I don’t know about you but one of the things I love about our period homes is the newel post. This, as you will know, is the main post which supports the stair handrail,
and may seem a slightly strange feature to pick on, but think about it – it’s one of the first decorative things you see when you enter a hallway.
Whatever its size, shape or colour you kind of want to give it a bit of a hug – or at least drape your coat over it. I have always found it to be a distinguishing feature of any home I visit – heartwarming when they are beautiful.
And, by contrast, upsetting, when I come across one which has been barbarously disfigured – in previous homes this has been the first restoration project on my list. It wasn’t an uncommon thing to lop off the finials and box in the stairs to get a more modern look in the 1970s. I have even heard of them being re-imagined as garden chess sets!
If you have lost your newel altogether – don’t worry they are available at architectural salvage shops,
or can be bought new – in period style, of course.
The newel post has long been an opportunity for a joiner to express their creativity – to put a bit of a spin into an essentially practical element. Of course, there is always someone,
who takes things a step too far.
