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Home Decorating

Stairway molding

13 years ago

I currently have two semi boring stairways (one to basement, one to upstairs). They are both carpeted. I am redoing my first floor (basement done 3 years ago).

I think adding chair rail and shadow boxing might be a good way to liven them up. I'd paint below the chair rail white. However, all the pictures I have seen of this involve the stairs being wood. I am replacing all my first floor with wide plank distressed walnut and my new banisters will be walnut with white rods and white king newel posts. I had not planned on changing my steps to wood b/c its more $$ of course but also, my kids are young (2, 6 and possibly a third next year) and I feel like it might be really slippery.

Am I deluding myself to think I can dress up carpeted stairways with these moldings? I have molding throughout the house and shadowboxes in the hall, foyer and LR.

Here are some inspiration photos- none of them mine.

{{!gwi}}

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Comments (4)

igloochic
13 years ago
IMO your big issue is trying to make carpeted stairs look elegant is kind of umm difficult :)

I have two houses, one with five half levels and one with four full flights of stairs, only one flight is still carpeted. We found that the carpeting is MUCH slipperier than wood stairs. In our alaska home we just have wood and our son (4) has no issues, nor do his crazy friends (3-7) who run (despite being told no LOL) up and down them constantly. In Washington our stairs have a runner in a tight berber which seems to do well for slippage as well since we've not had any issues here either.

With a runner you can get the look you are going for...that wood tread and riser but the safty you feel you get with carpet (I would disagree and say that it's better without, but that's just my opinion). I think to really get "elegant" you just have to have that wood peeking out at least a bit, even painted wood (if money is an issue as well) is more elegant than that first pic with all carpet.

My son has been going up and down the wood stairs in both houses and has never slipped. I however did a couple of times...both times on carpeted stairs. We've been thrilled to have the carpet gone and plan on removing it in the washington home soon as well.
User
13 years ago
Can we see pictures of what you do have?
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adh673
Original Author
13 years ago
Yep, here is a link to my current stairs. Now I'm not sure about keeping the carpet. This is an expensive board! :-)

This is all pre-reno obviously.

Here is a link that might be useful: Current Stairs
User
13 years ago
I think it will look dress it up and look nice with the moulding even with the carpet.

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