Genevieve. Good point re stripy effect!

No thanks to quote though

Ok guys! Here goes!! No turning back. I have almost finished one coat. Wow! I love it!! Hope you do too!!

WOW!!! That's gorgeous! And just the railing and the end spindle, leaving the rest white/blonde? Very, very nice!

Oops. Got two of the same pic.

That looks great!!!

Thank you SOOO much!!! I think I would have been too afraid without your pictures to show me the best option. It looks so sharp in real life. FYI for anybody thinking of doing this. I used Benj Moore black gloss impervo. I have the same thing on my front doors. Whew!! I was nervous but much relieved!!

Gorgeous!

I'm not sure what I'm doing with the like button. Ha. I am trying to press it to "like" people's comments but then it reads unlike. Can you help me anyone? I am really not savvy !!!!

That's how it's supposed to go. You like someones comment and then you can change your mind (for a short while) and 'unlike' it again. But I'm glad you like :-)

Thank you carolins!!

so have you decided what you are doing yet ?!?!

Rail and newel only

Treads in black would be too much for me

Coby, Congrats! :)

Huge difference! Much, much, better.

Fabulous job, looks wonderful.

Hi everyone! Almost two years later now and just wanted to let you all know that I still LOVE the black handrail very much!!!! Totally the right choice. Does show finger prints a bit, but easy to remedy. Thanks again to all. Hope you're all well and enjoying new projects!! Coby

Hi Coby, it's great of you to let us know that you still like your handrail! Often people don't even say thank your if we give them ideas, so you get the prize for The Best Houzzer ;-) Glad you're happy with the stairs :-))

I like white and blonde.... but I don't think that black and white would look good with the color of the house. Just my opinion.;)

Oops to late... But now that I see black and white I LOVE it!!;)

Haha. Thanks Aubrey! Hi Carolins!! What's new? Any projects on the go? Been busy so not partaking in discussions lately. Ready to get back. Let me know of any good discussions happening?

We just bought a ski chalet in Blue Mountain. May be looking for input re paint colour. Cheers!!

Also, since the addition of the black, I have been adding more hits of black in the home. Right now, thinking of painting dining room ceiling black. What do

you think? Maybe another poll?

Just changed dining rm from red to neutral with white wainscotting. Got new black and white swirley granite in butler's pantry andblack chandelier. Love it!! Loved the red too but wanted a change.

Hi Coby--I'm thinking of painting my stair rail and front door black and was just wondering how difficult it was. When I paint, somehow I always get drips and brushmarks and my end result doesn't match my vision, lol. Was the BM paint a latex or oil? It looks fabulous and you've inspired me to 'think' about trying to do it myself!

Wow, hi again, and I love the way it turned out! I'm thinking that after ten+ years without a rehab or decorating project, I may have to start looking for a new one.

Hey Melissa. For me it wasn't difficult at all, but I am a very seasoned painter. Super tidy and meticulous. Can you get a photo of your space for us to see? Would love to see things in context before I comment on whether black would work for you! Another plus re black is that it doesn't show dirt. Oh! Yes, it is BM gloss impervo which is oil based. Hopefully they still make it because I know oil paint is harder to come by. I have tried latex gloss too but it just isn't the same ESP for high traffic applications. Try to get a Pic ok?

Joannpb.. Please start a project. Haha. So fun!!!

I like the pale ivory it looks very elegant what you have there now is very nice

I vote yes.

LOVE your difinitiveness!!! Is that a word? I know right? Some think dark lowers a ceiling. I think in a nighttime room it makes it dissappear. What do you think?

Hey Coby--thanks for responding! I'm attaching a few pics of my stairs and door. The spindles and risers are cream (BM linen white) and the steps and rail are now a kind of orangey maple wood color. They were maple colored 15 years ago, but time has taken it's toll! I didn't think it would be possible to just paint the railing until I saw how well yours turned out. I've been toying with painting some of my inside doors black since Houzz has some awesome examples of that. I could tell you were a seasoned painter by the pic that showed the underside of your railing--it was pristine!

Wow!!! Your house is Beautiful!!! Oh my Gosh!!! I think the black would look Stunning!!! Where are you? Maybe I could come over and paint. Haha especially if you're in Hawaii or even Florida. I am from Canada. You should ask Carolins to do a mock up of the black as she did for me. I think the thing about the black is that it takes the space from weak and a bit dated to really sharp and vibrant. And still neutral, but with more energy. What is the flooring in your foyer though?

Thank you--you're too kind! I think your house is pretty fabulous--as well as your decorating--very soothing--elegant but still comfortable. I wish you could come paint for me! I'm in North Carolina unfortunately--it's kind of on the way from Canada to Florida, lol. The floors are a mapleish hardwood. They're not as orange as the stair rails and posts as they've been refinished since we've been here (animals and kids were hard on them!) I was looking through some of the pics with black railing and am thinking I'd need a 'warmer' black if there is such a thing since my colors are all warm. If you had to do it again would you still do the high gloss? I know it's the least forgiving finish when painting (don't ask me how I know, lol).

Oooooooh. Is the wood beat up a bit? High gloss is tough but on a small space like handrail I would think it should be fine!!

Yes. Would do it again!

I'll be happy to do a mock up for you Melissa. Tomorrow. I'm in Europe and it's bedtime here.

And I too think that black can make a ceiling disappear. It's like looking at the sky at night. It goes to infinity and beyond. Haven't plucked up the courage to paint a ceiling black myself, but I have painted walls black and it didn't make the room smaller.

Kathryn, do you mean the wall colour? The handrail is black now.

Thanks again for the input Coby--I'm really leaning towards attempting this--and for allowing me to hijack your thread--I'll stop now! :)--@Carolins--thank you too--that is so very nice of you!--I look forward to seeing the mock up.
For what it's worth, I think a black ceiling would be very glam and would look great in your dining room Coby!

Melissa. No worries. You should create you own poll re your stairs!!!! So fun!!!

And when you get your thread going, let me know so I can chime in!!!!

I will!

@Melissa: sorry, did it quickly and not very neatly, but I hope it gives you an idea. It's actually not black but a very dark espresso with a red undertone. Don't ask, I mixed it myself in photoshop.

This one is black:

Thank you so much, Carolins! This gives me such a good idea of how black would look on my rails. Wow--I really appreciate you taking the time to do this! With this as a guide, I'm not sure if black will look good in my space--my floor might be too light. I think I'll put up a poll as Coby suggested to get some Houzzer input. I'll let you know when I post it as I'd appreciate your input. Thanks again for the mock up!

No problem :-) Glad to be of help.

The black is crisper and edgier, whereas the dark brown is a bit softer and (at least in the photo) picks up a faint red tone in the treads.

I have dilemma....planning on black iron spindles and white posts. Should hand rail be black or white????

Hi there. can you show is a picture of your space?