A collection of ideas for custom stairway gates to keep children and pets safe at home.
As soon as my daughter announced that she was expecting, and her Eclectic-Gender Neutral Nursery was ready, thoughts of future grandchildren crawling, walking and running around the house began. I started a search for stairway gates. The stairway in my Alabama Stone Cottage is wide and the opening is arched to mimic the kitchen entrance. I searched the internet for pre-built wooden baby and pet gates but everything I found that would fit would stick out like a sore thumb. I wanted the gate to blend in with the rest of our home. That’s when I began to consider numerous custom options to rework: a pair of vintage shutters, cutting down a vintage door, repurposing an iron gate, decorative metal sheets, metal scissor gates and vintage elevator doors. It was sort of like The Three Bears — pieces I found were either too big or too small, but never just right.
Then along came Larry. I emailed him pictures of rustic garden gates and he promised he could build us a sturdy and safe gate using salvaged wood and copper piping. That would keep Baby J upstairs but still be pet-friendly and allow our three cats slip downstairs for their daily naps. For me, a perfect gate should slide to the left when opened, in front of the wall. As luck would have it, the wall is not quite wide enough. But Larry came up with a great solution: he built a gate that appears to be a pair of gates when closed but is hinged to fold back against the wall when open. He used old hinges for their patina. And he mounted our gate just above the baseboard to give the cats space to slip under. Our habit now is to leave it closed 24/7 and I really like the secure feeling it gives when going out to the garage. I’ve already started watching etsy for the perfect set of vintage strap hinges and/or decorative handles. The hunt for those is part of the fun. Meanwhile our dogs Dubya and Coco [top] approve of Larry’s handiwork. Baby J will be walking soon, and our first granddaughter, Baby E, is due in June.
Here is custom pet-friendly iron gate that keeps the dog out of the cat food bowls. We contemplated a similar design with the copper pipes spaced so the cats could walk through, but two of ours are rather large and we decided the gate would not be baby friendly.
Custom gates are an easy addition to new construction and pre-built homes. This gate features a small wheel underneath the open end, which helps keep the weight evenly distributed. The sliding hinge mechanism on the gate allows it to be easily removed when not in use.
This homeowner simply cut down a wood panel door, similar to a Dutch door, but without the top half. We had a stairway like this in our last home — stairs that led to an attic eventually which became a master suite addition. The door was removed and the stairway was left open. Be sure to check local building codes. We were told this was considered a hazard during a fire emergency and, therefore, was against code. That said, it is a charming option in the right location.
A more rustic version looks like a simple panel that swings open. Knowing the owner, none other than Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic, she spotted it during one of her antique outings when shopping for The Prairie B&B.
This contemporary wooden slat gate is reminiscent of a mid-century modern bench top.
The wrought iron motif in the hand rail of the stairwell was repeated in this custom wood and iron gate. Designing a gate like this might take time given all the hand forged metal art and decorative parts, balusters, and panels available.
This one is very simple, and sits against the wall when not in use. One concern I had in our space was that no one coming in or should be visually fooled by the gate. I didn’t want it too low, in fear that someone might lean too far and tumble over the top. We found that chest high was much better than waist high.
Here’s a great example of modern, yet traditional — what’s called “transitional.” If you can dream it, someone can build it.
Continuing staircases need more than one gate, and sometimes adjustments to the existing railing as well. Here, blackened steel tubing and mesh panels were created and attached with custom hardware.
While I like this design, they must have dogs instead of children. My first thought is of a child climbing up and over the horizontal bars. This gate also has a wheel for operational ease.
A colorful Piet Mondrian color block gate is sure to please art lovers and children. This could be fashioned from painted wood or from transparent colored plexiglass sheets.
We all want our homes to be beautiful but our family, guests and pets must be kept safe. If you are adding a baby or pet gate to your home, be sure to read the suggestions at Safety Gate Standards at ASTM.org.
For more pet friendly ideas, don’t miss Built-ins For Pets. Shabby Chic fans should enjoy An Interview with Rachael Ashwell.
(Sources: Jezroc Metal, BILDnow.com, Internet, Holly Mathis Interiors, Blue Ant Studio, JD Stairs, HC Metals, Martel Fab, MILKdesign, Dijeau Poage Construction)
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I like that last Mondrian inspired one for a contemporary home and am sending a link to a friend who just moved into her nearly completed super contemporary home.
Love your new gate! I like how it looks like a double gate and can’t wait to see which latches you find for it. Congrats on the grandbaby! Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful assortment of attractive alternatives to use to protect stairs and other openings!
Wonderful idea! Now if I could just get rid of stairs altogether in my house, I would be very happy.
Love your new gate. Such a good idea to have it in place for your grandchildren.
All of these are wonderful. Such a great idea to build a gate into the house.
These sure beat the horrible, cheap baby gate we got to keep dd’s little Maltipoo from sneaking upstairs. –Especially since he figured out how to squeeze around the end on one side, and circumvent the whole thing on the other by jumping through the stair railing…So now we’ve added a tall book to block one end, and a piece of large cardboard (meant to cut patterns of fabric on) along the side of the stair railing… All ‘very attractive,’ of course… For another doorway, the ‘gate’ is 2 leaning pieces of plywood. :-/
Glad everyone has gotten ideas from them. ;D @ RHome. Sounds like the gate DH built for DD2. It won’t be seen if/when her kitchen makeover is revealed. It’s started out as semi-square, but got an addition on the top when Sadie could crawl over (long legged dog). That kept her in briefly, as she found out she could crawl her way up/over the counter. It’s a combo wood, chicken wire, plexiglass and a bunch screws… and it’s still unpainted = winner of Ugly Baby/Pet Gate Contest.
How do I get in contact with the builder? I am interested in the swinging gate that splits in the middle!
I will send Larry your email address, Stephanie. Mine doesn’t open in the center, but I’m sure he could build one that does.
Hi Allison,
Does Larry still make custom dog gates? I need two built for current home.
Thanks,
Amber
What kind of latch did you find for the two piece gate that is hinged in the center? I am having one built for my stairs, and can’t seem to find anything that the gate will hold tightly to, and not pull out from the latch.
Heather, we used 6″ hook and eye (like used on screen doors, but larger for gates and shutters) on the back side (so he can’t open). When he gets older, we’re going to add a metal plate to the center, so that it won’t go forward (down the stairs). Not that it’s easily pushed that direction – better to be safe. The flat part of the hinges are mounted on the side of each gate panel (so all you see from the back is the rounded part of the hinge). We also have a strip of wood (same as gate material) screwed to the wall for a “stop.” The stops the gate from going past “closed,” and gives us something sturdy to attach the hook and eye.
I’d love to see yours. Email me a picture when you’re done. allison@atticmag.com
I’m interested in the wrought iron swing gate. We have the same setup at our house and a little boy running around. It would be so refreshing to have a beautiful solution when baby proofing.
Hi Devan. You should be able to find a wrought iron shop in a local city near you. If not, the internet has shops willing to build and ship, but you’ll have to do the measuring and installation.
I would also like to be in touch with the builder.. I need a wide walk through gate for my front porch so that my dog can hang out with me on the porch and I don’t have to keep jumping over a gate. I have an old house and would like something that looks nice instead of the babys r us version that is there now.
I’m happy to email him your address, pjdaddyo.
Hi how can I get in touch with Larry ? Thanks
Do you know anyone who makes gates like these in the Chicago area?
Lauren, you should be able to find a metal shop in your area that can build a custom gate using Google or Yahoo search. There is a website called gatestoyou.com that builds wood gates to your measurements. While I’ve never used them, the pictures in their gallery look well made.
Can anyone tell me what type of hinge and latch is being used on this one:
https://www.atticmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/dec-hode-customstairgate8-435.jpg
?
Kevin, the source/custom builder of that gate is jdstairs.com.
Could you PLEASE have the builder email me?! I have a split level home and that is VERY similar to the picture below you posted. We need a safe and attractive gate to keep babies safe!!! Any help you can provide would be awesome!!
https://www.atticmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/dec-hode-customstairgate9-435.jpg
Kelly, I will contact Allison and tell her to look at your request. She can verify the source of the gate. But I expect you will need to contact them.
Jane
Hello, I am also very interested in the same gate as Kelly, our situation is very similar (dry wall on one side, iron rail on the other). My iron fabricator is having difficulty finding a latch system that does not require drilling into the iron side rail…Thanks very much for these photos!
I am also in need of the same gate that Kelly and Betty are interested in. I have drywall on one side and iron rail on the other. Can I please have the contact info on where this was made??
Hi Lindsay,
That gate is from JD Stairs. Here is a link to their site: http://www.jdstairs.com
Good luck with your search for a gate.
Jane
Hi there! I’m looking for a wrought iron baby gate for the top of my stairs, just like the one you posted here with the description that starts “This one is very simple, and sits against the wall when not in use…”
http://bit.ly/IPBnfr
Do you know where I can purchase that wrought iron gate (with the 2 simple decorative spindles in the middle)?
Thanks so much!
Andrea
Hi Andrea,
At the bottom of the post you will see a list of sources for the gates in very fine print. I believe the gate you are referring to is from http://handcraftedmetalsinc.com/. However, over time photos on websites change. So if you want to pursue the gate I would send them a copy of the photo you are looking for.
Good luck with your search and thanks for stopping by. Jane
I love the gates you are showing. i have been searching for a bi-fold or sliding gate “top of stairs” type gate to solve our gate problem. Could you please give me the contact information for the builder of the bi-fold. I would love to get one made. Thank you
Hi Beth,
That’s a gate that Allison had made for her home. Believe it was custom. I’ll ask her to stop by and help you.
Thanks for stopping by. Best, Jane
Beth,
I will contact Larry and get back to you soon.
regards, Allison
Beth and Don,
I spoke with Larry today and will send him both of your email addresses. He mentioned his calendar is full until after the new year. Thanks for stopping by Atticmag.
regards,
Allison
We are having a custom steel gate made to match our stair rail, but having a hard time finding the latch hardware that a clever toddler isn’t able to unlock. All we seem to find is the magna latch, but it seems bulky for use indoors. Any ideas or advice??
Hi,
Very tough to give advice on something we haven’t seen. But there is a ton of latch hardware out there. Have you spoken with the fabricators of your custom gate? They should know the best options. Thanks for stopping by. — Jane