The brief for this staircase in Hildenborough was simple: the client was ready for a more modern look. The turned spindles and newel posts had had their day, so they were the first things to go.

We fitted square newel posts and cut the brackets off the existing cut string, the stepped timber along the open side of the stairs. Taking away those details gave the staircase a cleaner outline, with the square posts setting the shape for the new balustrade.

We then fitted oak handrails, which we had sprayed to an ebonised black. The grain still shows through the dark finish, and that is the detail I particularly like on this job. You can see it running along the handrails in the photograph taken from the landing. It gives them their own character, and it is one of those small details that makes a staircase feel special.

We finished with the metal balustrading, with its rectangular pattern running up the stairs and around the landing. The client was very happy with the result.