What type of handrail, balusters and newel post are you considering? Depending on what you choose, you can paint the treads and risers white or black. Or just refinish the pine treads with a reddish color stain. Add a nice runner and you won't notice that the wood treads are different than the flooring.

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC, I like a more modern, simple look like these for the components:

These would probably be painted white and work with wooden square balusters. I am not opposed the staining the newel post and railing to match the flooring.

I defiinitely like the look of white risers.

I am concerned about black stairs because our stairway is a dark area but I like how they look in photos. I am concerned about adding a riser and keeping the stairs clean. Between three teenagers and a dog, the current runner is a MESS!

I would go for the Cumaru treads. Another hardwood with be $50-$60 each. Another $100 each for 15 treads to have the same consistent flooring? No brainer in my book.

Agree on matching the treads, or do paint grade wood treads painted to match the trim color and install a custom runner in the middle.

I will also be replacing the handrail, spindles and newel post with a more simple, modern design.

You've already fallen a good way$ down the rabbit hole. Agree with Millworkman--spend the extra and get matching treads. Not worth $1500 to have to futz around with stains trying to match the color and missing the mark because of the difference in wood grains.

Here is the thing with treads. They usually demand a runner. If you don't? The trip/slip factor goes up exponentially and is treacherous in socks.. Match the Cumaru? Wellllll...................?

What about the HAND rail?

To me, unless you've got oak ? Or cherry? You are complicating a thing that can look sensational and needs to be 85 % covered for safety. Not to mention the SCUFFS on the riser when uncovered.

Then add the cost for the "match" ,. Nope.: )

JAN MOYER What do you think of a finish such as this next to the Teak?

We have been without carpet on our stairs for about two years and haven't had any concerns about slipping. The Cumaru treads would be about $1,500 more for materials but the labor price also goes up due to cutting this very dense wood.

Too many decisions to make! And I love the look of the stairs posted above but don't know how that would look next to the Cumaru.

I found myself always worried about matching things rather than making sure things simply work together.

I agree with millworkman. You're only going to do this once and you might regret it if it doesn't look right. The alternative would be to use Red Oak, water popped and stained then coated with tinted oil poly and a coat of clear poly. You could get close but without the depth and life of the exotic wood.

We just received the quote for the Cumaru stair treads. The price came in at $5,000!!!! Not in our budget so we have to explore other options.

Wow. How much for an Oak stair?

I'm with you on the slippery stair issue. I find carpet to be more slippery and less safe.

Oak treads are $35 a pop. I am getting a quote from a contractor oto install those. I know it will be AT LEAST $1,500 less but I am guessing closer to $2,800 less.

We have beautiful Cumaru hardwood on our first floor and will now be adding it to our upstairs hallway.

If you end up installing oak stair treads, then I would use oak in the upstairs hallway.

This is easy for me to say because it's not my money...but every time in my life that I have decided to save money and get something just because it's cheaper, I end up regretting it for years thereafter.

One wood species of stairs in between different wood species of floors is going to look odd. Trying to match colors in a different species, or at least come up with something that doesn't hideously clash, could be a nightmare.

The only way I'd do a different wood tread is if you're painting them as Jan suggested.

Otherwise I'd bite the bullet. Heck, if you're paying the upcharge to do the entire 2nd floor in that wood, don't cheap out on the stairs - which are more of a focal point on the main floor of your house!

Like I said, I get it. I've reno'ed a few houses in my day and there are times saving a few thousand makes sense. This is not one of those times. IMO, of course.

I completely agree with the others. But, if the matching stairs are out of budget, then just paint them and get a runner, as Jan suggested. I would not have uncarpeted stairs in my home, but that's me (who doesn't look forward to slipping and falling on a hard surface, plus I like to wear socks at home, so even slipper-ier). Your floors are beautiful, and anything else you put on the stairs will not do any favors for the look of everything. Paint.

I wonder if you could custom mix a stain for the oak to match the cumaru color. The graining would be different but if the middle had a runner on it, that would not be as obvious.

That was my suggestion except I thought to re finish the existing pine.

So I have been giving this thought and wonder what you all think or using the runner when some stps are box treads and others are open with left returns on the stringer. I think it may drive me nuts having the runner being centered on the top stair and then not on the bottom ones. Your thoughts?

p.s. All the railing, balusters and newel posts are being replaced.

It's done all the time on a straight-run staircase, not a problem.

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