Thanks bodica, I spent some time before starting this thread in the stairs gallery. Just wondering if anyone knows if olefin would be a good choice and to see any pics of runners used is your homes.

Wow, that is quite a difference. I would think you'd want something wider than 4' at the bottom, so then yes, custom would be nice. You can go to a carpet store and buy a remnant you like. The store near me wouldn't even charge to cut it to my specs, and then they would bind it for $2.00 per foot on each side. If you would like them bare, what do you have to lose by trying them that way? If they get marked up, then you'll know you have to keep them covered and you can buy a runner after the fact! Pine is pretty darned soft, but regular shoes shouldn't bother it. People don't drop things very often on stairways and that is how most damage occurs to hardwood floors.

We are just finishing a small U-shaped kitchen that has natural maple cabinets and soapstone countertops with some nice veining. I just went through a very similar dilemma and finally went with the most unobtrusive choice. I probably had at least 25 different tile samples in varying shades of white, very gray, blues and green from lighter more subtle hues to more bold. The mid-tone green felt like it would make the kitchen too dark. I had trouble finding just the correct shade of extremely light green I was looking for. (I had the perfect one and when the tile rep called to see about ordering, she was told that the tile was discontinued with no more available, so that ended that saga.) Most of the grays were too blah. Many blues tended too much towards baby blue. Most whites were way too stark. I finally found a white that is more towards the ivory/creamy range. It's a larger (4" by 12") format subway with a slightly wavy surface for a little bit of interest. For me it was the correct decision. It lets my countertops be the star. You already have a lot going on with the veining in the soapstone and the distinctive patterning of those cabinets. (I too looked at those at IKEA so know exactly what you are working with.

I'm a glutton for a good, subtle striped stair runner. A lot of work to get the stripes to align around the pie shaped stairs, but when it works, it is beautiful. I'd get neurtal tones because you have a lot going on there already with the railings, stair shape, and wall color. Notice how the last pic here has a matching rug on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. I think that looks nice too.