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Flooring Home Decorating Design Dilemma

updating staircase with animal print runner

2 years ago

My house was built in 1996 and I want to update the staircase. My style is transitional and I have 2 toddlers.

I’m thinking of painting the risers white, along with what I think is called the decorative “cut string” (the brown wood “scroll* decoration on the side of the stair). I also want a subtle neutral animal print runner. I just painted the spindles and handrail and although it’s way better than before I’m still not in love with it.

A few advice questions:

Runner - the carpet guys say don’t use polypropylene carpet because it won’t traffic well (show foot marks etc) and recommends other options like wool. BUT the wool option I like is 3x the price haha! Does anyone have polypropylene runner and feel like it’s fine?!
Painting risers and decorative “scroll” - will this help with updating the look?
How much would it cost to replace the spindles and handrail for a full makeover? Am I crazy to want to do this

Photos: 1) Inspo and 2) my house

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Comments (7)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
2 years ago
More options.
kandrewspa
2 years ago
I don't think your stair balusters are that bad. I would take the money you would spend redoing them and spend it on a higher grade of carpet. Nothing takes more of a beating than carpet on stairs. In order to achieve more of a transitional look you could remove the faux-paneling trim on the exterior wall of the staircase, and the chair rail unless it is providing some sort of handrail function although your inpiration picture has it. Transitional is a combination of traditional and modern. Which aspects you have of each style is up to you.
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Comments (20)
I keep thinking about the animal print...could I really be so daring?? I am also drawn to the antelope one, though I also really like the 4th one that Kellie posted (with the green walls). I'm going to bring home a sample and see how it looks. I have two carpet stores in mind that I'll visit later this week. I'm a little concerned about how the brown animal prints will look with the tile floor. I also kinda like this Nourison one since I have a thing for polka dots. One of my dogs is white and she's the worst shedder, so I can't go too dark because the fur will show like crazy. On the other hand, I don't want to go too light (even though we are mostly a no-shoes-in-the-house family!). I just need to get out there and bring some samples home. I'm so excited to do this -- I have been so tired of this rug for so long! Here is a link that might be useful: Nourison runner
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stair runners...are they 'out?'
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Comments (29)
Sometimes an idea is just good. Stair runners are great looking, and very practical at the same time. Since stairs get such tough wear, carpeted stairs always seem to look shabby before the rest of your carpet. By using a runner that will take the hard wear and hide dirt well, you will avoid expensive and useless cleaning and will extend the life of the carpet you have in other areas that doesn't see quite as much traffic. It bugs me when someone just decides that an idea isn't the "in" thing anymore. I remember a few years ago when people were saying animal prints were so yesterday. Huh?? Last time I checked they are still going strong. Good design works well when the function of the house is honored, and stairs need a surface that will accept heavy traffic. If you don't like wood on the stairs, a runner will always look good. Check Nourison for runners too, they are priced a little less than Karastan if any styles work for you.
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leopard/animal print carpet?
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Comments (20)
Well, I can help you halfway. I have cheetah print runner going up my curved staircase and the upstairs foyer is carpeted with it as well. I am so bummed I don't have a pic but I can tell you I love it and so does everyone - seriously, everyone - who sees it! I have had it installed for about three months now and I still love looking at it. I seriously doubt I will tire of it for a very long time. It looks fab with my red walls and doesn't compete with the Persian rugs in the front foyer. It is not a super small print yet it works with almost everything. Another plus is that is hides dirt and lint! It rarely looks like it needs vacuuming, even in a high traffic area. I have included a link to my pattern... Nicole Here is a link that might be useful: Stanton Carpet Serengeti in Wild Root
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Q
Comments (29)
Thanks everybody! I am happy with how it turned out and happy that it shows that I can actually make a decision (as I am currently agonizing). But I also am happy that I did sweat out a few of the details, it ends up nicer in the end. olychick - you are correct, Beverly27 helped me immensely! She suggested a Dash and Albert rug that I loved. However, when I picked up a sample it wasn't quite wide enough for my stairs. Ultimately though it was that rug that she suggested that pushed me go with this particular color scheme. Where is Beverly these days? I miss her posts! She was so helpful and generous with her advice. And I liked the way that she thought outside the box a bit. Like you,I was concerned about a bolder pattern, but her ideas really showed me how sharp it could look. Francoise - I ended up just getting it banded over the serged bindings. It looks nice!
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Jilly
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I just saw this gorgeous house on IG today. I think your handrail would look great stained:

(Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYEbdJ7F9RQ/?utm_medium=copy_link)

ETA: Agree with Jeanne Cardwell below, I really like your current runner.
Jeanne Cardwell
2 years ago
If you want to paint your risers and stringer white I think that would be fine and it would make your current runner look good. I would not replace your current runner unless is is worn out. It looks beautiful and probably hides any dirt and wear well. I would scout around for another home project, this stairway looks fabulous.
palimpsest
2 years ago
I would go back to white on the spindles after painting the risers and scrolls on the stairs white.

Current runner is okay but I don't love it with the stain color on the floor or with the white paint, it skews kind of pinky-maroony, which I don't dislike but not with the yellow-brown walnut stain on the floors.

I would use the money you save by not switching to trendy metal spindles, (The spindles you have would look much nicer on the inspiration staircase than theirs do, in my opinion. The inspiration is a colonial style stair and handrail with Italianate spindles) --the money you save I would go with a wool runner. Even if they age, they age better.
L M H
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks everyone! This community is so awesome — way better than the designer I worked with in the past!
PRO
JAN MOYER
2 years ago
Fact: Polypropylene is an oil based product. It will clean well, but in between even vacuuming ? It will hold dust and specks and lint, like a magnet. Due to that oil base.

Nobody can advise how much to change spindles, labor varies too widely by area.. It is also a CODE issue, ans there can be no more than a 4" spacing ( baby heads ) of spindles.

If you want animal??

Look at "Out of Africa in your area. At a VERY reputable broadloom store.

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