A bannister painted a high gloss black enamel (think grand piano!), is stunning and really makes an ordinary bannister (I have one!) look a bit better. My spindles and risers are white - same color as all the trim in the house. The stair treads are the same color stain as all the floors. Dust typically does NOT collect on a bannister as it is "wiped down" multiple times daily when people use it.

@Flo. Thanks for your input. My handy guy/painter told me that if I was willing to do the sanding myself on the spindles he would take care of the staining of the handrails and painting white of the spindles for $500. He said the majority of the cost would be simply for his time to sit there and sand what needs to be sanded. He said he would use a gel based stain on the hand rails. As far as the vinyl goes, it's already been selected. My wife has terrible allergies so we can't do carpet anywhere (even hypoallergenic). The floor company doing the install is very good and I've seen their work on stairs with the material before. I think (pray:)) it will come out good.

Okay, thank you! Also, the wood French doors into the office. Maybe I’m just nitpicking it since I see it every day.. maybe adding cooler toned light bulbs in the foyer might brighten it up? The brown is really getting to me..

Wood is very much part of the MCM style. Leave it. Black ones with such thick bars will make them look heavier.. Maybe there's some way to rehab the structure and adapt them like this with cable and wood. Two small things, if you change the mirror to a more MCM streammlined style and the little table, that might echo the feeling you want and give you a lighter feeling.