skip to main content

Hallways Home Repair Renovating

changing pony wall to banisters in hallway

last month

Help! I want to get rid of the solid pony wall on our staircase and replace with with banister and spindles. Any idea where to start? Or any reading I can do? I know it’s ok as our next door has theirs removed. We need to do it ourselves if possible.

Also anyone know if the ledge at the top of the stairs is structural? I think it is so will leave it but i hate it!what to do with it?!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Angie
last month
For the section on the left as you look up the stairs, I think that may well be spindles covered with hardboard. Use a pry bar to see if you can peep behind. If it is, that’s an easy fix. The bit at the top, not sure. But again, you could see if there’s anything covering old spindles. The handrails are somewhat “bitty”. Could you replace with a continuous rail? Or could you do without the second rail? We don’t have a rail at all, narrow staircase, enclosed with solid walls both sides, so I’d have no problem with only one rail! If there are no spindles hidden away, you can buy sets from specialist firms, and there are plenty of YouTube videos showing you how to do jobs like that. It’s certainly DIYable.
Angie
last month
Ok, I’ve been educating myself on pony walls! There’s some useful info on the Checkatrade website. They mention the possibility of electric cable being bedded into the wall, and suggest getting an expert to check re supporting walls before going ahead with any work to remove. Once those things are checked, I still think it’s something that can be done DIY, just needs careful research and checking beforehand. It’d certainly open up your hallway nicely.
Related Discussions
ugly cheap looking banister
Q
Comments (40)
Hi @robert-jones53, I do have the details, he was local to Petersfield, Hampshire so depends on where you are located. We ordered all the parts from this company called Multi Turn, in Twyford. They supplied and delivered all the parts and then came out on-site to measure and template the glass! Our carpenter then fitted the Glass. http://multiturn.co.uk/ ED - I appreciate this is an ancient post, but some reason people keep coming back. If there are no similar other posts out there then people will keep coming back.
...See More
Hallway using Farrow and Ball Wallpaper and Paint - Advice Please
Q
Comments (21)
Hi, I was just looking at staircases for a project I am working on and came across the images of your hall and your post. I have read all the good comments but could not resist ... throwing a couple of things into the mix that you could consider (budget permitting) ... Oak Parquet flooring is lovely but sometimes the yellow tones often highlighted with sunlight and age affects the choices we make for the walls and banisters and we fancy a change. Replacing the floor would be expensive, however, a relatively cheap and easy option would be to employ a flooring company to sand your existing wood floors. They basically sand them back and then you can choose from a huge number of tones of wood that you would like them to stain/oil/varnish the floor. (It took my guys a couple of days to complete). With the floor in the tone you love... you can then look at the walls and banisters etc. I would recommend painting your current wood banisters that would offer a new look. You could paint the spindles and varnish/paint the banister in another colour i.e. black etc. I would potentially suggest painting the spindles in the same colour as the ceilings. In the F and B colour palette, they use strong white alongside Elephants breath, skimming stone and Dove Tail. I would paint the spindles/stair woodwork Strong White (estate eggshell) and the ceilings Strong White (matt emulsion). I would use the wallpaper you love on the ground floor in between all the doors for maximum effect and a cohesive look. Wallpaper would not take as much traffic on the ground floor walls as it would on the stairwell and could look fabulous. You would then paint the skirting boards , and door architraves in elephants breath, skimming stone , dove tail etc. (Modern Emulsion) Finally, the stair wall (opposite banisters) could either be painted in the same colour as the architrave/skirtings, or a complimentary colour from the palette (either Elephants breath, skimming stone, elephants breath etc.) (Modern Emulsion) Both options would look great. Modern Emulsion is good to use on the stair wall as you can easily wipe it down. Good luck with your refurb. :-)
...See More
Dark hallway with woodchip wallpaper
Q
Comments (6)
Hello Holly, First of all, it doesn't matter whether the place is done up or "Up market" as you said... Your house is your home! Budget is also not a problem for someone like me. I can create style with even modest bucks! Anyone can create style with lots of ££ and very often don't! The real skill is providing style with very little... First of all could I suggest removing the hearts.. Why not hook them on a door handle... You can then focus on the space of that wall... One thing you could do is find a lovely large mirror and hang that, Ebay and charity shops, antiques that sort of thing... I love a good find at a second hand store..... A mirror gives the eye a focus and reflects the hallway with an interesting "view" that pictures cannot provide... Or have a few smaller mirrors and an even larger one on the left wall at the top of the stairs.. (left standing on top stair) Or a large mirror on that first landing and a large canvas on that large wall at the top left.. Possibly buy a chest or something that can serve as storage.. for below the stairway there.. Then the stairs can be free from things.. You could have a little basket inside so you can fill it up before taking said things upstairs.. The crack is small but you can fill it.. and paint or remove the chipboard paper... Maybe worth looking outside the front door to that exterior wall to see if the cracks are visible there too... It is natural to have some movement and unless you can see more of these and bigger, I would not worry too much.. I like the cupboard, I would leave that as it's useful.. Also the banister rail is not at all bad looking... but if you wanted to make a change here and remove the two top panels to make it open and cut the plinth to look like the bottom stair.. That could be a gr8 idea.. So the top looks like the bottom portion of stairs with no banister but a small side panel.. This could greatly change the feeling here as it would feel open and spacious. A beautiful mirror could then really focus here... Perhaps consider a more modern colour for the walls and woodwork... and you don't really notice the paper... Personally I don't think the glass is necessary unless for safety issue (little nippers) and not so keen.. I'd have it open as it's a very small flight of stairs. Have a look at Little Greene for paint colours.. If the door is pvcu.. You could paint it with special pvcu paint.. You could do all the windows too... Lovely colours for doors are black, dark green, grey, Think of a theme you may want to introduce to the house.. Maybe various shades of a favourite colour and then work round the house... Woodwork does not need to remain white either.. You can go dark or lighter version of the wall colours... Or even a contrast.. So some ideas that don't involve a big spend... : )) http://www.kolorbond.co.uk/kolorbond-paint-plastic-pvc-upvc
...See More
Time to move on to the hallway.
Q
Comments (19)
Well, still nothing to report, and we are absolutely no further forward on deciding the paint colours. Last night I went into Homebase after work yet again for a couple more testers - put them up, nahhhhh. This hallway has been a complete nightmare from start to finish and I wish that we'd left it well alone. I suppose in the long-run it'll be worth it, but I'm finding it really hard to muster up any enthusiasm on it now - it's been dragging on for months. @OnePlan: Yeah, I would consider laying the stair runner myself for sure, it's not the laying that was the issue, it was the fact it'd been cut wrong that's the problem, and it looked stupid. However, at the moment, the sooner this room is done the better, I just want to see the back of it, so as the carpet place do the service, I'll happily pay a professional to do it in an afternoon, rather than me spending any more time on it. Also, I have a terrible terrible habit of injuring myself whenever I come into contact with Carpet Grippers. No matter how long or short, removing them from the floor, moving them from the floor to the rubbish container, or even from the rubbish container into the dustbin - my hands always look like I've been attacked with a cheese grater. Seriously, I am 100% certain, that at some point in time when carpet grippers are involved I will need a plaster! @Carolina: Oh don't you worry about that, I've got some scrap paper and a head-full of ideas. Another project is forthcoming (may start this weekend actually) involving an area to the side of our house currently used for dumping things (1m.80 across the back and 2m.24 to the front) Separate thread incoming :)
...See More
Sonia
last month
I would definitely get a builder or structural engineer to advise before knocking down any walls whatsoever. It doesn’t look structural but would you really take the opinion of someone on Houzz? We might be wrong! And where will you put all the children’s art? 😊
Jo S
Original Author
last month
Thank you for the messages - it’s definitely solid - no hidden spindles for us I’m afraid!
Yes - I think I’ll have to ask a builder again - we had one over that put in gallows brackets for us… he told my partner it’s fine to take out…, but I wasn’t there to ask the details… like how 🙈! So think I need to ask around again.
The handrail on the right will also go… it was an elderly man that lived here for years before. But I’ve never needed a bannister and a hand rail.

Children’s art (and adults! - it was a team effort) will definitely have a place! They’ll make sure of that 🤣

Sponsored

More Discussions

Which layout do you think would look best for our renovation project?

8

Window and door colour/style help please

8

Paint, wallpaper feature or painting?

11

Inspiration needed

7

Softening the exterior (budget friendly)

6

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.