We had the pleasure recently to work with S Club 7 royalty, Rachel Stevens, to help her create a beautiful, statement staircase in her chic and sophisticated home as part of her latest renovations, documented on her Instagram account. 

We sat down with Rachel to find out a little bit more about her design decisions and what makes wool  a great carpet choice for the staircase. 

If your staircase could talk, what would it say about your interior style – and what role did it play in shaping the overall feel of your home?

 “It would say that my interior style is calm and grounded, earthy meets sophisticated, minimal  and modern, whilst being classic, focusing on quality and how it makes you feel.”

What was the “this is the one” moment when you chose the Wool Iconic Herringbone Newman carpet and what made it stand out over other options you considered?

“I went on to the Alternative Flooring website and obviously they have such a fabulous choice of carpets , but I really had a strong sense of what I wanted and how I wanted the space to feel. I kept being drawn to the herringbone style and it’s beautiful texture, re-visiting the Wool Iconic Herringbone carpet as I just loved its design and sophisticated style. I felt it was chic and classic but with a modern feel, exactly what I needed. Then after that it was down to picking the exact tone. I really wanted that to be light and neutral but in keeping to my tiles downstairs and Newman was the perfect match.”

Were there any design dilemmas or unexpected moments while bringing the staircase to life? 

“Luckily no. It was pretty straightforward. I think when you really know how you want the space to look and feel and you know exactly what you want all while having a skilful team to help, it mostly will all flow and all come together.”

Why did you choose a fitted stair carpet over a stair runner? 

“There were a few reasons why I went for full carpet as opposed to a runner for my home. I really loved the look of a runner but for me personally, I felt that my staircase would lend itself better to a full fitted stair carpet. I also felt it would be more sustainable, hard wearing and practical for my household while still looking beautiful. It is really such a personal choice and dependant on the exact look and style you’re going for.”

How does your staircase set the tone for the rest of your home, and how did you ensure it worked with the surrounding spaces?

 “The hallway to me is another heart of the home. Its usually what you see when you walk through the door and connects you to every part of your home, therefore I wanted it to feel grand but at the same time warm and inviting. Keeping it bright and light with the classic soft tone of the walls and the soft black banister, to me it felt like it would flow so well with all the other styles and interiors throughout my home. 

I really wanted that neutral flow but with added depth from the texture and style of the herringbone carpet. I’m excited now to add some really cool art and more personality.”

For anyone wanting to recreate your look, what are your three must-have elements for a statement staircase and any mistakes to avoid?

“One, really know what you want. Two, create some inspirational imagery, making sure to get samples of everything to make sure you’re happy with your choices (colours and tones etc). And three,  get a great team who can help you bring your vision together.”

At Alternative Flooring we’re proud to partner with wonderful, local retail partners all over the UK and Ireland, offering expert advice and personal recommendations best suited to your home. They share our admiration of beautiful carpets, rugs and runners all made from natural and faux fibres, with years of experience under their wing and their exceptional service readily available. Finding your local retail partner couldn’t be easier. We’ve handpicked the best available, simply click here to find your closest and support local.

How does the carpet you chose for the staircase work for everyday life in terms of comfort, durability?

“Even though it’s really light and soft underfoot, it actually feels really practical as a stair carpet and is super hardwearing. I think as it’s so textured and also being made from 100% wool, it’s super durable. In my house there is also an absolute strict no shoes rule ;)”

How important was it to choose something timeless that you’ll still love in years to come?

“Really important. Obviously your style evolves all the time so for me it was important to choose a stair carpet that was classic, timeless, yet still made an impact and will work with the flow of the rest of my home for many many years to come.”

For more information behind the Wool Iconic Herringbone collection, head over to our website to see if it would be a great fit for your home too.