Stair runners — Highbury N5
Bespoke stair runners for Highbury's Victorian terraces.
Highbury's handsome Victorian terraces, many around Highbury Fields and the New River Path, tend to have narrower original staircases that reward a considered, well-fitted runner. Whether the rest of the house is period or thoroughly modernised, a bespoke runner brings the original stair back into focus.
No site visit required for a quote · reply within 24hrs, Mon–Fri
Materials
Materials that work in Highbury properties.
Herringbone Wool
A champagne herringbone with a contrasting cotton border suits Highbury's Victorian staircases particularly well, giving a considered look that won't compete with original skirting or cornicing. It's consistently the finish we're asked for most in this part of London.
Wool Bouclé & Knotted Sisal
For a softer, more textural finish, a chunky knotted bouclé sisal works beautifully on Highbury's narrower original flights. We bring samples to your Highbury home so you can compare materials in your own light before committing.
See more
Every runner has a story.
We've fitted hundreds of stair runners across London, and we write up many of the more interesting ones on our blog — the fabric hunts, the tricky winders, the rescues. Have a flick through our stair runner project archive to see the range of what's possible.
If you'd like to see the full range of designs available before you commit to a material, our sister company Fenston Carter stocks a much wider selection than we can show on this page — a few examples shown here, or browse the full stair runner collection for inspiration.
Edge finishes
Cotton borders
& edge finishes.
A contrasting cotton border — navy or charcoal on a neutral wool — gives a Highbury staircase a tailored, finished look, and works particularly well on narrower original flights where every detail is more visible. For a plainer look, a clean whipped edge suits wool and natural fibres just as well. We stitch every finish in our Wimbledon workshop and check every seam before it leaves for installation.
We also supply and install premium branded runners including Roger Oates, Louis De Poortere and Alternative Flooring for Highbury clients who have specified a particular brand.
Process
The process in Highbury.
Estimate
It's really as simple as sending in a short video of your staircase via WhatsApp, with any dimensions you have and what type of runner you have in mind. We come back with a detailed estimate inside 24 hours on a weekday — no site visit required.
Samples & spec
Once you accept, we can send samples in the post or bring them to your Highbury home so you see the carpet in your own light. We confirm material, pile, width and edge finish — or work from your designer's spec.
Templating
For winders, tight curves or unusual staircases, we return to build paper templates of every step. Non-negotiable on complex jobs — it's what guarantees the fit.
Make & install
The runner is cut, shaped and edge-finished in our Wimbledon workshop, every seam inspected before it leaves, then fitted at a time that suits you — including evenings and weekends.
Indicative pricing
What does a bespoke stair runner cost in Highbury?
Polypropylene, whipped
from £800
Supply and fit, standard straight staircase, 13 steps.
Wool or wool bouclé
from £1,000
Same staircase, upgraded to wool or wool bouclé.
Sisal / seagrass, whipped
from £1,200
Same staircase, upgraded to natural sisal or seagrass.
Adding a decorative cotton border increases the cost depending on the tape chosen. Staircases with winders involve additional templating time; two-flight staircases are priced proportionally. Premium materials — Roger Oates flatweave, patterned Wilton, wool bouclé with a herringbone border — carry a higher material cost and reflect the quality of finish most Highbury clients expect. There is no premium for our location — you pay for the runner and the installation, not your postcode.
Service area
Highbury & neighbouring areas.
If your property is in any of these areas or anywhere else in London, WhatsApp us or call 0208 135 9452 and we'll be happy to provide a quote. View our full London stair runner service for the complete list of areas we cover.