Rising To The Occasion: 5 Homes With Exceptional Staircases

Whether eye-catchingly ornate or minimal and sculptural, a dramatic staircase is a glamorous centerpiece to any home, from a renovated Victorian in San Francisco to a one-of-a-kind penthouse in Manhattan.

Contemporary Meets Victorian

San Francisco, California | Neill Bassi & Jessica Wynne, Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage

Soaring ceilings and plentiful windows create a wonderful sense of airiness throughout this chicly updated 1889 Victorian, located on a prominent corner in Pacific Heights. Linking the main-level great room and the five bedrooms on the home’s upper levels is a sweeping modern staircase. Other highlights include a gym, a marble-lined 330-bottle wine wall, a family room with its own kitchen, an office with a private entrance and a kitchenette, a four-car garage, and a landscaped backyard with a built-in grill and a fire table.

Beverly Hills Beauty

Beverly Hills, California | Drew Mandile, Dean Mandile, & Brooke Knapp, Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage

This 6,254-square-foot Georgian-style residence features high ceilings, French doors, hardwood floors, four fireplaces, and stunning views of the ocean and skyline from its hilltop perch. A striking sculptural staircase anchors the home, connecting the sophisticated, light-filled living areas and an exceptionally outfitted kitchen with the generous owner’s retreat and four restful guest suites on the levels above. A refreshing swimming pool, sunny terraces, and an alfresco dining area are nestled amid verdant landscaping.

Penthouse at the Dakota

New York, New York | Lois Nasser, Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage

High atop the distinguished Dakota, this duplex penthouse is a masterpiece of unique architectural flair. Artisanal stained-glass doors in the entry vestibule hint at the distinctive style beyond, from the skylit octagonal cupola that houses the media room to the two primary bedrooms separated, one on each side of a brilliantly lit hall—with a floating glass staircase serving as a striking centerpiece. The enviable terrace offers enchanting views of the surrounding rooftops.

Greenwich Grandeur

Greenwich, Connecticut | Joseph Barbieri, Sotheby’s International Realty – Greenwich Brokerage

Tucked amid dense greenery in Greenwich, this stately residence brings rich detailing—including custom moldings and quartersawn oak floors—to an array of light-filled modern living spaces. From the regal foyer, a dramatic stairway leads to the upper level and the primary suite—one of seven bedrooms—which encompasses two walk-in closets and baths and a sitting room. The lower level features a family room with a fireplace, a gym, a full bath, and versatile space ideal for a theater or a wine cellar.

Old World Elegance in Houston

Houston, Texas | Ruthie Porterfield, Martha Tuner Sotheby’s International Realty 

This 7,021-square-foot Houston manor combines classical elegance with comfortable livability. The grandeur begins immediately, in a foyer boasting an ornate iron and wood door, vaulted ceilings, a dazzling chandelier, tumbled travertine flooring, and a graceful spiral stairway with a custom wrought-iron railing. An elevator also accesses the two main levels, which feature formal living and dining rooms, a kitchen with a breakfast area and family room, an office, four suites, a media room, and a study or library that could serve as an additional bedroom.

This article originally appeared at https://www.sothebysrealty.com/extraordinary-living-blog/rising-to-the-occasion-5-homes-with-exceptional-staircases