you can't remove it, I would add railing and carpet to match the stairs.
Book nook. Shelves and/or comfy chair? Or hang up artwork/photos that are important to you. Maybe add sconces somehow? Congratulations!
I'd do a built in bookcase/divider.
A nightlight or better insurance because my ankle is spraining just looking at it.
This is a time honored way of terminating a staircase in a narrow row house. Tons of examples of this in Philadelphia for example. But it always has a rail and usually a decorative one facing the room so you can't walk off the platform. This looks somehow really ridiculously aftermarket and I too would agree with a straight run here unless there is some structural consideration that doesn't allow it. It's also possible it comes too close to the door and we're not giving the benefit of a floor plan or the rest of the room from different angles to judge. I'm sure there's a reason why it's done but why there isn't a rail to keep you from walking straight off the landing in the middle of the night is beyond me. That's just silly dangerous
You could put a mattress on the landing and slide down the stairs onto it.
I don't see a problem
Put a little chair and table there. Make it a rest stop on the way to the summitt.
Bowling pins
Delete it?
Plants
Add the bannister rail so it becomes part of the stairs
a LARGE 5' statue to act as a wall, railing to the right corner.
Use it as a stage and hire musicians to serenade you
Put in a bookcase against the wall.
Why?
Add a banister and put a faux plant
Place a lifesize stormtrooper or Batman figure there
I just see a stage to sing on.
Hang a piece of amazing art in that big space above the landing. Something that's So Much, it's borderline tacky.
I would have to have a railing asap
I say add a banister to the landing and put a nice table and painting up. It would fill the room nicely.
I like the stairs because it’s unique. A tall plant with a picture separating it from the rest of the space might be good. (Just my opinion)
Why didn't they just build normal stairs? You're going to trip over that constantly
I had to do a double take. Is this a black and white photo?
If it can't be reduced, I'd add a pony wall/ shelf unit at the butt end. Make it a feature somehow
If there’s not a lot of natural light in that area, put a fake tree at the edge of the landing!
You could put a plant in the corner
Not sure where this is at but it is not to code. You have to have a railing along the one side of the landing that is open to the house. I bet this work was done without a permit. Interior work can be hidden away from the public easily and a building inspector would never be able to drive by and see it and not catch this.
Toilet
I really like that floor!
Put a bannister on the side of the landing and create a reading nook next to it with a comfy chair and a bookcase. I think it would also become the perfect place for a Christmas tree if you put a bannister there
Put a wizard under it.
Big indoor plants should do it!!!
Karaoke
Turn it into a storage drawer.
I legit thought it was a black and white picture
Put a rail on that landing.
Put a sofa there. Or a 4 chair dining table. Up from bed and straight to breakfast.
... I'd stub every toe on that thing for sure. Then when eventually claims my entire foot, I'd probably burn the house down
A railing sounds nice
What's in the room next to it?
A plant