There’s a lot of programming packed into this set of built-in drawers. Most obviously, the top-of-the-stairs unit doubles as storage and guard rail. Architect Gregory J. Snider was inspired by a Georgian-era linen press for its design and detailing, so the long drawers hold—what else?—linens: sheets and towels for the three children’s bedrooms and accompanying bathrooms, to be specific.
The square footage saved by this built-in allowed Snider to place all rooms along the home’s back wall. The one-sided layout leaves the corridor open and generates passive solar heating from the south-facing windows. The built-in’s linear design also balances the circular stairwell and sets a more relaxed tone in the grand space. Snider worked with builder Randy Gardner, of North Kingstown, R.I.-based Gardner Woodwrights, to ensure the linen press fit smoothly into the stairwell’s curve. The railing spindles segue into the back of the painted MDF unit, while mahogany tops both the handrail and built-in. At 44 inches high, the linen press secures the stairs but sits low enough that contents in the top drawer are easily seen. The height also matches the bottom sill of the lighthouse-style windows ringing the stairwell, yielding simple lines and a clean look.
