Thanks to all of you who offered your thoughts about pegs on the picture rail last week. You all gave me great things to think about – from nixxing the pegs completely, to using photo rail hooks to hang photos, to using pegs or hooks on only one wall. I really appreciate your insights! It’s like having my own focus group at my fingertips.
Since you were so helpful, I’m afraid I may begin taking advantage of the privilege, because I have approximately 65,342 decisions left to be made. So, now it’s time to move onto stairs.
I had a very good idea of what I wanted to do with the stairs when we first saw them. I was going to rip out the carpet, clean them up, stain the treads and paint the back white. How could you not love this idea when you see them at Emily’s?
I thought it would be the perfect way to tie in the white trim throughout the house with the floors, without being overly matchy-matchy.
Plus, it’s just a classy look.
It would just take a few hours, right? How hard could it be? (hehehohohahaha)
Ryan and I also agreed to add board and batten to the wall in the stairwell. This would replace the area where paneling was previously installed.
My greatest inspiration for this is this lovely board and batten.
However, while the board and batten will stay, the plan for the stairs is going to be altered. Mostly, because the stairs are in super rough shape. And, I’ve already spent hours trying to get all the staples out, without even beginning to address the adhesive that is everywhere.
Plus, I have heard some folks say the stairs get slick, which is deadly to a klutz like I am. (And, Ryan could injure himself in a padded room.)
So, now I’m considering a bit of a different approach. I think I’m going to continue working to get all the staples out, clean the stairs up as much as I can, paint them all white and cover the stairs with pads and a runner.
(aydeeyai)
Pretty, right? Then, Kim at What am I going to be when I grow up pushed me over the edge – check out her stairs with an Albert and Dash runner. (She gives great instructions on how to do it as well.)
You would see less of the stairs, which means they don’t have to be as perfect. I’ll still have to do some intensive work, but it’s much more practical. Plus, I kinda love the stripes for a little added interest. Since I normally stick with neutrals, I think this will be another way to bring in color. Here are a few patterns that I like.
What do you think?
I love the painting option more than the runner personally. I think it looks more classy. But great job on the renovation! Amazing work!
Oh my! We have a pad/runner that was DIY’ed by the previous homeowners and it is SLICK! Like, DH just busted his a$$ last week on it and is still recovering. We are planning to rip it out. Please use the right kind of carpeting for the runner!
Welllll…I’m sure you can guess that I’ll chime in with I LOVE THE RUNNER idea. 🙂
We found the bare steps to be slippery and noisy too. We put a little rug padding under the runner and now they are soft and cozy underfoot.
My favorites of your choices are #3 in the first row and the one in the 2nd row.
Good luck with your project!
I think that is a solid plan. Our stairs were in really good condition, so we opted to brave the slippery steps without a runner. But I do love the look!
I forgot to mention – I LOVE your newel post!
The phrase, “It will be quick and easy. Just a few hours of work.” haunts me with every project.
I love both stair ideas, but I for the sake of your staple pulling self, I really like the striped runner option. I especially like the rug with the big gray stripe down the middle!
I love the look of a runner with wood stairs peeking through underneath. Rhoda at Southern Hospitality has a great tutorial on how she refinished her stairs: http://bit.ly/cP5J24
I LOVE the rug look! I wish my house had stairs so I could do this.
My favorites are the soft colors of the 3rd and 4th rugs.
The runner is a great idea. If you can clean the stairs up enough, I really like the runners that aren’t wall to wall and expose a little wood on either side.
My fav rug that you posted is the one with the blue stripes on the white with red and browns, however I don’t know how stain resistant it’d be. Cute though
i like but you’d have to go really slow with a lined pattern like that to make it perfect! though, i know yall can do it 🙂
You always have the best inspiration pictures (and ideas)! I think a runner is a perfect idea and I am loving the stripes. How fun! I am right there with you on toppling down stairs. I know they are not finished obviously, but they already look so much better than the before picture!
hummmm…I loved your original idea of the stain/white but I understand why you need to change. I’m not a huge strip person, but I like the idea of a pattern. Number 3 and 4 have a lot of light colored space- I wonder how quickly it would show dirt (I find vacuuming the stairs a huge pain), or get dirty faster than the rest. The final choice has the most colors, which would be less restricting in your decorating choices.
Love the striped stairs! Sure, the first option would have looked great, but practicality (and safety) trumps appearance in this case. I like the 4th pattern you chose.
I love, love, love the runner idea. I can vouch for the fact that uncovered stairs are slippery. I have fallen on our stairs a couple of times and I often think about ways to cover the treads.
Amazing! I really love the stripes. If you decide against color, you could always go with a seagrass or sisal runner.
LOVE that look. Rhoda did that recently too (I think??) over at Southern Hospitality. It’s going to fabulous no matter what you do. 🙂
I think it will look fabulous either way! Personally, we went with wood, no runner. I had the same fears you did. I am a total klutz and feared for my safety. That said, we have had the stairs like that for 6 years and I have never slipped. Not even once. And no one else has either. The carpet that used to be on it? I slipped and fell several times… it was more slippery surprisingly enough! 🙂
Yup, love the Dash and Albert runner! And Eddie Ross does too – he put one in his house. If you can get an indoor-outdoor one that would be wise. I have one of the cotton ones and it shows spots like none other (granted, it is brown and white). Luckily it’s small enough to toss in the wash. But my indoor-outdoor one is a champ!
Love the runner idea & the board & batten! The stripes on the stairs are so awesome. Totally makes me want to redo my stairs.
I love that classic look with stained treads and white backs, but I also think a runner will be great! It’s a great way to bring some fun colors in, and stripes are always great!
I like the wood stairs plus runner idea, perfect compliment and will look timeless. I’m pretty sure in Martha Stewart’s Sept issue of Living, she added leather on the stairs with a rug…its pretty neat and classic…check it out if you have time.
I love the idea of a runner. I am a fellow klutz and I could never have hardwood stairs myself for that very reason. Wise choice.
xoxo,
Kim
I love the carpet runner option! I want one for my stairs, someday. I think my favorite of the options you presented is the one with the big, fat, stripe in the middle.
Oh goodness, these stairs are going to be awesome!
Big thumbs up from me. 🙂 It saves you some time and work, it’s practical and safe, and adds a punch of color. Great idea. 🙂
I really like the idea of doing a runner down the stairs. We’re going to paint the tops of each stair a brown to match our floors and then will paint the backs and everything else white with a runner down the middle. I can’t wait to see how yours turn out!
I really like the idea of doing a runner down the stairs. We’re going to paint the tops of each stair a brown to match our floors and then will paint the backs and everything else white with a runner down the middle. I can’t wait to see how yours turn out!
While I LOVE the look of the stained wood treads and painted white risers (LOVE!), I’m a big believer in knowing when it’ll take too long to achieve the look you’re going for. Especially when there are so many great options and the dash and albert rug runner is a perfect solution. And please, please, PLEASE use the rug farthest to the right on the first row–gray, turquoise, white, and just a hint of red–I love that rug! No pressure. 🙂
I’m a big fan of the runner idea. There’s carpet on my stairs, and I thank God for it every day as my dog and I rush up and down the stairs throughout the day.
I think I like the Ranch Stripe and the Cabin Stripe the best.
Hey chick! {I feel like I know you so I say that} 😀 in a non creeper way!
I am loving the new direction with the runners! How wide do they come and how wide are the stairs? The only drawback I could see would be a too small runner with a wider staircase. I am crushin on the one in the second row {casual pottery barn looking!}
To bad your first idea has to be smashed because they would have looked great but the runner will look nice as well. If your going to do stripes I would still go with lighter colors that are in the neutral family. I really like the one in the picture all the way at the top right. I think the browns, blues, reds, with a hint of white will look really nice! Good Luck
Oh my gosh Kim….seriously? You’re doing this to me right now? 😉 he he he. Now I HAVE to have a runner on my back stairs. Heck with the kitchen project….I’m on to the stairs now. LOL! I’ll let my husband know he can direct any complaints to you. I love this idea….it will look absolutely beautiful on your stairs. Can’t wait to see the finished product!!
Wow, gorgeous!! Definitely loving the striped rugs. But I can’t pick a fav, so best of luck with that.
For future houses, which may have stairs in not-so-rough shape, we have bare stained wood stairs and we haven’t found them to be slick. The bottom tread DOES tend to disappear in the dark though (its the same color as our floors) so we’ve been known to miss the last step on occasion.
Whoopsies.
I’m not sure why, but that red, green and blue runner just screams Kim to me. I love it – and I think bright white stairs with a runner will be fabulous. FAB.
The runners are fab!!! I’m on an aqua and red kick so the top left appeals to me but all are beautiful!
I have hardwood steps … I can’t wear heels on them .. I’ve almost taken a tumble several times. And on old steps … nails have a tendency to work their way up. We have to pound them down every so often to prevent major toe injury!!
Runners…. good choice!!!
I’m sad about you not being about to go the first route since that would have been my first pick as well… but hearing you say “slick” makes me sure I could NEVER go that route as I can trip on flat ground!
I love the runners you picked, my favorite is the top middle one since I think it would hide dirt and flow with all seasons.
Xoxo,
Rach @ Mrs-Adventure
I think the runner will be fantastic! I really like the 1st row, 3rd across, but it depends on your colors. I also like the yellow stripe on the second row. Can’t wait to see what you decide. Oh, and the board and batten will be beautiful! Are you going to stain it or paint it?
I love the runner idea, especially with a Dash and Albert rug. I like the two tone look too, but it seems like it’d be a ton more work for you. I also would be worried about falling down the steps, especially in socked feet. Or puppy dog nails tearing up the stairs (our dog would totally do that)