The English language is melting pot of many influences, mainly from the Germanic languages introduced in the 5th-7th centuries AD from the German/Dutch regions. Add in more Scandinavian influences from the viking settlements in 7th-9th centuries and language from the Norman conquest in the late 15th Century together with the many influences from Greek and Latin and we arrive at the language we all use today. Consequently the terminology and common phrases around staircases are varied making their etymology is an interesting thing.
How to choose the right lighting for your staircase
Guest Blog by Sian Parsons, Senior Designer at John Cullen Lighting
As we’re sure you’re aware, the staircase is the central pod of your home. It links spaces and people together, giving it a very important function. It should be a practical piece of the home as well as being sculptural, with lighting being able to make a big difference to this.
When considering lighting, the design of the staircase, construction and desired effects are the key elements to consider, along with finish and texture. In most cases, lighting on staircases isn’t purely a decorative theme, it also serves a very real purpose in terms of the safety of the staircase itself and the surrounding areas. Glare should be avoided, and maintenance considered, whilst enhancing the form can add beauty and softness to the look.
Staircases in Culture: Movies & Cinema
This stage of our Staircases in Culture Series celebrates the part staircases have played on the big screen. There have been many examples to choose from. Read all about our favourite staircase movie scenes or watch the video montage to see how many of the classic scenes you recognise:
The Warrington Guardian: Business Set Up By Friends Wins National Award
One of the great things about taking pride in your community is that the community takes pride in you. That’s certainly what we’ve found to be true. That’s why we were delighted when one of our local newspapers, The Warrington Guardian celebrated the friendship between directors Craig Abbott & Mike Wade from which our business was forged. Over twenty years on, the business which was founded by friends is now being run by family.
Real Staircase Photography in Real Homes
Real Staircases in Real Homes
Real Staircases in Real HomesIt’s interesting to consider as you browse our website that the images we use are of Abbott-Wade staircases in real homes up and down the country. Some are taken by a photographer after the installation but many are taken by our fitting teams after the installations are complete and also by our customers who are are keen to showcase their beautiful new staircases.
It is also interesting to note that you will not see the same staircase duplicated in a different colour or design because unlike other staircase companies because we do not use photographic sets or rendered images.
5 ways a bespoke staircase can increase the value of your home.
It is not so much that a staircase increases the value of a property in direct correlation to what the staircase cost, but it increases the desirability of the overall home, which in turn benefits the sale price. In this blog you will learn why and how a staircase can influence potential buyers of your home, giving you more to think about when implementing a bespoke staircase of your own.
Staircases in Culture: Art
The next stage in our Staircases in Culture series focuses on staircases in art. Artists though the ages have had a rich history of including staircases as you may imagine. This article will focus on some of our favourite pieces including artworks of cultural significance.
M. C. Escher
The creations of Maurits Cornelis Escher (17 June 1898 – 27 March 1972) are still widely enjoyed and never fail to fascinate and enthral. Despite having created a great number of lithographs, engravings, drawings and sketches, it is perhaps his experimentations with architecture, perspective and impossible spaces for which many of remember him. Learn more here.
