Photo by Werner Segerra GETTING THE LOOK: 1. Iron railing  2. Antique terra-cotta stair treads 3. Mortar-washed stone stair risers 4. Stairway lighting 5. Pot shelf

Taking cues from vintage homes in Europe—and adding some nifty ideas of his own—architect Don Ziebell created this atmospheric stairway. He used antique European terra-cotta ceiling tiles for the treads of steps leading to a second-story loggia; and he re-created the eroded look of centuries-old stair risers by mortar-washing Arizona stones with a mixture that incorporated dirt from the home’s own desert site.

Decorative-looking, the small iron elements that run up the side of the wall actually contain low-voltage lighting.

While providing lovely spots for flowers, the pot shelves—a typical Spanish element—serve another purpose, notes Ziebell. Instead of their customary placement on the outside of a staircase, he positioned them on the interior wall “in order to keep the steps away from the roofline overhang.” Not using this strong visual reminder might have posed a danger as one climbed the stairs.