We Need a Stair Runner

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Hey there stranger.

Today I'd like to talk about how much we need a stair runner. We need one bad. We needed one, like, yesterday.

When we got the floors refinished on the 2nd floor of our home back in December, a huge chunk of the cost was getting the stair treads refinished as well. They sent two workers out to our house and one of them worked on the stairs alone for the whole week as they had to be done by hand.

I don't think I showed any pictures of the stairs so I'll show you a quick photo right now. The treads look awesome when you're looking at the stairs from the top.


However, the worker-dude kinda made a mess of the risers. I was actually pretty fuming mad but I've since come to terms with it. He chipped the heck out of the paint on the risers and slopped polyurethane all over them too.

So not impressed. I wish they would have told us so that we could have taped them. Alas they did not and now I have to go back and prime and paint all the stair treads. Booooo.



So, the reason we need a stair runner is because of this bad dog. Lexie.


Whenever she's upstairs and hears the littlest noise downstairs, she scrambles down the stairs as fast as she can (to investigate) and leaves a million and one scratches in her wake. 

{Insert tears here.}

A stair runner will help protect the wood from scratches. It will also help with the noise factor. See, when Lexie hears a noise and scrambles down the stairs, Roary always follows. It creates quite a bit of chaos.

Note: Yes, our dogs are very well-trained and well-behaved. :S

So, we went to a local carpet store a few weeks ago to check out some rug samples. I had this picture of a Pottery Barn rug that I was using for inspiration. I would show you but they've since discontinued that rug and I can't find a picture anywhere! It had kind of a two-tone look to it.

These are the samples that I'm currently looking at that remind me of the dreamy Pottery Barn picture. You'll just have to trust me that it was dreamy.



The one I like the best is in the second row, far left. However, I'm afraid that it's too light in colour and will get dirty too fast with the dogs and their muddy paw prints.

Question: WHY do the dogs insist on playing in the one spot of the yard where grass won't grow and it's just a pile of dirt?!? WHY!?!?!?!

So, we need to make a decision asap and we also need to paint those risers asap. Hmmmm, what to do, what to do.

Let's look at some inspiration pictures instead of making a decision. That sounds fun. I really love the stripes but we don't have anything like that locally. So, something natural fibre and neutral is what we're looking for.


Source: Pinterest
Original Source: Iroka

Source: Pinterest
Original Source: Houzz

Source: Pinterest
Original Source: Little House Blog

Source: Pinterest
Original Source: Country Living

Source: Pinterest
Original Source: Unknown

Source: Pinterest
Original Source: An Inspired Life

We've had that carpet sample for a few weeks now and the man from the carpet store has left two messages on our answering machine asking us to return it. He sounds kinda mad. Whoopsie!

15 comments:

  1. Those are all great inspiration photos. The striped one really caught my eye for some reason... typically not my style but I am diggin' it. You are def going to want a runner for when little Cooper gets older. You will be nervous about him walking/climbing down those slippery stairs.

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    1. I am obsessed with the striped runners, too! Although I'll probably end up picking something plain jane. ;)

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  2. Oh I love those inspiration picks. Our foyer stairs could use one too. Do they just charge by the number of stairs?

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    1. I think they charge by square foot? I can't remember but Alex seems to think it's by square-footage. We just got an estimate but the installer guys would have to come out and measure before giving us a real price. :)

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  3. Thanks so much for this post! I am in the same boat with my stairs. Honestly, when I see that photo of your stair, I'd swear it was mine!

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  4. dogs secretly rule the world. I would hate to have my dog running up and down bare stairs too. I'm hoping to get a super stylish runner soonish too. I'm hoping that the striped ones become more available. I always see great pictures in design mags/blogs but not so much IRL.

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  5. I love the inspiration pics and I noticed that all have a darker beige in them, I'd go with the darker one from the carpet place. That way you won't have to worry about it showing the dirt from cute little paws:)

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  6. That 5th inspiration photo is so dreamy!

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  7. we're going through the same thing with our dogs right now. i'm looking into maybe a black stripe for our place? i dunno.

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  8. Such pretty pics! The last one is a Dash and Albert runner. I have that exact pattern in a small area rug. I love those stairs that are painted white, but it must be quite a task to keep clean, even with a stair runner.

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  9. You could easily install a Dash and Albert runner on your stairs. It would be inexpensive and give you that look you are after. (not just saying this because I sell them).

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  10. Oh boy such big decisions. I am partial to the stripes! but knowing me I'd just go with a neutral runner.

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  11. I have seen too many beautiful wooden floors ruined by dogs. Laminate is cheaper and more durable and looks like the real thing. But if you already have wood, protet them. Love the striped runner.

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  12. Hi! How is Cooper?

    I'm just jealous of your wood stairs in general! And I'm with ya on the workers messing stuff up, I had no idea I would have to repaint every bit of door casing and baseboard trim in our downstairs because of all the stain they got on it when they were redoing the floors. Urgghhhhh!

    The runner will be awesome for sound proofing...especially when mini-Coop is taking a nap...trust me, you will learn to do anything to keep it quiet so that they will sleep longer:)

    So glad you liked the blog make-over...thank you again!!!

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  13. I like pictures 3 and 4, but when I saw pic 5 on your pinterest, I really liked that one at first. It's best to get something (especially with fabric that is going to have a lot of wear, like couches, too) that isn't a solid ( they show wear stays immediately) and isn't really light - obviously. So, that's why I like 3 and 4 - won't show dirt as much or wear. But then again, I would have to make my final pick in person. I love stairs and these runners make me so anxious to decorate...;)

    Happy choosing...;)

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