IMO that railing shoulfd match the porch railing in style and color .I also would do the risers in the same stone as the steps. How would the different stone on the risers tie into anything. Taht new walkway should be the width of that bottom step and landscaping is in need of work for sure . IMO those front beds should be even larger than what you seem to have already enlarged . I grass does not look good so unless that grows well where you are IMO do something else .

Gorgeous home! Love the flag flying! We had to lower ours because of the nor'easter.

I have a couple of suggestions...keep the railings white. Remove the shutters; they do not fit the windows properly; read the tags on the hydrangeas and space according to planting directions. They get very big and you want to make sure there is enough room the back side of the plant to grow.

You can also under plant with hostas and add small grasses into the garden.

All the porch railings need to match. The top, bottom and hand rail for steps so yes lose the wrought -iron or make it all metal. Even if they were cohesive it's A LOT of railing!!! I might look for something with less impact. Start with removing the caps on the posts on the top porch. All the balusters should match, in size and spacing. I might replace the slider on top with a door. The front walkway should be cement like the stairs, the same width as the stairs. The stairs appear to be in good condition leave them alone the money needs to go into the railing systems. I think I would put stone around the base of the porch vs the latice.

I’m just looking for opinions on the stair railings. It’s a historic house and we are not touching the original lower porch. We are definitely putting a bluestone walkway and stairs treads with veneer stone risers. All materials are ordered and being installed this week. We have spent a year renovating the inside and outside of the house trying to keep as much original as possible. The stair railings are the final decision.

If historical accuracy is important to you, do the railings in an historically accurate manner. I don’t know what that is, but if you have been working on this house for a year, you surely do. Do you have pictures of the original home?

As a gardener, I second the above advice to check the MATURE SIZES of the plants shown and space them accordingly. Do not think, ”oh, they won’t grow that big.” Yes, they will and you will spend the next 25 years hacking them back. If the bed isn’t big enough now, enlarge it BEFORE planting. You don’t want shrubbery brushing against the porch.

I don’t mind the current railing so I’d probably just paint it and keep it for now

Wrought iron railings with white wood porch railings is a very common and classic look. I have it in my 100yo house. Further, if you have a 90-something relative who needs to clutch the railing to get up your stairs (my house requires stairs no matter what door you use, it's on a rise) wrought iron is much easier to clutch than wood, because it's narrower. You may not have a 90-something relative, but you could have a family member with a sprained ankle or broken leg, who will thank you for keeping the wrought iron railings. Further, if you're starting to slip on icy steps, it's easier to grab wrought iron.

Which is why wrought iron railings are common on steps on houses with white wood railings on the porch --- the function of the porch railings is to prevent people from falling off the porch, the function of railings by steps is to provide support when needed. Thus, the narrow iron is more functional for stairs. Don't let anyone tell you they both have to match. That's just nonsense.

I assumed they both had to match as well, but I was looking on a site that sells historical house plans, and there were numerous homes like yours that either had no rails at all and just two beefy columns at the top or they had wrought iron rails.

In addition I do like the shape and detail of your railings.

And definitely make the walk as wide as the lower step.

Will suggest that, if anything, you replace the current porch railings with wroght iron railing. The balusters on the current porch railing as so closely spaced that it becomes a distraction and probably impedes view when you are sitting on the porch. Will suggest a simple, classic style - nothing ornate or complicated. Will also suggest that you replace the existing stair handrails to match.

Can you wait to decide until after the steps/walkway are finished, as you’ll have a better sense of what will be complementary. I‘d aim for an uninterrupted flow and suggest adding posts as well. Think big picture.