A touch of black

<p>Hello there! Hope you had a GREAT weekend! The weather has been so lovely here – this week it’s supposed to get really hot for the first time. I’ve loved it so far. </p> <p>So I wrote a <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-to-do-list.html" target="_blank">to do list</a> on the blog two (ahem) years ago and I just finished up one of the things on that list this weekend. Are you surprised? I am not. </p> <p>Of course that little DIY turned into changing up a few more things. Are you surprised? I am not. :) </p> <p>I’ve shown you the gallery wall on our stairs numerous times over the years. It’s an oddly shaped wall that I made work by hanging photos of the kids. It’s always been one of my very favorite parts of my house. Here’s an old (and dark) photo of the stairs: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHMiwnLGzsi9KQuOLd9LGj9nh84fRd0Y7Sn8sT9d_gEi_JjQ0FcGAyE7mX4-xMxVDg2Pjj2xVzMY9QcQAOyyPwP4vsJe2uVtpCLXuhPWxOyrS1IgZ0O34Km3PHzDgdKQZ4YWtBdtEL1A/s1600-h/IMG_0555_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="mice on stairs Halloween" border="0" height="734" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEUVJkDmadPll9ugZl2okCgKi_zz7fmVIHyQAVsNDKzM_14pfIotbqV6guIaUCL60srBuZ9Yf9GqYKvR14dFyceZ88H6xM4yPISTZvwcSCSbY6RA0T1EWsl_y6N1griPAZrzBsYAGtmk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="mice on stairs Halloween" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I loved that saying on the wall (the best things in life aren’t things), but when we had half the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/pink-walls-begone.html" target="_blank">house repainted</a> years ago that vinyl had to come down. I’ve had an empty spot where that was and finally got around to filling it. </p> <p>Those frames are from Michael’s and are called floating frames. The photo goes between two pieces of glass so there’s no mat – the color of your wall shows through: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYAK7rHyvQS6lzkB-dfN_z9ukw2AMT8y0ypylXNrHCg24wMEl9bx3pogSuHv9twJ_hpwXMfoXPxFU1n3FsX9180ViMGM65Gj3oipzV3HqCB-7PJelchN6FW0NsMViZ_qda1CjVWzvmhE/s1600-h/IMG_9258%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="floating frames" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Dt_SRcyCPPLBcTkYTHQPjzD74x8ne2BPMTVZeqN3dsUmXelx9Hqb1vvOwYzwVR4jbs_qekKF9ui_ZyJslDrmQjVcZjKDBnY8FclCm-Fbss6Uo2PPWMHoKy0oMKVtaygoqPpiM0ogP_M/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="floating frames" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Last week they were 40 percent off so I picked up one more 8x10 and a square 14x14.  </p> <p>I used the square one in the middle and just printed out a quote I found online: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXXL1JNLROo-ZWf79B03esJScE8JC0gxkoneKhyC-mpmFMVJu5VoguW93Rb2bffWWE-A7U8c5ijvOADt4NqlSjxXCS3wFb0saBnvn0Toh3Z4yFKEvluK6_pxMN-dhz5o63qD6AQv5UeU/s1600-h/IMG_9260%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="children quote" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf4Pbes8JzDyAKPaAekmMNBvGl6MbjtHfCiDNLljxJ76VZ69-6r2dmqUIXmjAtSqoqsDqytHMiHQUJ1OUvZBX4e2Zn3UgXXyU5yhZARoMtKW1r2F1FUU1hhGZ2aQ6BU0V2uRVljEglCw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="children quote" width="500" /></a></p> <p>All of these photos are in black and white and I print them right off our home printer onto regular paper. Our printer was low on ink when I printed the quote so it didn’t come out perfectly, but I actually kind of liked the effect so I’m leaving it. I may print it again on nicer paper eventually. Or not. :) </p> <p>This wall has always had photos of my son and stepdaughter, but now that the grandson is here it is time to add him to the wall of love as well: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6T_QNzGS2YNQfW33p8v3_tuLWfwR9ZffGUuAkqfqedz-7ImCp7itv_EU3a5Wqo9SDlHFtu0h8KGMZy-rOWVYe6zQX8ndE4eOpXJNJqmIJOPMauPAphJv5fGRRw0TgdwyX65aF1679y4/s1600-h/IMG_9264%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIaHdG-9Fd3I-PLCVyY4Qz9tzpy563RO_j6FKCYF-Q9GSGB12BrPWINAiEhlLNB0Sw5pghb3VTW2KLo56G_7BNd_LV6xl86gXTGoO7TGiUvDGX0Ou8lSBsCJW_oouP5Z6W-UIbXXBP64/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="496" /></a></p> <p>I’m running out of space so the kids just need to stop being so cute.  </p> <p>The one other small change was painting the railing black. It’s been a brown color for years but I have been craving a classic black for awhile now. And the railing on the upper part of the stairs was never painted (that to do item that I finally got to), so now they match, three years later!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSHW4guk873_IGGZcY9z62ef_ZRaZ1ikdk9PcXwW2z60q4sNGTw8WlEyYm_9gaJtwv0ukRogAIfuQef2meO04kHWk7HdQnuCmBGT-QFkE2l94B9TuxXC3wnjqWeWW9ClhAhyoMwRnoF0/s1600-h/IMG_9270%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="black stair rail" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVBq0N1qVwFLw5h13wwCXetnQ7ssuAgiY5rysF6B9qMz_-2OqboYM38eqV-IzCfPO3gtLZvHOLfCJp6jgdU0cj6DaVQGv_vnNga0mHYqCR2k7DNurJA4_8-dNKl729ghNeNmKWrxjoPU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="black stair rail" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I have big and little plans for the stairs in the future – the big stuff may not happen this year but there are a few details I want to fix on the molding and I’ve been planning to restain the stair treads for years now. You can see here how red they look compared to the hardwoods: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-w5Kd2vJdTcxJ_mc64E4jqn760ckthWUY9nIF80iM2SZ7UFBVddlcMw0FzoFI2Zou1QK0nmBZhMkrWznmQvNrEMuP9Cc6DbmGbvnH_QKYxULWt1XW8AeJ-VDn1BH8lsejb67813qS00/s1600-h/IMG_9267%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gallery on stair wall" border="0" height="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxzRQV8Doz0ie2c4Qc-_3vUlBXxVW9J912ALcfDkvIhJCFsb1Rj3I_qcsOHsWIITp9IF6uGVVmXSMM6Djf9ey0y9AyUO8OyD9U46uijCbIkCnNjD9TsQXpchLsViX-Q2kFGG0MxUTnRQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gallery on stair wall" width="494" /></a></p> <p>I can’t wait to get that done! But it’s obviously not a huge deal to me or it would have been done two years ago. :)</p> <p>I totally dig the black railing with the black frames – I think every room needs some black in it. It’s classic: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbTRbamjPJbHlmFpackxlzUbxLBOhiXDjVFOVf0x62VruoRlXqH7xGB5xPCyNYaXJzqHWAmHAWvnTM_AeebKThVB604PsmbnP7ul1rwhe69Vr5PmDSSpFuPm14XGhyphenhyphenin1kTvUEIY3lcQ/s1600-h/IMG_9262%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gallery wall on stairway" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8G7tFYWIQFxtReYHWUvcbCEnpnEhRuJKnGeJRQyTziVNLR4lHm3qa2QE1rKRoC31uxiKkyxw65p-2Mn5DIHgYemKR22PDdMst52UbmXaa-_w4M4WhKHpgCo6nuTWql9skwmsn_7b5BrE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gallery wall on stairway" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Here’s another look at the darker version years ago: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHMiwnLGzsi9KQuOLd9LGj9nh84fRd0Y7Sn8sT9d_gEi_JjQ0FcGAyE7mX4-xMxVDg2Pjj2xVzMY9QcQAOyyPwP4vsJe2uVtpCLXuhPWxOyrS1IgZ0O34Km3PHzDgdKQZ4YWtBdtEL1A/s1600-h/IMG_0555_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Halloween mice on stairs" border="0" height="734" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEUVJkDmadPll9ugZl2okCgKi_zz7fmVIHyQAVsNDKzM_14pfIotbqV6guIaUCL60srBuZ9Yf9GqYKvR14dFyceZ88H6xM4yPISTZvwcSCSbY6RA0T1EWsl_y6N1griPAZrzBsYAGtmk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Halloween mice on stairs" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And how it looks now. Buh bye pink walls!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4V_Do5kNWobPHP3Mx_PVAFxH2s2mv1gs8BHug6xQrgHRSAPrcB8XEDJ9Ae5qcfnAOcqD8x1Lk3oB2ClKDaRDp3nZn0SaSHZN9RnoJAwRXvzJzMr6B0D6IZoLpQMSvVYVczCQmBMD0khE/s1600-h/IMG_9274%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white risers stained treads stairs" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DskQW1StQOUHqHkGqpHGxs34nU4sU2cycnIuPR84ySwZ7H2mW2dR9NbfSoy8pRTsKqtBwHvzL0IdNOk8uQjvbT8CCjn3akgOc5Z8NLKz3IkC2rGG-GZDSWYoJUrEaxsSCEITxlw11jE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="white risers stained treads stairs" width="500" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Do you have a gallery wall in your home? I love them down a long hallway, but as I mentioned last week we have none – so this is my “hallway.” :) </p> <p>To see how I made the DIY starburst mirrors go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/knockoff-sunburst-mirror.html" target="_blank">here</a>. To see how I added the trim along the stair wall go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/08/staircase-is-done-again.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And for more on how I tore the carpet off my stairs and finished them, go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/stair-redo-how-to.html" target="_blank">here</a>. This transformation is one of my favorites and cheapest! </p>

A touch of black

Hello there! Hope you had a GREAT weekend! The weather has been so lovely here – this week it’s supposed to get really hot for the first tim...

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The days of our stairs

<p>First up, my friend Cassie over at Hi Sugarplum did a FUN series while she gallivants around Italy (I’m not jealous or anything). You can check out my answers to her 20 questions <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2013/04/20-question-sarah-at-thrifty-decor-chick.html">here</a>. Go ahead. I’ll wait. :)</p> <p>Fun right??</p> <p>I’m feeling so nostalgic about our house lately – I don’t know if it’s because I’m coming up on five years of blogging in less than a month (<em>whoa</em>) or because as of five days from now we will have lived in this house for nine years. </p> <p>It may be a combination of both -- it’s just this time of year I guess. :)</p> <p>I love looking back at the transformation of certain spaces in our house and one of the projects I’m big fat puffy proud of is our staircase. I can’t believe in five years of blogging I only have one before picture of the stairs with the carpet, but here it is, in all of it’s dark, horrible picture-ness:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFWo9JW6cGVE2E16WWRoY5JOCO-xhDpr98InBBdT6yP_5h9HP4dNFnO__4C-ba9HyZma468Nz_DQpLNE7najNf7Jfyv2p_Jp4lcmfCP_U1gZsM-JOWqkZ9bt79d8j6Np9JvBmW9TtvZ8/s1600-h/017_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="christmas stairs" border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2EH3fjwL2PcR8HgGuwjmHkHwF_fkQ3j4fcm7Q_YGyOwdetV85vQsT2DFr4hEHvaIbnNKpu-Nk5xq9QL1wQnfpgN6sh0SNUyO3LoHHLzEKeEmOM_pdhkic0fiTglHSEBk8G7ErujH6P4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="christmas stairs" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I got a wild hair a few years ago – I knew we had beautiful wood stairs under that carpet because I was here every. single. day. when they built our house. </p> <p>One day I got the nerve up to <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-take-carpet-off-stairs.html">tear off the carpet</a> and the mess started – there was blood. Lots of sweat. And tears. (Just a little.): </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NHQ9UiGl-Gd8AkSlOAlyy59P-sw-SC5LPZzox-kCb9MDYkQSH7ED4iqTvmlIuTtNJNaQV0LxeCHn89usw-K8j_PLfjUY4Dupqd1q-53jzhD_HjZZ_brPFDNtU4K6xE0yK7onjIKpcR8/s1600-h/028%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="taking carpet off stairs" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiwg9pHAj8JQihCf5ntUDCShygZmOdqvayCiZOPYSX3cnE3SfmsiH2m9sX5rYkVE1-sp7NTuQ668awqAJxra4-G__5sREza50gSXkV9Z9hqSSdQK98UTxpSWlgjDCHAhY-iXTJWb3h-Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="taking carpet off stairs" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Tearing up the carpet was easy. Getting every tack strip off and all of the staples (the millions of staples!!!!) was some of the hardest work ever. </p> <p>But it was worth it when I saw the potential:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJLEvLvNJKOfkqdHxRmwh-rMKnHim-fv0cDMcgbi30Wszq5MJ98nDh877Skc585Lt_Sa01qQDOi2RbQlVlqAGYfdmL6dVz9aMuHz0caGsDZXfpDRqicSPgHQg7xuiynS2vgaVoYzC2HI/s1600-h/088%25255B4%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="taking carpet off stairs" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Q2FuPoBVCYcO4FxJ4geymC2hoe8oYiABbkEb1Yy4gmEq9x1NthH5PoQirqHBzf1FHIFG9J-1acd6IL0dkO5zIVHOKPSnpS1eCxci7Hlza6fpVYBZxLqGS1VElzg4f_afsFN0oofER7c/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="taking carpet off stairs" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I started sanding but then my late father-in-law stepped in with his heavy duty equipment – they got all the overspray off the steps for me so I could start staining and painting. </p> <p>I still say <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-biggest-diy-project-stairs.html">this transformation</a> is one of the biggest in our house, and I only spent $50 total: </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9hxeI-qA61aPvdEWJBfTLsZO6hLaeoqRQhXMtCi4mWkmkvjMgvX9kFZF6aM7yJzTwRCtZzrPmwsXyVynAS07jOt5F2CvBIAu7Db-8PAD1aJuBgBXhIvKYwPPit41APwCquFLpHaEwvo/s1600-h/015_thumb%25255B3%25255D%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark treads light risers stairs" border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigng-_c_5nlMhcSDBCIzVWhfBh5EiSnQinRsz-EW1anmLBmy_aS52ayks4qiuSfrYyjPuG2F69Pszt5PIm0GJAFhGkB44IBQrMdACqiBq9X9vHry8wSYE9mpUBfeS9rvZ9huIkFCI6bco/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="dark treads light risers stairs" width="290" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscJTR4uho5wCTPTk8BU9cKrmty8UJoYrj8sM95Qv8Eiw1minBAzMDgd-Oi1UZxeaMFxbAnGVIvWFIkac_lVJv-qny5BLyMR24KtIyooIWDZsSs8HUeZeMQp4rrGEumtFvK901Hgexe5U/s1600-h/054_thumb%25255B8%25255D%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark treads light risers stairs" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLJqjV7FxdXHsYqkfgAIP-CXL-2NjAbzjtCXfTimLDukufwXjUipJlkBK3rSyqalf3X_tCNRMa-GXajqb8dcgG_VEyRRWLJjmWH15-E5lx9Q-aIZh_dQwbRNWoWChkf5FpU3w_68NLfI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="dark treads light risers stairs" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>I still LOVE having the memory of my father-in-law working on this too. It’s like we’ll have a part of him in our house forever – he worked SO hard to help out. </p> <p>You can see that I painted the wall below the handrail while I was painting the risers. Later on I finished that part off by <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/08/staircase-is-done-again.html">adding trim</a>:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqnVp-_v5gD9aECRsdmGoDYEmilMn0qbUh2G9gUn9gby9NwT9zzKw0OjbBb7vQKztxFEm1a_C1xxlciMfbOszP3JF920YtVzQkmSRtlTwFZBqN0bsd0lEJ_-_tO7ffqmiNs9fPw7YMwE/s1600-h/074_thumb%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark treads light risers stairs" border="0" height="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCHmaJ60fP5l479o2A7jYMFjVD_CJBXH0eO-J0Hlk6bXdCrm7xI0aanFakcvamokuxLs1LfYBwmqg3G7QaFV83fzMbSmAFhaKrD1JZbztwT4EYJRSGcXngoipBhGZDnzaXHUnHvetGKw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark treads light risers stairs" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And then I made a simple change that made a big difference – <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/10/falling-up-stairs.html">painting the handrail</a>: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHW6FWVmPo34MIHl37OV75SBC8aI_b81CDfvJRqgQiaT7GcMJT3tfPBpdCGRU5Y7Q5aIHL1Kh9PKihbAbZzix1oOC7vDLBKgyMW-BqIaYptS3qEgJjDW4QgOeINtV9DmOLmwjmlThg7C4/s1600-h/IMG_0555_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fall decorating stairs martha stewart mice thriftydecorchick.com" border="0" height="735" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6qDmExtrUrezsrienUeHXrW4FZ9v5HZOiqPngMuy_-pbV1TH0cWaGvU9omzyeV73HJHBUoxrwpqSA90aHwvSm7O9LU0K0Ft1eoDqOMKH21t9REIGHGFP1bnyUDDbGI9S2CYpWGGAFME/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="fall decorating stairs martha stewart mice thriftydecorchick.com" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Isn’t that crazy? I couldn’t believe how much that little change kind of tied it all together! </p> <p>And I still don’t know if those mice are coming back this fall. Maybe with time I will forget. Or not. :)</p> <p>We said <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/pink-walls-begone.html">goodbye to the pink(ish) walls</a> last year and I haven't’ missed them one bit. Then I added my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/knockoff-sunburst-mirror.html">DIY sunburst mirrors</a> to the big wall in the staircase: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfbwPu2pG41-zUjeA2kcr0wjOukaBAbHzkF8Ua7_MYgMjFwAUkq4aWKUITUZI5lSXJ_YqKtr8rVuh2QviAuJGrZFBZiiQAlvRTkv0hDT4qQhLFiyGO2EqUsYGCY1LCpFw4X_xpfkpDN0/s1600-h/pic-7%25255B13%25255D.png"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="dark treads light risers stairs" border="0" height="758" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQEt7PSTK1p4UL_2KhnSbkKdMw5vHqpvn_ywUdwEBVXhP-cWscwDgqyComo3T9b8YHVgYBeEsHUVY2fDa0nvKRHO-eUXjZRFgp1OrCRtODQbyed5pTDDnKl5Z8MwE4klGJrtHLVG2w3U/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark treads light risers stairs" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Getting rid of that dark ceiling in the dining room made a HUGE difference too. (Filing that one away into “what was I thinking?”) </p> <p>But I felt like it was looking kind of blah – I loved it, but I’m craving some color here lately. </p> <p>I recently added just a bit with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/threshold-in-foyer.html">little changes I made to the foyer</a> and I think it already makes a difference: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHImlMoirNCQ_iSASze4DEhT0zyocz_b6TqSWHQ3iQKC57Xus91FhUW384nnv85n3QI6dhrVaL0y49EFaa-vu5ryfMVlYoNXHeLvGMnBd-kMGICYdlJxXHdpZToo6gGF_7UtV3hqKkto/s1600-h/IMG_5423%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark treads light risers stairs" border="0" height="748" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KAGpH6DeMyHKH3ANyomfrxGcu2Znm0yM8Bvp5JVuqPQ3sZ42c1LuhMdVz3UCl5CK5prBFG-ZFVnEWJaIWQ35Ij0aZqJtEH3SejgrZpw7CEI9ecfnzzY9eDiZLUg5VuAM5s_z7L60o8c/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark treads light risers stairs" width="500" /></a></p> <p>But I still want more. (We want more! We want more! Name that commercial.) I had to take down the “best things in life” saying on the gallery wall when we painted, so there’s an empty spot needing filled still (almost a year later…this is how I roll) I think I’ll just add another frame, but I’m wondering if I should paint the frames? Just a little color? I don’t know. It will come to me if I sit on it (<em>forever</em>). </p> <p>And soon I’m having the treads sanded down and I’m going to stain them all the color of our hardwoods (Jacobean stain) so they match. Right now they are a reddish tone and the fact that they don’t match is starting to bug me.</p> <p>It’s been a long process, one that was harder than I thought it would be, but it has made SUCH a huge difference in our house! The before, a few years ago:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFWo9JW6cGVE2E16WWRoY5JOCO-xhDpr98InBBdT6yP_5h9HP4dNFnO__4C-ba9HyZma468Nz_DQpLNE7najNf7Jfyv2p_Jp4lcmfCP_U1gZsM-JOWqkZ9bt79d8j6Np9JvBmW9TtvZ8/s1600-h/017_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2EH3fjwL2PcR8HgGuwjmHkHwF_fkQ3j4fcm7Q_YGyOwdetV85vQsT2DFr4hEHvaIbnNKpu-Nk5xq9QL1wQnfpgN6sh0SNUyO3LoHHLzEKeEmOM_pdhkic0fiTglHSEBk8G7ErujH6P4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a> And today! </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwPJSlqHGc-67sm5vUdpkXCbOeTToJ-MRd_UJEg2dPgatNBzoigA_08IURR2Bu8d2_62WFLF3IrbQ5cXoqMGC_ON9iq2LzxZb-s4u6xdxQhZecDgXi7PelClOCOwSVqbcnAhueXICkRk/s1600-h/IMG_5425%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="analytical gray sherwin williams" border="0" height="751" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKye0osSKOVcDYvlG7KkKccX2F2mMEu-CffpYzc0W7DO5F8DnaUy-HeYncvdwYNEwl1ZgOw2-M-0kMo_3WPhIZh9ZN9gt-IKS0NgppwWcP61zVbdTpI2uTvDLPf7HYX2r_FXhuhyphenhyphenEoEI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="analytical gray sherwin williams" width="500" /></a>And I <em>still</em> stand by my thought that hardwood stairs are less slippery than carpeted ones. I’m <strong>really</strong> good at falling down stairs and so far so good…knock on wood. ;)</p> <p>Have you torn the carpet off your stairs or out of a room? I thought about it for months (years) and one day just started ripping – scary but so worth it in the end! </p>

The days of our stairs

First up, my friend Cassie over at Hi Sugarplum did a FUN series while she gallivants around Italy (I’m not jealous or anything). You can ch...

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DIY wood planked wall

<p>Well hello! How was your weekend? Ours was great – we celebrated my sis’s upcoming nuptials with a shower and then a bachelorette party. All in one day. This big sis needed a nap by 7 p.m. ;) </p> <p>I’ve been working on a project over the past couple of weeks that involved a bunch of little projects and I finally got them all done this weekend. I LOVE IT. </p> <p>Our basement stairway was kind of the pits after the basement finishing – the tools and drywall scuffed and dinged up the walls, the old carpet was just…well, GROSS. And I had been using the walls in on the stairs to “store” all of my extra frames that I’m saving for upcoming projects. </p> <p>Here it was in all it’s glory a few weeks ago:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ8bYM19sjFtx3jO3MgFh4KWV8gS8_vhmH4_poPdMgbMAM4qrDcm0iAu-EeXZWQ7eQtIKaUODbxqu1_kWct46NmX9VyABVDTnucFipCJGH_x7rRT2oG2TVuHn_d1F582n_sfpZ_WLpF4/s1600-h/IMG_2293%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-SFzq_5AlVuK3HivMsDVWQWJ2MCXN5OZ4s0d0oPpSRPrNweNnlwt3ANzQs0FIx-Z3KeH_1I9ZFwRWzBcklsxCaK0_F9l0PaOXkrhEk4TOfwaFbmsovjjLO3RSA54OxEXe3k3n_T2NTs/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>The guys had to tear out some of the old carpet to install the baseboard trim by the stairs, so this actually looks better than it <em>had</em> looked. Before there was no trim at all along the bottom. </p> <p>The first project was painting that trim before the new carpet was installed. It got a coat of primer and two coats of gloss white paint, which wasn’t too bad because I didn’t have to cut in or be careful because I knew the walls were getting repainted and the carpet was out of there. </p> <p>After the new carpet was installed I went ahead with the walls. I decided to wait and paint after the carpet was installed because I figured there would be a bunch of scuffs from it being taken downstairs and installed on the stairs. And I was right. :)</p> <p>I am pretty good at cutting in now, after years and years of painting, but I even so I like to tape off the trim before I paint so it protects it from those little bitty annoying flecks of paint:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfQqvUuwM9v35f5MR552YuHwQ-HoDQYaWXXybt3ia4HRiQgC0lhSAXNtqeAFyfwVpHhYcpbOyUO8_Bjpa2RJjrZpeTyhRB8pNCXPZCizirr_Ox8LpoWLxObwXy4v9oVrsFjGiURR29dw/s1600-h/IMG_2483%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="protecting trim while painting" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zFEXOgmG9FqRM17bBtMlMLWVBRsHRPQjBDsME18G9J_pB8FUfYh0HLQLMLOIkoQ36_lZRRqKStF3GIxnR1BJBsHnC7jXmLk6TLS7QzfdAJbi6VnlZkKGcB0txU5DEJgvD_fwLVx1r6c/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="protecting trim while painting" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I used my FrogTape and it didn’t have to be perfect because it was just there to protect the newly painted white trim. You can see that I don’t stick the tape down onto the trim, I let it stick out from the wall so it’s like a little “umbrella” for the trim. Precious.  </p> <p>After the painting was done (I used the Marina Gray color from the basement that I told you about in <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/05/picking-out-basement-paint-colors.html">this post</a>), I was onto my the big idea I’ve had for the large wall in the stairway. </p> <p>I had been dreaming this up for months and I was so excited to get it started. The basement bathroom still sits empty and unfinished, but I just had to focus on this instead because I was so psyched about it! </p> <p>I bought five packages of these pine wood planks from Lowe’s:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlOOLN0ilsutblRqMd5Lug6a_fmP2JU5wnxNJdG-6Q8m-DyqZlr1RNrDpBcE-nE1HmiHIaxGxVtPAzQ4Z_Isu6J8IEVnKwvb_jl2cn5BvK8A1G0zGTheC-QturvuMIEop-FC7puvWxmQ/s1600-h/IMG_2581%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wood planks tongue and groove" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKA_NMy9wpgWIJdMR9dBXFYE24lLl6JK3i7iLxB7dMcqGfpQZdL7mhOAbXeImUWRFvSLa1zl0FCQXTyPx0p7qQa1_Oac50n1z752Z1n56ibinKB8e5sxlNpS3-ba604SxMjj9ygceY4Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="wood planks tongue and groove" width="320" /></a></p> <p>They are about $9 each so this project was less than $50 total. I installed them on the wall, much like <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-install-beadboard.html">I do any beadboard project</a> – I started at the top and went down from there, making sure each one fit into the next snugly. </p> <p>This tongue and groove planking is SO easy to install! I just nailed it in with my nail gun as I went down the wall. When I was done I gave it a very light sanding (this stuff is already smooth to the touch) and then taped off my walls and ceiling:</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcClxhdWMVbdohTfcbAdYU8KAR5-IGsApmKGkkqWs_oUXm2Z4BMZfW8VYARbuYXYo09h0MfMhs458aXAp-x4RlDhCsxQLUgAom3QW-wAxDCkdxV7NgqQYgcRyS-6sgZWclXRZV1vr7pHE/s1600-h/IMG_2569%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2569" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06qre_xCkdWmHilJINirFpXJWwIH1L0Zxd8-m24AafZj5K7lZbHpYztxIRCHl922rwwFmlyLN4WDfhf94P0vhSKOFR75VJVNBgTcjCdQ36t9sMS6SR7f3YVAP0nQxmQKmGnm-9LCcwzw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_2569" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IskWId8D1HntQf18zmZqiy5PyJwr3dk1ABYv_NxZXOqDFInnlanSYS-hdfAW2c1won4vtAx1Ak2ChD0KAU_7rvQBdKYAhoWp-iy3xf0i0MLWM-RvEXy7LSUonAXpSe7VxnqAXnkiAD0/s1600-h/IMG_2570%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEVe0EnoeJS6fQEOehur2JIXj8mlzLqNKZ17xx-TiwlhZoKsMR5o6COqrfLAK14Nfr1p0HEfLRByDlWmkr71r99WGLlGMNfLoJ5kFa1DpMuOAGL_V5_2-typb-IneA_bdfWX9Z8jpfw4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>I used the delicate FrogTape for the ceiling because every. single. time. I’ve ever taped off the ceiling to paint, some of the paint comes off with the paint. This time it didn’t, so that was a nice bonus. ;)</p> <p>My drop cloth was cut up trash bags:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf244vXfyByZRf5ZU5IwTc-JqfimKx3f85QiF_ErQLVWYNC_qJzom8CDO8ioSrugmFE2Y9oSpHZdq1EZGDu38324K9t8mlPAoF5w1Sfi3-hPrWXoly1r-h2-0g-Z8XdwmuqZ49AMYTSuA/s1600-h/IMG_2571%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cheap drop cloth" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRSiQlA3m4h4b63ynIpRzQppp-bJa37fKQ1ixMrnjq5UBwol60ITBUW9AA7z4Zz2ApCKocbxR2b6rgkZcaLdnuIlNaLhChOg0b2UDGCTMm0R6e_qHTlUi0laUR9G1spClT7RyasZQFyM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="cheap drop cloth" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I usually just use an old sheet for my drop cloth, but this time I was using stain, not paint. And stain is impossible to clean up – I wasn’t taking any chances with new carpet:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDBucOwPnLO4aiL3cr9sodfQrXGWsKcSsEOsQktiw1Xg5bCDzibbPy2MQZpWx0ZrfxQIZLY-TcLJrA0Bbkv7AI1J6P2Zqs8OESO65EL0-ggf8rqxD34bn5fufs26RDyZukrlzT2rar1Q/s1600-h/IMG_2582%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark walnut stain" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3eJ_TFYpscWiflAMEa_DHTqzYFXWt7cmedcuGGFLTRdgscnsHr8rMnWTe9VwAdbAyiFWyz1hQmaP2-4opNeovNvDw3gqQAy0OsSEA8DLYj8rCOoeKTGKjOivHHi3WRvxNwQWQk_adTw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="dark walnut stain" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I used this dark walnut color and looove it. It’s close to the color of our wood floors and it’s nice and rich and lovely. </p> <p>I gotta tell you, I was <strong>sweating</strong> while staining this wall – I’ve never stained anything this large or vertical and I had to work fast to keep a “wet edge.” I was also trying to watch drips and trying not to flick it everywhere as I was working. </p> <p><em>Sweating. </em></p> <p>After I was done wiping it down (I showed you how to stain <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/06/butcher-block-love.html">here</a>), I stood back and swooned:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRePKsfNk4m5XipAfrryvS9bQTCEkaWHH-tgjhomxvVr7qFug-bQhdQPyt6Ak6x8tY3I1Nveus3kiSgWCIhy_W1X1S1B1FfqAYr-pMPc7r6dnUOHEAi7pxRr0gk1Iq1N5o1HaxBWECoTQ/s1600-h/IMG_2588%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wood planked wall stained" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QIk3DgY4B7kT60VSFRJdkmmfj6zRL20FgaOdzjpMmHQXFST0oSFQt5iyRbevwTzvYEn1FCMqkhqEwSrr25ehdYAM48t0U5Nzh1E20-ZXBnpFFLr0TgCXnp_v2anNPwT97Bo0-ek-0O8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="wood planked wall stained" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I LOOOOVE it. Luuuuurve. Luuuuv. Whatever. </p> <p>Obsessed with it. </p> <p>Before we had a one bulb light fixture in this space that I installed years ago, but it didn’t give off enough light for my liking. Since this space was getting a redo anyway, I replaced it with a new track light:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50sS5QdA9NYizw-T9bEBHiNVJL9OziVD8hZ5Y0VYk__KQpB_j_jGvCDIVJ3j3yJ1eo-Bk7I4Q2I-62_varz8zkgf_hXQuyOOJ7gzcDTgeG8YAFeucOuT-0GEvMsYCWC_2tqLbkaifH24/s1600-h/IMG_2587%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wood planked wall dark stain" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqN0Blgey-TxT76yBVAys1Mty7Jfl35YdGOtmUeD4YbFWR5_oh0RNSFiFPuOy25VaIPTTsg5-BMERkzmPNN_07GYmYT0vVzEJjxKim6pWk18VOHou0B9442xFErrLdi5HH7_2ArdXpVY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="wood planked wall dark stain" width="303" /></a></p> <p>I loved that I could aim a couple of the lights on the awesomesauce wall and the others off to the side. </p> <p>Normally I wouldn’t be thrilled about track lighting, but they’ve come a long way. I’ve mentioned before that I’m going for a slightly industrial, but warm, look in the basement, and I think this light fits in SO well with the wood wall:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV38pHX9pUjSHT_ympoFLRkpxqPsizDCPhp0BYUiH4cymTNERUKP7eTSpRc_I5x1FdzAyeafM5MBb-1v39paxmTYdOGpJohLMqLxTKRImV-X_tJ7TpuS258J4O4xTAWfsOLieHTf0wSY/s1600-h/title%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY wood planked wall " border="0" height="525" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssyhdfj19x2vHUy0wGZo4d6Z906TmEvTGwYHY_rEoNuTR52mbChRJ7od3N22H5HFJz1qpiOC_FjgAGv1jMZWd5WnZk3ppfA-8jocIP2XsqF4HMpQ7PVyTrjw8-GizCQY5kui58TY7-mc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY wood planked wall " width="350" /></a></p> <p>I had to use my jigsaw to cut the planks so they fit around that small ledge we have down there. It’s sooo not perfect but no one will ever notice it…as far as I know. ;) Oh, and the boards themselves aren’t <em>exactly </em>the same length. I was going to caulk the edges but after I stained I realized you can’t even tell. </p> <p>I still have to paint that ledge white and then this space is DONE. Who knew a simple basement stairway would be so much work? </p> <p>Here’s another quick look at the before:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ8bYM19sjFtx3jO3MgFh4KWV8gS8_vhmH4_poPdMgbMAM4qrDcm0iAu-EeXZWQ7eQtIKaUODbxqu1_kWct46NmX9VyABVDTnucFipCJGH_x7rRT2oG2TVuHn_d1F582n_sfpZ_WLpF4/s1600-h/IMG_2293%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-SFzq_5AlVuK3HivMsDVWQWJ2MCXN5OZ4s0d0oPpSRPrNweNnlwt3ANzQs0FIx-Z3KeH_1I9ZFwRWzBcklsxCaK0_F9l0PaOXkrhEk4TOfwaFbmsovjjLO3RSA54OxEXe3k3n_T2NTs/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>And after trim, paint, new carpet, a wood planked wall, a new light and minus a cat:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuTQXNSvcr6Eyg226AUWyZGI4G4qQ-yBu_fVF0nD9XaImm9aDmTvzVfdYXePt-7TuSRzHbBAcwfdkUb7g1DYz9N1FDbDsWVS1U_nIQv-xAl10s0te3sX3xSmjw9wzC2nvh_PjdXFSN9g/s1600-h/IMG_2574%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY wood planked wall dark stain" border="0" height="675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu7pVk_PJJTJu4gxSB_bT1awVIZtT-WGXOn0AhCxsPr6ux2wMnxMMMyQTE4h39QOfgblCNyiMhCnlKyqrGv8ErxZuejx_v5RPPTlGjX-1yr211sde1F6EbkJopFFgCYMpq6rHcmiFmCo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY wood planked wall dark stain" width="450" /></a></p> <p>OH, I also spray painted the brass hardware brushed nickel (after I took this picture last night) and cleaned up the railings really well. They were <em>NAS. TY. </em></p> <p>Here’s the bottom set of steps before:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2s8-3wRgtnNXcOpjonWwyCOLx6orCTmrRj7qYMtpW8ALxwDV3sVB1ILbx59zbMFn2N7f1P6UhdqXtayTmN-wgI_b4CvEpMRClNNFtelu8M82_vUnBIInmRQKbiVxyH6IOS_SWBP9j10/s1600-h/IMG_2296%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofe5jdY58LhVcpi-oga7RN0rrxhKGgBCv0-uFue95SM6UAvCLLUZOvt2xemHknwoxhkTMbdSQXE8UD6-UPKr4jMifRn0JIUq0IGgLBmAExE_75TiiFG7jyDa_SGgYRbFL_Do4fsYVKb8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>(They had to take some of the stairs apart to install the trim, hence no carpet here). </p> <p>And here’s the view from downstairs up to the wood wall:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fzkvJ6fVNjTyirTIPmXkEZ4hAKaKXa4lYcShGo5AkiWOdV5FrvwP_9X4OPkyDF7Rb7c7-mYOWO22rFTXMaTq3S0GmEJ1d4cP6A8dXOqVpCwF8qOO1SKYosvVvNxNWzIds02RKn45ubI/s1600-h/IMG_2585%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="basement stairs carpet" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXKqDsuWCgJ4JZSwV0e1BwmAXv_9BFO3AqYYHUQM7KcywOjvvzm_3-cHOgaHkrxiVkYhW9vV8xHSr7UN_RO-J0mfw95wKCPpDIuNTHfDAFG2SKHqfGGoILXoAZOs1mnHnanDBEfJFLKc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="basement stairs carpet" width="400" /></a></p> <p>LOVE IT!! It’s warm and unique and I would hug it if I could. </p> <p>OK, I’ve tried. </p> <p>One of the many things I love about the basement is all of the wall space – it has so much potential! We don’t have a lot of wall space upstairs because our home has an open floor plan, so I’m stoked about doing some fun things with all of it. </p> <p>Even the stairs have a ton of wall space. I don’t know if I’ll hang anything on the wood wall or let it be the art. If I don’t, there's a large wall above the ledge that I want to do something fun with. </p> <p>What do you think, add art to the wood wall or let it be? What would you do? </p>

DIY wood planked wall

Well hello! How was your weekend? Ours was great – we celebrated my sis’s upcoming nuptials with a shower and then a bachelorette party. All...

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Putting odd wall space to use

I have a major staircase redo in the works, but until then, I'm adding this post to Beth's party!<br /><a href="http://bethcrabtreehunter.blogspot.com/2009/11/wahoo-its-finally-here-and-i-happen-to.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405291693412510610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirB-lAsuSXB5wo4lXLEaYImiIWNokUHL22x8P_sX5SDGBTa5S7WHju5H_ChVrALgLyGEcHuKK5XHe1h9f85vP0lxhWExO1dQAKz3-TX_WL96l_vYhF5IHZ-M3tz-YCUgUzrjsgshrQETw/s400/4018962323_31339c218d_o.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Thank you for your encouragement about my last post! You are all so wonderful and it warmed my heart. Thanks to those who have already gotten in touch with me -- I'm so excited about working with you all!!<br /><br />So you may have heard me complain about our lack of beautiful stairway railings in our house. (Especially at Christmas with the GORG garland wrapped around them.) I only have myself to blame for this -- hubby wanted them when we were building our house but I was already <em>hyperventilating</em> about the growing size of our mortgage with every. single. little. thing. we were adding. The extra four grand for <em>railings</em> (come on) was enough to put me over the edge.<br /><br />So I've dealt with what we have. Which is a bunch of HUUUUGE walls on our stairway. It is open to the top of our house, about 25 feet up, so there's lots of space to work with. I've done a couple things to fill these spaces, the first of which I wanted to share with you today:<br /><div><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296903146327085538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWffmYT4xdIPajhgU_RBGXRRQGNtq85YYfIDp4u3Y443cR7i4B58Gsx6W_gSiOHwpyJz8Ljun-B9Vm1hXHQtfs4uj138LXTJYmbM5G7vxzgBhtU4bXgHXocNDzTIbamTbe1geHHUENtWNi/s400/DSC07775.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> I started with a vinyl rub on from Uppercase Living. If you haven't heard about them, I wrote about the products <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/07/this-stuff-is-just-plain-fun.html">here</a>. I love this stuff!! Luuuuurve it!<br /><br />I found floating frames at Joann's at half off -- I've probably spent about $50 on all of them. I love that there is no mat, just the wall showing through:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296903140599138242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkAT89WUpEFSQuvQxrxA544UqJOry0sAnps26hcKcbxbm56lFynPCc7-iNuyd3LCeUY8X2hL1Bd_B_O_rKrJwmBV0VGaEZdDUu-2I8z9ijNQDpGtbXV73FZdcpETmhgCDhrQKrpaM5oIt/s400/DSC07774.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> I started taking my own pictures of our son when he was itty bitty -- the baby who <strong>NEVER</strong> cried screamed like a banshee for his first professional pictures -- so that day I went home, stripped him down, laid him on black fabric, and shot away. I did this often his first year or so:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296903135642025634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlpsVVw7KAZon7BlrK-Tfezz8iRHx8Tv5G3Ic_BCkGtMwge1mZfAvLAir0ThWu0JUPqioFnwFwiP0gU4SVfcKpAj6J1HII8EzULuizRIQ85e2gehScP0dH-yWkYpATkOC9irBqYVX1bKJ/s400/DSC07768.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> **This does not work with a two-year-old. :)<br /><br />I didn't use any kind of design to put these up -- just hung them willy nilly, and I love doing it that way:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296903153651121986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4APwKPzxlQ3k1zJGXvHS3vJcFWQJeS-cwAptbOKA3FV-d1vMhg14iwKr3E11pBvmvIjyLe7HsNP_p3pIzqR04NA4wxzXOmXCpJMHttqMhPBWzLvbkvSbhv5lA3_69Ogdwj2hA9J5XmX-v/s400/DSC07778.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />It's one of the first things you see when you walk into our home and it's one of my favorite spots. I just added a new one today, and may add one more, but I don't know. I like all the "white space":</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296903130900281538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoEGxKTc1oG4H_vN-JIWbiJa_XVgaCxT5wCk4MPvGfvTDEmeUJXRsVVKrEy8oT5xeyHLa27z0xvAZs8X5peul_hcarUSfxqyBnuYCxQ9LLtfkcDpTYcAq4iOhP5WpdnF7v_3MS7MLOJUD/s400/DSC07762.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> I always suggest this kind of wall for weird hallways and stairways. I think it is a beautiful way to deal with awkward spaces like this. The pictures cost me nothing because I print them at home, on regular paper. Love it!<br /><br />And yes, I hang my head at the awful lack of stepdaughter pictures. I am really a good stepmom, I swear. It's hard getting a good picture of a teenager -- especially when they don't live with you full time. (Or hardly ever come over anymore cause they are too busy with work, choir, friends, boyfriend, school, sporting events....wait, sorry....rant.) Sniff. :)</p></div>

Putting odd wall space to use

I have a major staircase redo in the works, but until then, I'm adding this post to Beth's party! Thank you for your encouragement a...

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