Figuring Out the Layout and the Spiral Stairs

Oh these darn stairs are killing me.  I've been busting my butt on them the whole day and I'm not feeling like I've made a ton of progress.  I need to find something for the railing that won't pull my spindles off.  I have some chain that could work. It'd be flexible enough I think.

So we'll see how I do with it next week.

I also went through my left over pieces from other kits I've bashed and found a window for the opening under the loft area.  I'll have to widen the opening but not by a lot.  Beats having to make one from scratch like I have to do the tall corner window.

As the post title suggests I did some work figuring out the layout of the shop and even got the balcony type second floor cut.

The first floor will have three section bookshelves on two of the walls.  I don't think I'll end up doing the corner shelf.  I think it makes everything look too crowded.

The measuring tape is where I'll put the spiral stairs.  But you see what I mean with the corner shelf?  I love it but it really doesn't help with the space much.  And it doesn't quite match the rest of the shelves.  So I'm thinking of something more like this.
 

That gives me more floor room and makes the stairs feel less crowded against the shelves.

The second floor will be slightly similar.  I want about a two and a half inch to three inch aisle for customers.  The second floor will have a hallway with the back stairs to the third floor behind the rear wall.  I'll add a narrow door at the foot of the stairs.

The circle at the rear is the stairs.  I'm debating if I want to make the shelves painted or stained.  I'll need a wooden floor on all three levels and I'm wondering just how fancy or simple I should make it.

I did work on the front elevation as well.  Got my two separate pieces glued together.

I also needed to figure out a way to make display tables for the shop windows.  So I started going through my House of Miniatures kits.

I know I can use the table, stove and bureau in the living quarters.  If I adjust the two Chippendale Lowboys they'll fit in the window area of the shop on the first floor.

I also spent several hours cutting plexiglass for the shop front since it doesn't come with glass or trim. I'm hopeful that by next weekend I'll have my third floor figured out and with some luck the angles of the mansard roof.

Hope you're all having a good weekend!