pretty stair gates - business idea?

[Thirstysomething]

I can't find a company that will do pretty stair gates made to measure, like this American company here
[http://bestgates.gatestoyou.com/]
or even here [http://www.urbanrevivals.com/furniture/furniture_stairgate.htm] for something really grand.
We have dogs and kids, so I want something that will last for years and we have an old house -- the only wooden gates I can find in the UK look temporary on our dark oak stairs and therefore a bit cr*p.
Does anyone know anywhere? I am talking to a carpenter but it would be cheaper to find somewhere that does them all the time.
If not, we are considering setting up a company to make them for other people who are willing to pay a bit more to have something really decorative as well as useful in their house. I know most people only want to have gates for a year max, and therefore think it wouldn't be worth it, but I am sure there must be a few out there like us...
Any thoughts? (be as negative as you like if you think it is a silly idea!)
Also if you know anywhere doing this already, please do let me know! I am not the best at searching online...

I think there is definitely a market. I work with people with disabilities and we have to use a lot of stair gates - for children and older people who are unsteady/dementia etc. They are not just a temporary thing for many people. Also I visit lots of houses where people have dogs and they use them all of the time also?

We generally use carpenters though to get them made to measure as we cannot have those bars across the bottom (trip hazard) but we always look for a commercial option first.

Great! thanks, that is good news. any other feedback gratefully received...

My friend lives in a lovely house with dogs and she has a stairgate to stop them getting upstairs. I think it was build by the renovators at the same time as the rest of the house as it is in matching wood and very swish.

that sounds just the sort of thing I would love... can't believe there isn't a company already doing this.

Is a great idea

I have seen them at the nursery my dd1 goes too. I think it would be a great idea. I gave had my stair gates up for 2 years as I have 2 yr old and 7 mth old so better looking ones would have been good

I think it's a great idea but obis depends how much they'd cost for temporary type use - for people with dogs etc that will always need them it's brilliant and I guess they'd be willing to pay more too...

I think there is a huge gap in the market on stairgates. The lindam ones that are like roller blinds on their sides are great (though not pretty) as they are not permanently in the way when you only need them at certain times, but they are ridiculously expensive and hard to get hold of. I can't believe only one company makes this kind of thing - a concertina folding one would be good perhaps, so that when the kids are in bed you don't have it there in the way. Sorry, slight tangent there but OP I think a carpenter is probably your best bet.

I think it is a great idea. I hate our naff stairgate. I also hate the look of fireguards - like big naff cages - and playpens. Such a limited range and all so 'functional' looking - surely you can get functional, safe and attractive?

Do it!
x J

seems a good idea
we have a wooden one, not particularly decorative but much nicer looking and more solid than the standard white plastic kinda ones, i think its lindam. not dark wood though, more pine but that looks ok in our house as we dont have dark wood. white wood maybe good for some homes too, match with the bannisters?

Think there might be a market but to be honest I would not buy them. Happy with lindam ones borrowed from a friend and we only used them for a short period of time with DC. Agree that it would probably suit a buyer who has a more permanent need for them - rather than people with kids.

Hello, Yes we can solve your problems. We make bespoke stair gates for children or pets. We also make gates for doorways. We can match anything and can be decorated to how you would like.

We travel to most locations in the south of England, but are prepared to travel to other areas. Please see our web site www.horkesleyjoinery.co.uk for photos of the kind of projects we have already done or send me a message.

Karly