When my husband and I purchased our "new" home, it was important that I created a priority list of the most important items to upgrade so that the project would stay on budget. This is the same logic as investing in quality shoes and a complimentary handbag as anchors of one's wardrobe. In the case of our home, one of the most expensive and important elements was the staircase because it is a visual balance point for the entire home.  It is located central to the common areas of both floors and ties together multiple transition rooms.  

After much research, I found an image of a staircase that I liked on HOUZZ.com because it represented the American country home look and feel the we were creating.  I then provided the concept to our contractor and reviewed plans as to how we could replicate it.  This HOUZZ image was placed in our "master" design book and referred to often by the subcontractors working on the residence.

Ultimately, it was a wise decision that we chose to invest in the quality of the craftsmanship and materials of the staircase.  Not only is it a central focal element of our home, but it also plays an integral role in seamlessly coordinating our decor.