Should I paint these bannisters? Pic incouded

[Bladders73]

Just that really. Am tempted to paint them white to help lighten up the hall and stairs but at the moment they are maintenance free and I suspect that children rubbing their grubby hands up and down them every day will render them dirty and needing painting every few months. I don't like gloss paint and tend to use satinwood on woodwork. Would this be up to the job?

Any recommendations? Or leave well alone?

[MrsTammySwanson]

That's a shame I was going to invite myself round for a cup of tea

[SwedishEdith]

Thanks for the tips TheUnwiling. It's half-term, it's raining, I've no more excuses to get on with this have I?

[FinestGrundyTurkey]

MrsTammy, is your carpet Missisippi burgundy & blue? That's what I've got on my stairs! (No spindles there because of the wall)

I have plain beige carpet on the landing, Stripey (floorboards are rubbish)

[FinestGrundyTurkey]

(Bottom stair is folded back waiting for Karndean to be laid in hall)

[Pipbin]

Another vote for white spindles and leaving the rail wood. I haven't actually painted ours since we moved in but we have the identical hall way and will leave the stairs like that when we do paint.

[MrsTammySwanson]

Finest I am not sure of the name. I purchased it from Paul Simon who I don't think are around anymore. It was the end of a carpet roll and I just loved the pattern and the feel of it. I didn't pay attention to the name.

As I remember it the carpet wasn't an actual runner. They had to have it sewn at the sides and cut.

I do like yours very much.

[Mellifera]

Another vote for painting the spindles, leaving the handrail.

We have oak spindles etc, but we built a loft extension and needed more spindles for the second floor. So we had the oak ones replicated in pine (fabulous woodturner in Walthamstow) and I stripped, painted the old ones and painted in Mylands Pure White.
Bannister was sanded (everything was covered in a gluey dark stain) and varnished with clear stuff (Some foodsafe table varnish).

Our carpet is stripey blue, looks like a sister of Tammys.
Rock n Roll Mr Blue Sky.

[MrsTammySwanson]

Loving the blue. I'm just disappointed that when I bought my runner it didn't come with a cute dog.

Clearly you got the better deal.

[Mellifera]

The dog only comes with the blue version, red would clash

[MrsTammySwanson]

I like the idea of interior designs by crufts

[Bladders73]

Well I took the plunge and did it!

2 coats of Zinsser BIN and 2 coats of acrylic satin and im really pleased with how they look. The hallway feels far brighter and up to date.

Now to tackle this horrible wooden fire surround!

[MrsTammySwanson]

Looks great. Nice and bright.

[SingSongSlummy]

Ace job! For the fireplace surround, you need Stonelux - amazing stone paint

[Bladders73]

So does it give it a stone like finish?

[Bladders73]

I've had a look at the reviews, I've ordered the Stonelux in White limestone. Will post a pic when it's done!

[Clutterbugsmum]

Your stairs look great.

Me and DH are still having the same argument. I want to paint ours white along with under stair cupboard doors. But DH doesn't.

[Bladders73]

Do it! I'm so glad I did, it's transformed the hallway completely.

[FinestGrundyTurkey]

Really good job, Bladders - looks amazing!

[Clutterbugsmum]

Too be honest I think I will next year as after 14 years I hate them. The thing is I know once I have done it he will agree that they look much better.

[PrimalLass]

That looks great. We are in the middle of ours. We have sanded the stairs and stained the treads really dark. The spindles, treads and edges will be white, with a dark handrail.

[PavlovtheCat]

OK. you have convinced me. We will be painting ours white. I have been dithering about this for a while, and, comparing similar style staircases here with mine, in both white and wood, I love the wood.

I also LOVE the stripy carpet, either as a runner style or as full carpet. It's exactly what I have in my mind when I think about how I would love the hallway to look.

Well done for taking the plunge. Was it difficult to paint?

[PavlovtheCat]

clutters that what happens with me and DH. We disagree, I know for sure what I think will look good, he disagrees, eventually gives in to shut me up and then concedes that it looks much better!

[turdfairynomore]

I got a car bodywork place to spray my pine fire surround matt black. It looks amazing-in my eyes anyway!! 10 years later and its still immaculately even though it's close to a huge, high output gas "wood burning" stove thingy.

[Bladders73]

It wasn't difficult, just fiddly and I had to take my time to make sure I didn't miss any bits.
The Zinsser BIN is quite runny so you need to be careful with that, also it dries very quickly so you can't brush back and fore over the same area as you create brush marks in it.
To be fair if you were to inspect the woodwork up close you might see a few 'runs' but overall it looks good. From a distance. ;)

[Clutterbugsmum]

Pavlov, DH normally tells me he has had a 'good Idea' about 6 months to a year after I've talked to him about it , then I just go along with it.