nice spaces.....u might just keep the railings

I actually like the railings. Maybe some black and gold? It could be quite glamorous.

I would go with painting it black, if keeping it. If not keeping it, replace with something less busy.

Keep the railings and paint them black.

Beautiful: NO kids, etc - I would have these blasted and re-painted with black - IF you are adventerous - YOU could add some gold-leaf? Copper rub metallic OVER the black - or whatever appeals to you.

These types of materials are hard to come by - and you have this which SO much a part of your house -

I would keep this - and restore this to its original glory! What a find.

:-)

Hello Mary!

I would have them powder coated in a black or oil rubbed bronze tone. The powder coating process is quite easy and the least intrusive onsite. Meaning, they remove the railings and take them to the foundry. They are sandblasted and then dipped and baked. It is the best metal finish possible with the longest life expectancy. I think that the darker color tones would fit with the feel of your home. It will be warm and very calming to the eye. In reading the comment above this one from fife2, I am in complete agreement! The rail system you have is very fitting to the era of your home.
If you call a local blacksmith or railing company, they can help with the powder coating details. They will have color chips for you to look at.

Flooring detail: Instead of tiling, you might want to think about hardwood flooring. I saw that you mentioned maybe adding wood to the stairs. You would have a much more cohesive feel if your staircase went right into the same hardwood flooring detail that flowed through out. You will love the wood stairs, much easier to dust them than vacuum them!

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask!
Cheers!
m.

Just chiming in with my vote...Keep railing as is and powder coat black or bronze! It fits the architecture of the home and will be much less dated in a darker color. I agree with Monique that a wood floor that matches your stair treads would be lovely. Good luck to you! :-)

The railing is nice and fits the house! Keep them and just paint or powder coat.

Thank you all for your suggestions! You convinced me to try to keep it by having it repainted. Maybe it was the light paint color that was so eww. I also love the idea of continuing the wood to the entry floor. Thank you again!

Would love to see photos posted of the finished product! Good luck!
If you have any questions along the way, do not hesitate to contact me.
Cheers!
m.

I will post after pictures of railing. Thank you again!

I would keep the railings and have them painted a deep rich brown or gunmetal black:

With wood steps and flooring this entry will look grand. You might want to paint the risers white. Add a carpet runner. The floor by the entry can be a marble or stone. This is not your style, but it shows the materials together: I like this marble floor:

I would not remove the second set of steps. Even though they add no functionality, they frame the entry.

Lovely home. Good luck!

Paint it black and add some gold leafs and wooden grab bar.

I think a wooden grab bar is a fabulous idea, stained to match your new wood floor! :-)

the wood is fabulous ......but if one is going to spend $$$$ on the railing might think of removing the decorative verticals and replace them as well. IT IS WHAT IT IS and if nothing is done but color it or add a top rail .....then it will always be the very ornate iron railing from the 60's.
Before doing anything conside the big picture and the big 'check book' to see where the dollars are best spent. Nothing wrong with the railing as it stands, but be careful, if other work is being done the the city inspectors are aroud they may have you upgrate it to current standards

Because it is so close to the holidays, first i would paint it a matte black then hang a thick garland on it. Real or artificial!

Need to chime in with a vote for adding a wooden grab bar to the top of the metal. This is a gorgeous entry. Please post pics when done!

Yes! Rip It Out! Dry Wall It! Paint it Black! HONESTLY! Most Homes in SA would give their Eye Teeth to have such a Gorgeous, Beautifully Welded/Molded Stair Rail! Keep Your Beautiful Rail as a FEATURE and change the FLOORING. The ONLY reason it Looks 'too busy' is because the Whole Area is ONE TONE of COLOR. Once You Paint your Walls and do the Floor, Your Hand Rails Will "pop" as they Are and you might be glad that you kept them! My simple advice is to keep them until you have changed the rest, THEN decide. Just a Thought ;-)

I agree that powder-coated black, paired with hardwood floors, would look spectacular.

Agreed! Black powder coated, hardwood flooring vs carpet with black on the risers and wood stain on treads! Merry Christmas!

the point may be missed here.............................................I think that the ownere doesnt like the entry and by adding paint, the problem is they likely wont like the painted entry.........................please advise do you like the railing at aony point or should it goooooooooo away

I don't like the cream paint on the metal. I like the 3 stairway, as it makes the entry centered, otherwise it would make it just like any split entry - Ho hum. I want to see it as ORB finish, and if that works, as I envision it will, I would like to see a handrail added. I do believe you all are correct with this.

I tried ....I'm out!

I tried ....I'm out!

I replaced mine with rubbed oil bronze balusters and a top wood rail. Go to StairSupply.com to see all of the iron choices. I think it is just the ornate design that dates your foyer. Good luck!

Well, as I had suggested earlier - owners need to hire an architect. But, I did get the feeling they wanted to keep the feel of the house! Yes? SO - until we hear back from owners - no sense in specutlating.

I don't want the house to fight styles. Does that make sense? I feel comfortable trying to see if its just the color of the ironwork that is disturbing first. Then evaluate after changing that.

the battle began once the railing was intstalled. The railing in no ways relates to the exterior....which is fine but not to be mistaken as relating, they are total foreign to each other...not a problem unless you are tring for the same style.......your exterior would have had wood railings inside had it be 'of the period'

the battle began once the railing was intstalled. The railing in no ways relates to the exterior....which is fine but not to be mistaken as relating, they are total foreign to each other...not a problem unless you are tring for the same style.......your exterior would have had wood railings inside had it be 'of the period'

the battle began once the railing was intstalled. The railing in no ways relates to the exterior....which is fine but not to be mistaken as relating, they are total foreign to each other...not a problem unless you are tring for the same style.......your exterior would have had wood railings inside had it be 'of the period'

Right. Obviously the cream ironwork is ugly. Before I rip it out and install wood balustrades on wood treads, I can strip and repaint to see if it still is offensive. I see this route as a conservative decision. I may not ever get over the excessive ornamentation and still go all wood as the final results.

The other option would be to drywall the one side on the top floor and leave the middle section so there is less of it maybe?

I tried!!!!!

one side (once one is upstairs) could be a coat closet, or the closet could be on the landing...all would cost a fw thousand ....at this time if the rail stays I'd do nothing as the white railing matches the rest of the trim work that I can see...... contrasting it would be a mistake. Really!

Yep. And it is an option I will seriously consider. Really, since I hadn't thought of that option until you suggested it.

continuity promotes acceptance......

relax and plan your Thanksgiving! You've got silver to polish!

relax and plan your Thanksgiving! You've got silver to polish!

I think a mix of styles wouldn't detract but add in, but coming from England I probably have no idea what I'm talking about for your part of the world (light/weather, etc). What struck me was the beautiful view beyond the rails both top and bottom... I would have wooden grab rail and glass under so you can see that view the minute you walk in... your house is stunning... I'm sure you'll make the right choice for you!

I wasn't talking about getting rid of one of the staircases entirely, just drywalling in a half wall where the railing is on the second floor (across from the full wall with no railing). Then you would just have the iron railing in the center, up both sets of stairs and connecting the two. Clear as mud? :-)

dry walling all the railing areas was my thought.......

Paint in a matt finish for none sheen look if heavy with paint use chemical paste to remove first before painting fresh .stripping can give a age to it if metal looks good just varnish to give that French drab chic look to the metal I hear they door the same to cars in the states just a idea at present you are right to change garden furniture look all the best with the job at hand

I would keep the railing. It would be more cost effect plus would be very dramatic when you come in the front door. Take off top and add wood railing and paint/powder coat spindles. The top of the railing I would stain a darker color not an oak but more dramatic. I would then do the hardwood floors. They really are durable for an entry way.

Hi Mary. I'm very curious to hear what you decide to do after all. I have exactly the same color and style railings in out 60s ranch house, and I'm thinking about having it blasted and painted an antique metallic bronze type color. If you have any after photos to share, please do. Thanks.

The railings are quite busy and the balustrade dates the house, but the worst part of these old prefab railing systems is the skimpy handrail. I like the idea of wooden newels, but you could see a big improvement if you paint the iron flat black and add a nice molded polished mahogany rail.

That is exactly what I'm in the process of doing. I'm stripping all the old paint off, and will spray it a matte black. I plan on a custom made mahogany or walnut handrail installed and currently working on designing newels to implement with the iron and handrail. Of course it's taking a while since I'm also in process of tearing out paneling and putting up drywall!

Are you working on the exterior also?

Please keep us posted. Photos would be great. Thanks.

Anne, on the to do list. I planted annabelles hydrangeas left border from road towards house and plan on doing something in front and along the sidewalk. I was late to realize planting seasons are way different here in NC.

My split entry ranch built in 1970 has a very similar (white with gold accent!) iron railings. Why they wanted such fancy railing in such an architecturally simple house I'll never understand. I have avoided replacing mine (mine since 2009) because it is really solidly made and it just goes against my gain to replace something just for vanity's sake. I couldn't even invest in it enough to repaint it like you though. I finally broke down and am taking bids for a replacement railing in iron with wooden handrail.

Did the paint help yours? I like how airy yours is, and that it doesn't close off the view through your living room. I think it would feel too closed in if you just built low walls to replace it. (I have considered that too because it would be a reasonable DYI project.)

The real kicker. They used the exact same railing along 45 ft of balcony on the front of my house. (At least it's black).