Projects › Curved & helical stairs

Bondi · Curved staircase · Oak

A sculptural curved oak staircase in Bondi

Warm oak treads and risers, a sweeping white plastered stringer and a sculpted helical balustrade: this Custom Spaces curved staircase in Bondi brings natural timber and a flowing white form together.

It is a staircase worth looking at from more than one angle. From the lower flight, the curve rises beside the oak steps. From above, the balustrade curls around the centre, giving the same stair an entirely different character.

Project at a glance

• Location: Bondi, Sydney
• Stair: curved stair with oak treads and risers
• Defining details: a white plastered stringer and sculpted white helical balustrade
• Views: the lower flight and the view down from above

The curve at eye level

The lower view is all about the relationship between the timber and the white surface beside it. The oak grain runs across the treads and risers, giving the stair texture and warmth. The white stringer sweeps upwards in a continuous line, with a rounded lower end that introduces the curve at floor level.

Closed risers make the flight read as a continuous timber surface rather than a sequence of open gaps. Against that grain, the white curve feels calm and simple. The contrast lets each material do something different: the oak adds detail, while the smooth white form gives the stair its outline.

A second view from above

Looking down reveals the geometry that is less obvious from the lower flight. The treads turn around the centre, and the white balustrade describes a curling, almost shell-like form.

This is one reason to consider a curved staircase in three dimensions, not just as a line on a floor plan. The view from the landing can be as important to the design as the view when you enter the room. Here, the two photographs show how the curve continues to hold its shape from both directions.

Material contrast, not visual clutter

There is no need for a long list of finishes to give a stair character. In this project, the visible combination is straightforward: oak, white and a carefully shaped curve.

For homeowners gathering ideas, the useful lesson is to look beyond the overall silhouette. Notice the closed risers, the timber grain, the rounded start of the white form and the way the balustrade turns through the stairwell. Those decisions work together to create the finished composition.

How we approach a curved stair for your home

A reference like Bondi is the beginning of a conversation, not a design to copy without checking the space.

Our current curved-stair process starts with measuring and 3D scanning. We resolve the design and check it against the current NCC and with your certifier before cutting. Our curves are shaped from solid timber, with CNC-cut joinery and handcrafting in our Brookvale workshop before fitting on site.

The opening, headroom, stair geometry and surrounding structure need to be considered together. Around 12 weeks is our usual guide for a curved stair; we will discuss the timing for your project rather than assume it will match another job.

Explore our curved & helical stair service