Tuesday, November 17, 2009

~it's all about the stairs~


 Thank you for all the kind comments and
concern for my sick daughter, Kenzie!

I thought for sure she had the flu, but
her soar throat wasn't getting any better.  And when the flu-like
symptoms went away and the soar throat didn't... I thought I better
get her tested for strep.
and
sure enough it came back positive...
So she's on antibiotics & already feeling better...it's actually
a relief to know what it is & that it can be treated! 

so what else has been on my mind??

Stairs!  


You are all by now probably familiar with my house projects and projects and projects...
but one of the latest projects looming is our stairs!

I wish the stairs in the picture were ours!

they are not....


But, here's where you come in!

{I would love your feedback......}

I love these stairs...

I love the color, the farmhouse...cottage-y feel
and especially
the painted wood walls!

*
am I daring enough to go for it?
*

before you answer....have a look at some more ideas...


I really like these too.  I like the painted risers & the stained stairs.

I wonder about how well painted stairs would hold up to kids & such...?

These above are probably a little more practical & do-able.



Painted stairs would likely end up shabby & worn
similar to these above 
but...
do we really care about that?

isn't that kinda what we are all liking?

am I going to be ok with that? or am I going to feel like
I need to repaint??? you know the natural man in me....


on these...what I really like is the rustic timber on the edge.

I'm not a big fan of the 'light blue everything else'

but I'm thinking that could possibly be a way to
sneak some rustic wood into my home.


I found this on apartment therapy.  Kinda like the metal signs.


This is a recent revamp from

It's kinda fun to number the steps huh?

here's another example


I'm really liking the painted stair runner with the numbers.


I like the stenciled stairs too.
I really like the saying on these.


I really like this too, there is a part of me that would love
to paint our upstairs hallway wood floor & carry it down the stairs
It would give our home a definite farmhouse feel to do this.
especially with our narrow hallway & stairwell!!!



and lastly, we could always do all wood....?
but I don't think I'm feeling that.


I'm feeling a little more painted- ish.
ok that wasn't the last....I'm still contemplating....

I guess I'm really feeling a bit wishy-washy.....

wanna help?  leave your opinion....

then I'll focus on something else....
like my craft sewing room redo and
my sewing projects, and
the master bedroom, and
the master bath, oh
and don't forget the main upstairs bath
and...and...and...

oh and yeah Thanksgiving & Christmas.......

it's time
to
get out 
the
Christmas
decorations.....
I am excited..really...seriously I am, it's just dragging them out of the attic
no what I really mean is having hubby drag them out of the attic....

I'm sure he'll be thrilled anxious to do that for me :0)


Till next time!


Shellagh


49 comments:

Michelle Hughes said...

Hopefully I will be getting a nice Christmas bonus so we can redo our stairs too. I like the last one alot. We are going to have to put a runner down though... I am clumsy and Baby Hughes is not so good with the stairs with carpet... can't imagine bare wood. Thanks for the inspiration! I love your blog!

Smiles~ Michelle

ps. Why do they hate going to get the stuff out of the attic anyway?

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

So glad your daughter is on the mend! I love special details on the stairs. My favorite is the painted runner and the stencils. I did a stencil up every other riser in a previous house and I loved it. Have fun deciding, I'm sure whatever you do will be beautiful!
~Michelle

Susie~From My Home To Yours said...

Hope your daughter is feeling better today. Great stair pics...sure wish I had stairs! If I did, I think I would paint them white and stencil numbers on each step. The more wear and tear...the better! Oh, wait, I do have wood stairs (two steps)from the carport up to my kitchen door. Maybe I'll paint them soon....gee thanks, Shellah...another idea for a project...
Have a great day,
Susie

*The Beautiful Life* said...

Oh Shelagh, I'd PAINT! I plan to paint our stairs FOR SURE! Deep glossy black treads and khaki risers (maybe with something painted there like words or a design); khaki spindles and deep glossy black handrail. Already got it all planned out -- but not until my home is pet-free. 130 pound dog with thick nails and painted floors have been bad enough, so.... :) I'm obviously in no hurry. ;)

I love, love pictures #1 and 3!

Ruth

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

I am thrilled to hear your daughter is doing better!!!

I know whatever you choose will be gorgeous...you have amazing taste!!! I love all of the stenciling!!!

Enjoy!!!
XOXO
Cathy

Paint Me White said...

Hi Shellagh, thanks for stopping by my blog. Your right we do have similiar tastes and now I find myself glued to your blog. Love it all and so glad your daughter is feeling better. Think I will be a good hour to two reading and looking at all your gorgeous inspiration pictures. We are in for a long hot summer alright. The days are very warm and we are swimming in the pool already. Although much rather the heat than the cold I guess. Have a good week - will visit again for sure. Sandy

Irene ~ RE~VINTAGED said...

We dont have any stairs but I love the part painted look. I would have timber steps and painted risers/rails etc. The steps I would leave so they can wear. Some kind of clear finish that is easy to redo as the need arises.
I would probably paint the rest slighly different colours. (But then I have never owned anything but a single story dwelling and stairs have never been an issue for me.)
Decisions, decisions!
Glad to hear that your daughter is on the mend too. Nothing more worrying than a sick child is there. You are a clever and caring mum!!
Best wishes from over here! Irene x

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

I'm glad your daughter is doing better! I love the painted risers, I like the white stairs but with a little bit of imperfection. Maybe with a pick a boo of a pretty blue in different areas, so it looks like it was painted blue before.
Ginger

JennyS said...

New to the blog, but loving everything! I swooned so much over the kitchen pics that my husband mocked me for the rest of the night. Sigh.

I like the shabby wood, myself, but I couldn't help but suggest another direction. If I didn't have two sons, I might consider it myself (they are pretty destructive at the moment, and it wouldn't look this pretty for long).

http://mosaicroad.blogspot.com/2009/08/installed.html

Now I am off to peruse...;-)

Claudia said...

Our stairs are wood with white painted risers. I love that look. We had to put carpet treads down, though because our dogs were uncomfortable with the 'slippery' wood. Both of them are older, so that's what we did to ensure theri safety. I do love that look and I am a big fan of the numbered risers - really neat!

Blondie's Journal said...

Shellagh~~

We just had our stairs at the lakehouse reconfigured to turn, so right now they are just the bare bones. I am thinking of painting them white. They have so many wonderful sealers, and although they won't stay perfect, I think you and I are on the same page about what is hideous and what is shabby! lol!!

Good luck!

xoxo
Jane

The Decorating Diaries said...

I like the first and second pictures. Timeless and not too trendy. They would age beautifully. I had planned on replacing the carpeting on my stairs, so it would a perfect time to try this out. If it didn't work, I could just cover it up. Thanks for the ideas.

Janet

Unknown said...

I'm so glad I found your blog! Very cool post about the stairs. My favorite are the ones with the signs or numbers on them....and of COURSE that first picture with the twisty, turny steps. :) Happy Fall Ya'll from Houston, TX

Judy said...

I love the blue everything in the first picture!! Of course my husband wouldn't go for it! Love your blog!

cindy said...

I'm no help at all because I'm at a loss trying to figure out what to do with my stairs :o) I like painted risers, white spindles and a black railing. Not sure that will work in my house, but....and check out 'much to do with nothing's blog...she did a faux painting on her stairs (tutorial on her sidebar). And Gail at my repurposed life just finished her daughter's stairs. Seems everyone has stairs on their mind! I'm sure you'll come up with something fabulous...you have great taste and a good eye. (did you see my slipcover? I'm so proud of myself!)

Glad to know your girl is on the mend. AFter 3 weeks of swine flu and crap around here, we're all finally better.

ROSE VINE COTTAGE said...

I liked the first pic you showed and I thought why is she redoing them, I love it and then I read what you were saying by the way I'm not so good reading but better at looking at the pretty pic's, ok the other idea I really liked was with the painted runner. My son has also been sick but now feeling better but the soar throat won't go away now I'm thinking I better bring him to the doc!
Hugs~Kelly

sweetjeanette said...

I'm chomping at the bit to have my he-man hubby get my boxes down from the attic too so I can go wild decorating! PS: I can't decide which set of stairs I like more!

sweetjeanette.blogspot.com

Judy said...

THanks for signing up to follow my blog! It's fun to sign on and see a NEW follower!!!

Gypsy Purple said...

Glad your daughter is better...love the post!

Anne Lorys said...

I really love the look of faded and worn old painted stairs....pic # 3 does it for me.
I say go for it!
Anne

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

That first photo won my heart,and the third!!!So many options,so few stairs!!Have a great day,Chrissy

Eileen said...

We had painted stairs for years, but it was so noisy with a zillion kids running up and down them all the time, so we carpeted. Now the kids are grown and gone (we have grandkids now, but not so many yet), so I'm thinking of ripping up the carpet and painting!
I actually love the look of the shabby and worn stairs!
Good luck with your project!
All the best to you,
Eileen

Unknown said...

Hi There Shellagh!

My pillow arrived and it is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous! I love it! I plant to take some photos of it in my master once I can get past this Holiday Open House on Saturday. I just wanted you to know it arrived safely and I love it!

Looks like sunshine on this side of the state today (good for crafting light...ha!). Hope you have an incredible day.

xoxo
Cori

my Grama's Soul said...

Loved your post about new stairs - They were all lovely. I especially liked the ones that were numbered and with the metal signs. I'm sure you will find the perfect feel when you are ready tackle the project.

Cheers,

Jo

Whatever Is Lovely said...

So good that your Daughter will feel much better soon! I know what that feels like! I've had it! Ouch!

Beautiful photos Shellagh!! I tore the carpet off of my stairs quite a few years ago & have painted them several times! We are going to do something different with ours very soon! They are pretty rough looking & it's driving me crazy! I'm putting some beautiful marble on the risers & replacing the treads with new ones..My Sister has this in her house & its Gorgeous! My BIL is a Builder & very creative!!

I'm just about finished with the 3rd book in the Sarah Prine Series! ( These Is My Words) Loved all of them! Thanks so much Shellagh for recommending them!

Blessings to you ~ Teresa

Unknown said...

Glad your daughter is feeling better!

Definitely painted steps--medium colored tread and enjoy the wear that happens, light er colored riser with simple design (numbers or short words). That would be so cool!

Okay, if they were my stairs it would be hard to decide.... But you can always redo them again later....

Oh, and you can come play with my horses anytime you are in North Dakota!! They are very good with people that aren't used to spending time with horses. But then I get to come visit you and enjoy soaking up all the cool things in your home! :)

Room to Inspire said...

What a fabulous collection of photos! Our staircases are carpet, but oooo how I would love any of these. I love the addition of the numbers and text - very unique.

Chelsea

Faded Plains said...

Let's see...I really like painted stairs...and the numbered ones are so fun...I think I'd go with those.

Lisa said...

Shellagh,
I really love the numbered steps, I'm into anything b&w with numbers. Another I love is different misc vintage wallpaper on each riser distressed a little. Karla from Karlascottage did it and it looked very cute. Lisa

BellaRosa said...

So wonderful to hear that your lil one is feeling better, that must have been scary not knowing. I love your post on stairs, we own a 1916 house in So Cal and my stairs look alot like the ones in picture #2 This is exactly what I had in mind for our stairs, I just want to stain the treads a bit darker :) Thank you sharing such great stair ideas, Rose

Laurie said...

They all look so good it's hard to pick just one! I don't know how you're going to do it!!!

Have a great day,
Laurie

Mark Hunter said...

Iron has made its name through Spiral Stairs
I like iron stair railings.
They give's a nice look.
And the way they designed. I just luved it

Alaina said...

I love the stair ideas and so many to choose from. I have the painted riser with wood step and I also have just the painted on other steps in the house. I must say the wood ones are my favorite and I am going to use the number idea to freshen them up. I too love to paint and I always have something drying in my home. A trick I will pass on is: if you do not like the wood of your steps you can put a new wood step on top, we had to do this with steps our builder thought were going to be carpet. Good luck and I can't wait to see them done.

Unknown said...

Crazy! What a coincidence, thanks for sending me the post...I have the one with the words in my desktop, might do a post tomorrow about all the images I didn't choose. Will let you know what type of paint we use when we go ahead...but deck paint sounds like a great idea!

Bertha said...

I like the first and the third one; or maybe just the second one. Oops! I like them all actually! LOL! Forgive me for being crazy. ;p Anyway, I was planning to make renovations on grandma's house. Wouldn't it be better if we install iron stairs, instead of wooden ones? Tell me whatcha think!

Anonymous said...

Sore. Not soar. I love the painted risers and varnished steps; that's what I'll be doing! Thanks for the ideas.

Debra said...

I love a house with stairs! Looking at these photos made me homesick for the house we had to sell about 6yrs. ago. Makes my heart ache a wee bit.
Love your blog, and all the beautiful photos.
Happy days to you and God bless your home!
cheers from Kelowna, BC, Canada!

Cindy said...

I love it! You have inspired me to redo my stairs too! I did a post on stairs before I re-did mine and was happy to link your blog! I hope you get a chance to check it out sometime! Cindy

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Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is great blog. A fantastic read. I'll certainly be back.

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