This simple interface makes Pinterest a great tool for getting ideas for home improvement projects such as stairs, balconies, and railings. This can include everything from the style or type of materials, right down to specific features like the number of treads or how many spindles per tread.  

As a bespoke manufacturer, we can then talk through the images you’ve chosen, what you like about them, and use this to develop and refine your piece to achieve a beautiful end result. 

How To Create an Inspiration Board 

Begin by logging onto Pinterest and creating a board. If you haven’t used it before, they offer a useful beginner’s guide to help you get your account set-up. Pinterest is easy to use and allows you to create as many boards as you need. Consider titling it ‘Staircase Inspiration’ to organise all your ideas into one folder. 

Once this is set-up, you can start using Pinterest’s search tool to find some ideas and pin them to the board.  

When envisioning your new staircase, balcony or railing, there are two things worth bearing in mind: style and practicality. Take a moment to consider what you want. Are you interested in that snug farmhouse feel? Or are you leaning more towards the clean lines of a modern aesthetic? Whilst Pinterest can help you find the right style for you, it’s helpful to already have an idea of what you want and be able to tailor your searches, accordingly, using terms such as ‘traditional spiral staircases’. 

Practicality is also key. Consider the space you’re working with, especially for permanent fixtures like staircases. If your space is limited, consider a spiral that can fit neatly into smaller nooks of your home. If you have a long narrow space, then a straight staircase may fit more suitably into your home. 

Beyond identifying general styles, this is also an opportunity to find specific details you like. For example, what type of timber do you prefer a rich oak, dark walnut or even a simple birch ply. Are there specific details you like such as the design of spindles, use of concealed fixings, colour choice or how the staircase links into the landing balustrade.  

Add notes when pining these images to remind you specifically what you like about them. You can also upload your own pictures if you see something you like out and about, or if you want to quickly capture an image from a magazine.  

You can also can follow us on Pinterest too! Our Pinterest boards have been created to cover a wide range of different designs, both from ourselves and others, showing what is possible for your piece.   

Creating your design 

Once you’re happy with your board, get in touch with us. You can either submit a quote on one of our product pages, call us on … or email us at. 

Our friendly team are more than happy to discuss your project requirements and can explore your board with you, either in-person at our offices, or online via Zoom or Teams.  

As a bespoke manufacturer, we pride ourselves on our ability to take on a challenge and deliver exactly what you want. As we operate our own foundry, in addition to a huge range of existing designs, we can also create completely unique designs just for you. These could be developed from your own drawings or other designs you have seen. We can also create pieces which match existing designs if you have seen – for example, if you have seen a spindle or railing you especially like. 

Our workshop includes a full powder coating facility, and we are more than happy to colour match if you have a particular option you like. We also work with a wide range of specialist partners to achieve specific designs, these include Handrail Creations, who can produce beautiful carved handrails, experienced cabinetmakers and finishing companies who can provide marine grade painted finishes for seaside locations.   

We can also advise where designs you’ve pinned may not meet UK Building Regulations or planning requirements, and how they could be adapted to do so.  

We use Computer Aided Design (CAD) for all our staircases and balconies, so you will be able to see a virtual version of your design before manufacturing begins – ensuring it perfectly matches your vision. 

Get In Touch 

So, if you’re wanting to unlock the endless opportunities that come with a platform like Pinterest, get online and set up your account, and when you’re done, share what you like with us by submitting a quote or contacting us via email. 

The post Pin-tastic! How to use Pinterest for Interior Design.  appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

All change

Whilst 2023 witnessed trends like the ‘all-grey aesthetic’ and extreme minimalism, 2024 is set to reveal fresh, unconventional trends for designing spaces. Instead of opting for cheap, quick-fix items, the focus is now on investing in high-quality, custom pieces that are built to last. These statement pieces add a splash of creativity and excitement to any home, aiming to create spaces that are not just fashionable for a year or two, but stand as timeless reflections meant to last for generations. This aligns perfectly with our own approach to manufacturing, producing pieces which are custom designed for the space and crafted to your specifications.

Another emerging trend for 2024 is the reliance on colour to create a space with the perfect ambiance. Whilst seeing the return of warmer hues such as brown, there is also a push for more vibrant and audacious colouring options, which can be paired with more personal touches and detailed designs to create a space that is uniquely yours!

Brown Renaissance

Brown is a rich and warm colour that oozes with elegance and sophistication. Using shades of brown often brings a sense of timeless beauty to any space. A spiral staircase can be a stunning focal point, and incorporating these shades can enhance its attraction even further. To embrace this trend, you could consider using brown as the primary colour for a spiral staircase or even pairing brown interior colours with a more vibrant shade such as gold. Pairing this with intricate wrought iron railings or ornate detailing, can create a visually striking feature.

Vibrant and Audacious Colour Choices

Moving away from the brown renaissance, in 2024, another trend on the horizon involves a significant shift towards vibrant and daring colour choices. While the allure of grey tones prevailed in 2023 and previous years, we are witnessing a great investment in more lively and striking colour palettes. This departure from the subdued aesthetic of the past marks a dynamic transformation in design trends towards bolder and more adventurous hues. Be it a vibrant yellow or a rich, deep green, at British Spirals & Castings, we are dedicated to offering the colour your heart desires whilst staying in step with the latest styles.

Our in-house powder coating facility and finishing options

Whether you prefer warm, earthy tones or bright, vibrant hues, we can finish the piece to your tastes. We have dedicated powder coating facility at our Derbyshire site, allowing us to offer all our cast aluminium spiral staircases in a variety of RAL colours. This ensures that you can achieve the exact aesthetic you desire, alongside a durable and high-quality finish. We can also supply pieces ready to be finished on-site, or for marine environments, with specialist finishes from our trusted partners.

Designed for you.

Whether it be colours or design choices, just remember that when you purchase a staircase or balcony through BS&C, it will be bespoke to your tastes and the space. This means if you want to achieve a particular aesthetic or work it around fixtures and fittings in your space, you can!

An example of this is the challenging project we completed on an Edwardian home in 2021. The staircase was being installed as part of a loft conversion and had to be tailored to the tight dimensions of the landing whilst also fitting in with the home’s aesthetic. At British Spirals & Castings, we thrive on such challenges, using our expertise in CAD design to seamlessly integrate functionality with the unique nuances of each space, resulting in a staircase that harmoniously blends into its surroundings while meeting all regulatory standards.

To overcome the building’s quirks, we developed the initial designs within our custom CAD modelling software. This allowed us to easily modify the design for the space and clearly communicate the finished aesthetic to the customer.

To enhance the overall aesthetic, the homeowner selected a cool blue powder coating to the handrail, spindles, and infill panels. This choice not only enhanced the overall aesthetic but also aligned with the prevailing design trends of 2021, where shades of blues and turquoise gained prominence in interior design palettes. This contemporary colour choice then thoughtfully juxtaposed with the warmth of the solid oak treads, resulting in a staircase that seamlessly blends modern design elements with the timeless beauty of natural materials.

To elevate the visual appeal of the space, the homeowner meticulously opted for a chic powder coating in a serene blue hue, applying it to the handrail, spindles, and infill panels. This choice not only enhances the overall aesthetic but also aligns with the prevailing design trends of 2021, where shades of blues and turquoise gained prominence in interior design palettes.

Whatever you’re looking for, we can work with you to develop a design which works for the space and meets your aesthetic vision. You can visit our gallery to see more examples of the projects we’ve worked on over the years. Once you’re ready, submit a quote, or get in touch via phone or email.

Keep an eye out for our next blog, all about the different fittings and features your staircase can have to achieve that timeless allure.

The post 2024 Colour Trends: Out with the old, in with the hue appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

Our LCC range of staircases is a popular choice for Georgian properties, accurately reflecting the restrained, symmetrical aesthetic of the period. When Llewellyn Harker Lowe architects were looking for a replacement for a steep timber staircase for a client’s Grade I listed home, this style offered a natural solution. The new staircase forms part of wider refurbishment works on the property, being carried out by Bath Style.

Safer Access

The existing staircase was located in the mews building of the property, leading from a garage on the first floor into a vaulted space at garden level on the ground floor. The stairs posed a number of challenges as architect, Joseph Withers, explained:

“The staircase was a steep timber flight of steps, with open risers and insufficient headroom and guarding. This felt very dangerous to navigate, and was clumsily designed and built, so detracted from the character of the historic building. The staircase was heavily used as a rear access into the house, but was impractical to use and impossible to climb safely with children or shopping. The client asked us to explore alternative options for this access route that would be safer, more practical and more in keeping with the character of the building.”

The firm considered a couple of options to replace the staircase – such as removing it and installing an external staircase or forming a new circular opening through the vaults and introducing a spiral staircase.

“In the initial pre-app discussion with the planners, the conservation officer indicated that the internal spiral staircase would be the preferred option. We developed the design for that option for full listed building consent application,” Joseph said. “We looked online for suppliers who could deliver a traditional style staircase which was fully compliant with the Building Regulations. Through our initial contact with British Spirals & Castings, we established that their product would be the right level of quality we were looking for and the LCC design was appropriate to the character of the building. The standardised parts also make it a cost-effective option which would suit the client’s budget.”

As with all our cast aluminium staircases, the components for our LCC design staircases are produced at our Staffordshire foundry. We have the patterns to produce the treads, spindles and handrails in a range of standard sizes which can then be combined to create a staircase which is bespoke to the project’s dimensions and requirements. We’re also able to produce one of a kind bespoke designs in a range of materials, if you require.

Small but complex

It was a small but highly complex project – working with the existing building meant that we had to design a solution to fit within the existing constraints, whilst improving on the dangerous access. The complexity of the project required a collaborative approach between Llewellyn Harker Lowe, Bath Style, the structural engineer, and British Spirals & Castings.

From the initial measures for the proposed opening, we developed a CAD design for the spiral staircase featuring three square profiled spindles per tread and a simple metal handrail which continues on to the surrounding balustrade on the upper floor. Once these designs were approved, the components were then cast at our foundry before being finished and test constructed at our workshop. The pieces were also powder coated black before being sent on to the site in Bath for installation.

Joseph added:

“We were very happy with the service from British Spirals & Castings at every stage. They communicated with us regularly, worked with us to provide drawings for our approval, and designed a bespoke balustrade to suit the circular opening. I briefly met the fitters on site and they seemed very helpful and competent, and I know the contractor was very impressed with their service throughout the project. The final product was of high quality and fitted perfectly within the space and in keeping with the character of the building. We would definitely recommend them to others, and have since specified a spiral stair from BS&C on another one of our projects.”

If you are interested in having a bespoke staircase or balcony installed in your own property, visit our gallery to view some of the options and submit a quote or get in tou

The post Georgian Spiral Staircase for a Grade I Listed House appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

When ordering a staircase and balcony, there are lots of important questions to consider. In this blog we’ll talk through some of the most important ones. We’d also recommend getting in touch with us at the earliest possible stage, as we can work with you answer many of these with you. This means this can all be factored into the initial design, ensuring a smoother process from design right through to installation.

Key considerations and challenges

The first thing to consider is if there are any specific challenges posed by your project. These could be things that you might not have ordinarily thought of as a challenge until you’re far into the process, and at this point this could led to unexpected delays. These can cover a range of things:

1. Are there any site or planning restrictions? These can vary greatly from project to project, and they can force people to reconsider the dimensions of the staircase or balcony they’ve chosen, the installation process, and the choice of materials – especially relevant in the case of conservation areas.
2. What substrate is being used? If you’re planning to fit the staircase or balcony into an existing structure or substrate i.e., a brick wall, you will need to think about which fixtures and fittings are appropriate. This may impact the design of supporting brackets we use.
3. Does it need to match an existing design? It may be the case in a conservation area that the staircase or balcony needs to match the existing metalwork or style.
4. Are the building walls out of square or plumb? The walls of most buildings are rarely even, and older buildings can undulate. In any project’s design stage, the exact measurements of the building needs to be taken into account early, so there are no surprises when it comes to installing the piece. In addition to a trusty plumb line or level, we can also carry out laser scanning of sites to precisely capture the undulations of your building.
5. Is your project in a seaside location? For balconies and staircases that are external, its always important to factor in the weather. Exposure to saline air can degrade some structures over time. We can work with trusted partners to provide a marine grade finish will offer the best protection and preservation for your project.
6. Who will be using to staircase or balcony? This could impact a number of things, such as the rises of a staircase, the height of railings, or the widths of balconies. For example, public buildings will have more stringent regulations regarding the height of railings and the gaps between balusters – but any building that could be used by children under five will have to adhere to requirements that protect them.
7. Which other Building Regulations apply? Depending on where your project is located and what its end use is, a number of specific Building Regulations may apply.

As mentioned, we can work with you to answer each of the above questions and find the best solution for your project. In addition to these potential challenges, there are a few other key questions that we can work with you to answer.

What materials should you use?

As manufacturers of bespoke pieces made from a range of materials, we’re often surprised when the material selection on a project is treated as an afterthought.

There can often be misconceptions of what material you should specify for your project – such as thinking that wrought iron is the best, or only, choice for railings. While this could be true for conservation areas or when the materials are pre-defined due to planning restrictions, in most cases the material is rarely specified, and defaulting to cast or wrought iron can add unnecessary cost or complication to a project.

Any material options are best to be discussed at the earliest design stage, as the material can impact the types of designs and finishes that are easily achievable, as well as the overall cost.

What design do you want for your project?

There are endless possibilities for how your piece can look, especially when you can opt for a completely bespoke design. You may need to ask yourself how intricate of a design you want for your project; different levels of intricacy can mean different materials such as laser cut steel, or wrought iron, need to be used for the project. It’s worth considering how a highly intricate or bespoke design will be more costly and have a longer lead time than one based on an existing mould. We have a range of beautifully designed moulds to choose from, drawn from thousands of period architectural patterns, that can suit any style or taste – or we can match the design of existing balusters, railings and gratings for your bespoke project.

What type of finish do you want?

Last, but not least, considering the finish you want at the start of your project will give you a piece you’re truly happy with at the end. The finishes may be defined by the material choice, or the planning approach, so should be considered alongside everything else. For cast aluminium pieces, powder coating can give a smooth and even finish on both external and internal jobs. Powder coated pieces are more resistant to fading, corrosion, chips and scratches – so it’s worth considering how a piece might be used in a certain environment.

If you’re wanting a unique coloured finish, it’s worth discussing with a manufacturer how this can be achieved. We offer a wide range of RAL colours for powder coating to suit any project, and our trusted partners can also provide marine grade painted finishes in many colours for the cast or wrought iron pieces.

Working with British Spirals & Castings

The key to achieving the highest quality results for your project is to bring the manufacturer in as early as possible. At British Spirals & Castings, we can collaborate with you to address any challenge and find a solution that works for your project.

Get in touch

If you are interested in having a spiral staircase, balcony or railing designed and installed in your own property, visit our gallery to view some of the options and submit a quote or get in touch via phone or email.

The post What to consider before ordering a staircase or balcony appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

For this project, we brought a touch of 19^th Century England to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with a spiral staircase and matching balustrade, fitting on a property in the city of Boulder, Colorado.

Coming to America

Boulder city has a rich and complex history dating back to its foundation in the mid-19^th Century. Around this time, across the Atlantic, the ornate and extravagant Regency era was coming to an end and ushering in the aesthetics of the Victorian period. As part of a home improvement project, the homeowner chose a design that combined these two consecutive, but subtly different, architectural eras. The classical elegance and intricacy of the Regency, and the Gothic revivalist and complex Victorian style both stand out boldly against such a quintessentially American backdrop.

Turning back the clock

The homeowner was looking for an original staircase as part of a larger garage and carriage house construction and required a staircase to access the spacious roof deck and provide the building with a unique feature. With the house dating back to 1899, the homeowner wanted to find stairs that reflected this period. The relative newness of American furnishings meant that they started to look further afield to Britain – because, as the homeowner puts it, we “value our history.”

After discovering British Spirals & Castings on Google and exploring our extensive range of baluster and spiral staircase designs, the homeowner settled on a Victorian spiral staircase, with 15 rises ascending anti-clockwise to the roof deck. Three Victorian balusters per tread adorned the staircase, and decorative plates gave the top triangular landing an elegant and aesthetic appeal. To match, they opted for the same Victorian balustrades to stretch the length of the roof deck, using profiled side fix newel posts.

As with most of our overseas projects, we designed and manufactured the staircase without ever actually visiting the project. To make this possible, the project was measured up by the contractor, Jerry Paxton, of Paradigm Construction and Properties, Inc, and sent over to our design team. We then used these to develop detailed 3D CAD plans for the staircase and balustrade.

In addition to ensuring the designs precisely met the project measurements, we also needed to ensure they were in line with the local Building Codes in Boulder, which differ from the UK. Together with Jerry, we came up with a solution that met the requirements in the state.

Once these were finalised, we got to work producing the cast aluminium components at our own specialist foundry. They were then fully erected in the workshop before being taken down to be finished with a RAL 9005 Black powder coating in our dedicated powder coating building, and then packaged ready to be sent to the US. The homeowner elected to have a DAP (Delivered-at-place) service which we arranged direct to site in Boulder.

Then, once the staircase arrived on location, the installation progressed exactly as planned, with no issues, according to Jerry.

Of their experience of as an overseas homeowner, they said: “As a US customer, we expect fast responses, and British Spirals & Castings did just that. They are responsive and responsible, and we loved the transparency of the process. Before working with them, I didn’t know much about the company as it was overseas, but British Spirals & Castings are very professional and help you through any challenges. I recommend them highly.”

Get in touch

If you are interested in having a bespoke spiral staircase installed in your own property, visit our gallery to view some of the options and submit a quote or get in touch via phone or email.

The post A Victorian Spiral in Colorado appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

Orangeries were a common feature of larger Georgian and Victorian homes, bringing a taste of the Mediterranean environments homeowners enjoyed on the Grand Tour back to Britain. As part of this fantastic project here in Derbyshire, we created a cast aluminium staircase and mezzanine to add new life to the Georgian orangery.

The property was built in the 18^th Century and was designed to emulate a grand Tudor manor house. The orangery had previously been used to house events and as a wedding venue with a tired looking timber balcony. Below the balcony is a bar area which was previously part of the event space, and now the owners have recreated the bar area and balcony in keeping with the original property.

After coming across our website from an online search and spending some time looking through our gallery, the homeowners decided to visit the showroom in Chapel-en-le-Frith to see some of these pieces in person and meet our managing director, Richard Harding, to discuss their project.

The design process

Having looked at a range of the options, the owners chose a design from our Victorian spiral staircase range. Our dedicated design team, developed 3D CAD designs for the staircase and balcony for the owners to approve. Once these were agreed, we then go to work.

The size of the balcony, which spanned 3800 mm across the orangery, and 2000 mm wide, essentially created a mezzanine, and it’s the homeowners’ intention to furnish it with a piano for their children to enjoy. A singular steel support column with a Victorian base was installed to bolster the installation, ensuring the strength of the balcony. Cast aluminium balconies, unlike cast iron, are incredibly lightweight, making them ideal for these kinds of upper floor applications.

Unusually, the 1000 mm x 500 mm Victorian decorative plates featured on the underside of the balcony floor, with the homeowner’s self-selected oak flooring on the upside. Lighting was then installed in the void between the landing plates and timber to highlight the metalwork. This allowed the intricate beauty of the Victorian style plates to be enjoyed from the lower level bar, whilst also introducing the warmth and richness of the timber to the mezzanine area.

The Victorian balusters on the balcony added a simple refinement, alternating with a regent ornate infill to create an open, airy feel to the balcony whilst also being aware of health and safety limitations with regards to spacing – as any gaps between balusters need to be less than 100 mm to comply with Building Regulations.

During the design process, the homeowners’ distinguished between the more intricate balusters at the top of the balcony, which they wanted to be more visible, and another style of Victorian baluster and ornate infill for the spiral staircase. Ten treads, each with a baluster and infill, ascended clockwise up to a radius drop landing; as the spiral staircase was installed at the side rather than the front of the balcony, the drop landing ensured the staircase didn’t spiral underneath the balcony, so as not to encroach on the bar area.

All of the pieces were powder coated at our dedicated facility before being transported to site. At this point, the homeowners prepared the space, whilst Richard arranged for fitters to come in to install the piece.

The homeowners were exceedingly happy with the result. “The service was second to none,” they said. “Richard is a class English gentleman, and British Spirals & Castings are the type of company you want to do business with – one you can trust and rely on.”

If you are interested in having a bespoke staircase or balcony installed in your own property, visit our gallery to view some of the options and submit a quote or get in touch via phone or email.

The post A Victorian staircase and balcony for a unique orangery appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

Here are some tips to save costs and get a staircase that looks great and fits perfectly.

Choose a design from our standard ranges

Whilst we can produce completely one-off designs, like this floating helical staircase, we also offer a number of popular standard ranges of spiral and straight staircases.

For our cast spiral staircases, these ranges are based on the pattern of the treads. They include:

• Traditional Victorian
• Modern Art Deco
• LCC
• Diamond

We have pre-existing pattern moulds for these treads in a number of widths. By selecting one of these existing sizes, we’re able to produce the staircases both more quickly and affordably as there is no time needed to create a new mould. Get in touch and we can help you to find the most suitable size for your project.

Explore our Scandinavian Range

Our Scandinavian range of spiral staircases feature combine cast aluminium structure with timber treads. Whilst we can provide these with a range of hardwood treads, they can also be designed with marine grade birch ply-wood treads. This is our most affordable design of spirals staircase and also perfectly complements the practical, Scandinavian aesthetic which remains highly desirable for many homeowners and businesses.

Go for a more minimalist design

We offer a wide range of spindles and decorative railing panels which can be used for the baluster. However, all our standard square and circular profile spindles are produced with the same care and attention to detail as the more ornate alternatives and can provide a modern aesthetic whilst saving on costs.

The same is true for the handrail, where we can offer a simple all-metal design with visible top fixings. This can create an industrial aesthetic whilst also being a more affordable alternative to other options we offer, such as wooden handrails.

Think carefully about the staircase dimensions

In addition to picking one of our standard widths of treads, it’s also worth considering what size of staircase you actually need. Here in the UK, there are clear regulations which set out the minimum width for different designs of staircase depending on where they are being fitted. For example, a staircase going up to a single bedroom, such as a loft conversion, can be much narrower than a main staircase.

Learn more about the minimum width of staircases

By opting for slightly narrower treads, less raw materials are needed which will have a knock-on effect on the cost of the finished staircase.

Think about materials and finishes

Often, when customers come to us for a metal staircase, they think the only available options are cast iron or wrought iron. In fact, we produce almost all of our metal staircases from cast aluminium at our Staffordshire foundry. Cast aluminium is much lighter than these alternatives which can mean that a less extensive footing is needed for exterior staircases or avoids the need for additional internal supports when fitting a staircase for a loft conversion.

Additionally, whilst we offer a professional powder coating service for a smooth finish on our cast aluminium pieces, we can also supply them unfinished – allowing you to apply a hand painted finish.

Watch our powder coating video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEy9DNBsjEI

Measure and install the staircase yourself

Finally, we’ve worked with homeowners both in the UK and abroad who’ve saved costs on their project by carrying out the measuring and installation themselves. We can provide clear guidance on how to measure the space along with fixing instructions for when the staircase arrives. Keep in mind that some of the components will be heavy or cumbersome so you’ll need a few friends to help with the installation.

 Get in touch

If you are interested in having a bespoke spiral staircase, balcony or railing designed and installed in your own property, visit our gallery to view some of the options and submit a quote or get in touch via phone or email.

The post How to save money when buying a staircase appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

The conservatory plant specialist is owned and managed by Lisa Rawley – a qualified horticulturist with over 30 years’ experience working in the industry. They exhibited at the show as part of the Plant Fairs Roadshow, a collective of specialist plant nurseries based in the southeast of England. The seed of the idea of using a spiral staircase for the Fleur De Lys stand was planted during a trip to Kew Gardens, as Lisa explained:

“The pandemic put us out of work for months as all regular plant sales were cancelled and we were suddenly unable to be within our client’s home environments. During this period of uncertainty, I paid a visit to Kew Gardens. The uplifting, romantic ascent of the spiral staircase in the Temperate House held me spellbound. I captured the image of this cup and saucer vine scrambling unabashed up the balusters and thought a lot about the charming scene.”

“When we had the opportunity to attend Chelsea again as part of the Plant Fairs Roadshow collective, it gave me an excuse to dream of the staircase again. And, with great fortune, we were able to find one – a rescue from a field in Gloucestershire. Unsurprisingly, the staircase wasn’t in the best of condition. I came across British Spirals & Castings and got in touch with them about restoring it.”

The existing staircase needed a good clean and a new balustrade. We discussed Lisa’s inspiration for the staircase and how she intended to use it as part of the stand. As the treads were going to be used to display many of the beautiful species she grows, the balustrade was designed to allow least obstruction to the views as a visitor, whilst still giving the appearance of a finished spiral staircase.

To achieve this, it was agreed to fit the balustrade with one decorative spindle per tread. This typically wouldn’t be possible for a staircase designed for actual use as there are strict limits on the size of any gaps but was acceptable for the staircase’s decorative use. We agreed a design of spindle with Lisa and then produced this and the handrail at our specialist foundry in Staffordshire.

The existing treads were shot blasted at our workshop to remove imperfections. Our workshop team then got to work finishing all the components and completing a test assembly. Once everything was ready, we then powder coated it so that the staircase was looking its best for the show.

The staircase provided a fantastic centre piece for the stand, helping to support a range of luscious tender species like Bougainvillea, Grewia, Monstera, Cissus, Ceropegia, Citrus, Pavonia & Plumbago. It served to inspire many conservatory owners who visited Chelsea in May as well as the judges who awarded Fleur de Lys with a silver medal.

The post A Spiral Staircase for the Chelsea Flower Show appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

The benefits of laser scanning 

We manufacture pieces for projects all over the world and take real pride in being able to support our customers to take accurate measurements, ensuring we can manufacture spiral staircases, straight stairs and balconies which fit perfectly without having to carry out a site visit. In fact, for most projects, a tape measure and level are perfectly adequate to get the measurements we need.  

When we’re dealing with an especially large or tall space, or an older building where walls and floors may undulate in and out, the LiDAR camera often provides a better option.  

The LiDAR camera is a laser scanner which works in a similar way to radar, firing out a signal and measuring the time it takes to return. By doing this again and again, it is able to plot where points are in space. Unlike radar, which uses radio waves, LiDAR uses laser signals. This means it can create an incredibly accurate 3D point cloud which can then be used in computer aided design (CAD) modelling software.  

We use a Leica model of LiDAR camera which not only generates this “point cloud” but also takes a normal picture of the building. By positioning the camera at different points in the room or around the building (if it’s an external staircase), it’s then possible to produce a recognisable digital recreation of the space, as you can see in the images below. This can all be completed with just a few hours work, first capturing the images, then processing them in the CAD software.  

3D LiDAR image being converted into a CAD computer model.

Once the image is processed, our team can easily make adjustments within the CAD model to aspects such as the design and orientation of treads and landing plates, the location of fixings and the dimensions of openings in the upper floor or balcony. It also makes it much easier to visualise how the staircase will actually look at the design stage. This means you can get a clearer sense of how different design choices such as the staircase materials, spindle or tread patterns, types of handrail and even finishes will look in your property.  

Flattened 3D scan of multi-storey home (left) and the CAD design for the three-storey spiral staircase.  

We can then manufacture the piece with a high degree of precision, regardless of how complex or out of square or plumb the space is. This helps to ensure a much easier installation process – avoiding any unnecessary delays or surprises. The LiDAR images and outputs can also be useful for your architect, allowing them to plan further features in as part of their own design processes.   

Get in touch 

If you are interested in having a bespoke spiral staircase, balcony or railing designed and installed in your own property, visit our gallery to view some of the options and submit a quote or get in touch via phone or email. 

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© Derek Phillips

Adding period features back into a home is a passion for many homeowners these days, but Siân and Billy Stewart are taking this one step further, in their aim to transform a virtually derelict, Grade II* listed townhouse into a stunning home. The project included work to shore up the building structure, restore the roof and over 30 windows, and renovate many features. The stunning ground floor apartment is now available as a holiday let – https://glenara.co.uk/ and you can keep up with progress the reset of the property via the Portland House Facebook page). As part of the project, we designed and manufactured a spiral staircase and with large balcony with a unique balustrade based on Billy’s own designs.

The original balcony and staircase.

The couple needed a new balcony as the original (pictured above) had been condemned. Whilst searching for a replacement, they found that many companies only offered off-the-shelf designs or were simply not interested in taking up a project on the west coast of Wales. By working with Siân and Billy, and carrying out a site visit, we were able to create a bespoke design which was adapted to the home’s measurements.

“I was immediately attracted to the service offered by Ben and Richard Harding to work in partnership with them to develop something bespoke.” Siân explained. “Their site visit, which also allowed us to see samples of their work, was important in the process. It gave us and our builder confidence in the company and the product and in addition, the sense that we would enjoy working with them both.”

The design process

In the early design stage, Siân and Billy had looked at incorporating original Victorian railings in the design, but the weight made this impossible. We manufactured the railing and staircase from cast aluminium which is far lighter than cast iron alternatives. The balconies feature a unique wave like panel design which was based on sketches from Billy, as Siân explained:

“We wanted something that reflected that the house is surrounded by water- the sea at the front and river at the side- and also to commemorate that a number of sea captains had lived there between the 1870s and 1950s. Billy came up with an initial design to commemorate that. BS&C had not previously made a wavy stair spindle so we commissioned them to make a bespoke pattern for us. This increased the cost by £650 but was money well spent to achieve an integrated design.”

The final 5-metre-long balcony design combines the unique railings, in 5 sections, with our Victorian style railing panels, capitals and brackets, to create a look that is sympathetic to the 1850s home. The spiral staircase boasts a diameter of 1676mm ascending in a clockwise rotation up to a height of 2750mm, the second floor of the property. 14 rises wrap around a single support pole, with 3 balusters per tread, alternating between straight and wavelike spindles.

Because this was a property of considerable historic value, the plans needed to be approved by CADW, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service which works to ensure the protection of Wales’ historic environment. Grade 2* listed properties are often unique and Portland House was no different.  Sian and Billy worked with a conservation advisor and a heritage architect on their plans. These showed the location and overarching style of the balcony; the design was their own. Discussions with the local building control officer about the final design meant that it met both heritage and safety requirements. Not one of the building’s walls were square, and so a combination of our 3D computer aided designs (CAD), and some old-fashioned tape measuring was essential to the process of making adjustments, as well as the valuable expertise of local blacksmith, Scott Mayes of SM Welding & Fabrication , and builder and site manager, Tom Jenkins. ‘It was this attention to detail that made all the difference,’ Siân says.

The seaside location meant that the structure also needed to be carefully preserved against the saline air. Once the pieces were manufactured, we sent them to Mulberry & Pier to be expertly powder coated with a marine grade finish. Siân selected a vintage green colour for the staircase which matches the painted finish on the home.

A well-travelled structure

Throughout the manufacturing process, we stayed in regular contact with Siân and Billy, sending them pictures as the pieces were crafted.

“It was exciting to receive photos of the structure in the workshop.” Siân explained. “This really increased our sense of ownership in the work.”

As the build took shape in one of the most remote parts of the country, we didn’t shy away from the challenge of transporting the structure over 500 miles. It was manufactured in Lancashire, before being delivered to Mulberry & Pier’s facility in Southend on Sea for the marine grade painting and then transported from the easternmost part of England to the westernmost part of Wales.

The installation was carried out by Scott and Tom. The initial sense of excitement at seeing the arrival of the structure also contained ‘an element of trepidation’ when the couple realised, they would be ‘dealing with a 110-piece jigsaw puzzle.’ However, despite the significant size of the balcony, and the challenges posed by the uneven walls of the property (which required a number of modifications from Scott and Tom) the team were able to get the structure fitted in a couple of days aided by close communication from all parties. Painter, Gethin Thomas-Jones, then spent a couple more days adding finishing touches to the paintwork. Siân and Billy were incredibly happy with the final look.

Siân says of the process:

“We are absolutely delighted with our bespoke balcony and spiral stairs. The quality and detail in the metalwork is superb. This was a very complex project involving a unique design on a grade 2* listed building without a single square wall. Richard, Ben and team were responsive and helpful throughout the process. Working in collaboration with them we achieved something we are really proud of, and which invariably gets a “WOW” when people first see it.”

Everyone who worked on the project were hugely impressed with the metal work. Our blacksmith said it was the best quality structure he has ever worked on. Richard and Ben were absolutely focussed on ensuring we would get something of which we could be very proud. It was a pleasure to work with them both.”

Don’t forget, the garden floor apartment is now available as a holiday lease which can be booked via their website or through Tripadviser, Air BnB or Vrrbo.

© Derek Phillips

Get in touch

If you are interested in having a bespoke spiral staircase or balcony installed in your own property, visit our gallery to view some of the options and submit a quote or get in touch via phone or email.

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