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12 Fresh Alternatives to the Carpeted Staircase
Years ago, the carpeting on the main staircase in my home was starting to look quite worn. It always seems the steps are the first place to show wear. I absolutely love the look and low maintenance of hardwood flooring, so I got this “great” idea (insert image of Lucy and Ethel in candy factory here) to have the stairway completely re-done, ditching the carpet and going with hardwood treads.
After getting several estimates, I found a contractor who said he had added hardwood treads to staircases many times before…no problem. He sent his hardwood guy out who removed the old carpeting and began removing the treads. That’s when everything came to a screeching halt.
Apparently, the staircase had not been built on site and was designed without a center support or stringer. This left the hardwood guy scratching his head, struggling to find a way to install the new treads. He eventually figured it out, but a job that was estimated to take 3 days, actually took two very long weeks. Fortunately, our home has a back staircase or we would have been sleeping in the living room and taking sponge baths in the half bath.
Fast forward to the present and I’m itching to replace the carpet on the back staircase, now. That staircase leads to an upstairs family room/bonus room that’s casually furnished with antique pine. Over the years, I’ve been gradually replacing the carpeting in my home with hardwood flooring. This prompted a discussion with my current flooring contractor over whether I should add hardwood treads to the back stairway. The answer I got? No Way! Apparently, they have encountered the sneaky stringer-less stairway before.
So, what’s a girl to do? With the goal of having all the rooms finished out with hardwood flooring, re-carpeting is not an option. I had to look no further than houzz for some fresh alternatives. Here are 12 great looks for transforming that old carpeted stairway.
After getting several estimates, I found a contractor who said he had added hardwood treads to staircases many times before…no problem. He sent his hardwood guy out who removed the old carpeting and began removing the treads. That’s when everything came to a screeching halt.
Apparently, the staircase had not been built on site and was designed without a center support or stringer. This left the hardwood guy scratching his head, struggling to find a way to install the new treads. He eventually figured it out, but a job that was estimated to take 3 days, actually took two very long weeks. Fortunately, our home has a back staircase or we would have been sleeping in the living room and taking sponge baths in the half bath.
Fast forward to the present and I’m itching to replace the carpet on the back staircase, now. That staircase leads to an upstairs family room/bonus room that’s casually furnished with antique pine. Over the years, I’ve been gradually replacing the carpeting in my home with hardwood flooring. This prompted a discussion with my current flooring contractor over whether I should add hardwood treads to the back stairway. The answer I got? No Way! Apparently, they have encountered the sneaky stringer-less stairway before.
So, what’s a girl to do? With the goal of having all the rooms finished out with hardwood flooring, re-carpeting is not an option. I had to look no further than houzz for some fresh alternatives. Here are 12 great looks for transforming that old carpeted stairway.
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Are you a nature fan? I have just the staircase for you. Look at all the detail! Each time you go up the stairs, you can swim with the fishes and enjoy the birds and butterflys. This would have to make climbing steps a lot more fun.
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Here's a great "Before and After" using beautiful tiles to amazingly transform a wood stairway.
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The tile treatment works great for all types of stairs. I think every stairway needs a gatekeeper or sentinel, don't you? Each trip up the stairs costs 5 cents...a small toll to cover the cost of the new staircase design. :)
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Here's one more great example of a tiled application. This would have been great for preventing the scuff marks that elves magically left on the risers of our steps when I had a teenage boy bounding up and down them. I still have memories of him taking the steps three at the time. If you've ever had boys, I bet that sounds familiar. :)
Laurel Murals has some of the most clever and whimsical stairway designs.
If you dream it, I bet she could create it.
Check out this "faux" carpet look. Not only is it durable, you'll enjoy having a little bit of art right under foot. Such a dramatic and eye catching look against the white walls.
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You can just barely see the steps here, but I had to include this staiway because I think this would be a great way to redo a previously carpeted stairway that really wasn't meant to be taken apart...like mine. It appears the risers have been painted black. This is great for hiding a multitude of sins...like nail holes or gouges that have been filled and sanded.
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Feeling brave? Go all white. I love this look and could really see it in a cottage style home or beach house? This stairway would also look great with a seagrass or sisal runner right down the center.
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Decorating with numbers is so popular these days. Steps seem like a fun place to use them. Check out the nautical rope handrail.
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Here's a totally different look with numbers. Notice the paint effect and how it gives the illusion of a runner.
by The Locker
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It's August now...which means Halloween is just a few months away. I saw these in Michaels last October and unfortunately, passed them up. As I recall, they were under the Martha Stewart brand. I hope they have them available again this year. Total fun!
Hope this Ideabook gives you some fun alternatives to the carpeted stairway. Remember, it's just paint. If you don't like it, you can just paint right over it. Or, even carpet them again. Nahhhh.
Hope this Ideabook gives you some fun alternatives to the carpeted stairway. Remember, it's just paint. If you don't like it, you can just paint right over it. Or, even carpet them again. Nahhhh.
Ideabook updated on Aug. 4, 2010.
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Kitch: Haven't had any problems with noise since we all run around either in tennis shoes, sock feet or barefoot when indoors. :)
Tropinc...that is such a gorgeous look! Sometimes it a little hard to pull off it the carpet was put down with a lot of tack or nails...there can be some pretty ugly holes and damage left behind. Or sometimes the treads are a really undesirable grade of wood and don't look so great stained. Love the look when the wood underneath is in great shape.
I am looking forward to watching what you decide to do. Also, for those of you that have "taken the plunge" and replaced old steps with new wood, I'd be curious to know what you invested in the project...hundreds....thousands?
If you want to hire out a project like this, you don't need a flooring contractor. When you are looking at a project which is surface finishing and visual impact, talk to painters. My partner and I also do all types of decorative elements - tile, trim work, moldings, install window treatments, build and cover cornice boards, etc. Good painters understand how to make surfaces look beautiful even if you aren't using paint.