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Designing, fabricating, and installing central spine staircases comes with a unique set of challenges and considerations when compared to other types of staircases. We factor in the differences in structural loads, rely on high-precision engineering and fabrication practices to ensure stability and understand the importance of a perfect-fit installation, among many other unique considerations.
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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.
First of all, they’re beautiful. When designed right and fabricated with care, central spine staircases can add a certain—and we’re really not trying to sound snobbish here— ‘touch of class’ to an indoor space. They’re sleek, appear to float in midair from certain angles, and can complement any aesthetic with the right detailing and finishes.
For some homeowners, central spine staircases are simply the logical choice. Homes with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, uninterrupted panoramic views, or custom-designed walls with specific features or materials all benefit from stairs that don’t need wall-mounted anchor points, ensuring that your feature walls remain features and don’t become fixtures.
In more compact homes, open central spine staircases with a smaller footprint help to save space while also allowing for maximum natural sunlight in the room.
Yes, we do. First Step Designs is a leading staircase supplier with clients around the UK. Whether you’re looking for a bespoke central spine staircase for your new home or aiming to give an ageing set of stairs a new lease on life with a custom staircase renovation, reach out to First Step Designs for uncompromising quality and an unparalleled eye for details.
Yes, and when done right, it can add another beautiful layer of elegance. Good lighting doesn’t only make stairs safer to use but can completely transform the look and feel of a room based on how you choose to approach the problem. Admittedly, choosing the right lighting solutions can be tricky if you haven’t done it before; however, our design team understands the difference that the right lighting solutions can make and will gladly talk you through the options that would best suit your home and stairs.
Examples of embedded lighting for central spine stairs include:
First Step Designs exclusively designs, builds, and installs 100% original, bespoke staircases. With us as your home improvement partner, you can rest assured that you have complete freedom to pursue any design direction. From bespoke structural elements like curved or offset spines to handpicked finishing details, safety features, or built-in lighting solutions, everything at First Step Designs is bespoke and designed to order.
Yes. As the biggest piece of fixed furniture in your home, an attractive and functional staircase that still has the majority of its expected service life ahead of it can dramatically improve a home’s resale value. While this applies to all types of stairs, a bespoke central spine staircase that seamlessly integrates with the rest of the home's design and aesthetic, creating an undeniable focal point, can significantly enhance your home's resale value.
Spine stairs are often combined with glass balustrades for a sleek and modern look. Clear glass, just like open risers and a minimalist frame, allows for light to flow freely through spaces, making them appear brighter and larger. Depending on the aesthetic the designer and homeowner are going for, the glass may also be tinted, frosted, textured, or etched for bespoke finishing details or to integrate with a designer home interior.
Absolutely! With a minimal footprint and open risers, central spine stairs create a sense of space in open-plan living areas. Their sleek and modern designs allow them to act as focal points that don’t overwhelm or fill the room, instead allowing for extended sightlines and light throughout the space. Depending on their placement, they also act as subtle room dividers that separate spaces while maintaining the desired open and airy atmosphere.
Bespoke spine staircases typically cost between £15,000 and £30,000. Factors such as design complexity, number of turns, materials and finishes, and installation requirements all affect the final price tag.
If you’re considering a central spine staircase for your home, feel free to reach out to the team at First Step Designs for information about pricing and a same-day quote.
Picking between a spine and a floating staircase can be a difficult decision. In many cases, either design type would work well—creating focal points, making the home more liveable, and increasing resale value.
One scenario where central spine staircases have the clear upper hand is when you’re trying to split a large living area without resorting to new walls. They serve as a natural visual and physical divider while still allowing light and air to flow freely. While floating staircases can achieve the same result, they’re typically mounted against or closer to walls.
Spine staircases can also support greater maximum loads than floating staircases; however, within the context of family home stair use, this has little day-to-day value.
Once installed, no. They’re as safe, functional, and easy to maintain as any other type of staircase. There are, however, a handful of unique pre-installation considerations.
Central spine staircases offer very little room for error and are typically built to very tight and exacting tolerances, ensuring rigid and stiff stairs that don’t sway or flex despite the lack of visible mounting points. This added structural complexity translates into longer fabrication and installation times, as well as increased labour costs.
Central spine staircases are a good choice for several reasons: they’re beautiful to look at and use, create prominent focal points, can significantly increase property values, and offer a handful of unique benefits when compared to stairs that require direct wall-mounting.
Central spine stairs do not rely on wall-mounted anchor points or necessarily have to be wall-bound. They can physically split up large or open living spaces, helping to define areas without additional walls and maintaining an open, airy feel. Their minimalist design also allows for light to flow more freely, making homes feel bigger, brighter, and more inviting.
