THE LOWDOWN ON... BUILDING A NEW STAIRCASE

FLIGHT OF STAIRS GETTING IN THE WAY OF A DREAM RENOVATION? ARCHITECTURE FOR LONDON'S AMRIT MARWAY TELLS US HOW TO GO ABOUT CREATING A NEW ONE

- RACHEL CHRISTIE

Designed by Studio Spiteri, this striking staircase features a hand-carved oak handrail that curves from the top to the bottom of the house without breaks. Metal spindles allow the dramatic rail to take centre stage

Designing a staircase might seem like a mountain of a job but the upheaval can be worth it. Don't get us wrong, it's definitely not a simple endeavour: you'll almost certainly need professional help and it will be an investment. But what it does do is offer the opportunity to completely alter your home's entrance, potentially turning it into an enviably striking one. Changing the staircase can improve a bad layout and turn a standard interior into something stunning. To begin, think about whether a new staircase will actually change your space for the better - will it improve the layout, could it add value and is it doable? Amrit Marway, associate director at Architecture for London, shares her tips for embarking on a new staircase adventure.

1 Look closely at your layout. Where do you arrive when you reach the last step on your existing staircase? It's usually better to line your staircase along an external wall so you are not using up the centre of a room as circulation space. There may be instances where a central location for a staircase is desirable, such as a sweeping spiral or helical statement staircase within the centre of the floor plan.