(Please excuse hectic state of my reno - painting in progress!)

We just expanded our tiny, split-level, front entrance and removed the wall leading up the stairs as I felt the vast new space was bottle-necking at the top of the stairs. My idea was to put a glass half-wall at the top and glass half railing at the bottom of the staircase. It seems that everyone I’m speaking with is trying to talk me out of the glass (cleaning issue) I don’t have an issue with that. The other option would be spindles. I do like the spindle look as a stair railing yet I’m not 100% convinced I’m feeling the “railing-behind-the-couch-in-the-living room“. What would you do?? Glass, iron, wood?