We have a runner in the house we bought a year ago. I loved it then, looks great, but if you have a family the edges get extremely dusty very quickly - depends whether you are fussy about your home or not. I don't think I would pick them again as it is quite a lot of extra work dusting and wiping them down.

Thanks for all the kind words and advice. I only want a runner because I love the look of them and that it still allows some of the wooden 'bones' of the staircase to be displayed. Given that absolutely no-one has said "yeah - install it yourself - it's so easy!" I'm definitely feeling inclined to save up for longer and get it done professionally. I'm currently thinking of going for the wool loop carpet attached in a beige/natural colour-way and edged with a dark charcoal linen border.

You have a neutral floor and white doors so more or less anything would go with it but what colours do you like?

Looking at the stone, those lovely grasses and thinking about the wood, I actually think that natural coloured sisal (possibly with a stripe) brings out the blues in the colours of the woodwork, The light/dark would provide a contrast, as would the warm/cool. A rich knobbly sisal would be my choice.