DRAG
Welcome to First Step Designs, the UK’s leading name in bespoke floating staircase design and manufacturing. Based in Stoke, we work closely with Liverpool homeowners, architects, and interior specialists to design and craft floating stairs that enhance bespoke homes with stunning architectural impact and precision-engineered performance.
Bespoke floating stairs represent the height of staircase ambition, requiring specialist design and engineering expertise, as well as expert understanding of light and spatial flow. Having been featured on Grand Designs and winning the 2024 Build It Award for Best UK Staircase, we’ve earned national recognition for these disciplines, and we’re confident that we’re the right team to help you transform your home into the extraordinary.
When it absolutely has to be flawless, Liverpool trusts First Step Designs.
With the absence of visible support structures, floating staircases, also known as cantilevered staircases, are defined more by what you don’t see than by what you do. Each tread, as well as the total weight of the balustrades, is anchored into a custom-designed steel structure hidden within a supporting wall—a design and engineering challenge that leaves no room for error.
At First Step Designs, floating staircases are engineered with millimetre-perfect precision. We rely on advanced CAD modelling, pinpoint-accurate 5-axis CNC machining, and rigorous in-house test fitting to consistently deliver staircases that exceed expectations. Lasting, secure, and of uncompromised quality!
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.
Cantilevered stairs are counted among the most visually distinctive and impactful architectural features in bespoke modern homes. Their floating appearance seems to defy gravity, while at the same time, their minimalist design and absence of bulky stringers, tread risers, and support structures bring a sense of openness and flow.
Floating stairs offer:
Project timelines vary significantly based on the scope of the project, design complexity, material choices, and installation difficulties; however, we complete most of our projects in approximately 4 to 6 months from first contact. While this might feel like a long timeline given the availability of more immediate solutions, we craft unique staircases comparable to functional art—and we don’t rush art.
When our clients approach us with a clear vision and/or design plans, we can expedite the progress and have it completed in roughly 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the design.
Yes, but very little and very infrequently. We rely on high-quality steel and superior finishing techniques, resulting in ultra-durable metal staircases that are all but indestructible. With the exception of keeping them clean and free of dust, the only remaining maintenance is to ensure that the surface finish remains scratch and damage-free. In the event that a scratch or abrasion reaches down into the raw steel, it’s important to respray or refinish the affected area to avoid oxidation.
Luckily, this is a fairly straightforward task with both instructional videos and the materials required readily available. Alternatively, reach out to First Step Designs for a zero-obligation renovation quote.
Yes, it can. First Step Designs specialises in designing bespoke and deeply personalised staircases, ensuring that each and every element—from the substructure to the finishing, detailing, and accessories—is tailored to suit your home, vision, and style.
We work closely with our clients over the span of several weeks, guiding them through the staircase design process and iterating through staircase styles, designs, and details to find the best possible fit.
By the time the design is finished and sent off to fabrication, we will have gone through design options for the overall staircase style and shape, treads, balustrades, handrails, optional accessories such as decorative inserts or recessed lighting, as well as surface finish options.
Whether referring to full metal staircases or one that relies on a metal substructure, these types of staircases hold several advantages over commonly used alternatives, such as full timber builds. This includes:
