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Welcome to First Step Designs, the UK's leading specialists in precision-engineered, bespoke floating stairs. Based in nearby Stoke, we work hand-in-hand with Chester homeowners to design, craft, and install high-end floating stairs that elevate bespoke homes.
More than most other staircase styles, floating staircases require specialist design and engineering—areas in which we have earned national recognition. Our bespoke staircases have been featured on Grand Designs, we won the 2024 Build It Award for Best UK Staircase, and we continue to work on high-profile projects across the country.
From the hidden steelwork you'll never see to the rich details you'll admire from every angle every day, when it absolutely has to be a centrepiece, choose First Step Designs.
Floating or cantilevered staircases achieve their signature floating look by removing the structural elements you'd typically see on any other style of staircase, securely anchoring each tread into a hidden steel structure on its side profile. With the entire load bearing down on a single anchor point, and even the slightest miscalculation creating an unbalanced look, there's no margin for error.
At First Step Designs, our design and engineering teams rely on detailed CAD modelling, precision 5-axis CNC machining, state-of-the-art surface detailing, and rigorous in-house testing to develop staircases that don't compromise on quality, beauty, or safety.
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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.
In a word, impact. While a purposefully designed and manufactured staircase of any style can enhance any home, floating stairs remain the height of staircase ambition. They appear to defy gravity as they hang, seemingly unsupported, in the air, and introduce lightness and openness to hallways, mezzanines, and extensions.
Floating stairs offer:
Typically, the process from first contact to final, post-installation quality checks takes around 3 to 6 months. This allows for design development and iteration, engineering, quality control, test fitting, and final installation. For projects with a detailed design brief and structural drawings, we may complete the installation in as little as 6 to 8 weeks.
At First Step Designs, every last component is designed and manufactured in-house—no prefabricated elements, no generic modules—to ensure a truly bespoke build.
Pricing for a floating staircase depends on factors such as materials, configuration, and the structural requirements of your property. Our most recent Chester installations have fallen between £23,000 and £30,000 (+VAT).
Reach out to our design team to discuss your project and receive a more detailed, personalised quote.
We design our floating stairs around a custom-designed hidden steel structure, but the visible elements are up to your discretion when it comes to materials and finishes.
Depending on the home's design or aesthetic, popular combinations include timber, steel, glass, stone, tile, and microconcrete.
Not at all. Floating stairs do not require any special cleaning or maintenance other than routine cleaning and mopping up spills as they occur.
In the event of accidental damage to any surface or finish, our team can help you repair or refinish timber, metal, and glass components to showroom condition.
Floating stairs must comply fully with UK building regulations for design, safety, and rigidity, and they are as safe as other traditional staircase styles. Relying on years of experience and state-of-the-art engineering, we manufacture floating stairs that remain rigid, feature secure handrails or balustrades, and are built to withstand decades of daily use.
Floating staircases are engineered so that each tread is anchored into a custom steel structure hidden within a supporting wall from the side profile. This creates a floating effect—as if the stairs were weightless. Often paired with minimalist or glass balustrades, they create a clean, modern, and open architectural centrepiece.
Bespoke floating stairs are tailored to each home and represent serious design and fabrication challenges, increasing their value and status.
