Stairs, like hallways, are pass-throughs, a means of getting from one space to another -- more specifically, from one level to another. Not that they can't be handsome -- even drop-dead -- architecturally. Think about those magazine beauty shots that show elegant circular stairs shot from the top looking down or from the ground looking up, often to fanciful skylights or chandeliers.

But most stairs are, well, pretty generic: wood in natural stains or painted, dressed perhaps by fancier rails, newel posts or spindles.

For those who dare, however, stairs are superb candidates for decorating. The kind of decorating that pops. Engages. Makes all the design difference in a space.

"One thing we like to do as designers is to take spaces that are overlooked and make them marvelous," says Jason Oliver Nixon, partner with John Loecke in the firm Madcap Cottage. "Why should a stairway just be a means to an end? Why not make it a journey?"

Nixon and Loecke have painted, stenciled and installed runners that convert stairs from "mundane to wow."

"Some clever design tricks actually make some houses appear to be much larger," says Nixon. "When a stairway becomes a room, there's a sense of progression and the pace of a home changes."

There are plenty of ways to step up the look of stairs. One of the easiest is with runners, often a dress-up, finishing touch, not to mention a way to acoustically soften and cozy the surface underfoot. The safest route is with traditional applications -- Oriental, small-scale floral or quiet geometric styles, more often than not in subdued hues. Or solid neutrals with borders, either tone-on-tone or contrasting.

When Wilmington, Del.-based designer Renee deVignier Biery took on a spacious foyer she opted for a cohesive strategy -- one that involved custom designs for a pair of area rugs anchored by bold medallions with fretwork borders and a running mate on the stairs echoing those bands. A happy shade of high-gloss coral walls is set off with white moldings and vibrant cobalt blue accent in a collection of vintage Chinese-export porcelain displayed in a built-in cupboard. So for the wool-tipped sheared carpets, all the key hues are brought into play. The fretwork was sparked by the Chinese Chippendale design, often used in needlepoint.

But consider for your stairs a stroke of edginess. A kicky stripe. A flamboyant megawatt floral. Dazzling color! Instantly, the plain staircase morphs into a spectacular focal point.

More of the less-buttoned-up looks tend to be less formal. A blue-and-white awning stripe, for example, has a beachy, cottagey vibe. A loomed flat-cotton weave, such as one available from the Dash & Albert rug company, lends a casual, sporty look. On the other hand, a microhooked wool runner splashed with larger-than-life blooms brings in the garden, in a totally unpredictable way.

Painting a staircase can dramatically alter its personality. When wood isn't necessarily distinguishing enough in grain or color to spotlight, designers often opt for painting stairs out in black, matte or lacquer finish. It's a simple, elegant look, often contrasted with white risers and spindles. Off-white or a color brightens a space, especially with a robust divergence in wall color.

Try an ombre effect -- yes, like the hair-color trend that gradates from dark roots to lighter ends, using the several shades of the same color on a paint chip. Or you can create the effect of a runner with paint, even with a bit of pattern, such as a stripe. Paint companies such as Pratt & Lambert and Benjamin Moore, among others, like to show the kinds of options possible and offer pointers on finishes designed for durability.

These days, some homeowners are getting a bigger rise out of the risers themselves. This is not unusual in the Southwest or in countries such as Mexico, Morocco, Greece and Turkey, where decorative tiles often are installed on the non-tread parts of stairs. No matter what the background -- terra cotta or white stucco -- ebullient patterns, usually strong geometrics or stylized florals, positively pop and add to the architecture even in the plainest of applications.

Tile in sizes close to the height of the risers effectively frames its entire pattern. But smaller scale, even mosaics can work. We've seen mosaics in iridescent hues, such as watery blue greens, that add unexpected luster. Mirrored mosaics lend a glam vibe, in the same way silver and gold leaf do on ceilings.

Patterns on risers are especially dramatic when the backdrop is simple, clean and modern. One of the most striking catalog covers in recent years is from Serena & Lily, a home decor site with a retail store in the Hamptons. The company is known especially for its fabrics and bedding. In an all-white setting -- stairs, railings, wainscoting and walls -- designers cut from lengths of eight different graphically patterned fabrics in a palette of deep blue and white, one with vivid accents of coral, and adhered them to risers. Effect: totally original and artistic.

So the DIY quotient, not surprisingly, has ramped up and an amazing range of creativity, often with results posted on Pinterest or websites like Houzz (www.houzz.com) or Apartment Therapy (www.apartmenttherapy.com). One posting of a creative spruce-up featured four different modern patterned wallcoverings left over from projects. The homeowner, Vancouver designer Jennifer Scott, took it a step further: She added vintage address numbers as a whimsical way for her daughter to interact with the space while learning to count. One tip: Scott used double-stick tape instead of glue.

Or check out removable wallcoverings, which some call "slipcovers for walls." Libby Langdon's Chic Chevron pattern for Casart Coverings (www.casartcoverings.com) is an attention grabber. It comes in sailor blue, totally teal, orange fire and silver gray. Brewster's WallPops (www.wallpops.com), especially the "happy chic, groovy graphic " designs from Jonathan Adler, also would rock the risers.

Clever installs include using leftover patterned linoleum, chalkboard paint, house numbers, decals, text (from inspirational quotes to Bible passages to just funny stuff), and even metal grates. Years ago, some magazines featured the use of anaglypta as a riser cover. The embossed patterns, which come in a range of motifs, mimic tin ceiling tiles often employed at the dawn of the 20th century. Come to think of it, you could actually cut vintage tins to fit.

Nailheads could be another cool, fashion-inspired idea, one replicating the studs so prevalent on handbags, shoes and leather jackets. Several years back, one imaginative woman took a bottle cap collection in a rainbow of colors and painstakingly applied them in perfect rows to risers, a look that well suited her eclectic Arts and Crafts-style Chicago home.

One craft gaining a lot of attention is stenciling, mostly because companies such as Royal Design Studio are providing stunning patterns, and dishing plenty of how-to advice. Whether it's simply black on white or complex combinations of colors that really resemble those multicolored ethnic ceramic or concrete tiles, the possibilities are pretty much limitless when you factor in your fave color schemes.

Pretty much the sky's the limit, from smart tailored motifs to bling-y to pop and from op-art graphics to rustic, country or elegant traditional. Heck, you could even go a little romantic with an old-fashioned hydrangea floral or even a toile.

Put on a happy stair face. As long as the colors and patterns complement spaces in the same ZIP code, it should be a stairway to style.

Sources

-- Benjamin Moore, 855-724-6802, www.benjaminmoore.com

-- Dash & Albert Rug Co., 800-658-5035, www.dashandalbert.com

-- deVignier Design, 302-652-3490, www.devignierdesign.com

-- Farrow & Ball, 888-511-1121, us.farrow-ball.com

-- Madcap Cottage, 917-513-9143, www.madcapcottage.com

-- Royal Design Studio Stencils, 800-747-9767, www.royaldesignstudio.com

-- Vives Ceramica: for the very latest information, visit Tile of Spain USA, 305-446-4387, www.tileofspainusa.com

CAPTIONS AND CREDIT

(NOTE: These photos are for ONE-TIME use ONLY. At Home photos, with the proper credits, are to be run ONLY with At Home stories. Conversion to black and white is OK.)

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Light sconces, sadly, are not on most folks' interiors radar, unless it's in the context of a bathroom. But illuminating a vanity is not the only task for a pair of wall-mounted fixtures.

Like anything that embellishes a wall, light sconces these days offer plenty of decorative options. With a little flourish, swagger, bling and sophistication, they are far more versatile than in the past and offer far more than task, accent or mood lighting. Styling has ramped up to a new level, with an ample range of bright ideas in traditional to contemporary designs as well as surprising materials, shapes, colors, textures and sizes.

"In the old days, (residential) lighting was limited to crystal and some sort of brass," says Nigel Maynard, editor of Residential Building Products and Technology, a digital trade publication. Particularly in contemporary lighting, he says, "European designers have raised the bar. And Americans are stepping up their game."

High-end interior designers and architects long have looked to Italian companies such as Artemide, Fontana Arte, Foscarini and Leucos for edgier, off-the-chain styling in metals and glass, including clear, frosted and even glorious color. And those seeking authentic mid-century modern, Art Deco or '60s and '70s pieces might start with the impressive global online retail site 1stdibs (www.1stdibs.com) for excellent examples. And for a good representation of au currant styles, check out Horchow (www.horchow.com), where sconces range from $195 to $895.

"Sconces definitely are having a moment," says architect Andreea Avram Rusu, who also designs lighting. "It has been building for a while. It is winning public consciousness. For so long, lighting was uninteresting." To compound the blandness, there was repetition. "Everyone was using the same thing," she says.

But Avram Rusu sees different levels of beauty in lighting. "It's the most important thing in the room in general, for how people look, how people feel. Light transforms space."

Sconces really can add ambiance and an artistic note -- without taking up precious real estate. Tel Aviv-based designer Ayala Serfaty, is known for the sensual shapes of her light sculptures for Aqua Creations, some of which evoke couture fashion touches such as pleated and shirred silk. In addition to such textural pieces, other sconces add movement, like those that mimic the form of cascading chandeliers.

And there are hybrids -- fixtures that can attach to the wall or ceiling, to float. They're plug-ins, so they go anywhere. There are candlestick designs that are elongated, exaggerated more like torchieres. There are sconces that look more like table lamps with giant shades, some of which are on articulating arms. And there's new respect for the backplate, often merely there to cover the junction box, now designed as an integral part of the piece.

Some backplates are more fanciful, shaped like stars (especially eye-catching when they're composed of beveled mirrors) or a series of clear circles to create their own artistic universe. A fan of faux coral creates a background nest for lights.

A light sconce called Nelson from Hudson Valley Lighting has traditional references, including the suggestion of candlestick lights and textured crystal bobeches (flat "collars" designed originally to catch candle wax drippings). The brushed gold finished piece has an arched arm that extends between the pair of lamps, and it's fastened to a matching backplate that rests on a beveled mirror keystone for striking effect.

Even the meticulous teaming of disparate materials adds more depth and interest to sconces. West Coast designer Marjorie Skouras, who has been inspired by the sea for many of her furnishings, married natural orange-patterned shells with eglomise (reverse-painted) glass medallions in a striking double-tiered wall sconce.

Some finishes dial down the shiny, favoring matte looks (although gleaming polished nickel remains a favorite in modern interiors because of the tasteful sparkle and elegance it imparts). Burnished gold is hot, in keeping with home design trends where metals are warming up. Patinated or bronzey finishes lend a vintage or industrial vibe, especially impactful with see-through shades to bare bulbs. Complex finishes include painting, distressing and glazing.

Materials also include wood veneers and embellishments such as capiz shells and beads as well as the more familiar crystals. It's an imaginative mix that sets apart some designs.

"We mix modern with rustic, elegant with casual, romantic with relaxed," says Carla Regina Zajac, partner in Regina Andrews. "It's an eclectic vision that resonates with natural style -- a new look at how we live today."

As in other areas of home design, fashion references also are shedding new light on design. Global Lighting, a New York-based company, produced a catalog that merges design, fashion and magazine look-book, including eye-catching shots of models in layouts where the lighting relates to the outfits -- and holds equal weight.

As a producer in the decorative lighting business, Global Lighting's CEO and founder, Larry Lazin, calls his products "fashion for light bulbs," and says that in the lighting arena, designers should hold themselves to the same standards as fashion designers producing "couture level" fixtures.

With a new crop of fashion forward and artistic light sconces, perhaps more thought will be given to where they might dress a room. A single sconce or a pair adding sparkle to the front door. In the foyer, above a table. At the bottom and top of a staircase. In the living room, flanking a mantel. In the dining room, at the sides of a sideboard. In the library, framing a sofa and a wall of art. In the kitchen, on cabinets at either side of a window. And let's not forget theater lights, which might even channel the Art Deco styling that graced 1930s movie houses.

But these are, after all, conventional applications. Edgier sconces, such as those designed by Canadian architect and industrial designer Omer Arbel, demand unorthodox treatments.

Arbel, who creates evocative pieces for the Vancouver-based lighting company Bocci, fashions pieces into blown-glass globes that are artistic, playful and functional all at the same time. One particular model, the 14 Series, is in itself quite subtle. Its cast-glass half-sphere with a frosted cylindrical void houses a 10-watt xenon or 1.5-watt LED lamp. The light glows from within, kind of like a candle encased in ice.

What's particularly cool about the design is that bubbles and imperfections within the glass interact with the light source to create a halo. By nature of the medium, each piece is unique. So a mass installation -- dozens of these 4 1/2-inch pieces, seemingly randomly placed on a wall -- is as magical and hypnotic as a night summer sky filled with fireflies. Some of Arbel's pieces also feature colored glass, introducing another exciting layer.

Historically, the idea of a light source on a wall existed in early abodes, where torches lit up dark caves. Less primitive perhaps, were the "sconces" that illuminated medieval castles and the gothic and rugged iron looks for lighting expanded to large-scale chandeliers. As lighting design became more polished, the epitome of lush, grand styles were on display at places like the palace at Versailles, where chandeliers and sconces dripped with dazzling crystals.

Sconce choices today pretty much channel all of those looks and then some -- with designers pushing the envelope, exploring new media and combinations, and providing more options for a personal touch.

Sources

-- Aqua Creations, 212-219-9922, www.aquagallery.com; or contact Atelier Gary Lee, 312-644-4400. www.ateliergarylee.com

-- Astele, 203-557-3332, www.astele.com

-- Avram Rusu, 718-389-0350, www.avramrusu.com

-- Bocci, 604-639-5184, www.bocci.ca

-- Boyd, 415-778-4300, www.boydlighting.com

-- Corbett Lighting, 626-336-4511, www.corbettlighting.com

-- Currey & Co., 877-768-6428, www.curreyandcompany.com

-- Global Lighting, 914-591-4095, www.globallighting.com

-- Regina Andrew, 734-250-8042, www.reginaandrew.com

-- Visual Comfort & Co., 866-344-3875, www.visualcomfort.com

SIDEBAR

ARTISTIC ILLUMINATION

Lighting and art certainly have been mentioned in the same breath before -- to wit, Tiffany stained glass and the more contemporary glass artist Dale Chihuly are hugely collectible. But in the last five years there's been an evolution to what some describe as art lighting.

One thing is clear. There's a strong desire for the one of a kind -- or at the very least, designs that stand out.

"It's bespoke, it's fashion," says architect, interior and lighting designer Andreea Avram Rusu. "Clients are very specific: they say they don't want what everybody else has. They enjoy experimenting, pushing boundaries."

That sometimes translates to higher price tags (an Avram Rusu Confetti sconce ranges from around $2,800 to $3,500).

The fun, of course, is in the search. As for art -- well, just like beauty, perhaps, it's in the eye of the beholder.

CAPTIONS AND CREDIT

(NOTE: These photos are for ONE-TIME use ONLY. At Home photos, with the proper credits, are to be run ONLY with At Home stories. Conversion to black and white is OK.)

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

With black and white, there's no middle ground. It's high-contrast. Crisp. Classic.

In home design, the teaming is a perennial favorite -- one as beloved as it is in apparel, especially by purists. It has its place in traditional decor, with styles from Art Deco to Country French (think toile prints) to Neoclassical. And, of course, it's about as modern as it gets. It runs the gamut from sleek black-tie Hollywood glam to romantic country casual, where the fabrics may be washed linens and soft plaids and the finishes matte and distressed.

But this year, black and white has emerged as one of the big furnishings stories. It started across the pond, where it was not a coincidental occurrence, at the big Paris show, Maison et Objet. It continued on this year's fashion runways. From Dolce & Gabbana oversized horizontal stripes to Jason Wu black on white luxe embroideries to Marc Jacobs animal prints -- zebra, snow leopard and giraffe -- as well as cheeky op art prints and Louis Vuitton's playful checkerboard.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from all that black and white is its current moxie -- from color blocking (bold swaths side by side a la Mondrian) to distinctive patterns (houndstooth, chevron, stripes, op art and geometric designs are packing the most punch).

"The energizing power of black and white is not confined to apparel," says Ron Fiore, creative director for Bernhardt Furniture. "Black-and-white combinations are easy to live with, grounding, and mix with any palette. Stripes are familiar, and to mix a floral pattern with black-and-white stripe is kind of cool."

What's especially cool is the unexpected -- teaming up a traditional silhouette and frame with a very modern cover. Holly Blalock, vice president of merchandising and marketing for CR Laine, a furniture manufacturer based in Hickory, N.C., did that with a couple of recently introduced chairs. The frame for the Bradstreet chair was inspired by an 18th-century chair with a series of turnings on the front arms and feet.

"There's something almost odd about it," says Blalock. "It turns from thick to thin. It doesn't follow columnar scale. And the ball at the end of the arm is even more exaggerated. I liked that quirkiness."

And although even the finish of the chair is distressed, Blalock chose a totally modern zigzag pattern for upholstery.

For another traditional armchair, the Aledo, Blalock pieced together linen in black and white to create an asymmetrical sassy stripe.

"We have always interpreted this chair more traditionally -- with hand-blocked prints and matelasses," says Blalock. "Sometimes you just have to start from scratch and reinvent. When the linens are sewn together, they create this overscale graphic stripe, which completely comes alive."

A sort of color blocking in furniture in the last year or so has teamed light and dark finishes in single pieces. For example, an ebony dresser is set with contrasting ivory drawers, for example. Also popular are inlays, typically of bone or mother of pearl. Many of these have a range of global sources as well as styles, some with Moorish inspiration.

Inlays add textural dimension as well, because they're essentially like mosaic strips or tesserae that create a pattern. And mother of pearl lends sheen as well. One versatile cube (table as well as stool) recently introduced by Bernhardt is the zebra, which is composed of white bone inlay with black poured resin. Its op-art pattern snakes around the corners and adds a compelling graphic focal point, almost like visual upholstery. The piece certainly will add an exclamation to a quiet corner.

Indeed, one enormous advantage of a black-and-white palette is its ability to change attitude, with a simple addition of color. And just about any color is smashing. Lipstick red is a favorite go-to combination for pop. So are yellow and mustard. Cobalt blue or turquoise. Purple, magenta or hot pink. Orange or coral. Lime green or emerald.

"Once when I was in New York, I saw a woman in a Kelly green trench coat with a zebra bag," says Fiore. "It's an image I've never forgotten. When a black-and-white room gets hit with a piece of color, that brings it out even more. The color could be in throw pillows or a slipcover, a funny little ottoman, a couple of vases, a big dish or a book."

So just as in fashion, a single black-and-white piece goes with just about everything -- it just depends on how concentrated the graphic is to pull it off.

"Black and white is a classic combination which can both ground a room and add a pop of intrigue and excitement," says New York-based international designer Sara Story. "It is timeless and modern at the same time."

When Story introduced a wallcovering collection called Story late last year, she included a black-and-white palette for each of the five patterns, all contemporary interpretations of Asian motifs. "It's a way to make it fresh, hip and new. You don't see too many black-and-white wallpapers, and I wanted the line to stand out."

If you want to furnish a full room in black and white, you can create an envelope with walls painted simply in either hue, perhaps with contrasting moldings. Choose white or off-white slipcovers for a soft look, and furniture in ebony frames. In this kind of setting, amped-up patterns can be especially effective.

Or stick to all-white furnishings with patterned walls -- muted or high octane. A black-and-white floral or a wide stripe, perhaps horizontally placed, can be dramatic. Ground it with a graphic black-and-white rug in a different pattern. Then pop in a few black accents: a vase or a lamp.

Designer showhouses often spark clever ideas, and with black-and-white themes there often are surprising applications. Earlier in the year, one showhouse in Greensboro, N.C., for example, featured a bedroom with white walls and bedding on a natural linen upholstered bed. The bed was framed in black, with a canopy and curtains in a stripe of varying widths. That same fabric was repeated in the window treatment. But what really punctuated the scheme was a treatment on the ceiling, where the designer had a pair of double borders painted around the room.

Another room in the same showhouse did black borders as well, but these were actually applied moldings painted black.

For a real modern edge, that's the kind of edginess that transforms a space.

"Graphic shapes breathe new life, making black and white modern," says Sara Story. "There are a million ways to reinvent it -- you just have to keep it fresh."

Sources

-- Bernhardt, 828-758-9811, www.bernhardt.com

-- Bungalow Belt, 708-442-9009, www.bungalowbelt.com

-- CR Laine Furniture, 336-841-3224, www.crlaine.com

-- Sara Story Design, 212-228-6007, www.sarastorydesign.com

-- Surya, 877-275-7847, www.surya.com

SIDEBAR

PATTERN POWER

Designer showhouses often are a treasure trove for creative decorating ideas. Not surprisingly, a black-and-white palette often is part of the mix, as it is a perennial favorite.

And just as in fashion, strong pattern is pivotal in some of the most memorable interiors. Checkerboard on the walls and floor for example, may not be for the faint of heart. But it made for a smashing bathroom at the Kips Bay Showhouse in New York this past spring.

In an adjacent room, designer Sara Story also covered the walls and floor in pattern, but in a different level of intensities. She chose one of her own wallpaper designs, bamboo -- a riff of a traditional Asian motif. "Bamboo is a symbol of strength and that aura infuses the space. It is graphic without being rigidly geometric, striking without being too serious, fun without being self-conscious, and it serves as a great backdrop for artwork. "

On the floor are carpet tiles "intentionally rigid geometric, which grounds the room." Pale lilac sofas further play with the geometry while adding a color burst. And the ceiling, painted to match with a reflective sheen, "works to mirror the patterns back into the room and is a minimalist way to add texture."

CAPTIONS AND CREDIT

(NOTE: These photos are for ONE-TIME use ONLY. At Home photos, with the proper credits, are to be run ONLY with At Home stories. Conversion to black and white is OK.)

Sidebar Captions

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)