I ahve no idea what you mean by too farmhouse . I have been in many farmhouses not one with a staircase like that.I am ot sure what the actual issue is the staircase looks nice to me and honestly not in any way farmhouse . Sometimes when renovations get complicated you start seeing issues where there are none. U suggest you wal up and down those stairs a few times and seeif there really is anything OFF and if not move on and you will enjoy the finished home .Curved staircases have issues sometimes.

"I don't think that makes any sense."

It makes sense

"Couldn't he have started the rod istall at the bottom, with both railings meeting the post at the same height, and then install the rods up the stairs according to the slope of the outside curve?"

No, because of the nature of a curved stair (part of the reasons I never use them) with the different tread depths and code requirements and abilities of those using such a stair, the relationship of the railings will be different but will have the same relationship with the treads and risers at which they are located.

"Any stair/railing experts to comment on this?"

See above.

"Would this difference bother you?"

No

I think it's beautiful. I suggest you proceed with your plans for the first floor and see if it grows on you. You can always change it later if it doesn't end up fitting with everything else.

I agree with others that it looks great. I would be happy to have that in my home.

What architectural style is the exterior of the house?

Mark, this is the exterior.  We are also planning on changing the windows to black frame exterior,  white interior.

From the picture, i'm guessing you are in southern ontario.

Your rail looks lovely and i wouldn't want anything stronger than that based on the house style. Honestly, people do overwrought railings all the time, and it's usually the first thing I would tear out of a house when I'm renovating. Yours looks perfect. Anything more would be gaudy.

H202, wow! Yes, GTA builder home from the 2000's!

I agree you should live with it and then revisit when the downstairs is complete.....take a step away and then see how much it matters.....and always function before form.

It doesnt look at all farmhousy to me. It looks quite modern. I also agree, live with it a while. You may grow to love it.

"Farmhouse" is not actually an architectural style but an eclectic mix of rural vernacular features and I see nothing like that in your new stair. To me it is, in fact, elegant and contemporary.

Wow, these comments are making me feel better! Maybe I am hyper focusing on minutia because of all the changes I'm seeing.  I appreciate everyone's comments. Thank you.

If you saw all the brick farmhouses between Windsor and Toronto, it would look "farmhousy" to you.

I think if you were to style the newel posts after the front porch column, there would be no problem.

Looks mostly contemporary to me except for the round ends on the bottom step. I really dislike the round ends and would have that changed before the flooring gets patched back in.

I think it’s lovely.❤️

ci_lantro, I will ask my stair guy about that. The round step bothers me too but I'm not sure how much trouble it is to change it to square.

Oh my goodness, there's nothing "farmhouse" looking about that railing! It looks very contemporary to me.

Maybe not square but have the bottom tread ends curved like the treads above it. This photo isn't quite what I am thinking but it is close. Your railing is inset from the ends of the treads and is better looking than ^^the picture.

That looks like some very nice stair work. Too bad he isn't as good at setting customer expectations.

And to take over from a botched job? Big props to this guy.

Without a doubt that is really nice work. The round ends on the bottom step is the only thing that I don't like about it. That is design. The execution looks to be without fault.

That staircase with the simple wrought iron reads contemporary to me. If you can square off the bottom step that would be great and that might be what is bothering you. If you can't that's okay.

Why are you doing black frame windows on the outside and not the inside. Did you consider doing the same on the inside?

Blfenton, white frame on the inside because I don't want to commit to black inside. It's easier with white. 

How big would you have the bottom step? Same size but square or would you cut it down to length of 2nd step?