I tried to post a response before and it ended up in cyberland. I'll try again.

I don't know if your style is contemporary or traditional. If contemporary, it might work.

Of the upgrades and $$$ spent on our new build, the one I'm happiest with was doing the stairs in hardwood. Not very fond of carpeting folded over the sides of the steps.

We've left ours bare, but if you're worried about slipping (even though we had a prospective buyer slip all the way down the carpeted stairs of our old house) use a runner.

I agree with Parma...get the hardwood and put down a runner. I think that's the only thing that would "make sense" visually. If you do a wall-to-wall type carpet on the stairs, it will just look like leftovers, I'm afraid.

Here's a pic of carpetted stairs running into wood on the top and bottom floors. It would have looked better in a lower pile, more suble-colored carpet, but it is not bad.

Here is a link that might be useful: pic

Even if you use regular broadloom carpet, it can be installed like a runner , or wall -to - wall with the steps that are enclosed on both sides (if that applies, but turned under to expose the risers and treads on the stairs that have exposed risers and treads.

I struggled with this myself...

We have a 3 storey home with hardwood on 1st and 2nd floors. As it now stands, we have berber carpet on the stairs & hardwood on the small landings (mid-point where stairs turn corners)

Would love to have hardwood stairs, but not a wise decision for us right now. We have an older Lab that has
already slipped on hardwood at top/on landings and fallen down stairs. (the vet bills from last fall probably could have paid for hardwood on the stairs!)

It's vey costly to do hardwood stairs (esp. for 3 levels) and then in addition place a runner on top for safety so we've just kept the berber carpet on the stairs. I would suggest low pile though...
Ours isn't a 'Grand' staircase, so I live with it.
Once our sweetie goes to doggie heaven, we know the carpet has to be replaced so just might go the hardwood route.

Thank you everyone. We also have a large (120 lbs) dog who goes up & down the stairs regularly. I think we'll have to do something beyond just the hardwood - altho' it definitely IS beautiful.

Thanks again.

My neighbor has hardwood in her downstairs as well as her upstairs hallway. She used a patterned carpet on her stairs and it looks terrific.

Totally Confused

My FIL has hardwood floors and a patterned carpet on his stairs too. I think it looks great; he has a lot of patterned rugs in his house and it fits in well. It doesn't "read" as carpeted stairs but more like a runner, even though it completely covers the stairs and isn't a runner.

I'd never considered a pattern carpet. That might be a great way to go & might hide a little of the dirt... :)

Thanks for that suggestion.