STAIR MAKEOVER... ADDING A NATURAL LOOKING RUNNER

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hQhvaHM-X9-5CVfuPlyBPvU-lPZof1lJL0WKW_-P7FzU_uoOeVSakyUVZdYOUQwse2ioFnIIqAXrm-Yu77EFbnEvJxmVtHKElaEjxr8fqlDG-MKp8PXa-UGJa7F4DYUqePFE_dyUYdmh/s1600/sisal-jute-natural+looking+runner+on+the+stairs+stonegableblog.com+TITLE+PAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hQhvaHM-X9-5CVfuPlyBPvU-lPZof1lJL0WKW_-P7FzU_uoOeVSakyUVZdYOUQwse2ioFnIIqAXrm-Yu77EFbnEvJxmVtHKElaEjxr8fqlDG-MKp8PXa-UGJa7F4DYUqePFE_dyUYdmh/s640/sisal-jute-natural+looking+runner+on+the+stairs+stonegableblog.com+TITLE+PAGE.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br />Some projects are like chipping away at a mammoth piece of rock to find the masterpiece inside... with a little chisel and a tiny hammer.... chip.... chip... chip!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you hear us chipping away at our front hall and stair project?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday the stair runner was laid. It's not easy to look at a swatch of carpet and envision it as a runner going down the entire staircase!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's what we chose...and some tips I found along the way...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The "before" without the ugly floral runner...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0N2npE1J9nmD17z-8g1T2hddHJrcHJLi-RZ9gdgL_8su1yjjA5jpci0oNFT92MmxTvWsNJYXFrC-IAKtfm_PvZVSmBrUhU0ZvA0o8T12n0I3J0Atmw-7lWebPyz1Wtuni6jAyuctJAjmt/s1600/DSC_8127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0N2npE1J9nmD17z-8g1T2hddHJrcHJLi-RZ9gdgL_8su1yjjA5jpci0oNFT92MmxTvWsNJYXFrC-IAKtfm_PvZVSmBrUhU0ZvA0o8T12n0I3J0Atmw-7lWebPyz1Wtuni6jAyuctJAjmt/s640/DSC_8127.JPG" width="422" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The "during".... painted white risers and black railing </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAz3FcLNnEennTwUPqe2D2H35paUA_0yn44aABfaKDciITNtRYisZLQeXfe9nMA0p9f-OzeV2HAmo3N2egeU4kJyXLrEcEM0BHPBaBJiaePZTO8NlvWl5FgApENVHYLeKt8r6yRXokwzc/s1600/Foyer+stairs+stonegableblog.com+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAz3FcLNnEennTwUPqe2D2H35paUA_0yn44aABfaKDciITNtRYisZLQeXfe9nMA0p9f-OzeV2HAmo3N2egeU4kJyXLrEcEM0BHPBaBJiaePZTO8NlvWl5FgApENVHYLeKt8r6yRXokwzc/s640/Foyer+stairs+stonegableblog.com+4.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The "still a work in progress"... blue tape and all. We are continuing to painting the spindles and underside of the railing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLZ5oQ7TZFKf-Pbi-E_l6iGGS51OOrzz76cgUI3qUOCezM1iqzXq57G5B64nwqndeG3gqkPj1dn7nprsW16yD9gIwIvHsnMJU6q-BkDhV0nphWdiVgJfatmx7NNNLfXzGo2K23pUeJBal/s1600/Natural+carpet+on+stairs+stonegableblog.com+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLZ5oQ7TZFKf-Pbi-E_l6iGGS51OOrzz76cgUI3qUOCezM1iqzXq57G5B64nwqndeG3gqkPj1dn7nprsW16yD9gIwIvHsnMJU6q-BkDhV0nphWdiVgJfatmx7NNNLfXzGo2K23pUeJBal/s640/Natural+carpet+on+stairs+stonegableblog.com+1.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although I loved the bare stairs, they were not practical for us. We have a little dog that cannot climb bare stairs... and bare stairs are NOISY! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted a natural low nap rug, like a sisal or jute... love the look... but they don't wear as well on very high traffic areas and I have found sometimes their fibers shed and that can be messy!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We opted for a very durable natural fiber look-alike. I ordered the carpet from Ethan Allen and had a local installer bind it as well as install it.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34h3fviW1A65AhvbMMHumuZ-BtNtqEuAE11NxAIxyUxaBype8zgJ80KmvHyuxJSsQD6_gmkxtsEW4WwQeN2SObcDUcLrxKSA4IddENQEQN-QMN7r384Uo_86es39KrJYxVr7Pd-NKIUsr/s1600/jute-organic-natural+looking+carpet+runner+on+stairs+stonegableblog.com+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34h3fviW1A65AhvbMMHumuZ-BtNtqEuAE11NxAIxyUxaBype8zgJ80KmvHyuxJSsQD6_gmkxtsEW4WwQeN2SObcDUcLrxKSA4IddENQEQN-QMN7r384Uo_86es39KrJYxVr7Pd-NKIUsr/s640/jute-organic-natural+looking+carpet+runner+on+stairs+stonegableblog.com+3.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl_fvd0aMt74UizCU6VCbokjvFp1_jmKUGtMzHDaQ2mw7UfLGMV4FEM9yfnz1IyEei-i6Mq1vFuoBK7FLcOkbv0BoLOputa7skGI0_BZjk0Bti45VWdJ_PAmwdFAZIDXvXfEe6eGSvOpd/s1600/natural-jute-sisal+carptet+alternatives+stonegableblog.com+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl_fvd0aMt74UizCU6VCbokjvFp1_jmKUGtMzHDaQ2mw7UfLGMV4FEM9yfnz1IyEei-i6Mq1vFuoBK7FLcOkbv0BoLOputa7skGI0_BZjk0Bti45VWdJ_PAmwdFAZIDXvXfEe6eGSvOpd/s640/natural-jute-sisal+carptet+alternatives+stonegableblog.com+8.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We would have preferred wool, but because of cost (big big bucks) opted for a soil repellent synthetic in a not-too-light neutral.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZAA4h378Y8Q2rReey8gsUfxZRT6ZLbM0JTZEP3p_QOj9p9fyGxNUxiqZDemujugqEma2So8A6iV5VaRAg_Y1jPxbcRZgV5XUwJanA8S7Vhfh-jjEovFjaegvTUtIW5nGzZ3vImh-fMCQ/s1600/jute-sisal-organic-natural+looking+stair+runner+alternatives+stonegableblog.com+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZAA4h378Y8Q2rReey8gsUfxZRT6ZLbM0JTZEP3p_QOj9p9fyGxNUxiqZDemujugqEma2So8A6iV5VaRAg_Y1jPxbcRZgV5XUwJanA8S7Vhfh-jjEovFjaegvTUtIW5nGzZ3vImh-fMCQ/s640/jute-sisal-organic-natural+looking+stair+runner+alternatives+stonegableblog.com+5.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some helpful tips I learned ...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* purchase a dense, thin carpet pad for stairs. Thick pads don't lay well on the stairs and they are often too "squishy". It is important to buy the most dense, thin pad, though!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*if you can't find a runner you like, buy a broadloom and have it bound. That's what we did.  Binding is not as expensive as you might think. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* in most cases, have your binding match your carpet. Contrasting binding calls a whole lot of attention to the carpet and draws attention away from the decor and architecture of the stairs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*opt for high wear carpet on stairs... with a short nap.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*there are great organic looking carpets that wear well on the market</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* a solid with a slight "pattern" in it will hide traffic wear and dirt better</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*a runner does not need to cover up most of the stair or be very wide. Our stairs are 43 inches wide and our runner is 26 inches wide. We love the look of wood on our stairs so we left as much exposed as we could.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* opt for a runner to soften the noise on the stairs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This part of the makeover is finally done!!!! Now, while Bobby is at work I'll be ripping down wallpaper this week! Can't wait to show off the stairs with freshly painted walls!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBDqI9CLsEMtaKEhts9aUgxwYLIiHoGmHp-37PgfV9WdmJQsFMJmlwvoblI_nVoLvDfsa7wZ11SRW0L9Pspk7CnNoFnnxgxAt8Z2-IMGwtvdI5IjiB5ogHYeGuSirAu3ZdqRMTk-4rvB_/s1600/sisal-organic-jute-natural+stair+runners+stonegableblog.com+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBDqI9CLsEMtaKEhts9aUgxwYLIiHoGmHp-37PgfV9WdmJQsFMJmlwvoblI_nVoLvDfsa7wZ11SRW0L9Pspk7CnNoFnnxgxAt8Z2-IMGwtvdI5IjiB5ogHYeGuSirAu3ZdqRMTk-4rvB_/s640/sisal-organic-jute-natural+stair+runners+stonegableblog.com+6.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a><a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a><a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="http://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a></div></div>

STAIR MAKEOVER... ADDING A NATURAL LOOKING RUNNER

Some projects are like chipping away at a mammoth piece of rock to find the masterpiece inside... with a little chisel and a tiny hammer.......

Read more »