One of the features we love most about our historic home from 1904 is the entryway. Since we had our floors refinished before moving in, we also removed the stair runner that was previously there.
We knew we wanted something clean and fresh that matched with the era of our home. Before we even moved in, one of my nieces asked if she could take her prom photos on these stairs—which is probably the greatest compliment a staircase can receive, don’t you think?
We wanted to bring her back to her historic glory!
More Home Decor Posts: What Increases the Value of Your Home?, Finding the Perfect White Paint for Your Home, How We Built a Hidden Room, Library Dining Room, or you can see all my past room tours.
The History and Transformation of Our Staircase
Our beautiful staircase was built in the 1920s when our home was rebuilt after a fire that destroyed almost the entire home. That is why many of the features in our home feel more 1920s even though the home was built in 1904.
And a side note for my fellow ghost-obsessed readers: No, no one was killed in the fire.
Now a little bit about the transformation! We knew we wanted to keep the beautiful unpainted wood, so we planned everything else around that.
When choosing the light and dark colors for our entryway stain, we chose a dark color that could blend seamlessly with the staircase’s original wood. When choosing a carpet, we chose something neutral since the patterned floors are already a statement.
I have ordered an amazing piece of art to go at the top of the first stair landing, but it hasn’t arrived yet. Oh … and can you imagine this space at CHRISTMAS?
The Process of Choosing a Runner
I chose our carpet runner in person at The Carpet Shoppe in Springfield, Missouri. This was my first time to choose carpet for a home (that can’t be right, but I’m pretty sure it is!).
I wanted to get antique rugs to create a runner, but since we were on a timeline and wanted to get the house prepped before we moved in, I decided to choose from a carpet they had in stock. Note: The Carpet Shoppe did not give me any type of discount, but I would recommend them to local readers because they were really nice and easy to work with.
I truly, madly, deeply wanted to go with a deep red OR a deep green for the carpet runner. My husband was nervous that I am creating a too-literal 1990s Home Alone house and voted for something neutral.
In the end, we went with a light color that looks great on the dark wood, but also has a lot of pattern to spot clean and hide any stains that occur.
I know I will get questions (and probably judgment) about the choice to get a light carpet runner. I will be honest with you that we were in a time crunch and it was the only compromise that we seemed to both love.
I completely understand that I may regret this choice at some point, but I have also had many light rugs in my home in the past that the Internet told me would get stained and they ended up being fine.
Bottom line: I’m fine with the risk, so don’t stress on my behalf. If I have to replace them (hopefully very far in the future), I will get to do my antique rug idea at that time. Maybe something like this?
How Much Did a New Carpet Runner Cost?
The total cost for the custom carpet runner and installation was $2,700. The cost for the stair runner rods (hardware) was $1,150. The grand total was $3,850.
Stair Runner Rods
I have always admired stair runner rods. Admittedly, they are mostly aesthetic since the carpet can be fully secured without them. I chose to add them because of the historic theme of my home and they are a detail that may have been present in the original design.
I think they are absolutely beautiful and add so much detail to the stair runner.
Stair runner rods come in all different colors, but for me there was never really another choice besides gold or brass. Here is a link to the exact stair runner bars I used.
Here are some more star runner rods with various prices and finishes:
- Acorn Finial Stair Carpet Rod
- Polished Nickel Stair Carpet Rods
- Round Carpet Rod Set
- Carpet Runner Holder Clips
I am planning to share about our wood floors in another post soon. Let me know if you have any questions whether about the carpet runner or the floors. I am thrilled with how they both turned out.
I have to tell you, I am having the BEST time setting up this home for our family. I am envisioning so many happy years here creating, hosting, and watching the kids grow up.
We’re incredibly happy, so thank you so much for your support and kindness during this season of change for us! Love, Elsie
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Beautiful! I love your choice of stair runner.
I think the runner rods are so cool! Does anyone at ABM have thoughts on non-slip stair options other than using a runner? I desperately want to get rid of the carpet on my stairs because it’s a nightmare to get cat hair out of, but I worry they’ll be too slippery when bare.
If you don’t want a runner I would probably use the individual non-slip carpet stair pads that are made. XX
We do not have any carpet or runners on our stairs, they are just hardwood. No one has slipped. I think you’d be fine without one. This runner is beautiful and I especially love the rods, but I think it’s pretty normal to just have bare stairs.
We have taught our kids to not run on the stairs (we don’t run in the house at all, just outside) and we do always have to remind visiting kids not to run up and down them.
I really love how this turned out and I am not sure if I have seen the rods before. Cool!
Always inspired by these awesome home renos/updates! And not sure if it’s new but totally appreciating the break down of the costs–really helpful!
Oh man I love the red idea 🙂
If the rest of the house is as beautiful and special as the floors and staircase, it will be a showstopper! The runner rods are gorgeous and definitely add that special touch. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us.
I really look forward to your house posts and the podcast with Emma. I drive a lot for work and I listen every week. I love your creativity.
I am loving the new house, and also that you are exploring a new side of decor! Thanks for sharing!
I am loving the softness of the entire look — the neutrals of the carpeting and the floor pattern. Wow. It’s a nice, inviting feeling! Beautiful choices.
Absolutely stunning Elsie I just love the colours you have chosen and your flooring and yes I can well imagine how magnificent your staircase will look at Christmas time.
Love this choice it looks great! Can’t wait to see more of this house.
And the “don’t stress on my behalf” sentiment is hilarious and brilliant. That should be a disclaimer on every blog and instagram.
This runner looks almost exactly like the one my parents have in their 1914 bungalow. I’d have to ask if it was original or not but they are obsessed with being accurate to the time period so if they replaced it they thought a lot about it!
Elsie’s need for change and uprooting combined with her intense way of committing/obsessing really stresses me out. Hopefully, this move finally satisfies her long-term!
haha I stress myself out too.
Lol! 😂 Love it
Why would you follow someone who stresses you out and then TELL them that? Just follow those who don’t stress you out. Simple and easy. And I mean that with a lot of love. Truly.
It looks beautiful! I absolutely love the runner bars. I’m currently in the process of moving into a new 2-story home and am trying to figure out whether or not I want to do a runner.
Can I ask what your plans for the walls are? Currently all of the walls at our house are white and part of me wants to keep them that way for a bit before picking out new paint colors, but another part of me thinks that if I wait and furnish the rooms, I’ll get so comfortable with the white that they’ll never get painted.
Gah I love everything! It’s beautiful. Throughly enjoying “historic house Elsie”.
ahhh Thank you Sunny!!
I’m loving “Classic Elsie” – I’ve always enjoyed your design choices, but your other houses always felt a bit too trendy for my taste (not judging – they were BEAUTIFUL). This staircase, however, really speaks to me as someone who wants to design/decorate a timeless house. Love love love – can’t wait for the rest!
Looks beautiful Elsie- super choice!
Yayy new house content! This looks beautiful and the stained wood floors are incredible. Can’t wait for more.
It looks beautiful! What a lovely carpet, and the rods are perfect.