Next decision: stairs. Two or three issues to wrestle down. Kind of complex to explain, but I'll give it a try.

Here is the floor plan for the stairs: U-shaped, across from main entrance on the ground floor, separates the kitchen from LR/DR on second floor.

I thought I would do either painted white or wood screen, two storeys high, on the side of the stairs that separates the ground floor office from the stairs, and upstairs on the side separating the stairs from the living room. The screen would look something like this:

Unlike these two pictures, the wood spindle screen would just be on one length, acting like a room divider, but letting light through. I had planned to do the rest of the railings in glass.

Of relevance, DH's uncle is a wonderful glass artist. On the ground floor, nestled just to the right of the stairs going up, I want to have a glass panel, similar shape/size to the one pictured below. Will have lighting behind and above it (a pendant hanging from the second storey) lighting it. Plus lots of natural daytime light.

1. What do you think of the wood spindle screen idea? Okay paired with glass railings? Would you do white painted or natural wood screen? Or is it too much?

2. For the stairs themselves, open risers or closed? Open let's more light through, but I wonder if it is also a bit busy, particularly with the wood spindle screen and the glass art? Closed seems less flashy.

3. If I were to abandon the wood screen and glass (I admit to being a bit tired of glass railings) should I just do black matt metal railings (windows frames will be black metal), save some money and let the attention be on the art? Something like this:

Thanks for making it this far!