The Whitehall Colonial
Box-with-turned-newels, red oak treads.
Classic center-hall colonial profile — the staircase you see in 80% of Lehigh Valley homes built between 1950 and 2005. Red oak treads, turned-newel box stair, single round-spindle pattern, walnut-stained handrail. The Whitehall Colonial is the most-replicated style in our shop because so many homeowners want to upgrade what they already have without changing the silhouette.
Definition
What is the Whitehall Colonial stair style?
The Whitehall Colonial is the classic center-hall colonial profile — red-oak treads, a turned-newel box stair, a single round-spindle pattern, and a walnut-stained handrail. It's the staircase in most Lehigh Valley homes built 1950-2005, and our most-replicated style because homeowners want to upgrade it without changing the silhouette.
Built & reviewed by Snyder Stairs · Whitehall, PA · Est. 1987 · Updated June 2026
The Whitehall Colonial is the baseline against which the rest of the catalog is measured, because it's the stair most Lehigh Valley homeowners already own. Built between 1950 and 2005, the center-hall colonial came with red-oak treads, a turned-newel box stair, a single round-spindle pattern, and a walnut-stained handrail — competent, conventional, and now usually due for a refresh.
Most projects here aren't about changing the style; they're about executing it better. Homeowners want the same silhouette with crisper turning, a cleaner handrail joint, and the option to swap the round wood spindles for iron. Because the configuration is a standard box stair, this is the catalog's standard-build value point rather than a bespoke commission.
It's the natural starting place for anyone deciding how far to go. Keep it as a faithful Colonial and it's a standard build; swap the spindles for iron and stain the handrail charcoal and you're partway to a Center Valley Curve. The Whitehall is the fork in the road.
Photo set
See it in real homes.
Whitehall Colonial FAQs
Common questions about the Whitehall Colonial style.
Q: Why is the Whitehall Colonial a standard build rather than custom?
Because it builds on a standard turned-newel box configuration with no radius work or carving, it's the catalog's value point. The cost comes from the red-oak stock and spindle count, not custom shaping — which is why it's our most-replicated style.
Q: Can I modernize a Whitehall Colonial without changing the silhouette?
Yes — that's the most common request. Keep the box stair and turned newels but swap the round wood spindles for square iron pickets and stain the handrail charcoal. You keep the familiar shape while moving the look toward transitional.
Browse every profile we carry.
Two full product catalogs — wood and iron. Flip through the whole line, mark what you like, and bring it to your first call.
Ready when you are
Custom stairs and railings, built in Whitehall.
Custom stairs and railings, built by a family of Pennsylvania craftsmen for nearly forty years. We'll give you a realistic budget on the first call — not a teaser, not a pressure-close. Get in touch, or send a few photos.
Budget on the first call · (610) 443-2240 · Whitehall, PA
