Going to rework the entryway one more time. It is nice that after 5+ years of work, everything in house has been completed to an acceptable standard/level and now we can really customize things as we feel like it. Lisa wants Wrought Iron Balusters and updates to lower level to make things match. (Already got custom one cut and ready to be installed, just a bit too cold in garage to work but soon…)
Stairs when we bought -2017 The first redo was to pull old tiles off floor and kickbacks, paint backs white and install leftover white oak at entry (in addition to pulling out old closet, building butler cabinetry and built-in bench.) Pretty happy with the overall look below (believe I did this 2 years ago), but Lisa has always hated the white balusters so got some nice wrought iron and will be installing when I gets warm out next few days.
Looking from Main to Front Door/Butler Room
Lower Stairs to Main Level
The other problem is the lower level – when I took old carpet out, the treads were yellow pine (not mahogany like main) so just painted and put runners on. Will try to figure out way to get both to look more alike. Could replace the treads with solid mahogany, but that seems too much for me (cost/time) – probably will just trim out with some left over mahogany and see how that looks.
UPDATE 4/11/2023
Test fit of a couple balusters. I was luck that I had a thin cut-off grinder disk as using a hacksaw would have taken forever.
All cut and test fit. The existing pocket holes were deeper than what I need so just use the toe pieces to get right length. Dry assembly everything works great.
Everything masked, epoxy in, clamps and board (used to keep everything aligned and in same plane)
Rails in, Lisa wants Newel post black, I like white but will wait till mahogany refinished, new trim and toe kicks painted
UPDATE 4/15/2023
Basement Stairs
Finished painting and putting up some mahogany trim to better coordinate lower stairs to upper stairs. The rug runners are not what will be in final configuration, Lisa has some on order and those are just to help prevent dog from scratching until paint hardens.
NOTE: the mahogany was salvaged from the old bathroom window trim that I kept in garage for last couple of years. I knew it would be put to good use one day.