What feel are you trying for? Traditional, modern, tradition, cabin, scandinavian?

This is important. If you scandivian you'd pain them white. But if you wanted a traditional or cabin look, you would sand off the glossy layer of poly and use a matte or satin poly.

Wow, great story or as they say provenance for the trim. I wouldn't paint that. I'd try to lift the color as light, unstained, raw and natural as possible.

I’d say trying to go for the most timeless traditional/transitional look. To sand down to bare over 6,500 sq ft including the casement windows would be too close-prohibitive and labor-intensive, I believe, hence why I mentioned either just light sand and go satin or darker or paint...

As Jesse Fay commented it depends on the look you are going for. It would be a shame to paint the trim in your house but if you want an updated look that would probably be the best avenue. It's not like trim trim hasn't been painted before millions of times over. Perhaps you could leave a portion of the stair unpainted - maybe the treads and the top cap of the handrail.

Imho painting them white would loose their connection with stairs and doors, which really ties the rooms together. Trying to give the interior an "updated look" by painting only the trim will likely look kind of off with an gigantic staircase and oak doors in the same room ;)

Granted, I've never stripped mouldings myself, but I don't think that sanding is your only option. There are ways to chemically strip poly from wood.

@Jesse Fay I would say that I am seeking to do the most timless rather than trendy of options.

@Lori A. Sawaya with in excess of 6,500 sq ft that is trimmmed in this color, it would be must too cost-prohibitive and time-consuming. Thus, thoughts as to what color to keep it? Current color with just new satin finish or what color if darker? Wanting to stay away from the golds and reds and ebony's I think . . .

@Norwood Architects I plan to paint the stair risers/toekicks along with the side-stringers. The posts and handrail will get stained as the same color as the trim or floors.

My biggest question here is what color options should I do with the trim? Keep it it's current color or tone it darker AND then what color for the new red oak flooring that's getting installed...the spindles and risers/toe kicks and stair stringers are getting painted tho...

I’m in the white paint camp- painting it white will cost far less than ‘toning’ it with polyurethane which is also risky as it has to be done correctly. I would stain the wood steps and handrail to match your new wood floors and paint everything else. Provincial, special walnut, and early American are all common here in the se