What about the green runner?

It will look great, the exact color isn’t hugely important. I would recommend oil based versus latex, latex can get gummy where it gets touched a lot. (Don’t tell anyone but I’ve used a quart of rust oleum black oil enamel for this, so déclassé)

I will remove the green runner and not replace it.

Yes paint the spindles white but black seems too dark for the hand railing. Use a gell stain over the existing railing in a tone that will match your new floor.

Wow please tell me more about “gel stain”. Do you need to sand the railings first? Is it done by painters or floor guys?

Waht color is the new color for the floors ?

Gel stain is like paint had an affair with stain. It sits on the surface like paint but is somewhat translucent like stain. It’s tricky to apply and like any paint will need sanding between coats, but doesn’t require bare wood like stain.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting we will try to stain it to be ligher/more natural like white oak.

The colors I would choose for the railing and spindles would really depend on what colors will be in the rest of the space.

Not all wood in a home has to be the same, but they do need to work together. Depending on the wood used in your furnishings I may leave the rail and paint the spindles. I wouldn't use black and white unless it fit with the rest of the décor and the feeling of the space. I may choose just black or just white. If I used a white or chose black and white I would want the white to match my trim. I would probably use softer colors that were a shade darker or lighter than my walls. Might use an accent color.

I would wait until after the floors were done and the new wall paint color selected before choosing the color for the stairs.

The treads will need to be changed to match the new floor color too BTW. Gel stain best on surfaces that do noot get a ton of use and are tricky to get right . Can we see the rest of your decor that is what drives the staircase style .Is you floor actually white oak? I think it was you asking about staining red oak to look like white and in my experince usually llooks too pink . In this case wait until the floors and treads are done.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting yes I asked about staining red oak to be more light/natural. My floor guy will restain the treads as well. I am definitely very concerned about the pink :(

Another vote for white spindles and black paint.