share post

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

by | Jul 31, 2012 | Decorating Inspiration, Entry, my house

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

Hickory Hardwood Floors and Staircase Makeover

Thanks to Lowe’s for their support and installation of the floors in this home improvement project!  

I couldn’t be more excited about all the progress at my house right now (see where this project all began, here)! I can hardly believe how much has changed already! Seriously, I feel like I have waited forever for this (OK, three and a half years is probably not really all that long but to me it seemed like an eternity). Finally things are really happening, I have so much to catch you all up on! For today I wanted to give you a little flooring update, keeping in mind that none of these are complete “afters” but more like “in process.”

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

But first, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at what the staircase used to look like! Between the carpeted stairs and the swine walls, it wasn’t exactly  my style. But, ever grateful for having a home, we lived with it that way as long as we could. I can’t even remember when we started this project, maybe two years ago? We’re speedy like that.

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

We began the staircase makeover by priming the oak handrails and painting them black (since we could do that without a near death experience dangling over a staircase), followed by the stripes on the wall because I was dying for a little more character and personality at my house.

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

Sorry for this hideous progress pic, but you can’t really appreciate how far things have come without seeing the swine walls, carpet, the black rails and the stripes. Remember how MUCH SWINE I had in this house? We are now down to just three rooms of swine. YAY FOR PROGRESS!

The stairway at this point was all pretty awful together, I know, but I knew in the end it would all come together like I imagined it in my mind.

But, we had to wait a very long time until we could afford to have someone come paint the two story “swine” walls in our entry. While it was frustrating only having part of our staircase done and having to live with the swine walls and carpet, that is how we roll around here. We do what we can, when we can do it. Even if it isn’t perfect or finished. Finally our entry walls were painted, I was so happy to see the swine paint go!

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

But, we still had the carpet that seemed to get yuckier by the day. We lived with it for what seemed like another eternity until this past week! Yahoo, good-bye carpet! Thanks to Lowe’s and their awesome team of installers, we now have new Hickory solid hardwood floors! I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!

I really want our house to be the kind of place you could walk in with sandy feet and feel comfortable, like an informal but still a bit classy old beach house. The Hickory has a ton of character, is absolutely beautiful to look at and such low maintenance! That is a win-win-win for me! The floors really set the stage for what I want the house to be like, so I’m beyond thrilled with how things are coming along.

I did not want to deal with painting or staining the stairs while living here with kids and dogs and a kitchen remodel going on at the same time, so I love that the treads (and floors!) were installed pre-finished so we could walk on them same day.  The risers are primed white but not yet painted, but fortunately that is a project we can do over time. We will be painting all the white parts of the staircase with a fresh coat of white paint (right now it is a bit pinkish). Big job, but nothing is ever simple, is it?

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

Here you can see a little bit of the wood floors from the upstairs hallway! The top two steps are not done yet (all the risers did not arrive), but should be finished up soon.  The flooring is all done though and the quarter rounds were installed around all of the baseboards.

The  bedroom looks awesome with hardwoods and new paint, even though the room isn’t all fixed up yet. It feels so fresh and pretty, I can’t stop looking at it! I actually ordered new curtains this week so maybe I’ll make a little more progress and give you the progress report on that room next week, so you can get all the paint color details too. I’m really looking forward to seeing the before pictures and the progress pics too!

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

I cannot even tell you how thrilled I am every day to walk upstairs and see this hallway with the lovely hardwood floors. They really transformed everything. My whole house feels different, lighter, brighter, cleaner and much closer to the image I have of it in my mind! They add so much life and personality to the house!

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

The carpet didn’t do anything at all for the style I had in mind so I feel extremely blessed to finally have hardwood floors here. And, honestly, I’m glad I had to wait three and a half years for what I wanted. I learned patience and was able to really think through my style before committing to anything.

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

Lots more to do around our house, of course, but we’ve made some major strides ahead! I’ll have plenty more updates on the wood floors in the living room and dining room (cannot wait to see how those rooms are transformed!), as well as the kitchen remodeling project and progress in the days and weeks to come!

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

Thanks, everyone, for coming along with me on this journey to transform my house. It is so much more fun to have you all to share this with cause I know you all “get” how exciting this is for me! 

Staircase Makeover {New Wood Floors Update!}

For my FAQ about my Hickory floors, click here!

Thanks again to Lowe’s for partnering with me on this project so I could make my wood floor dreams come true! My kitchen contractor walked in our house after the floors were done and said they were amazing and that Lowe’s had done a fabulous job with the install too. Contractors don’t always speak highly of other contractors work, so I was thrilled that he noticed how beautiful my floors were! 

101 Comments

  1. darlene

    First, your home is beautiful and I agree with you, the hard wood floors are beautiful!!! What a new, fresh look! Very happy for you and look forward to more improvements!

    Reply
  2. Ally

    So so nice! I can see why you’re so ecstatic! Nothing like wood on stairs – it’s such a beautiful cottagey look that carpet could never in it’s wildest dreams achieve. (I love your wood’s grainy look)

    Reply
    • Melissa

      I agree, and thanks so much!

      Reply
  3. teresa

    Amazing! Love it all. Can’t wait to see the rest of the make over.
    So Happy for you!
    Happy day

    Reply
  4. Vicki

    Wow! They are beautiful, I love the character in the wood! This is what I would it I had the money.

    Reply
  5. Eat 2gather

    Oh my goodness I have been wanting to do something different to my staircase, it is white with oak, and I 12 years after oak was in now, I am so tired of it, I love the idea of black and white…very cool!

    Reply
  6. Rachel

    Love the floors! Definitely a fantastic upgrade!

    Reply
  7. Vee

    It looks amazing. Bright and cheery, casually elegant (if that’s even possible), definitely a very good decision. So happy for you and your family!

    Reply
  8. Cheryl Thornton

    I get the excitement…I have the same excitement here knowing my new floors are just a month or so away…I am waiting until September – but in the meantime, thanks for sharing yours!!! I am so excited for you – seeing your light floors is making me rethink which floors I should go with, was originally think dark wood floors…but I am really liking yours!

    Cheryl from Ontario

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Ha well dark is nice too, but after living with dark so long in my old house I was ready for a fresh and light new look! I love it, they are very fun :-) if floors can be “fun”!

      Reply
  9. Grace

    I can just feel your excitement. I love when I’ve had to wait and wait for something and then the time comes. It really does give you a whole new level of appreciation doesn’t it. I love your gallery wall on the lovely soft gray walls with the wood stairs. It looks so pretty.

    Reply
  10. Marlene

    Hi Melissa your new wood floor looks great! I just love wood flooring. It’s amazing what a difference it can make.

    Reply
  11. Megan

    Floors, gallery wall, paint color…all fabulous. Looks so fresh and new :)

    Reply
  12. Susan

    I see why you’re so pleased!! Warm and charming look, well done.

    Reply
  13. Alison

    The wall looks fabulous!

    Reply
  14. Sallie

    Floors are GORGEOUS! How exciting this process must be for you and your family! I would love to know how Jack negotiates those slick new stair treads. We’ve been afraid to put wooden stairs in the house because our dog might slip and slide. Have you got any ideas about how to solve that? Everything’s looking great!

    Reply
    • Melissa

      He isn’t really free to run up and down, at least yet. We take him up and down on his leash until he is a little less prone to running :-). But they really aren’t very slippery.

      Reply
  15. Kristen

    Beautiful! We have green tinged carpet on our foyer staircase and all throughout the upstairs. I’d really love to get rid of it, but it seems like that could never happen. Thanks for sharing your experience and encouraging me to continue to be patient!

    Reply
  16. laney

    …simply perfect…blessings laney

    Reply
  17. Lisa

    The stairs and flooring looks beautiful, Melissa!!! I love how you are achieving your house goals one step at a time, with patience and the big picture in mind. Your perseverance has paid off! I LOVE how the stairs came out, and how you styled the wall. So welcoming and fresh to walk into!

    Reply
  18. Judy

    Really beautiful. It’s a great transformation. You had me laughing when you said that it has been going on for two years and you’re speedy like that. I’m still chuckling at that statement.

    Reply
  19. Julie

    Love the new flooring and stair way! You should be thrilled with the transformation. Meanwhile I have stairway envy. ;) x J

    Reply
  20. Julia

    Gorgeous!!

    Reply
  21. Garden, Home and Party

    Melissa,
    Wow, it’s really pretty and such an improvement from the “swine wall” and beige carpet look the previous owners had embraced. Congratulations.
    Karen

    Reply
  22. Jaye

    It’s so exciting to see the transformation of your stairs and flooring since we are in the middle of ours also! There is light at the end of the tunnel!! I love how everything turned out! Our stairs are about half finished and the flooring goes in next week!
    Thanks for the update!

    Reply
  23. Lauren

    Wow!! Melissa, everything looks so beautiful! I love the way you’ve decorated the stairwell, the clock & lantern look so nice with the other framed work! The floors look AMAZING! Congrats!

    Reply
  24. {darlene}

    Oh, girl!!!!!!!!! It looks stunning!

    Reply
  25. Brooke

    Oh My Word!! I LOVE the wood and the new paint! WELL DONE! Your gallery wall looks great too!

    Reply
  26. michelle

    It is amazing how changing flooring or paint can change the way a room lives. I love your floors and am so happy for you.

    Reply
  27. Ashley

    Those hickory floors really do have a whole whack of character, don’t they? They’re gorgeous. So happy you finally got what you wanted! :)

    Reply
  28. Lori

    I love the prominent grain in the flooring. Lovely!

    Reply
  29. Merri Jo

    Stunning! Your after photo is magazine-worth to be sure. I kept scrolling back up to it to study every perfectly placed detail!

    Reply
  30. Beverly

    Oh my gosh, Melissa. Love. Love. Love. ♥♥♥ Those floors are gorgeous.

    Reply
  31. Rosie Klahn

    “Clean.” That word that makes me swoon and your anti-carpet floors do, indeed, embody that very thing. Yes, of course they look (insert admiring word here), but–Oh, heart be still–I believe you when you say they feel clean as they look! I am in a rental and long for hardwood floors. You can find them in my city, but for any rent under $3000/mo. you mightn’t get a garage nor laundry–not even in the building–to go with those floors.

    Reply
  32. Upscale Downhome

    I love your hickory floors, too and can see why you are so tickled. My friend has them in her kitchen and I’ve always admired them and they wear really well, too. I can relate to having to wait to remodel. My old house was a 1960s ranch and it had white carpeting and white/blue painted linoleum floors and I had 3 little boys. After not being able to get the floor clean, I heard from the former owner that she mopped it every day. No thanks! It was such a happy time when we put in walnut flooring through out the entire first floor. So I can totally relate! So happy for you! Enjoy!

    Reply
  33. Stacey

    Wow, the hardwood really does transform the space! It looks really really good! I can totally understand your excitement.

    Reply
  34. Mai

    Oh my gosh it all looks fabulous! I’d love to see how your new floors hold up to a dog running around. I have two of them and my hardwood floor is 60+ years old so it’s hard to tell what they’ve done versus what time has done. The variations in the hickory are beautiful and make for a truly unique pattern no matter where you look. Congrats!

    Reply
  35. Pam

    Gorgeous! The wood color is very happy. Is there anything worse than vacuuming stairs, ugh? So how do the steps work? Are the steps premade and put in over the board that is there like a veneer or is the old board removed and the whole step is a new solid board with a finished edge?

    Reply
  36. Diane

    Jaw dropping. The completed stairway project is beautiful! I love your choice of sconces that fit right into the lovely framed art display on the bottom (especially) and the top too. Oh….and the stair treads and the floors are lovely too. They really do give the rooms life. Are your daughters collaborating with you in your decor. I’m thinking YES and how fun that must be. Again…sooooo happy for you and the blessing of these projects.

    Reply
  37. Nicole

    Ok lady love it all…but really digging your assortment of of art/wall decor heading up the stairs….that is my next to do!

    Reply
  38. Karen on Bainbridge Island

    I had to laugh at your comment about how you couldn’t stop looking at the changes made to your home. Whenever I change something…a table arrangement, a closet clean out, swapping out pillows in the breakfast nook, I keep going back to look and admire…over and over. I thought I was the only one who did this, so it makes me feel better to know I’m not alone in obsessing!

    Great job…what’s your wall color on the stairs? It looks good with the black and white.

    Reply
  39. Linda

    Gorgeous Melissa! I think it looks amazing ~ what a transformation! I especially love your gallery wall going up the stairs! You must be so excited! Thanks for sharing~

    Reply
  40. Heidi

    I love the multi-tonal look and color variations! It looks fantastic!

    Reply
  41. the farmer's wife

    Your floors are wonderful! I love all the movement they provide. And, really, with pets how can you go wrong with a solid surface floor? One swipe of a dust mop and all fur is gone! Your staircase is beautiful. Thanks for sharing, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the house’s after pictures.

    Reply
  42. Stacy

    I totally get it! The floors are seriously beautiful :)

    Reply
  43. Anne

    The floor is awesome. We did something similar with our stairs and landing.Boy! I couldn’t wait to get rid of the nasty red carpet that was there.

    Your stairs now looks like a show house. Well done.

    Reply
  44. Beth Williams

    Love it! wish we could have hardwood on our stairs, but pulling up the old carpet was such a disaster and some sort of glue on the stairs it didn’t work out.

    We do have hard wood floors in living room, hallway and bedrooms.

    Reply
  45. Richella at Imparting Grace

    Melissa, your floors look wonderful!! I’m so happy for you. And I love the way you say that you’re glad you had to wait for them. Isn’t it funny how often we say we wish we had patience, but then we don’t want to go through the experiences that would enable us to practice it? You go, girl!

    Reply
  46. jody

    Awesome! I love it! The floors are so beautiful.

    Reply
  47. Mark E Tisdale

    The painting and decor alone makes a huge difference, but the new flooring on the stairs and in the hall are the coup de grace – Wow! Really gorgeous after! And having painted the stairs in my old townhouse several years ago, I can’t blame you for going pre-finished, walk on it the same day. Stepping over every other step for what seemed like years was rough on one person, can’t imagine it with a family and pets! Disaster recipe!

    Reply
  48. Tracey

    wowzers, those floors are b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l, worth the wait!!!

    Reply
  49. Erin

    GORGEOUS…all of it! The floors, the paint color, and especially the gallery wall up the stairs look so good! Would love details on what you hung for the gallery wall…please?

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Sure, I’ll do a separate post on it for ya as soon as I can! Thanks so much!

      Reply
  50. how2home

    Love the new hardwood floor! Looks much better than the carpet :) Great makeover!!

    Reply
  51. tara

    it really is absolutely beautiful…..so, so beautiful!

    Reply
  52. LibbyP

    Love Love Love the update. Am considering copying your black handrails. So beautiful and classic, yet updated!

    Reply
  53. anya

    It all looks beautiful! Did I miss where you put the paint color? I would love to know it. Congratulations!

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Studio taupe :-) by behr

      Reply
  54. Shelley

    I love the floors. I am planning on putting some hardwood floors in my future office and I heard hickory was pretty durable.
    -Shelley

    Reply
  55. Victoria

    The floors look wonderful. Aside from other great things, loving the wall arrangement up the stairs, especially the low hung mirror.

    Reply
  56. Maria

    The flooring is so gorgeous! It absolutely reminds me of something you would see in a beach house, and does so much for your space!

    Reply
  57. Renee

    love the staircase! beautiful. where did you get the wall sconces?

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Wayfair.com! They were really reasonable and great quality too, I love them! The glass is bubble glass!

      Reply
  58. Kimberly

    I am wanting to put hickory floors in my house and paint my hallway that color! Great job! Question: who are you floors made by? I have looked at prefinished, engineered and the real wood. What kind are your floors? I looked at lumbar liquidators
    , but I am afraid of the reviews I have read online! Help!!

    Reply
    • Melissa

      I’ll email you!

      Reply
      • AnaLisa

        I would also love to know please of the exact floors. Even a link, would be GREAT! Thanks!

        Reply
        • Melissa

          They are Mohawk Natural Hickory, prefinished!

          Reply
  59. Janette

    I’d really appreciate if you could email me too! I’ve been wanting those exact floors and wall color for ever now. I’d love to know the details if you wouldn’t mind sharing.

    Reply
  60. Loren

    I’ve been wanting to paint or stain our oak handrails – did you sand them at all before you primed them? Leaning towards painting them if I can just prime & paint and skip the sanding step!

    Reply
    • Ava

      Hello
      I would also like to know did you sand the oak handrails before priming ?
      and what color paint did you use on the handrails

      Reply
  61. Lisa

    I adore your home and your decorating style, which is much like my own…. a little bit of everything and I LOVE it!! I’m in the process of repainting my entire home and my dining room, kitchen and living room are all one open space…. any suggestions for a great wall color? I have so many I like in the gray family, but just can’t decide. What color did you use in your hallway?
    Thanks so much for all your great info!!
    ~Lisa

    Reply
    • Melissa

      The paint in the hallway is studio taupe by behr! Good luck, and thanks for all the kind words and your comment!

      Reply
  62. Lori

    I love your home and the way you decorate. The floors are beautiful – someday I hope to do the same in my house. I really like the numbers on the bedroom doors. Are they vinyl or did you paint them on? Did you just number the bedrooms or all the doors upstairs? I’m painting my upstairs hallway and would like to do something similar on the doors.

    Your blog is awesome!

    Lori
    Thrifty Decor Mom

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Thanks! They are vinyl, easy peasy to apply! :-)

      Reply
  63. Monica

    Hi Melissa! Your hardwood floors are beautiful. I love reading your blog.. my decor is the same as yours! I also live in Washington (Puyallup!).. I was wondering if you had any recommendations for a kitchen contractor! I am not even sure where to start when it comes to searching for someone to remodel our kitchen. I have so many ideas but I’m not sure what would even work in our house! If you know someone here in this area, I would appreciate any recommendations!!!

    Monica

    Reply
  64. Heather

    Hi Melissa!! Long-time blog reader here, but I’m not much of a commenter. Your new flooring is absolutely, brilliantly beautiful. My husband and I are thinking of putting hickory down in our family room re-do. Would you mind telling us what width boards you used? We really like the look of yours. Thanks so much!
    Heather

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Hi Heather! I am going to do a post soon here on more details on the wood to hopefully answer more questions on it. The boards are a 3 1/4″. They do come in a wider board but with small rooms like we have, that would have been overpowering. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Heather

        thanks for the quick response!!

        Reply
  65. Adrienne

    Hello,
    Your house is gorgeous! What paint color is on the stairway? I have searched your blog and can’t seem to find it.
    Thanks,
    Adrienne

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Thank you! It’s called Studio Taupe by Behr.

      Reply
  66. Cerenity

    Melissa- I am just coming across your blog now, which is good timing. I too have had to wait 6 years to start working on major house projects. A little pain here and there, but now ready to dive in. It’s been a couple years, and would like to know how your wood floors have held up.

    Reply
  67. Kristy Stocks

    What kind of black paint and finish did you get to paint the stair case railing? Has it held up well?
    Thanks

    Reply
  68. Liz

    Love the transformation. We just bought hickory flooring ourselves. I was wondering what colour you used on the walls?

    Reply
  69. Jen

    Hi, just wondering what type of paint you used? Brand/color/finish – it’s such a PERFECT color

    Reply
  70. LMD

    What black paint did you use on the railing?

    Reply
  71. Kelly Daughters

    I NEED to know your paint color on the foyer/staircase walls. I love that is is neutral and fresh and even though it is grey, it is still warm and inviting!

    Reply
  72. Kim

    Looks great! What color paint is that gray?

    Reply
  73. Jen

    What color are your walls in these photos?

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Studio Taupe by Behr! More of my paint colors are here :) >> theinspiredroom.net/paint-colors

      Reply
  74. Brooke

    It looks like these particular hardwoods have been discontinued; any suggestions on a similar alternative?

    Reply
  75. Pattie Huse

    Where did you find hickory wood for the stairs?

    Reply
  76. Melissa

    Hi,
    I came across your blog on Pinterest and just love your style. Can you please share the white paint used on your stairs along with the black paint? I have been wanting to update my banister and stairs but can’t seem to settle on a black paint. Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Reply
  77. Dana

    We are considering putting hickory floors into our new build. I was wondering; what color paint did you pair with them? I really like it!

    Reply
  78. Michel

    Hi there!
    I would LOVE to know what color and brand of.paint you used! It’s so warm & inviting.
    Thanks!
    Michel

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Hi Michel! Thanks so much! It’s called Studio Taupe by Behr. I have more paint colors listed here too! >> theinspiredroom.net/paint-colors

      Reply
  79. Shana

    I realize this is an old post, but do you happen to remember the paint color in your walls? We just installed floors similar to your style, and we thought your wall color went perfect with them

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Decor Finds:

browse categories:

browse archives:

let’s stay connected!

Follow for daily
Home Inspiration:

get my free decorating guide

home decor inspiration, free downloads,
and more, straight to your inbox

css.php