Top Projects of 2021

2021 was a year of many changes and unexpected turns, but with it came an array of home trends and projects that have soared past many others we have seen. While we have loved each and every project from the past year, we can’t share them all, so below are our top 5 favorite projects from 2021.

5. Brownstone Boys

The Brownstone Boys have time and time again created stunning spaces from older, historic homes. One project that finished early in 2021 was the Simply Cyn project. This project took an incredibly old and unusable staircase in a historic home and revived it utilizing our very own stair parts.

“At the Simply Cynthia Renovation, the open floor plan and beautiful stairs are all brand new! The newel post, balusters, and handrail from @ljsmithstairs are a welcoming party we would be happy to have greet us every day.

The finished space that they created is nothing short of beautiful, and the decorative trim on the staircase just adds to the stunning elegance of this space. Check out the full house tour from this project on their blog.

4. Nest Out West

Cait Pappas with @nestoutwest is a long-time partner of L.J. Smith. When she moved into her new home, the one aspect she missed the most of her old space was her L.J. Smith Linear Cable System. So when she decided to remodel her new landing railing, she turned to L.J. Smith.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Novo and L.J. Smith, as well as for their faith in us as a partner. They make quality, stunning stair systems, and I’m happy to be associated with them as we incorporate their products into the homes we live in and grow our families in.”

Learn more about her installation process on her blog.

3. Beth Diana Smith

Beth with @bethdianasmith is the CEO + Principal Designer of Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, and this season she was chosen as a Featured Designer for the One Room Challenge. For this challenge, she decided to take on her bedroom to create a space that she would love, along with the hallway to create a seamless space.

“What sticks out the most for me is how impactful upgrading the railing system is in the space. The newel post elevated the aesthetic of the hallway, the panel is super sleek and looks and feels high end, and the handrail shape (simple and modern) gave me a whole new view on how to approach them with client projects.”

Read more about this project on her One Room Challenge Reveal blog post.

2. Carey Bros Pros

Joe Hanna’s home was built in 1996. He and his family moved in three years later. For the next two decades, they lived with the house as it was, making small improvements along the way. Then, in 2019 they decided to make some serious changes. Those changes included installing an all new Panel System on their staircase.

“The horizontal metal panel system was a game-changer,” says Hanna, who resides in Auburn, Ala. “This stairway and the accompanying railing system allowed us to accomplish what we dreamed of. It’s the most impactful part of our entire interior renovations project.”

Read more about this project on the blog: Linear Metal Panel System Highlight Of Home Renovation.

1. Jean Stoffer

Our number one favorite project from this past year goes to the Madison GR project by Jean Stoffer. Originally finding this home in 2017, she took on the hefty project of transforming an old, historic home. This home needed a complete remodel, and that included the three-story grand staircase.

This two-year-long project ended just a few months ago, and it left us with a stunning grand staircase that utilizes all L.J. Smith's stair parts. You can find all of the assets from this incredible renovation by exploring Jean Stoffer’s social media pages or by visiting her portfolio of the project. Complete with 28 different rooms in the Madison home, there is surely one that will inspire you to create your own space.

Check out all of the products used in this project on our blog post: The Madison Project.


Stay in the loop on this project by following L.J. Smith Stair System’s social media accounts. There will be plenty of beautiful photos to share and more project information on the blog.