This place is dangerous, isnâÂÂt it? LOL

I think the risers but the treads are oak, so I would want to try to stain them the color of the handrail/wood floor in the entry. If that doesnâÂÂt work, you can always paint them.

Be sure to show us the finished product.

Bad but in a good way huh?!?!?!

Any thoughts on white risers and on the treads distressing the wood and then staining the color of the floors in the foyer?

Wow, lucky you - how great. I like the idea of the treads stained the color of the floor. It looks as though your banister is, already.

Sory, I just re-read what I typed the first time, and realized that I deleted part of the sentence. What I was TRYING to say, LOL, was that the risers are pine so I would paint them the trim color, and stain the treads the color of the handrail and foyer floor. I am not sure I would distress them, tho.

!!!! Fabulous!
stain the treads--- yes!

What about this?!?!?! Crisp white on the sides, distressed in the middle???

Looks wonderful!!

Yes -- a vote to try to stain the treads to match the upper flooring -- and paint the risers in white!

Yesssssssss ((evil grin here ....)) this place is a bad influence ....... Heeheeheeheeheehee ...... ((evil music here))

I'm thinking I can't distress and stain the risers huh... cuz their pine?? :( Oh man I loved that pic when I saw it!

Any recommendations on brands of stain? Should I do stain and then poly or should I get a poly-stain? What color are you guys thinking... dark walnut treads with white risers?

Bad influence, ha! Welcome to my world ;-) Y'all did this afternoon what I wanted to do this afternoon! I've already got 2 projects going and stairs are 3rd, maybe even fourth on the list, DH would have lost it on me ;-)

I agree, stain the treads, paint the risers (even though stripping the sides of the treads will be no fun, it's the right thing to do). Not crazy about your distressed pic. I think those treads are wider than yours anyway.

Can't wait for the reveal, be sure and post pics. My staircase looks very similar to yours, handrail and all. The only thing I think might be different is my treads, I'm betting they aren't half as good as yours (we haven't pulled up the carpet to see - I'm afeared).

I love the color of your foyer floor and bannister - that would be a nice color for the treads.

I would only caution though to be sure to keep the rug at the bottom (or something similar) for a visual cue so that no one mistakes the last step for the floor. In your first post, last 2 pics (from the top of the stairs), you can see how that could happen if the floor and the stairs were the same color and the rug wasn't there.

I'm mentioning this because my mom broke her leg on a vacation when she was in an old building. Stone steps, blue tiled floor at the bottom, but the last step was tiled the same as the floor, so she mis-stepped because she thought she was at the bottom. First day of a trip to Italy... and she came home the next day in a giant cast! :(

Just some information to make your project easier. The stringers and risers are a ponderosa pine and the treads are a yellow pine. That information may make a difference when choosing finishes. They look great either way. You'll want to get a pine cove for under the tread. Apply the cove after all the painting is done. If you pre-finish it is will make the finishing of the treads easier.

How about a monogram on each step?! :)

Seriously, I love the mock-up you did. Have you thought about some sort of graphic on the risers?

I look forward to seeing what you decide!

Greenthumb - don't be scurd!

Chicagoan - thanks for the advice about the rug!

DH said no words, numbers or monograms... says, I'm getting out of control. :D

I've decided on Minwax English Chestnut treads and white risers.

I've never had a stairway, so I was wondering - are stained or painted steps slippery? Would someone in stocking feet skate to the bottom on their bottom?

You are so lucky! They are going to be beautiful!

Ha, I love it. You know, before this place the look of carpet on my stairs didnâÂÂt bother me. My dish drainer didnâÂÂt bother me. My curtains hung at the top of the window height didnâÂÂt bother me. Then it all changedâ¦â¦â¦â¦. :)

IâÂÂm also one that took the carpet off the stairs but I went with paint. Just donâÂÂt use SW porch and floor paint. 2 months later and theyâÂÂre still a little tacky. It might be a humidity issue but I'm still annoyed and am blaming it on the paint.

I vote semi-gloss risers and stain the treads to match the floor or railing.

Schoolhouse - My painted steps aren't slippery but I know if I do fall it's going to hurt worse than when I had carpet! I'm just extra careful now!