Enough is enough! And I have had enough of these ugly carpet stairs. We learned our lesson when we first started our renovations 2 years ago, that you really should stick to 1 project at a time. But everytime I walk in the door I secretly want to turn around and walk right back out when I am reminded of how old and gross the stairs have become over 2 years of renovations. We will be the first to admit we are not carpet people. Just can't maintain it! Between kids and pets it just doesn't stay clean, yet remarkably our rugs give us very little hassle...
But around 10am yesterday morning I decided to pull out my new entry dresser
and start ripping. Great plan, poor execution. Seems that the carpet is glued beyond belief and my measly muscles didn't make much of a dent. So I enjoyed my 1 clean step until Sean was able to help me later last night.
My Hero!!
And here it is this morning all cleaned up! We got all the nails and staples out and wiped all the steps down.
We have some repairs to make to the surrounding dry wall, and some serious sanding to do on the risers so we can paint them white but already we like it a million times better. Our original plan was to also go with new new spindles and railings (you might remember my temporary paint job from last year!), but after getting some info on how our railings are installed it seems like a MUCH bigger job than we anticipated and WAYYYY more expensive. We are talking more than a whole new kitchen expensive, and we just don't think the existing railings are that ugly to warrant a $10,000-$15,000 makeover. We are also mid-closet reno still so the clock is ticking to get this all accomplished before any of the parties we have planned for December!!!
We know that it is a big job, and one that seems pretty intimidating so we will be sharing some of our hard-learned lessons and tips as we go~
40 comments:
I LOVE the stair makeover! Sometimes it is worth is just to take the plunge and hope for the best! Looks like your "plunge" worked out for the best!
Yuck, lol, we had the same colour carpet in our last house and it always looked filthy! Cudos to you for ripping it out! I can't wait to see the finished product.
Oh man, like it better already. Isn't it funny when you actually "ruin" something but it looks better? Okay, like the previous owners of this house painted EVERY wall and ceiling peach. Seriously. As I was painting the ceilings white and paint dripped down the peach wall I thought, "This ruined pink wall looks MUCH better with white drippy paint than without". haha.
Next up: Tearing out the nasty stained carpet on the stairs...
That is a huge difference already! You will make it look great!
Wow, that's a big project but one that I'm sure you will love !!
I can't wait to see them painted! I soooo badly want to tear the carpet off my stairs in my house in MI!
What a pretty hallway and entrance you have. Needed courage to rip off that carpet but wow! look at the difference. Can't wait to see the finished result, I'm sure you'll make a great job of it.
Sharon
My French Country Home
~~*Its looking wonderful already!!! good choice!! Hugs,Rachel~*~*
I so want to do this in our house, but the hubby just won't go for it!
Ohhh my...I remember when I was doing the same thing. Ripping up carpet and tact strips sucked big time. I felt so nasty and gross the entire time. Here's my before and after of my steps. It took at lot of sweat and energy, but I love the turn out.
http://yuppielady.blogspot.com/2010/10/painting-stair-risers.html
Can't wait to see yours.
Good luck... we aren't carpet people either! My only advice... paint every other step. When those are dry, go back and finish the job! Good luck, can't wait to see the finished project!
I can relate!!!!! Except our dog did the tearing up for us. But hardwood floors we come! A little nervous to install it ourselves but its better for the piggy bank. We took the carpet out last night and I literally just blogged about it. Glad I am not the only one that can handle carpet! But the stairs look awesome already!!! Great job!
Seriously Holly, my hubby is attempting to steam clean our hideous stairs as I type this!! I have so wanted painted risers with hardwood treads forever!! I may have to follow your lead and just take the plunge!
your house looks amazing!
So much better already, that is what we had when we moved in minus the big job of removing carpet , I just painted everything black and white , and I love it
wow!!! what an entry!! my little mudroom/entry needs some tlc now I think!
Can you share what kind of paint you plan to use....I want to do the same, but am afraid of the high maintenance or feeling like I need to re-paint to keep it presentable. I don't mind scuffed or an antique/crackled look (my house has a pretty rustic tone so the scuffs won't matter much, but there comes a point....), but I don't want to have to paint every time I turn around because it is too rustic looking.
Thanks so much!
we did the same thing when we moved into our house. We stained the top and painted the risers white. Sheck out what Censational Girl did!
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/10/finished-staircase/
I was so excited to see this post. I have the same reaction every time I walk in our front door. I hate hate hate the carpet on the stairs (new when we bought our home 11 years ago and really worn now.) Add to that my brother's dog ATE the basement landing carpet two years ago. I know that whatever the two of you do will look fantastic, and I know I will get even more inspiration by following along on this project.
Looks fabulous!! I completely agree with you on the carpet thing that stuff should be barred!!
i can't wait for you to share the finished stairs. i have the same yucky carpet on our stairs and i want to rip it up everytime i see it...which is ALL the time.
I have been dreaming of the day when I rip the carpet off the stairs!! I can't wait to see your finished look.
Way better! Keep up the beautifying! Marissa
It already looks 10x better, I can't wait to see the finished product - you have a great stairway to do this to :)
I have a question, when you spray painted your railings, how did you not get it on your carpet. I want to spray paint mine but I have carpet at the same place that you did. I'm dying to know so please tell me ;)
OK, I'm soooo jelious right now...our stairmakeover is on hold :(
I swear I've been on a kick to redo my stairs too! I haven't started but yours looks fabulous of course. I wanted to post a link to someone who just did a great stair transformation and for the life of me I can't find the link aargh! You would have loved it...I'll keep looking :)
Can't wait to see the turnout of the stairs! Good luck! Maybe Wren will give you a hand.... :)
Oh, I LOVE it!!! Great job and I can't wait to see it finished!
Your house is beautiful! Your staircase is going to be amazing when you're all finished. I admire you for tackling that big project.
Totally beautiful result of your make-over, I also have a carpeted staircase.... my husbond will not be happy now!!
Helle
Whoever installs WHITE carpet on stairs is seriously out of touch with reality.
Holly, you're a girl after my own heart! Thats so something I would have done. Sometimes I think my husband is afraid to come home because of what he might find I've done/started =) Good luck, I can't wait to see the finished result!
I don't think the stair railings are ugly at all, and it will all look better with backs painted white. That is what we did to our stairs, then we had the treads sanded and refinished and it looks great. Ours was even uglier before- the carpet was 20 years old and tirquoise, and hideous and reeked of smoke. It was a joy to rip it out!!
I came to your blog through Cappuccino Cottage and I'm THRILLED to become a follower!
That makes such a huge difference already! Isn't it so refreshing? If I were you I would just either replace or box around the newel post between the stair and the railing to give it a more contemporary feel, and painting the railing dark would do that as well.
Reading this post was deja vu for me. Last year this time, I woke up one morning and said enough is enough and started ripping out my brown shag carpet of the stairs. I found 1970's rubber backed carpet underneath that was glued down. Lucky for me that stuff was so old, it just peeled off. I must've spent hours removing staples. My hubby came home to the old carpet all rolled up on the porch. I had them painted by xmas. My risers were cloud white and the stairs themselves were painted in BM willow to match my flooring. I love them. I am still waiting for new spindles however :(
Beautiful and amazing! Love the colors, the blue just pops! That bed is a one-of-a-kind.
Nice work!!
~michelle~
Thank you so much for sharing. I love your blog by the way!!!
So my husband and I are in a disagreement....Please help.
I am thinking you sanded down every part of the stairs, removed staples/nails, sanded etc. and then painted??
My husband thinks you painted the raiser part (where your toe would kick) and then purchased a new top part (part where your foot would step)......
Please tell me I am correct ;)
I am trying to tell him that all we need to do is take the carpet off, pull out nails, staples, etc., sand, then paint??
Thanks so much for your time.
You are saving me a lot of money.
Hugs, Michele
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