Cast Iron Staircase Railings: Sophistication and Style

Stairs themselves are already a decoration for the house, and well-made railings capture the eye, adding dignity to the overall home setup in both a literal and figurative sense. Today, flipping through interior design projects of houses with staircases, one can note that all of them inspire homeowners and decorators to decorate and come up with ideas for their homes in their own way.

A staircase with cast elements performs several functions: it ensures safety and adds an aesthetic element. Cast elements of a staircase can be made in any style, so they easily blend into the interior. Let's take a closer look at staircase structures with castings.

Practicality and beauty of cast railings

When imagining a house staircase in your mind, it's important not to forget about safety measures. Especially if elderly people or small children live in the house. It is precisely railings that fulfill a protective function in this respect. In this case, cast components of the entire structure protect from falls and accidents. The artistic component is also important, so a balance must be found where both aspects are equal.

Professionals claim that cast railings are a work made for centuries. There is no doubt about their strength. Even if it might initially seem that metal has little to do with home comfort and coziness, as it feels cold to the touch, it's easy to discover that this stereotype has long undergone changes.

It literally emanates reliability, safety, and durability from the metal. Well-executed items sometimes resemble works of art. The flexibility of metal allows for manufacturing many items to suit every taste. Any pattern can be realized on the railings, which homeowners desire. Photos of cast railings are below.

Design: Svetlana Ilyina

Stylistic Features of Cast Railings

As noted above, railings made in cast processing can have any stylistic direction. Harmony and balance of the overall atmosphere of the home interior are important. Let's review all directions:

1. Classic railings with cast elements represent delicate, symmetrical patterns in the basis of the concept. Decoratively, they feature drawings and silhouettes of laurel leaves, grapes, columns, and sculptures. The principle of symmetry dominates;
2. The Rococo direction is represented in the elegance of the casting pattern and asymmetry relative to the axis of the entire structure. Straight, clear lines and symmetry are not for this direction. All lines have curves that are not visible to the naked eye. The entire composition resembles lace filled with fantasy sketches;
3. Railings in the Baroque style are quite difficult to implement in modern interiors. The difficulty lies in the fact that for this style, a grand scale is required, and even the slightest deviation from the rules of decoration threatens to turn into tasteless chaos. Complex patterns alternate with vegetation. From one curl, two - an acanthus leaf, which accompanies the bars. The bars do not intersect but only slightly touch each other;
4. Railings in the Modern style with cast elements represent simplicity and classical strictness of forms. Staircase railings of this style are designed with strict arrangement of elements, and the symmetry of each is calculated precisely. Flat and volumetric elements can be used;
5. Ampir railings are whole, monumental structures. Despite the presence of ancient Greek and Roman motifs in the composition pattern, decorators adhere to simplicity of lines and forms;
6. The Art Deco style, which came into being at the beginning of the last century, is embodied in symmetrical zigzag lines that interweave with ethnic motifs. This combination represents luxury and restraint. The lines are wide, characterizing permanent movement;
7. Gothic railings are always a desire to reach up. They can be easily distinguished by a clear pattern, the basis of which consists of circles. Lilies and grapes are the most frequently encountered elements;
8. High-Tech railings represent an unconventional combination of metal and glass. No complex elements or patterns.

Photos below show various styles of railings.

Design: Zhenya Zhdanova

Installation Locations

Decorators and professionals dealing with renovation work note that due to durability and ease of maintenance, staircases with castwork can be installed on almost any surface. The pattern of the railings is always unique, so it adds its own flair to the interior. Staircases look great both inside and outside. Designers highlight several places where staircases with cast elements look especially well:

1. In a country estate. A large living room, from which a Y-shaped staircase leads to the second floor. Nicely decorated, the staircase, decorated with cast patterns mixed with solid balusters, creates pompousness in a richly appointed setting;
2. A two-level urban apartment, where spiral staircases are often installed. It can be decorated entirely or partially with metal, adding organicity to the entire living space;
3. A cafe or pub, where a staircase decorated with castwork can permanently attract regular guests with its uniqueness and simplicity.

Photos of railings are shown below.

Marble staircase with cast decoration

Marble staircases themselves are already a decoration for any interior. They should be installed in spacious rooms, as this type of material requires grandeur. Cast elements can perfectly complement such a staircase. This is considered a good choice by designers.

Wooden staircase with cast elements

Wood is a material that combines with everything. A wooden staircase structure is always appropriate in any house. Wood and metal components look harmoniously, not violating the rules of the design project concept. Examples are shown below.

Design: Irina Travkina, Natalia Tarasевич

Installation of Cast Railings

Installing cast railings is a labor-intensive process. Professional craftsmen recommend doing it before the final finishing work begins. The main task of installation is ensuring safe operation in the future. Therefore, one should pay maximum attention to the process itself. Designers highlight the following method of railing installation: metal sheets are laid under the floor covering.

To them, a metal pin is welded strictly perpendicular. The pin is passed through the hole in the staircase covering. It will be used to weld the railing post. This careful method eliminates the need for anchor bolts and support platforms at the bottom of the vertical post. Some types of staircases exclude mounting railings directly on the structure. The described method suits perfectly.

Modern versions of cast railings make the choice of staircase structures for a house easy and accessible. There are many options, for every taste, budget, and interior style.

Design projects of houses and staircases with cast elements.

The cover design project by Elena Solovyova.