These steep narrow stairs had a wicked set of winder treads at the top.  We removed the treacherous winders and built a landing and a short flight of more user-friendly treads, borrowing a little headroom from the bathroom below.  We also added a hand rail and a guard rail on top of the knee-high wall.   Beauty and safety in perfect harmony.  All the railing parts were milled on site from reclaimed Douglas fir lumber.  The handrail can be quickly removed in two pieces to move furniture up or down the stairs.  The tapered detail on the newel post mimics  a similar detail on the mantle of this 1920's cottage.  This small, surgical redesign makes a huge difference in the livability of the home.