DRAG
Welcome to First Step Design, the UK’s leading specialists in bespoke floating staircase design, manufacturing, and installation. We work closely with homeowners, architects, and interior designers across Cambridgeshire to engineer one-of-a-kind floating staircases, creating striking focal points, beautiful sightlines from every angle, and homes with unique character.
Having been featured on Grand Designs and winning the 2024 Build It Award for Best UK Staircase, we're confident that we’re the right team to bring your vision to life. From new-build projects in St Neots and Ely to contemporary riverside properties in Cambridge and a portfolio of projects across the county, Cambridgeshire trusts First Step Designs to bring award-winning inspiration to every project.
Reach out to our design team to discover how a bespoke floating staircase can enhance your home today.
Floating, or cantilevered stairs, are among the most visually striking styles of staircases; however, their signature floating look demands exceptional planning and precision during engineering and installation. When even the slightest miscalculation can lead to instability, a visual disconnect, and potentially even a safety or compliance hazard, making sure that you’re working with proven experts is imperative.
At First Step Designs, we manufacture high-end floating staircases with millimetre-perfect accuracy for a stable, durable, and visually uncompromised build. We rely on advanced CAD, ultra-precise 5-axis CNC machining, and rigorous in-house quality control to consistently deliver nothing but the highest quality staircases.
When structural performance and build integrity matter, Cambridgeshire turns to First Step Designs.
1/5
0 / 0
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.
2/5
0 / 0
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.
3/5
0 / 0
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.
4/5
0 / 0
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.
5/5
0 / 0
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.
Floating staircases are unrivalled in transforming interiors. By removing bulky stringers, risers, and all visible supports, they appear to defy gravity while simultaneously enhancing natural light, creating uninterrupted sightlines, and opening up spaces.
Floating stairs offer:
The full design-to-installation process generally takes 3 to 6 months, allowing time for design, engineering, quality control, test fitting, and final installation. For projects with a clearly defined brief, we may complete the process in 6 to 8 weeks.
Every staircase is designed and manufactured entirely in-house, with no prefabricated components, ensuring a truly bespoke result.
Pricing depends on materials, complexity, and the structural requirements of your property. Most Cambridgeshire installations fall between £23,000 and £30,000 (+VAT). Once we understand your design brief and structural conditions, we will provide a detailed, tailored quotation specific to your project.
Our floating stairs are supported by a completely hidden steel structure; however, when it comes to the visible components such as treads, balustrades, newel posts, and handrails, First Step Designs clients have complete freedom of choice. Most projects feature a combination of steel, timber, glass, stone, tile, and microconcrete, depending on the client’s style preferences.
First Step Designs floating stairs are built from the highest quality materials and all surface finishes are chosen for both durability and practicality. Routine cleaning and immediately clearing up spills should be enough to keep your staircase in top condition for decades.
In the unlikely event of accidental damage, our team can repair timber, metal, glass, or coated components to their original condition.
Floating staircases must comply with UK building regulations and are as safe as any other style of staircase. Recognising the questions many homeowners have about floating stairs, we’ve created a series of blog posts covering floating staircase safety, legality, and building regulations.
Learn more:
Floating stairs refers to a style of staircase where each tread is cantilevered (affixed to a supporting wall from one side profile only), creating a hovering effect. With all the supporting structural elements hidden from view and balustrades often following a less-is-more design approach, floating staircases create a clean, contemporary architectural feature that feels light and refined.
