Match the treads, paint the risers white, the spindles white, and the rail satin black. Or use something other than oak for the bannister as you will never get close to a match to the floor with oak.

And I am trying (hard) to picture the formality of a curved stair with wide plank flooring usually associated with far less formal home styles than one with a curved stair.. That actually scares me more than the mismatch. What is the style of the new home?

Hi Jan - thank you for your comment. Here are some pics of the staircase from the model. We did not choose these highly decorative spindles and went with something very simple.

The floor and the stairs need to match.

I think matching gives a nice flow then the dark bannister is the thing that draws your eye

trifcate

mmmmmm I'd be interested in seeing the rest of the details in that model. Window style etc, exterior elevations etc. Obviously the photo of the stair, while not exactly winding/spiral, still feels as though there is a suggestion of new build suburban formality. And I can only hope you also changed the newel post to a bit simpler style.

I do feel a match on treads lends visual continuity, something most people have a difficult enough time achieving. Why make anything harder, and I do NOT mean to imply matchy matchy interiors, either in finishes or decor!

Back to the floor selection: Rather than a wide plank ( which moves most btw with variance in temp and humidity, and yours appears a 5" ?! ) at least a random width board??. There's a very colonial, or modern or rustic suggestion in the wide and consistent plank width,, no matter the species or the stain, distressed or not as well.. So far........your home does not feel that way, even with the given of a simpler spindle. For what it's worth and jmho, post 25 years in this "biz" : )

While I appreciate your input and experience, your comments are brash

"I can only hope you also changed the newel post"

"and I am trying hard"

It wasn't mean to be brash or offensive. It SEEMS to me that they might possibly be in conflict style wise, which is not a problem if they are not, or you are totally happy with all selelcted. Thus I asked. Sorry.

@trifkate

Hopefully without annoying you further and just to clarify my post: Until you posted the photo, my assumption was a wood spindle. You picture leads me to believe you selected a simpler IRON spindle. Even with that simpler iron spindle, (if that is the case) the design of the stair itself, suggested a certain house flavor to me. Plenty of " houzz dilemmas" arrive on these pages, simply because someone got a result that was not their original design intent. Again, apologies for the wording on the last post.

I am just now reading this. Ok past tense...late really late.. I am wondering what you did decide to do. Wow, you must have been more confused with all the different opinions. It just tells you one thing, "We all have our own style and opinions as designers". Since your choice of wood on the stairs is a wood that has variable amounts of color when the stain is applied (ebony has different strenghts as well so you may have used a lighter ebony stain) or when it was purchased perhaps prefinished, I would not have hesitated to mix the two. I think my clients get too fixated on everything having to match. But it seems to me that you would have been fine. I do agree that no matter what you did, it says to all "we did this stain color of wood on the stairs different that the floor and we also tried to make it flow with variable lengths in the wood planks for interest". I have learned after 29 years, there is nothing right or wrong. Yes, one is perhaps a better choice, but it is not a wrong choice. I am sure you are past all this by now, (I would hope!) and you are now sleeping soundly!! Linda

I feel your pain. We are also in the middle of a big remodel and in the process of deciding on wood flooring, staircase wood, etc. It very hard. However, If I can put my two cents in I would like to say think about the theme of your home. Do you want it to be warm and inviting? Then go for the closely (but not perfect matched stair and floor colors. If youre looking for something more formal then do the work and make it match perfectly. Another item to consider if your stairway is at the front door think about what you want to see when you walk in. The beautiful stairway or the flow of the stairs to the floor to all the other rooms in your home. Lastly, trust your instincts. If youre in grave doubt then go the other direction or meet somewhere in the middle. Hope this helps.

I am late to this discussion, but I really like the photo of the dark treads with the lighter wood 1st floor posted above. My house came with natural, unstained wood floors downstairs and upstairs which I like. I have been thinking about updating my stairs and have noticed many nice photos on Houzz that have stair treads stained darker than the wood flooring on the 1st floor. My question is, how do you handle the transition from the dark stained stairway treads to adjacent wood flooring in the 2nd floor hallway and bedrooms? I never see photos of the flooring transition into the 2nd floor. Is it ok to stay with the unstained wood flooring in the upstairs hallway and bedrooms? Or stain the upper hallway but not the bedrooms? I'd rather not incur the extra expense of staining the 2nd floor too. Does anyone have experience or thoughts about this?

I was wondering the same thing!

I'm a little late for your post, but your idea is my idea, only a year later. (I was just looking up using similar colors) I love this look, and think it makes everything "pop." You just made up my mind. I hope you've been happy with your decision.

Wow, some of these comments are very narrowminded… My house is over 140 years old and when it was originally built they used different wood for the flooring than the stairs… So to keep it authentic I did the same… I even kept the original stair treads, which gives the staircase a weathered, very unique look… People absolutely love it… but I'm sure it would be a faux pas for many of these designers

My advice would be, it's your house…give it some character… What is the sense of remodeling and doing the design yourself if you're just going to do it the way someone else tells you to.

I was always told, if you can't match it do the opposite. So if you are having a hard time matching your stairs to the floors do a complete different color. It will show contrast and if you have the white risers and trim it will make it pop even more.

I am enjoying all the comments. I too am in the process of staining the stairs. The flooring is a very, very light maple color. I am having a hard time matching the stair treads to the floor. As any stain is too dark. I've mixed stain, I've tried everything! So I have finally decided to go a shade or two darker.

Hhnurse1, how did it turn out? I'm looking to change my main floorva darker color than 2nd floor. Wondering how to transition on the steps. Thanks!

Hi Cathy! They turned out great! I'll post a picture tomorrow. I like different wood colors. Have you looked on Pinterest for inspiration?

Thanks! Yes, but haven't had any luck yet. Pictures look great! Nice job!

carol did you ever get an answer to this question?

Not exactly. I was hoping that maybe someone had contrasting darker stained stairs and lighter wood on the first and second floors and could provide a photo of the top step transition. I have a bullnose front edge on each step and a bullnose edge on the 2nd floor where it meets the riser of the top step. So the top bullnose would be light wood (along with the rest of the second floor) and the other bullnose steps would be dark. I’ve come to accept that that’s probably the way it will have to be and I likely I won’t even notice it after a week or 2. Future tense since we had other projects to do before this one.

i would like to know too. what is the flooring on Top? I was thinking I would do the top bullnose dark. And the first board light.

I did a renovation of my first floor, including a rebuilt staircase. The plan for the first floor called for dark walnut floors and stairs (treads and risers). To the architects dismay, I didn't want the extra aggravation and expense of redoing all my second floors, which are a medium oak stain. So on the bull nose of the top step, the one that is flush to 2nd floor, we stained the single board the darker color. We ran that dark stain all around the bullnose opening on the 2nd floor, 2-3", like a trim around the star. It also coordinates with the 2nd floor bannister which also continues around the hole. I can't send a photo right now, but it looks great. Like it was the intended design. Very finished transition on 2nd floor.

Can you post a photo now. I have the same issue and am told it is a problem. I love the idea of finding a way to make the transition look nice

One thing I’ve not see. Mentioned here. Is the Dark staining of Oak. from personal experience. In order to achieve a True ebony stain on oak. You need to be prepared to apply a minimum of 5 heavy coats. But this could be to your advantage. Maybe only do 2-3 coats and the dark oak will be much closer to matching Wood floor And blending with staircase hardware.

**** Contrasting similar color shades from floor to stairs is ideal to break up the room a little and make the staircase a more focal point in the room.

@trifkate Can you please post a pic of your stairs & floor?

@Carol Please post a pic of your top step transition.

TIA.

Is there anyone on this thread that could show me a picture of a more modern stairs where they cobtrast the timber flooring?

I think 2 different stained colors would be fine❣️I recently had new oak stairs and bannister installed and my carpenter matched my stair stain to our porcelain wood look tile flooring. Upstairs I have wall to wall carpeting in a light coffee color.