If you find yourself gravitating towards modern and clean design but live in an architecturally traditional home, you might find the stairs to be that one spot that is hard to modernize without ripping it out and beginning — and that can be a pricey proposition. But should you have stairs that is all honey colored wood or traditional white and wood, below are some strategies to give it a fresh look. All it takes is paint along with the willingness to go for it.
Brian Watford Interiors
I heard from my mother that black and white constantly works, period. Whether in fashion or interiors, whether it’s a traditional or modern area, there’s nothing like a black and white palette which states classic. Black can add a bit of edginess to any room and help a space from getting overly sweet. However traditional, any piece of furniture painted black is changed instantly and will work in just about any room. I apply the identical idea to architectural details such as your staircase.
The picture quality of black and white can make a room more conducive to incorporating modern furnishings and vivid colors into the mixture.
Rachel Reider Interiors
Do not be afraid to mix styles in a distance. Take the notion a black handrail, newel post and railing a step farther and paint front door black. And add an unexpected modern light fixture and rug. I simply can not say enough about this foyer. I really like the pressure between the heavy and traditional newel post, doors and crown moulding along with the uber picture rug and modern pendant.
SchappacherWhite Architecture D.P.C.
A black newel post, railing and stair treads take this stairwell from country to country trendy.
LORRAINE G VALE, Allied ASID
Even if your tastes lean towards the classic, you can still make your stairs feel more updated and contemporary by including a bit of black. As you can see, the wood floors in a home frequently place the palette; they’re the majority of surface area at almost any home. Adding contrast using a black railing assists this distance from being muddy and all one colour.
A black handrail accentuates the curves of this stairwell. White and black conveys elegance. Think about the distinction between a dark suit and a tuxedo — there’s just something about a tuxedo…
Smith & Vansant Architects PC
If you have lighter hardwood flooring and are somewhat frightened to go as dark as black on the handrail and newel posts, stain your handrail and just the tops of the new posts a dark chocolate brown. This only really works if the newel post design lends itself to some two-tone therapy.
Chr DAUER Architects
The grey walls add a modern feel to this traditional stairway. Again, the newel posts here give themselves to some two-tone therapy. The brownish stain is so dark that it almost reads black. I really like the picture effect of the darkened handrail zigzagging and directing your eye upward, and the contrast between the dark treads and white risers.
Lucid Interior Design Inc..
Or you can go all out and paint the whole staircase black. This foyer would look so unbelievably different if that stairs was all stained timber.
As you can see, even mild wood floors work wonderfully with a black handrail. Add a fabulous modern light fixture and you’ve transformed your traditional stairs.
Valerie pasquiou insides + design, inc
Charcoal grey is a gentle alternative to black. I simply can not get enough this stunning entry. Notice how the staircase and stringer are grey, but the base trim throughout is white. The treads here look to be an off-black. The accession of a modern pendant takes this from traditional to something more.
Valerie pasquiou insides + design, inc
The modern doors at the rear work wonderfully with the otherwise traditional space because the staircase were painted grey. I can not envision this room using a traditional stained timber and white stair.
Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab
Read more photos of stairs designs