Stunning stairways
Q. I am a nervous decorator. I don’t want to make any expensive mistakes, but I’ve seen some unique interior staircases and would love to go for it in our new home. What’s your advice? – Cathy
A. When you enter a home, one of the first elements to catch your eye is the staircase. It is an integral part of the overall design. Today we are enjoying the freedom of mixing styles and personalizing our homes to suit our lifestyles and what makes us happy. It sounds like you are on the lookout for something other than the traditional wood staircase, and there are many variations that will satisfy your desire for a custom look.
A good way to review your options is to visit a railing store near you or check them out online. Euro Forgings, www.euroforgings.com, has a gallery of exciting interior and exterior staircases, which shows all the distinct parts so you can experiment in their “Design Your Own Staircase” section. Pickets are available in a variety of color finishes depending on the style and type of baluster, as are the accessories.
A popular style mixes wood and steel posts and balusters. Accessories such as collars that fit on the balusters, and shoes for the base take the design process further. Stainless steel is a favorite today, according to Euro Forgings. Shown here is a modern take on an open stair plan. Stainless-steel posts connect with a gleaming wood handrail stained to match the steps. The homeowners opted for glass to take the place of pickets for a clean, minimal outline. Another contemporary option would be to employ CableRail: 1/8 inch thick stainless-steel cables that run horizontally between wood posts.
As long as the materials and style that comprise the staircase are connected in some way to your home’s overall design, you won’t go wrong with a custom look. In fact, it will up the wow factor.
Q. I was wondering if wallboard (fancy printed drywall) can be painted. More than half of my home has it, and I am tired of the same pattern but can’t afford to replace it with regular drywall. What can I do? – Deb
A. There are different types of wallboard/drywall. If the product in your home has a thin paper veneer that carries the pattern, then painting could lift up the paper, making a mess that would be difficult to fix. Experiment on a hidden corner. Apply a coat of sealer/primer and allow it to dry for 24 hours. If this is holding nicely, then proceed with paint. You could also try wallpaper, but the wallpaper glue will also lift thin paper veneer.
Another option is to apply drywall mud to the entire wall. This will cover up seams and any texture in the existing paper pattern. You will now have a completely smooth surface over which you can prime and paint with ease.
A note regarding sourcing for the patchwork bathroom tile flooring seen in my December Trends column: Check out your favorite tile source that carries Moroccan style tiles and select six to 10 patterns. Buy boxes of each style and then mix them up. It’s a great look.
Email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.