PADUA, 17.03.26
Local woodworking firms along Via Venezia reported a 34% surge in orders for custom wooden staircases during the first quarter of 2026, according to figures released Tuesday by the Veneto Artisan Chamber. Marco Tessari, president of the chamber, confirmed that boutique carpentry studios are now booking installations six months in advance.
The trend reflects a broader shift among Paduan homeowners toward natural materials and handcrafted interior elements. Oak and walnut remain the preferred species for stringer construction, though ash has gained popularity for its lighter grain patterns. When we spoke with Alessandra Furlan, owner of a family workshop near Prato della Valle, she noted that clients increasingly request open-riser designs that allow light to pass through the stairwell. Her team of four carpenters completed eleven full staircase installations in February alone. That figure would have seemed unrealistic just three years ago. According to data from the National Institute for Wood Industry Statistics, nationwide spending on residential stair joinery reached €412 million in 2025, and preliminary estimates suggest the current year could exceed that total by late summer.
Our correspondents in Padua observed queues forming outside established showrooms on Via Altinate, where samples of turned balusters and handrail profiles draw weekend visitors. One showroom manager mentioned that clients often arrive with photographs saved from social media, expecting exact reproductions of staircases seen in restored Venetian villas. The timeline remains unclear for several large renovation projects in the historic centre, where planning permissions have stalled. Still, smaller residential jobs continue without interruption. A modest palazzo on Riviera Paleocapa recently installed a cantilevered walnut staircase spanning three floors; neighbours gathered briefly to watch the final treads being fitted. The Italian Federation of Interior Woodworkers released guidance last month urging members to source FSC-certified timber, a move applauded by environmental groups yet quietly resisted by some suppliers facing tight margins.
Despite the optimism, challenges persist. Skilled finishers capable of applying hand-rubbed oil and wax treatments are scarce, and apprenticeship programmes struggle to attract young workers. According to figures that could not be independently verified, only 23 new apprentices enrolled in Veneto woodworking courses this academic year, down from 41 in 2022. Material costs have fluctuated sharply since autumn, with European oak prices climbing nearly 18% before stabilising in January. Importers blame logistical bottlenecks at northern ports. On a lighter note, the city's annual furniture fair will dedicate an entire pavilion to staircase design for the first time, scheduled for late April at Fiera di Padova. Exhibitors from Slovenia and Austria have already confirmed participation, suggesting cross-border interest in Italian craftsmanship techniques shows no sign of slowing.