Add a newell post? Switch to wood hand rails?

6 years ago

I could use some advice about the main stairwell of our 1970 development house! Should we replace its metal handrails with wood handrails, complete with a classic recessed panel newel post?

The other day, I saw that a neighbor's contractor had made this change, and now I can't get it out of my mind!!! Especially since I grew up in a 1920s house with a classic oak newel post...so it's triggering fond childhood memories. We'll probably sell this house in about two years, so I won't have long to enjoy this improvement if we pursue it, but perhaps it might also mean something in terms of resale to eliminate the cheap-looking metal rails, which seem like a detracting feature to me.
(I never liked them.) The exterior of our house is more or less Colonial, with a traditional, slightly transitional internal styling.

I'd probably want a recessed panel newel post stained to match the stairs and floor which are red oak, and handrails the same, with the balusters painted white. I am undecided about the baluster shape but the simple square ones seem cleanest and the best pairing with the kind of newel post I want. The current trend for white-painted risers is one we'll skip -- too irreversible for me! I've included three photos our our stairwell and a couple from the web.

Any advice is welcome!

Custom Millmade Staircase · More Info

Kirkland Traditional · More Info

Featured Answer

PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

6 years ago

IMO there is no place for a newle post and especailly not one in that style with that house. I think unless you want to also change the spindles I would leave it alone I do not think a wood handrail will have much effect on the look ,BTW white risers is not a trend and has been done for a very long time . if you want to jazz up the staircase get a stair runner in a pattern that works in your space.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Karenmo
Original Author
6 years ago
Patricia, I wish I had snapped a photo to show how my neighbor's contractor used the newel post for the wood hand rail on the upper part of their stairway! Instead, I tried to sketch it in my photo; see below. They removed the entire metal assembly, including switching to wood spindles.
Related Professionals
Murfreesboro Cabinets & Cabinetry · Montrose Cabinets & Cabinetry · Toronto Carpenters · Santa Fe Flooring Contractors · El Paso Flooring Contractors · Hagerstown Flooring Contractors · Marquette Flooring Contractors · Spokane Flooring Contractors · Alexandria Kitchen Remodelers · Albany Kitchen Remodelers · Bennington Interior Designers & Decorators · Leamington Interior Designers & Decorators · Watertown Architects & Building Designers · Spokane Architects & Building Designers · Great Falls Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
S Carr
6 years ago
You don't appear to have the open wall for those spindles. White risers are classic. Our current home is similar to yours. I found the unpainted risers to have a rustic feel. I'm sure they were carpeted when new. The best change we made was painting the risers white. What a difference!
Karenmo thanked S Carr
User
6 years ago
Unless your move date is iron-clad, for sure, etc., people often stay in a home longer than they imagine which would give you more time to enjoy the handrail and bannister you so clearly want. To help you decide 1) get a contractor’s quote to affine (you can demo and remove the current stuff yourself) and 2) here’s photos of an oak handrail to help you visual that section of your stairwell. And I agree, painting risers white would work well in your space too.
Karenmo thanked User
User
6 years ago
*install. Quote to install.
Karenmo thanked User
Karenmo
Original Author
5 years ago
OK, you all have convinced me to eliminate the oak look of the risers. While I'm too conservative to paint them, I'm thrilled with the many options for stick on riser decals that can be readily removed, including one with the pattern I've been nuts about for ages! It's called Astra, here.

BUT -- back to the newel post/handrail for the upper section of this stairway.....previous comments were that we don't have the open wall for the spindles and we have no place for a newel post. I need to understand if the change I want to make isn't feasible, when it seems to me like it should be...please helps!
daisiesandbutterflies
5 years ago
If it were my house, I would do whatever I could to change all the metal spindles and hand rails to wood, no question. But if I could only change the hand rails and not the spindles or whatever else is part of the look, then I would just keep it all metal. And I would paint it all one color, not two toned.
Karenmo thanked daisiesandbutterflies
acm
5 years ago
You will be shocked by the quote you're going to get, at least if you want to go all the way to your inspiration picture -- you're looking at surgery to every step, plus a ton of custom carpentry. Perhaps if you can just do the railing and a slim version of the newel post, it will scratch the itch and come in at a reasonable cost.
Karenmo thanked acm