BEFORE
Faux paneling and carpeting glued to the stairs and oak floors prompted homeowners to find an artistic solution to this stairwell makeover.
POTENTIAL
The homeowners knew paint would be an easy fix for the walls and ceilings. They were equally confident that the original oak floors could be refinished (despite being covered with an adhesive) and the stairs restored with new treads and risers.
PURPOSE
The stairwell would become a gallery for a large collection of paint-by-number paintings, adding color and visual interest to this high traffic area of the house.
1. PAINT Behr Porch Paint in three colors was used for the stairs; the darkest color on the treads, where it gets the most wear. On the walls, Benjamin Moore's Aura Paint provided a rich, saturated hue.
2. TOOLS Paintings were aligned and squared with a level and pencil. By using 3/4-inch brads to tack corners, holes become inconspicuous if paintings are ever reframed.
3. LIGHTING This spun-acrylic light fixture was discovered in Lake Worth, Fla. It was purchased for the stairwell even before the idea of a gallery was envisioned.
4. PAINTER'S TAPE
Painter's tape provided a five-inch guide for the end borders on stair risers. Once paint was dry, tape was removed and borders filled in.
AFTER
LOFTY VIEWS
Hanging paintings in sets made it easier to determine placement and create a gallery-like effect. By choosing a saturated wall color -- such as Benjamin Moore's Hathaway Gold 194 -- the artwork was enhanced.
LEFT NATURAL
Although tempted to paint the newel post when they did the bannister spindles, the owners couldn't justify covering up its natural beauty. It remains original to the house. BENCH: ABC CARPET & HOME. RUNNER: DASH & ALBERT.
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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
