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Based in Stoke, First Step Designs is a leading UK designer, builder, and installer of bespoke metal staircases. Over the past decade, we’ve helped countless homeowners transform their homes into something spectacular with precision-crafted metal stairs that bring visions to life, enhance how living spaces are experienced, and boost property values.
In recent years, we’ve been featured on Grand Designs and worked on increasingly high-profile projects, including a staircase renovation for the world’s strongest man, Eddie Hall. In 2024, we were crowned the Build It Award’s Best Staircase of the Year winners. With First Step Designs working on your dream metal staircase, you can rest assured knowing that you’re working with the best in the business.
We don’t do prefabricated or off-the-shelf designs. We design and fabricate every last element of our staircases ourselves, ensuring metal stairs that are truly unique and built around your style and aesthetic preferences.
Reach out to us today for a zero-cost and obligation-free discussion of your bespoke metal staircase needs. Our designers are on standby to assist you with precise 3D mockups and design concepts to help you build the stairs of your dreams.
We’re the best at metal staircases because we love the material. We love its strength and the challenges of working with a material as tough as metal. We love how versatile it is and its timeless aesthetic. We love how it looks great raw but also lends itself to various finishing options that complement the overall design.
Where other companies rely on metal for their staircases’ structures, our design and fabrication showcase the material as a defining design feature that enhances living spaces with a sleek, modern aesthetic.
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Your new or renovated stairs are no more than a quick call, email or message away.
You can also use our Inspiration Gallery to save images of our work that you like. Then, simply send them along with any other photos, plans, or details through our contact form so we can discuss your project.
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After understanding what you’re trying to achieve, we’ll send a detailed and itemised same-day quote. Our pricing is honest and transparent, allowing you to quickly determine if we are the right fit for your project.
At your request, we’ll gladly quote for multiple configurations of your ideal stairs.
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After visiting your home to take the measurements we need, we draft and present fully accurate 3D renditions of what your staircase will look like in your home.
Once the details, timelines, and installation dates are locked in, we begin fabricating your dream staircase.
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That’s right: sit back knowing that our expert team of craftsmen is hard at work bringing your staircase to life, fabricating your dream stairs to our exacting standards.
Depending on the complexity of the design, this typically takes anywhere from 3 to 5 days.
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Our expert and experienced team of Staffordshire-based installers will install your new or renovated stairs in 2 to 4 days.
They have a wealth of experience in joinery and engineering, a seriously professional attitude towards work, and operate as unintrusively as possible.
Right off the bat, the term metal staircase is open to interpretation. To some, it means a staircase that relies on a metal substructure for rigidity and support, with little of the metal visible during normal use. For others, it can mean a floating or central spine staircase where the metal elements are brought to the forefront instead of being substituted for glass, wood, or concrete.
No matter how you define it, First Step Design has the skills and experience to craft a metal staircase to complement your home’s aesthetic, architectural features, and available space. If you have your heart set on a bespoke metal staircase, we’ll create one that is not only structurally sound but also a striking focal point in your home.
While this is only a rough guide, metal staircases are commonly found in various home styles and configurations. For example:
Yes, you can. Staircase renovations are designed to transform the visible parts of your staircase—treads, handrails, balustrades, and more—while keeping the existing structure intact. Our team is happy to fix any minor structural issues that arise, but the main goal is to give your staircase a refreshed, high-end look without the disruption or expense of a full replacement.
Working with First Step Designs means you don't have to be a designer to see designer results. We work closely with homeowners, architects, and interior designers to craft beautiful possibilities based on designs, elements, and motifs our clients select from our inspiration gallery, iterating through material choices, finishes, and other features to truly complement your home.
If you're considering updating your Staffordshire home's staircase, reach out to the national leaders in designing, fabricating, and installing truly inspired and innovative renovations built around your needs and home.
With decades of combined experience and some of the UK's most talented design and manufacturing talent on our team, we're confident that we can effortlessly and seamlessly guide you to the staircase of your dreams.
At First Step Designs, staircase renovations typically cost between £4,000 + VAT and £9,000 + VAT, depending on the scope of work, design complexity, material choices, and installation challenges.
For a tailored quote and a closer look at what we can do, contact our team directly, or explore our blog post How much does a staircase renovation cost? for real examples with pricing, project specifications, and photos.
Again, this may vary significantly between builds. We typically advise clients to start the design process 4 to 6 months before installation, ensuring ample time to go through various iterations and design possibilities. We acknowledge the long lead time; however, we see our stairs as something akin to functional art pieces and not something to be rushed.
An important consideration is that we design and build bespoke staircases for homes at various stages in the construction or renovation process. It’s important to make sure that your building is ready to take the staircase and leaving it too late can compromise the final design.
If the client has a very clear idea of what they want, we could theoretically design, fabricate, and install a custom set of bespoke stairs in around 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the design.
Bespoke staircases vary wildly in cost depending on the design complexity, material choices, and installation requirements. That being said, the majority of bespoke staircases that First Step Designs have delivered in recent years range between £20,000 and £30,000 (+VAT). Check out our article on How much does a new staircases cost for a more detailed breakdown and examples with technical specifications and prices.
As long as they meet UK building regulations for stairs (you can learn more about this topic in our Are Floating Staircases Legal blog post) and you have a fabrication team willing to build them, you pretty much have free rein when it comes to bespoke staircase materials.
Typically, bespoke staircase materials include some combination of wood, steel, glass, stone, and concrete. Bespoke stair’ structures are typically made from steel, while material choices for treads, balustrades, handrails, and other elements are up to the design team and client.
Since bespoke staircases are custom-made, they can be designed in virtually any style, as long as they meet structural and building regulations. As industry leaders, First Step Designs offers all the conventional types of stairs you would expect; however, feel free to reach out to us with your wildest plans. If anyone can make it work, it’s First Step Designs.
In a nutshell, a bespoke staircase is one that has been custom-designed and fabricated to suit very specific and unique requirements. Unlike mass-produced, prefabricated, or modular staircases of a standard size and design, bespoke staircases are uniquely crafted to suit the homeowner’s vision, architectural requirements, and stylistic preferences.
While bespoke staircases typically come with a steeper price tag, they're fabricated by expert craftsmen with a passion for their work, as opposed to factory workers trying to produce as many units in as little time as possible.
