Hate new stair carpet

[ilkleymoorbartat]

Total first world problems I realise. Have attached pics. Gah, I hate it! I don’t know exactly what I’m asking but aibu, and if not what should I do!

@ilkleymoorbartat

Would love to post other rooms but worried it’s too outing!!

Your lovely door might be a bit outing tbh. It's very distinctive (and gorgeous).

God it's lovely. Just get some period brass stair rods to complete the look.

I think maybe painting the stairs black would make it look better.

We have black skirting boards on part of our stairs and white on another and the carpet looks a completely different shade on each part but you can see when the carpet joins it's exactly the same colour.

Having looked at the other pictures you have posted showing the look you were going for.. the carpet looks different partly due to the different colours on the walls. And then seeing the colour of your front door... bring colour to the walls and it will look stunning!

Omg I love the emerald green taping you photoshopped earlier. And I love the closeups you’ve posted. It’s definitely a taping issue but don’t chalk paint it – everything is so high-end you don’t want to Blue Peter a DIY on top.

@AlbertBridge

It does look a bit like you'd go up those stairs to get legal advice, or a disappointing massage.

I think it's the edges. They look ugly. The actual carpet is fine.

Your house is GORGEOUS though.

Yes, I agree it's the edges. Can you get it retaped? I'd be tempted by a colour, rust or such but even a different neutral would work. And yes to painting the bannister and softening up with plants. I'd definitely retape, shouldn't be as expensive as replacing either.

I think the taping is making it much worse too

Maybe painting staircase black too?? Worried it’s going to look to heavy though

And maybe rather than painting the handrail just stain it very dark?

So the handrail is more like this almost blending in?

@ilkleymoorbartat I actually quite like it. I don't think you've made an expensive mistake, it just needs a couple of small tweaks.

The thing I'd do which would make a huge difference is paint the bannister spindles white, leaving the handrail to tone in with the carpet. It's a fiddly job but a whole lot cheaper than replacing the carpet and would brighten up your beautiful hallway even more.

Adding pictures and a large plant on the return would finish things off nicely, and maybe a couple of rugs downstairs and on the landing.

Not helpful, but this is exactly what I want in my new house! What was it like before? Give it a few weeks time adjust

OP, I think it looks great. With some pictures up and some plants, it will look every bit as good as your reference photos. The finishing touches make all the difference.

It's gorgeous! I've the same on my stairs copied from a huge elegant Edwardian mansion my ex owned. I had a grey trim rather than brown though, so I think a PP said some colour would be good.

Also, add some stair rods for a bit of bling.

Put up a picture that coordinates with it. All that white is so plain.

Hi there OP. What a beautiful house! I didn’t know that black spindles and stained handrails were a thing but clearly they are from the various pix you’ve posted.

I do like the darker varnish on the handrail, and the black taping.

Agree regarding plants/ artwork etc- pick up some of those colours from that gorgeous stained glass.

Love Victorian /Edwardian houses and have a very traditional taste myself so I would think about stripping and re staining but realistically that’s probably neither your taste nor very practical.

I feel your pain though. Replaced sitting room carpet last year. Fitters ballsed up and brought the wrong width. I chose a replacement on the spot ( had to be a different colour due to stock issues) and knew instantly I had made a mistake when I saw it. For weeks I winced every time I looked at it.

Don’t notice it so much now, but will replace sooner than I need to I suspect. Went elsewhere for stairs and landings and got a beautiful result. Would happily use the same downstairs. In fact am very tempted to do so the more I think of it.

Oh, I would avoid stair rods. Just another element too many.
I don’t think this type of house needs ‘bling’, tbh.

It's maybe a bit of a stark contrast with the white. I'd redo the walls a very pale cream, soften your lighting and it'll be gorgeous

Is this the look you want, OP?

I don't really like it but it works with the warm brown tones of the wood and the cool brown tone of the carpet because the eye is drawn to the huge beautiful baluster and the dramatic black and white tiled floor and the puppy. Also, the anaglypta wall paper adds texture. The browns fade away into the background. It is all very dramatic.

The same palate isn't really working in your hallway because you don't have anything dramatic to draw the eye other than the brown carpet which clashes with the woodwork. If that is what you want, I would consider adding the black tape but first I would add a dramatic rug (black and white or shades of brown and black or colours toning with the door) and some bold paintings/drawings with black frames, possibly some plants to soften everything. I would also consider adding some texture eg anagylpta wallpaper, wicker, metal (stair rods, a planter).

Everybody is loving the view with the door because:

1. The door is beautiful and dramatic and draws the eye away from the carpet and wood.

1. The stained glass has a complex palette of contrasting and complementary colours that include warm and cool browns so it brings everything together. The palette of the carpet and wood without the door is neither a contrast nor complementary, it is a clash.

Personally, I would go for a softer look and use the palette from the door with a few other complementary colours and add colour and texture with paintings, rugs, accessories, wall colours etc to bring everything together.

Whichever style you go for, what you need is to do what the stained glass door or baluster/tiles are doing and find something that draws the eye from the floorings.

Once you have done that, then you can tweak things like the colour of the banisters and tape etc to either highlight them or make them fade into the background. You might find it is fine as it is, like it is in the photo that includes the door.

@Ddot

Just needs a large glass of wine and a chill. It's fine, really nice.

This!! I actually love it all. Just needs a few personal touches, and a bit of getting used to

The colour is awful (at least for me) but otherwise, it’s a lovely job.

You chose it! Did you not get a sample to live with for a while?

The herringbone is nice, the bound edging is lovely, but the colour is sludge. But you chose it - maybe the mistake you made is that you wanted something “beige” and neutral? Stairs can take a bit of definition. I have mid-grey carpets and sometimes I wish I’d gone for something almost black, but the colour I gave is lovely and liveable.

Your carpet is really nice - except for the colour. But some people aren’t good at colour, or maybe they actually like brown. It takes all types

The carpet binding/taping could be changed to be the same or a v close dark grey to the balustrading...but...

Maybe you just need to give it a week or 2...

Don't look at it - it's just carpet, ignore, ignore, ignore.

Walk all over it grin If you still hate it, change it then.

Sorry but give your head a shake, its lovely

Part of the reason I'm so annoyed with myself is I spent SO long thinking about it. There was a logic to that choice which has now proved to be completely pointless.