We will talk to him tomorrow.  I was curious to get input here prior to my meeting with him.

In your pictures, the curve looks beautiful!

I just measured ours - on the bottom step, it measures 42 1/2" at the top of the full volute, and the top of the handrail measures 39" at the point perpendicular to the back of each step.

This is well within the code for stairs.

Was it lower before?

It's the nature of a spiral curved handrail. You will get variance in height and one side always feels awkward. As long as it is all within code, you're good. The only way to make adjustment is the gooseneck up top. You make it longer to lower it or shorter to make it higher.

I gotta say, with a gorgeous but death trap narrow spiral like that, I'd want my rail at a higher height even if it makes for a lack of comfort with my arm. I look at it and see some kind of noir film with a woman going over the rail and someone cashing out early on life insurace.

Yes,  the left handrail was lower before and felt much more comfortable being held while walking down the stairs. And yes, it was within code. I live in Toronto and we have strict building codes.

Sometimes just something new feels weird I like the way this was done and I bet in a week you will not think about it anymore .I do find that stair case really narrow .

Thank you Patricia.  I'm hoping it's the new weird feeling that is giving me grief! We had a discussion with the carpenter and agreed that the gooseneck needs a redo and that will correct the issue of a too steep and misaligned handrail. Maybe that's why some of you mentioned the stairs are steep or narrow. I think it's the optical illusion with the improper placement of the handrail.  Yes, the stairs have been refinished but the curve is original and never felt narrow or steep. Here's a photo of the before.

There was a This Old House episode where they constructed a curved handrail. They used vertical slices of the handrail glued together and then clamped them to the front of each stair tread to dry. The resultant handrail exactly followed the curve of the stair and there was no vertical variation in height from the nose of each tread to the railing.

Handrails have to be a consistent 36" above the nosing. Obviously this can change slightly at the two ends but what you have doesn't sound correct...

This is the finished product.  I really don't like all the black, way too much for me. Wishing I did a white oak handrail instead with a more contemporary post at the base and not this curvy volute.  Lesson learned, I will not reuse a handrail during a renovation. There are also tons of installation mistakes that drive me nuts. At this point, I'm happy the carpenter is gone and I'm considering getting a new handrail.  P.S. The issue with height of the handrail was on the actual stairs, not on the nosing upstairs.  On the nosing upstairs the height is fine at 36".

I would have painted the original stairs black it was a beautiful wood staircase.

It was pretty before but I also like the new version. Once you have hints of black in other rooms through decor, it will all come together. And you have a nice opportunity for a pretty vignette in the curved space under the stairs! Your floor redo is a drastic change so maybe it will take some adjustment time.

I think it’s lovely

Agree it looks nice…

I like it!

I think one reason you are feeling like there's a lot of black is that you have railings on both sides. One curves around on the back wall and creates a LOT of stripey contrast there compared to your inspiration photos.

It's hard to see from your photos what the options are, but if the right hand rail could be rebuilt to just go to the corner of the wall, you would have a plain white wall as background.

Also, you have a horizontal stripe in the upper left of the stair from the plant shelf. Maybe painting that to match the wall would eliminate another point of contrast.

@zuleikad, I totally agree. My inspiration photos were all one railing and I failed to see that 2 railings like that will be too much for me.

Oh wow! You have a beautiful stair now! It’s stunning. Once the tarps and all are gone, you have your art hung, rugs down, lighting on, furniture placed, etc it’s going to be amazing. Please add pics when it’s completed.

It looks great! You may have to just get used to it. Don't make hasty decisions until you see the space finished.