Creative Home Safety Design: How the “Rainbow Tornado” Banister Came to Life

deborah960
May 20
2 min read

Updated: Jun 3

A Cedar Architecture collaboration that proves safety and joy can go hand in hand.

Modern interior with wooden stairs and colorful string art. Sunlight filters through tall windows, creating a bright and warm atmosphere.

What do you do when a staircase needs to be safe and spark joy?

For one young family, the answer was a vibrant swirl of paracord—a custom banister now affectionately known as the “Rainbow Tornado.” Featured in Dwell, this playful and practical feature was part of a larger home renovation led by Cedar Architecture in collaboration with TreeNet Collective.

The challenge: create a barrier to protect children from a wide open stairwell without adding visual heaviness or compromising the flow of the space. The solution? A colorful, tightly woven net that curves, dances, and supports—turning a functional need into a work of art.

“The Rainbow Tornado is the kind of solution we love—unexpected, functional, and deeply rooted in the needs of the people who live there,” says Cedar founder Deborah Buelow.

Creative Home Safety Design That Sparks Joy

At Cedar, we believe home safety doesn’t have to be sterile or boring. This project reflects our belief that creative home safety design can be vibrant, soulful, and completely unique to each family. The client needed protection for their young children—but also wanted something lively, artful, and joyful. The result was a banister that invites interaction, delight, and peace of mind.

Modern living room with beige sofas, a blue coffee table, and a wooden staircase. Colorful string art adorns the railing, adding vibrancy.

Safety, Collaboration, and Craft

This wasn’t just a product—it was a collaborative process. Working closely with TreeNet Collective, we brought together artistry, engineering, and child-safe functionality. Every curve and color was carefully considered to complement the architecture, while serving as a functional piece of creative home safety design.

A Regenerative Design Mindset in Action

While not a solar panel or green roof, this project reflects the spirit of regenerative design—prioritizing human well-being, creativity, and responsiveness to context. For this family, the result is a space that uplifts and protects.

Read the Full Feature

🌈 How They Pulled It Off: A “Rainbow Tornado” Paracord Banister That Gives a Family Peace of Mind – Dwell

Creative Home Safety Design: How the “Rainbow Tornado” Banister Came to Life (As featured in Dwell) — Our "Rainbow Tornado" was featured in Dwell

As Seen on Dwell’s Instagram

This creative home safety design didn’t just make waves in print—it caught the eye of Dwell’s digital audience, too. Here’s how they shared it on Instagram:

📲 View the Post on Instagram

“A vibrant paracord banister protects a family’s kids from a steep stairwell while doubling as a technicolor centerpiece.” – @dwellmagazine

Check It Out on Their Website

The project is also documented on the TreeNet Collective website with photography that shows it off from numerous angles.

🖥️ View the Project on TreeNet Collective

📲 View their Post on Instagram

“[They] turned our staircase into the most beautiful and safe sculpture that brightens our home and makes us smile everyday. ” - Homeowners, Washington DC

About the Author

Deborah Buelow is the founder of Cedar Architecture, where beauty, well-being, and sustainability come together in regenerative design. From tiny homes to joyful staircases, her work challenges conventional thinking about what architecture can do.