Can I paint these stairs?

9 years ago

Hello - I have just bought this house and there's so much to do to make it look a bit fresher inside. I am not a fan of dark wood and prefer white everywhere. Can I paint this staircase easily or would it be total sacrilege? It's an Edwardian villa. I want them white or maybe white with the same colour or lighted wooden handrail if that is more authentic. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.

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PRO

The Thatching & Building Company

9 years ago

A traditional Edwardian staircase was a showpiece for the house and would have been polished only - not painted. The hallway was likely covered with a busy-patterned wallpaper and heavy wooden furniture. In wanting a more modern look, your focus should be on the walls. The staircase is best left natural.

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Comments (28)

sandersdaughter
9 years ago
I think the combination of the stair carpet and wall colour is making the beautiful staircase look dated . If you updated what's around the staircase you may not feel you'd have to paint it . Saying that I'm a big fan of natural wood !
PRO
Russell Taylor Architects
9 years ago
We have revamped many staircases, please see our profile for some ideas. Our latest project - Doughty street - includes painted staircases.
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I would go for half and half approach as per jmcdi, painting the panelling below in keeping with rest of hallway and keeping the large newel posts, balusters, handrails and diagonal bottom section (not sure of its proper name) as they are. The only other option might be to try and remove a bit of the dark varnish from the stairs and see what colour the wood comes up naturally, it could be oak underneath the stain? However if it turned out to be lovely and you went for stripping the whole thing this would be a messy, long and potentially costly process. Best of luck, keep us posted!
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Claire Archbold
9 years ago
I agree with the comments above, it looks dated but not because of the wood x
Simon
9 years ago
Paint it - it will look infinitely better
jacksplash
9 years ago
I painted mine,and it is a lot of work to take on,but it can look great. You have a beautiful staircase,and I think if it was an option for you I would change the carpet,or a runner could also look great.:))
PRO
gareth Jones
9 years ago
Depending on how far you want to go, attached photo might give you some inspiration...
puffinrock
9 years ago
Have you considered painting them the same colour as the walls to make it fade out,so it does not fight with the beautiful floor?.
neddyq4
9 years ago
paint the stairs as above and put a nice grey or blue on the wall...this space will be amazing with the right colour.
chalkandbell
9 years ago
Please don't paint the wood! It warms the space and I have to agree with the word you used - sacrilege!
mrsthing
9 years ago
I'm also in an Edwardian villa and inherited a staircase which was already painted completely. We stripped off the paint on just the handrail and it looks great, so I would say go ahead and paint if you want to. If the staircase is original, it's likely to be pine, stained dark rather than an expensive hardwood.
112259
9 years ago
Definitely paint, 'Gareth Jones' idea is lovely and a happy medium for wood lovers
bishome
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks so much for all your suggestions. Interesting that it's divided opinion! I hadn't thought of the pine that might be underneath which is a shade I'd much prefer so that might be worth looking into. Any other photos or ideas welcome. Thanks so much for everyone's input - lots to think about.
bombel1972
9 years ago
what a great hallway! i like it. it is nice. i would update carpet and do something with walls. but i understand, if you're not into dark wood, then it can be hard to get over it.
the pics attached are just examples of not being afraid to go for it. i'm not necessarily recommending the pink carpet. ha just showing that lots can work.
Croxted Road - Dulwich · More Info

Entry - Staircase · More Info

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Tryphic
9 years ago
I think the house looks lovely anyway! I love the look of painted spindles and unpainted rail. But I think painting it all would spoil what is a beautiful staircase and make it far more ordinary looking. Paint hides, in the photo the stair rail looks like its a lovely wood in good condition.
Janet Rose
9 years ago
I'm a historian and I think the staircase is stunning as it is. It was designed to be a showpiece for the Edwardian home, displaying the wealth and good taste of the occupants to visitors. If you paint it, I fear it will lose the 'wow' factor and just fade into the background. I agree with other comments that the carpet and wall colour are making the interior look dated and changing those would lift the space visually.
Sam Hill
9 years ago
Leave it!
User
9 years ago
I would be very happy in that house as it is. Some fashion fads ruin beautiful architecture in the name of updating. Paint it and it may be in 10 years you'll be scraping it off again. That staircase outclasses any modern designs and I would not like to see the soul getting taken away from it.
PRO
Jaimie K Designs Ltd
9 years ago
have to agree with Gareth and his image. If you are going to paint it then that is the look I would go for. you can then go for a modern overall look with the furniture, wenge would look good, and you can always change the carpet for a runner at some point to again mix the modern and traditional feel and look to entrance. good luck its a fab house
PRO
Simon Fairless
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'm an artist so apologies for focusing on the art... the space looks fantastic and I'm a fan of natural wood also but some of the painted designs above look fantastic too. Your funtiture tonally complimetns the staircase as it is and looks good too and as that is gorgeous strong floor pattern I think it unlikely you're going to be changing that.

Personally I would change the rug/carpet at the front of the photo first bringing in something much lighter and simpler and without the intense pattern.

I would change the gold frame on your picture also which would benefit from being simpler and lighter too... more contemporary as it were, and the same is true for the clock which needs toning down a bit as black is too strong. Simple to do. At the moment you have gold black and what looks like dark grey framing your wall decorations, once they all tonaly work together you will create space which is much easier on the eye. Whatever you decide to do with the wood will dictate which tones to use. At the moment though there is too much going on.... for me at least.

Once you've decided on the above you're possible going to need to change the lamp shade too to fit with your lighter design... again very simple to do.

Hope that helps..... Simon
dooders1981
9 years ago
Paint it but do as the photo shows and leave handrail and newel dark stain, stain treads to match. Also, I highly recommend you hire a professional painter who has experience In this kind of painting and staining and talk to his customers. He should bid it with SPRAYING the paint, light sanding, spraying again, light sanding etc. for about three coats. Have him put the bid in writing with full price so he does not increase price at the end. Also make sure he knows how to sink and cover nail heads on treads so they do not show. Good luck.
PRO
Eades & Draw
9 years ago
Here is a technical warning your decorator should be aware of. Paint doesn't tend to stick to varnish or stain very well no matter how much you key it in.

Your best option short of stripping everything back (Finneys wood stripper is one of the strongest on the market) is to use a shellac based primer first such as Zinsser and this will create the best adhesion.

Regards
Eades
Jenny West
9 years ago
My 2 cents is that I would paint it white. It will look clean, fresh and spacious!
PRO
Kluk Construction Ltd
9 years ago
From one side is shame to paint over beautiful woodwork, from other making narrow carpet on stairs, painted stairs and staircase white, with handrail black? Would make big difference, however than wooden floor in hallway will not match so well to refresh staircase.
kgrebha
8 years ago
Hi, I wondered what you decided to do about painting your staircase and whether you have any pics if you did decide to paint? I have a very similar dilema at the moment. Many thanks.
bishome
Original Author
8 years ago
Update - the staircase is still exactly as you see in the photo. We've been concentrating on other areas of the house at the moment. Since original post I've realised that the staircase is not original and seems to be pine that's been stained darker. I think we may paint it white and leave the newell and handrail stained antique oak and have white panelling underneath the stairs to accommodate cupboards and a toilet which we need to move here. I love all of your comments and have taken note of all of them. If it was original I'd be less likely to look to change it but since it's c.15 years old I wonder if the original was lighter antique oak to match the flooring.
Chris Greenwood
7 years ago
iIf it is varnisned Gook Luck with that I love the colour F&B elephants breath
PRO
Period Property Store
7 years ago
Carpeted, painted, waxed or stained could all look good. We agree with the comments about updating what's around the staircase. This will definitely change the whole feel and style. Here is some inspiration for you for different styles of staircases from our range of paints and wallpapers by Little Greene. Hope this gives you some food for thought!

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