How to select a spiral staircase style to suit your home

A tightly proportioned upright shot, the major advantage of standard spiral stairs is space-saving

Ensure the tread size and rise of a spiral stair is suited to everyone in the family. File picture

Many years ago, we used a very ornate 1860s Victorian salvaged staircase in a split-level 1970s house renovation. It was gorgeous, with immense house plants brushing up through the back of its twisted spine. We married it to similarly styled period cast-iron railway station banisters dividing the room levels.

Did we ever hit our heads off the risers and bolts? Absolutely. Did it overpower the room? Possibly. Did the cat use it as an attack platform to swat us with the murder mitts? Every single day. Did we love it? Obsessively.