BUYING BESPOKE
A staircase should be designed to integrate with and last the lifetime of the property. It’s key to the flow of the house so it may be worth asking yourself if your home would work better if you altered the position of the staircase. Knocking down walls between rooms, building an extension or changing the purpose of a room could all mean a change to the direction of traffic. When planning a new staircase think about which room you are most likely to approach it from.
With open-plan living a staircase may be visible within the whole space so you may wish to make a feature of it.
Cantilevered staircases have treads supported by a hidden stringer in the wall and appear to float in mid-air to produce a light, open look. Helical or gently curved stairs give instant wow factor but work best in plenty of space. Spiral stairs wind around a central pole and are good for small spaces, but they can be awkward to use and a problem for children, the elderly or infirm.
Concrete staircases may appear to be cheaper on paper, but could cost more than timber and steel in the end because of problems with casting and accuracy. Timber and steel can be manufactured to millimetre precision and designed with open treads. Concrete and steel staircases can be clad with timber, stone or marble and you may wish to consider MDF treads if you intend to carpet the stairs. Timber has natural warmth and beauty and there are many grades and finishes to choose from for treads and handrails. Hardwood handrails are more expensive than softwood but they’re more durable and tactile. Glass balustrades are fantastic for letting in light but show up dust and fingerprints. Check how the glass and handrail will be fixed – a bespoke design won’t have visible fixings. Two types of glass are commonly used – standard glass with a slightly green tint, and the more expensive low-iron glass, which has superior optical quality and reduced tint.
In Georgian times, staircases were slim and elegant and a similar effect can be achieved by using a steel carcass. Staircases from the Art Nouveau period featured sinewy curves and balustrades inspired by nature with, for example, iron flowers, leaves and tendrils. Art Deco saw a move towards more robust and chunky designs with sharper, stronger lines.
There are very important safety aspects to be taken into account when designing and installing staircases, and they must conform to Building Regulations and British Standards. See: building-regs.org.uk/part_k.html.