Board and Batten

4 years ago

I want to add board and batten to my stairs. Not sure where to start or how high to take it given the window. Having looked at so many pictures and void of one similar enough to my layout, I see a few options. Any advice and pics greatly appreciated!

My two story foyer is an odd room with angled walls, front door, 2 sets of french doors, a closet and an opening into a dining room as well as the stairs. There is also a 3 shelf built in.

So here are the options I've come up with on where to start the feature.
A. with the molding that starts in the foyer, B. with the molding that starts on the first step in the foyer wall, but not the other foyer wall with the closet door. C. just the stair walls and leave the foyer molding as is.

And the rail... should I take the wood that the rail is currently attached to off and replace the rail without it? or work the board and batten around it (I don't see that working, but if I was a design expect I would not be here in the first place)?

As far as height, I saw many options here but couldn't find an industry standard. Suggestions?

Thanks so much for the help! This group is amazing and my goto when I'm totally stumped!

Featured Answer

Theresa Janssen

4 years ago

I think that makes sense but maybe you tape it out on the walls just to visually see it before you actually do it. I like the all white idea for sure.

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Comments (10)

PRO
PPF.
4 years ago
Could you post a couple of inspiration images?

Why just the stairs and not also the entry?
Meg C
Original Author
4 years ago
Excellent question I haven't really pondered. Overkill maybe. Limited wall space in the foyer with lots of angles.
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cat_ky
4 years ago
Board and batten on your stairway, just might make your stairway feel very narrow. Something to think about. I wouldnt do it.
Theresa Janssen
4 years ago
I would say C, but I would also consider adding throughout the stairwell including the wall on the landing up the stairs and then the wall going up the 2nd set of stairs up. I say that without seeing the full stairwell, but it might look nice to do that when you look down from the 2nd floor landing.
Theresa Janssen
4 years ago
Here's a pic that shows the trim going behind the handrail and up the entire stairwell.
nautical stairs · More Info
Meg C
Original Author
4 years ago
oh, yes! Totally going all the way up the landing and to the second set of stairs Theresa. I didn't even think to expand on that. I love the way the railing looks in your pics! that solves for that one! I have molding that wraps around my foyer under the stairs, maybe I will take the trim all the way up and into the stairs like in your pic. Thanks for sharing!
Meg C
Original Author
4 years ago
this is the stairwell and a pic of the foyer from the second floor for those who were curious. I will be staining the steps, updated all the trim and redoing the landings to match the flooring we have upstairs and will be installed downstairs early next year.
Theresa Janssen
4 years ago
Awesome. Glad it was helpful and thanks for sharing the full view. Excited to see the finished product. I love board and batten.
Meg C
Original Author
4 years ago
Ok friends, I am still struggling on this one. I've decided I that while I like the board and batten in foyers, I don't want it in mine because it's too much. My foyer is busy with all the angles and doors as is and there is limited wall space for color. I want to stay towards traditional so painting it anything other than white doesn't appeal to me.

I think a blend of these two photos will give me the look and feel I'm going for. I want the board and batten look with that clean, crisp feeling.

So, just to make sure I'm not violating the standards and shaming my fellow DIYers, I need some validation on a couple of things.
1. Start the feature on the stair walls.
2. Choose a height and cut the details underneath that.
  2a. For example, I can go about 32 inches on the banister side of both flights of stairs. The wall with the window will have about 42 in to floor trim on the first landing and 36 in on the second. So, my vertical boards will be different lengths, but the horizontal lines will be the same all the way around on both sides of both levels when done.
Does it sound like I have this thought out correctly?