"I am renovating a barn.  The design includes a mezzanine area that I want to use as a study and a play area for my two-year-old son.  I am trying for a New York studio look.  Where can I source a modern-looking staircase and balustrade?" - SC, by e-mail

Choosing the right staircase will most definitely make a clear design statement.  Get it wrong and you will alter the proportions and mood of the whole room.

You need to think about what materials to use - light or dark wood, stainless steel, wrought iron, glass, etc - and whether you want a straight stair (which takes up more room) or a cylindrical stair (which, although it takes up less space, can be trickier for children).

Staircases of Distinction (T: 01737 735 045 / www.staircasesofdistinction.com) is at the top end of the designer market.  It offers a bespoke service that, following a visit  to the site, entails making the entire staircase in the workshop so that it can then be reassembled in your home.  Prices start from about £10,000 for a suspension staircase with floating wood treads and a steel handrail.

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