Were it mine, I'd consider having the one single railing on the right side, and on the left side I'd have either the existing two segments of railing or remove the upper section along the wall as no longer needed. Re the left newel post being too tall, I think the installer needs to verify that the railing height is adequate. The railing appears too low to me. I am not sure you understand the complexity of the installation nor the costs involved. I am of above average handyman skills, but I would never tackle a project such as this. Likely costs are in the thousands.

Hi what color should I stain this basement staircase handrail? I have “golden oak” through the rest of my home but she’s nice this is a basement, I wanted to go slightly darker in stain. Advice on a min wax stain? Stairs will be grey carpet and newel post painted white.

To Beth H above: I do not think stairs are original, but I think the originals were similar, I see no evidence of older "framed" rails. Armchair shopper: winters here very severe. We also thought the house beautiful, but we find that permastone sort of looks not so appealing.. Thought something "urban" might update it somehow.. Just trying to figure out what to do so it looks nicer WITH the permastone. Really like that first photo with the darker taupe and the brown trim... but to be honest , when I look around town, all of the houses with permastone have that chocolate brown trim and they look not so good (with the permastone I mean). That is why I thought possibly to trim / roof in that newer "deep bronze" metal shade (not so chocolate) and possibly just staining new rails like a dark walnut wood? (or maybe doing the shakes in a deep green with that bronze trim)(either way rather muted). Or getting wild and replacing shakes with the rusty galvenized siding???? Beverly Fladeziner - like best your "framed" steps, but I'd have no idea where to start with building them ourselves, and I imagine as even steel railing are out of budget, that that would be not in our budget either.. (the house has big issues we need to address in the basement, old windows, rotting garage and needs re grading in yard etc.. so, I have to control my spending on things like the porch steps I guess..

I think it looks like a commercial staircase if you leave it, black or white. Isn't there a less expensive option? If not, then painting out the railing to black would look better. maybe once you get the wood treads in and paint the stringer black, it will look better? Doesn't look like you have a large run to do. have you priced out any of these? I just think the squared off railing looks more modern than the current one. what color stain on the treads are you doing? a natural like these? Or a warmer tone: I love this wood tone (and the thick treads) w/the black even these darker wood tones look good w/the black. do you have to have the glass? I think any of these are a nice option