Stair Hall -- The slow, graceful ascent past the large Venetian window at the landing flanked by urns set in niches was intentionally designed to impress the visitor on the way to John Tayloe’s library. Standing underneath the hanging chandelier, look up to the top of the staircase. There are three floors above the basement, but Thornton added a few additional steps past the third floor and a length of railing to make it appear as though the home has an additional floor.
