Yes, they're still putting in the wood staircases (I assume you're speaking of the banister and balusters).

More to the point, what is the style of your home? Iron works well with certain styles -- for example, French or Mediterranean -- and wood is more appropriate for others -- New England colonial or Cape Cod, Craftsman.

Open treads? I think this could be a problem for any stairs! Perhaps you meant open riser?

Open risers mean you will have to be able to access the floor area beneath the stairs for cleaning and upkeep.

Good luck on your project!