very nice now, but i prefer the 'before'! plenty of character, very interesting to contemplate... i would have kept it and simplified (read modernised) the furnishings, probably painted it a lighter coulour, improved the lighting...

My opinion only, I prefer the "before" as well. I would have painted or stained the stairway the darker color vs. replacing the railings with the artsy version you have now. Resale might be difficult as well. I would then have used furniture as my art form to liven things up.

I like them, I bet they look even better in person.

Very striking but I wonder if the house is too small to pull them off? (You did ask...)

Which is the before and which is the after? The darker staircase with ornate railing is hideous. I hope that's the before.

I really like the scroll staircase and I usually prefer things with simple clean lines but this is stunning. It gives the house a completely different feel. Much more formal and elegant. The original staircase is very 80's/90's.

Actually this home is nearly 4000 Sq Ft...

Sorry, but I don't like the 'after' at all. I would have stained the railings and treads darker and painted the balusters, risers and newels white, then put a great looking runner up the stairs. The new look is very ostentatious and nouveau riche.

I like both. But the "after" really goes well with their furnishings/décor. Very dramatic and quite beautiful.

The before is very builder grade and not as interesting.

They are nice. The original version looks like what we have (builder grade and nothing interesting). The after is a bit too busy for me, but what matters is what the owner likes.

I like the color and the idea of the wrought iron in the after picture but it's just a bit too busy for me....too much going on in a relatively small area. I think I would have liked it more if it was less ornate.

I agree. The before is better.

Definitely before, with posts changed to more substantial and railings painted black.

I would have to agree, I like the before better. The after has too much for that area.

The after is too busy. Nice railing in small doses. Way too much going on for this space. You don't notice the furniture or anything else for that matter, your eye goes right to the railing. I'm sure it looks beautiful in person though.

I love it. Huge improvement. Very pretty.

Don't like the basic builder "before". Very interesting "after" but find too much for size of area, with too much repetition. Perhaps some plainer sections with upper hall and maybe 1 side of stairs ornate, and rest maybe simpler dark glass? Another point is that house style with vaulted & beamed ceilings suggests a more modern, cleaner style of railing than either shown.

Wish the after picture was larger -- I can tell that it's busy but not really make out any of the details. Agree that the darker color is the best part here; opinions on such a visually dense railing system will be very personal.

I think it's beautiful

With the open Bergere chair and table and lamp I can see that they wanted a more sophisticated look.

Color got rid of orangey woodwork

The after is so over the top! I think I see wallpaper on the high wall to the left. If so, that makes things even worse. It could have been beautiful :(

No no no. The before is better but needed to get some update.

I agree you needed darker staircase and a more sophisticated look. There are beautiful wrought irons that are simpler with small details. To each their own.

To each his own...if it makes you happy great but the dark rails look like Vegas hotel railing or something that should be on a showcase staircase it a 8000 square foot house. If we bought your home we would rip it out. However if it makes you happy that is all that really counts.