Staircase, Front Hall Makeover Monster

I’m taking a break from the staircase, front hall makeover monster!

I knew it would be a challenge but WOW!

I am at the point that the before pictures actually look better than the “during”.  And the point that most sane people would give up for about 4 years and maybe finish one day…

Do you ever have a vision and work yourself silly to bring it to life?  I sure do and I am currently pondering what is in my psyche that makes me this way.

In the mean time,  let’s take a look back at where and why I started this monster!

This old house has come along way and has had a lot done to it in the past few years. When the vintage office was finished with the amazing feather stenciled walls, I really wanted the entry hall & staircase to look just as pretty & welcoming. So I took a deep breath and got started.

After pulling off this carpet, I completely understand why the former owner wrapped everything in beige carpet. It’s a real mess under there!

The carpet gave everything a safer more cohesive look. There is just one problem, I HATE carpet on stairs and in entry halls. It had to go.

The entire area upstairs and down looked dingy and dirty and the staircase, let’s just say it needed help. The steps were so shallow that you had to turn your feet sideways to go up & down.

I spent a lot of time goggling narrow entry halls and small old staircases and discovered there is really not a lot of inspiration or help out there on the web. Hey, but I know in my heart of hearts that there are homeowners out there dealing with the same issues. I hope my monster project might inspire you and give you hope that a tired old narrow entry hall can be beautiful.

Here is what I saw:

1. Dirty carpet on narrow steep steps and high traffic areas

2. Narrow hall with no space for an entry table

3. Dim dull uninteresting lighting

4. Plastered papered walls with dull paint

5. Scratched and beat up woodwork

6. Ugly pulled down attic door