There is one area in our house that I have avoided tackling since the day we moved in: our stairway. My secret shame.
It’s densely packed with ugliness and design challenges. This place has it all: sloppy paint, peeling wallpaper, banged up wood work, a weird plumbing access panel. There isn’t an inch that doesn’t need help.
This is an enclosed skinny staircase accessed from behind a door in Elise’s room. (Not ideal, but it is what it is.) It’s difficult to step back and capture the whole thing in a single photo, so here’s a “before” tour presented in bits and pieces.
First, some sloppily painted and worn trim. Not my handiwork, of course.
The stairs have seen better days. This is exactly how we inherited them, but it’s clear that they once had some sort of treads on them…
and were also carpeted at some point, hence the errant staples and staple holes. This close up also gives you a good idea of how banged up the wood is.
Elise is demonstrating the narrowness of the area, 36 inches from wall to wall. It’s a tight space!
At the base of the stairs, there’s a plumbing access panel for the bathroom on the other side of the wall. It’s the first thing you see when you enter the space, and it’s a complete void. Kind of off-putting.
Looking up, you’ll notice the whole stairwell is wallpapered. The only two-story space in our entire house and it’s wallpapered. Oh, 1980s, why are you still torturing some of us?
But even if I liked the wallpaper, it’s past its expiration date.
Ripped and stained. (Confession: I may have tugged on that flap above a time or two.) Yes, even part of the ceiling is wallpapered.
And now for a change of perspective: here’s a shot looking toward the stairwell from the second floor. More wallpaper and what’s that? A pretty sconce?
Eh, not really. Just say no to overly shiny brass! Also, the ceiling is angled, but the sconce is mounted straight and it looks wrong. They probably should have avoided this style of sconce altogether that close to the ceiling.
Looking downward, you can see how bad the finish on the stairs is. It’s almost like there’s a runner down the middle!
Stairway, your time has come. The time is now. Let’s turn you into a jewel box.
See all the stairway updates >>
I love your staircase! Can’t wait to see what you do.
The access panel could become whimsical or at least intriguing with a little door knob, molding, and painting. Of course, once you open it to see plumbing that would be over! But still…
That’s a good idea, Nicole! Unfortunately, it’s just a stationary panel screwed into place and not a hinged door. (Probably better to keep little hands out of the plumbing anyway.) Still, a good idea to play up the elf door. I have some thinking to do!
Oh, I think it’s charming in a old house sort of way 🙂 I’ve been so nostalgic for the the quirks and character of an old house ever since we moved from our 1940’s cape into a boring builder basic! Well, until we have a rain storm and nothing leaks or drips, haha. Can’t wait to see what you do!
Thanks, I’m definitely planning on keeping the charm. Just cleaning it up!