A sky blue stair runner with a navy cotton border made and installed in Notting Hill W11

Some projects stay with you long after the final tack is hammered in. This particular stair runner installation – a stunning sky blue 100% wool bouclé with a herringbone navy cotton border – was one of those rare commissions that reminded us why we love what we do.

The journey began, as many of our most memorable projects do, with a client who had a clear vision but needed expert guidance to bring it to life. They knew they wanted something special for their two flights of stairs, something that would make a statement while remaining timeless and elegant. What followed was a selection process that would span several months and test everyone’s patience – but ultimately deliver something truly extraordinary.

The Search for Perfection

Over the course of the project, we sent approximately 40 different carpet samples to the client. Each one was carefully chosen from our extensive range, representing different textures, weights, and shades. The client made five separate visits to our Wimbledon warehouse, where we could lay out samples in different lights, compare colours side by side, and discuss the technical aspects of each option.

The challenge wasn’t just finding a beautiful carpet – it was finding the right carpet. Sky blue is an unusual choice for a stair runner. Most clients gravitate towards neutrals, or perhaps deep jewel tones. But this particular shade of sky blue? That’s rare. And when you’re covering two flights of stairs including several complex winders, you need a colour that will work in different natural lights, at different times of day, viewed from multiple angles.

When the client finally settled on a gorgeous 100% wool bouclé in that perfect sky blue shade, we knew immediately it was worth the wait. The texture of bouclé – with its characteristic looped, nubby surface – would add depth and interest, while the wool would provide durability and that luxurious feel underfoot. But there was a catch: due to its unusual colour, the carpet would need to be specially made. Another wait began.

The Art of the Winder

While we waited for the carpet to arrive, we planned our approach. Those winders – the pie-shaped steps that allow a staircase to change direction – are always the most technically challenging aspect of any runner installation. Unlike straight steps, winders require precise templating to ensure the carpet sits perfectly without bunching, pulling, or creating unsightly gaps. Luckily we are adept at sewing cotton borders and creating neat mitres for stair runners and our giant hand-made rugs in London.

When the carpet finally arrived, we returned to the property to create paper templates of each winder. This old-school technique is still the most reliable method for capturing the exact dimensions and angles of complex steps. Each template was carefully labelled, measured, and taken back to our workshop.

Craftsmanship in the Workshop

With templates in hand, the real craftsmanship began. We cut the runner to size and shape, accounting for every curve and angle. Then came the border – a herringbone navy cotton that would provide the perfect contrast to the sky blue wool. The stitching had to be immaculate. With a carpet this expensive and a lead time measured in weeks rather than days, there was absolutely no margin for error. One mistake in cutting or stitching could set the entire project back months.

Our team quality-checked every stitch, every seam, every measurement. The border was attached with precision, creating clean lines that would complement the organic texture of the bouclé. The result was a handmade work of art, ready for installation.

The Reveal

Finally, installation day arrived. After months of planning, selecting, waiting, and crafting, we returned to fit the runner. Watching it come together – seeing that sky blue cascade down two flights of stairs, the navy border creating definition and structure – was deeply satisfying.

But the real reward was the client’s reaction. They were ecstatic. And rightfully so. This isn’t just a stair runner; it’s a unique, one-of-a-kind piece that may well be the only one of its kind in the world. Every element was chosen with care, every detail executed with precision, every step of the process driven by a commitment to creating something truly special.

This is what bespoke means. Not just custom-sized, but genuinely unique – a collaboration between client vision and craftsman expertise that results in something that could never be replicated. Sky blue dreams, made real, one careful stitch at a time. And iof course, you know where to find us if you want a hand-made stair runner in Notting Hill.