Angela's Stairs

Today I will interject in pink.

Hi Christine,

I saw Carol's questions on her carpet runner and your incredibly helpful answers(s) and have a few questions of my own, as we're also putting in a carpet runner for our stairs. Unlike Carol, who has a nylon carpet but wants a waterfall look, I have a wool carpet (Stark Carpet's Woodcrest II in Wheat)and am leaning towards doing a New York wrap since many of the steps on our stairs are exposed on the sides and am a bit hesitant to see that gap. Would a wool/New York wrap combination look weird, or is it always better to go waterfall with a wool carpet? It will look great- I actually was referring to more of a fine hand knotted runner- which comes out much softer than a machine made piece that is made in broadloom and cut down. Although- a well-installed runner won't be giving you a bad view of the underside. Like the example below:They can have a waterfall installation and still be "tacked down" on the edges. I would tell you to have it installed either way with your carpet- whichever look you prefer. The example below is a bit on the grand side- it is from a palace in Rome- but I was having a hard time finding an example of a New York Wrap. :)Also, you recommended that Carol have her runner surged instead of tucked and turned, but what about binding? My installer said he always uses a high quality synthetic 7/8 inch binding (with almost a 1/4 inch reveal) and a zig zag stitch. What do you think of bindings (synthetic, cotton or otherwise) wider reveals and straight v. zig zag stitches? Having yours bound- it is hard to give my opinion without actually seeing the binding- if it does not look "too casual"- (frequently they are a very casual cotton look)- I'm sure it will look great. The fine hand knotted rugs are surged- which is why I mentioned that before. And while you're looking at my stairs, what do you think of painting the risers white? Important or don't bother? I'm definitely having the decorative wood moulding along the outside edge painted white, adding some sort of paneling or wainscoting on the walls on the way up and want to darken the banister either to a darker color or maybe even black (without the mess of stripping the existing finish on site, but have yet to figure whether they can take the banister out to refinish somewhere else or use a special product on site). I love a painted riser- it will change from an element that needs no maintenance- to one that is potentially going to need future attention. A white riser would look great though. Would love any opinions!

Thanks,

Angela

Carol's Question Continued from Yesterday

Dear Christine,
I really appreciate your advice and was very surprised to see my post on your blogsite so quickly. (I didn't realize it was so lengthy - sorry!) The photos you showed are great and it's good to know the difference between the way nylon broadloom and wool runners would lay. For some reason, I don't mind seeing the custom wrap when the carpet covers the entire tread between spindles, but wasn't so sure I liked it with a runner. Boy, now I've got more thinking to do and more questions. Are you a fan of turn-and-tuck or not? Would the Masland pattern I picked lend itself any better to finished edges or turning them under? If I switched to an oriental-look runner, would it matter that I have other "oriental" area rug patterns in the foyer and the DR and hallway which open onto it? Here are some photos so you can get an idea what I'm working with.Please don't mind my 'cheap' silks (the plant next to the desk is real) - I hadn't read your advice about that until yesterday! :) Feel free to comment about anything you see (or don't). Thanks, Carol

Dear Carol,

I would not use tuck and turn when you have a solid tread underneath. Have your edges surged instead. You want to "show off" the solid tread. (The less expensive look-a-like is having only solid wood edges, and the carpet in the center- we don't want your stairs to look like that.) In addition- it would ruin the tread if you ever wanted to remove the runner.

I would look for a runner that compliments your existing rugs without competing with them. Perhaps a more simple pattern. Look for one that is less "busy"- perhaps a tone on tone, or a bordered piece. Look at broadloom wools that can be surged into a runner for a larger selection. Feel the backing, and see if it is soft enough to lay nicely.

I love how low your window is in the entry. I would guess you live in the east. Our windows out west here tend to be higher. I want to rip out all of my windows and put in ones that go lower. (My husband loves it when I say things like that :)

Thanks Carol,

Christine

Carol's Question

Dear Christine,

I have been going round and round trying to picture what I want done on my staircase and I came across your blogsite. Hope you can help me.Our stair treads are cherry, the risers white, and there is a 90º turn on the landing leading to 3 more steps. The stairs run along the wall to the right of the front door entry, so they are not seen full-on from the foyer. There are open spindles on one side all the way up and including the steps after the turn. These stairs lead to a second floor that is used only for guests, so the traffic is light. I would say my design taste is traditional.I have always envisioned a runner, to keep at least some of the wood still exposed. I have found a broadloom carpeting I like by Masland (http://www.maslandcarpets.com/blcolors.asp?stylename=Ardenne&displayname= ), the black walnut color version, and I was planning to have it cut to a 33" runner edges with the edges serged. (The tread width is 41", measuring from spindles to baseboard.) In shopping for the carpet, I have talked to several sales and design people who strongly recommend wrapping the nose of the tread and although I am getting closer to accepting the idea, I think the waterfall installation of a runner looks more luxurious to me. I would consider using stair rods in that case if it would help to complete the look. The nap on the carpet I picked (it's cut-and-loop) is not very high and I understand the padding underneath will be thin. I'm picturing an end result of wrapping the tread nose as very flat. I don't want it to look like inexpensive commercial carpeting.What are your opinions on runner installations on stairs and what do you think would work best for me? Thanks for any advice you can give me.CarolP. S. Are you any relation to a Robert Fife in Naperville, IL?=

Dear Carol,

Can I first say that it looks like you chose a nice carpet. Anyone that reads my blog faithfully, knows what a big Masland fan I am. And on a job like this, where the installation is such a large part of the cost, it only makes sense to use a high quality carpet. I also like your idea of keeping the carpet style simple. I have done many very decorative colorful wool runners, but when you described your staircase as two tone, this more simple carpet pattern is a great way to go.

ABSOLUTELY wrap the nose of the tred!!! This is called a "custom wrap" or "New York wrap"- and is the ONLY way to go WHEN you are using a broadloom nylon carpet. (emphasize the WHEN)

Otherwise it will look wrong and "cheap". IF you were using a wool carpet runner (emphasize the IF)with a natural backing, it would lay nicely, and give you the luxurious look that you are imagining- like this picture:

But with a broadloom carpet, like the piece that you've selected, the backing is stiff, is installed over a pad, and really needs the custom wrap to look right. Otherwise it will stick out too much like This picture:

Can you see the difference? The wool waterfalls nicely, the nylon should be custom wrapped(even with serged edges). (it is hard to use a beautiful staircase like the one above as a poor example, but that is what I am trying to do :) Can you see how this picture below is nicer?

I want to add one more thing- make sure the runner goes down on the bottom riser- like the photo above, NOT like the photo below. (now they just switched places of being bad example and good example- I hope that wasn't confusing :) The white staircase above with the red runner with boarder is especially irritating me that the bottom riser is not done, but is a good example of the New York wrap. (these photos are not my jobs- I just found them on the internet)

Zoroufy is the brand that I use on the rods. They come in a lot of different finishes.

So- my advice? Switch to a wool carpet runner, or have your nylon carpet custom wrapped.

Thanks for writing in! We'd love to see pictures of your job, please send them my way so I can post them :)

Oh yes- and am I related to Robert Fife? I have no idea :)

My father - in- law is one of 8, (or maybe it's 10??) and I don't really know any of them :-)

Thanks,
Christine