One of the features of our historic 1904 home that we love most is the entryway. Since we had our floors redone before we moved in, we also removed the stair runner that was there before.
We knew we wanted something clean and fresh that matched the era of our home. Before we even moved in, one of my nieces asked if she could take her graduation photos on these stairs, which is probably the biggest compliment a staircase can receive, don’t you think?
We wanted to return it to its historical glory.
More home decor posts. What increases the value of your home?, Finding the perfect white paint for your home, How we built a hidden room, Library Dining roomor you can see all my past room tours.
The story and transformation of our ladder
Our beautiful staircase was built in the 1920s when our house was rebuilt after a fire destroyed almost the entire house. This is why many of the features of our home are more 1920’s even though the home was built in 1904.
And for my ghost-obsessed friends, no, no one died in the fire.
Now for a little transformation. We knew we wanted to keep the beautiful unpainted wood, so we planned everything else around that.
When choosing light and dark colors for our entryway stain, we chose a dark color that could blend seamlessly with the original wood of the staircase. When choosing a rug, we chose something neutral because patterned floors are already a statement.
I’ve ordered an amazing piece of art to go above the first landing, but it hasn’t arrived yet. Oh… and can you imagine this space? CHRISTMAS?
Runner selection process
I personally chose our rug runner The Carpet Shoppe in Springfield, Missouri. This was my first time picking out a rug for the house (that can’t be true, but I’m sure it is).
I wanted to get some antique rugs to create a runner, but since we were on a schedule and wanted to get the house ready before we moved in, I decided to go with a rug they had in stock. Note: The Carpet Shoppe didn’t give me any kind of discount, but I would recommend them to local readers because they were really nice and easy to work with.
I really, madly, deeply wanted to go with a deep red or deep green for the rug runner. My husband was annoyed that I was making too literal a 1990s Home alone go home and vote for something neutral.
In the end, we went with a light color that looks great on dark wood, but also has a lot of pattern to clean up and hide any stains that may occur.
I know I’m going to get questions (and probably judgment) about choosing a lightweight runner. I’ll be honest with you that we were pressed for time and it was the only compromise we both seemed to like.
I fully understand that at some point I may regret this choice, but I’ve also had very light carpets in my home in the past that the internet told me would stain, and they ended up being fine.
Bottom line. I’m fine with risk, so don’t stress on my behalf. If I have to replace them (hopefully in the not too distant future) I’ll do my antique rug idea then. Maybe something like that this?
How much did the new carpet cost?
The total cost for the custom carpet and installation was $2,700. The price of stair runners (hardware) was 1150 dollars. The total amount was 3850 dollars.
Stair Runner Poles
I’ve always admired stair running poles. Admittedly, they are mostly aesthetic, as the carpet can be completely secured without them. I decided to add them because of the historical theme of my house and they are a detail that could have been present in the original design.
I think they are absolutely beautiful and add so much detail to the stair runner.
The stair treads come in a variety of colors, but for me there really wasn’t a choice other than gold or brass. Here is a link to the exact stair running poles I used.
Here are some more stellar running rods in a variety of prices and finishes:
I intend to share about our wood floors in another post soon. Let me know if you have any questions about carpet or flooring. I am delighted with how they both turned out.
I have to tell you that I am having the best time creating this home for our family. I envision many happy years here, creating, hosting and watching children grow.
We are incredibly happy, so thank you so much for your support and kindness during this season of change for us. Love, Elsie
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