Stairs Archives - Kelley Astore Interiors

Stair Runner Installation

After a complete renovation in 2013, my clients decided to have us install a beautiful herringbone wool stair runner going up their gorgeous staircase. It was exactly what the space needed.

The first step was picking out the carpet. We chose a wool carpet because it is durable, long-lasting, hypoallergenic, and comfy to the touch. In a high traffic area of the home, such as the main staircase, it is important to pick flooring that is stain resistant. Wool is a natural fiber containing natural oils that repel dirt and other oil-based stains so its appearance can stand up against the wear and tear of everyday use. Before installation, the carpet had a one-inch gray cotton binding added along the edges. Next, my carpet guru prepped the stairs and installed the runner. For the finishing touch, the owner of the company that put the floors down, Universal Floors, came out to the house to touch up the scuff marks on the sides of the staircase.

Benefits of a Stair Runner

They absorb sound. Do you hear people clomping down the stairs echoing throughout your home? Having a carpet stair runner will muffle the sound.

They regulate flooring temperature. In the cold months when your floors are freezing, the stairs will remain warm and cozy.

They add traction, helping prevent slips and falls. With little ones or the elderly in the home, it is a good idea to add a stair runner to your wooden stairs. Carpet is a lot less slippery than polished wood, plus there is a cushioned pad under the carpet that will soften a fall.

They cover up damaged hardwood. Years of wear on stairs draw attention but in a negative way. A stair runner can cover up the ugly scratches and turn the attention towards something beautiful.

They protect hardwood from marks and scuffs. On the contrary, you can prevent damage on your stairs by placing a stair runner over them. The structure will remain intact longer.

They add style. It can be expensive to update the stain on your current staircase but the addition of a stair runner can update the style at a lower cost. Stair runners are welcoming, add an elevated appearance, and allow the color scheme of your home to continue to the second floor. They come in a variety of colors, textures, and patterns creating whichever look you choose from simple to extravagant.

Before & After Transformation: Sisal Stair Runner

When designing any space, it’s easy to focus on the larger elements of the design like the layout and main furniture pieces, while losing track of all the small details that really complete a design. Without attention given to the details, a design will end up looking amateur and incomplete. In today’s before and after transformation, we’ll be showing you how one seemingly insignificant detail can really change an entire design’s aesthetic and functionality.

The Space

As you may know, if you’ve been following our blogs, I’ve done quite a bit of work recently on remodeling a beautiful house in Great Falls, Virginia. We redid their entrance, dining room, home office and lighting throughout the house, and more. We have also done quite a lot of work on their living room, which leads to a beautiful winding staircase. As we completed smaller sections of the house, we knew that we could give attention to the elements that connect each space, this stairwell being a prime example.

The Before

The original design had a very fluffy beige stair runner on these gorgeous steps. The fluffiness of the carpet didn’t match the chic aesthetic of the rest of the house. The stairs stood out – not in the way you want them to. They looked quite dated against the lovely black marble floors and created too much contrast against the wooden stairs. When looking at the design, you might not initially realize how much of an eyesore this stair runner actually was – it was a relatively small detail compared to the entirety of the house, and the tone of the carpet wasn’t completely off. However, I knew that we could complement the stain of the wood better, in a way that would ultimately be more beautiful and more functional.

The Why

There are a number of reasons why I think sisal is the best material for stair runners – stairs get so much foot traffic, that a carpet like the one originally there would get worn out quickly and end up looking dirty. Sisal on the other hand is incredibly durable and holds up well through time. Additionally, sisal has a better grip which will make the stairs easier and safer to use – especially for those who are at risk of falling and getting seriously injured. But beyond practicality, a huge design trend at the moment is bringing nature inside. There is something so beautiful using a natural material like sisal in such a modern house – it grounds the design and offers something different for the eye to land upon. It’s no surprise then that as soon as I saw this stairwell, I knew that a sisal stair runner would be the right choice.

The After

We opted for a runner that had a lovely two-toned pattern with a thicker binding on either side in a lighter color. The binding on the sisal provides a lovely contrast to the darker wood, and the light pattern keeps the look interesting. However, all the tones in the sisal are much closer to the tones of the wood, in comparison to the original carpet. Making the contrast more subtle means the eye can enjoy the winding structure of the stairs more and appreciate the contrast already provided between the neutral walls/trim and the wooden stairs.

The Takeaway

I am so happy with how this transformation ended up, and more importantly, my client was happy. Take a look at the before and after photos and see the massive difference it made! The sisal looks far more intentional and thought-out. Design is like any other art: each detail matters and deserves equal attention to the rest of the work. If you are designing a home and think you may be missing out on important details, let us help you! Head to our services page to book your free consultation today!

5 Reasons to Install Stair Runners Today

When designing a space, a number of factors must be considered: function, aesthetics, comfort, and practicality. Depending on the project, each of these factors will be given more weight and priority. It’s a gift then when certain design choices are able to fulfill all the roles in one go, like stair runners. A stair runner is a strip of carpet that lines the center of a staircase, leaving the side edges exposed. Not only do they look amazing and tie a design together, but they are extremely functional and practical. Keep reading to find out 5 reasons to install stair runners today.

1. They make a space more welcoming

Carpet naturally has a warm and welcoming feel. The soft material brings comfort and reminds us that the home should feel safe. The cushioning beneath the feet softens each footstep, padding our treads. Therefore, having a strip of carpet run along the stairs warmly invites guests and home-dwellers alike to climb up and down the padded steps, into the heart of the home. Because stair runners leave the edge of the stairs exposed, they create another dimension, giving additional texture to the design. This draws the eye to the staircase in a welcoming manner and easily ties a design together.

2. They add traction

Stair runners don’t just make a space more welcoming because of how they look and feel, they give so much traction to the staircase that guests and home dwellers will physically feel safer walking up and down the steps. According to the National Safety Council, up to 12,000 deaths occur at home per year in the USA due to accidental falls on the stairs. If the staircase was designed with slippery wood and you’re wearing socks, it’s no surprise that a fall will take place. Adding stair runners helps prevent this. They are especially good if the home dweller is more at risk of a fatal fall, such as an elderly person. They’re also very good if there are a lot of children quickly running up and down the steps, as children love to do. They make stairs so much safer, which feels more welcoming.

3. They’re an easy way to cover up damaged stairs

If you’re renovating a space or looking to spruce up a design, stair runners are a cost-effective way to cover up any staircases, not in prime condition. If the wood on your stairs is particularly worn or scratched, simply cover it up with a stair runner to make it look good as new! Naturally, people walk in the center of the stairs, so this part will wear out the quickest. Easily make it look new with a stylish stair runner choice.

4. They protect the wood underneath

If your home is newly renovated and you’re not trying to cover up any wear and tear, perhaps you’re more interested in protecting against wear and tear. Stair runners do this as well. If you’ve chosen a nicer or more expensive wood for the staircase, you don’t want it to get scratched up by rough shoes or heavy lifting. Stair runners are here to save the day! Lay down a strip of carpet and protect the most vulnerable part of the treads.

5. They offer a stylish and cheaper alternative to carpeted stairs.

The final reason to get stair runners installed is for how amazing they look! They give a fun opportunity to add some color and texture into a design. If you’ve just purchased a home and were hoping for carpeted stairs for the safety reasons discussed earlier, stair runners offer a cheaper and easier alternative to getting the full staircase carpeted.

Get yours installed today!

The stair runners pictured here are all sisal runners. Sisal is a woven material from natural plant fibers and provides a lovely texture. Additionally, sisal doesn’t get worn down as much as traditional carpeting. If you’re interested in installing stair runners and are not sure where to start, head to my services page to book a free consultation today – you tell us exactly what you want, and we’ll get the job done for you!