Hello I’m Ayisha and my husband and I bought our fixer upper colonial two years ago. Our entry and staircase were a hot mess and I wasted no time taking it apart and putting it back together again. I was inspired by the Staircase in Sandra’s Illinois house.
My foyer is nowhere near as grand and beautiful as hers but I still felt that I could do a mini beginners version in my entry.
Things really got moving when I discovered hardwood underneath the carpeted stairs. I wasted no time ripping it up and refinishing them in a dark stain.
I painted the walls in three different shades of gray and added light gray stripes. I built two newel posts by using a combination of Sandra’s Newel Post Tutorial and another that I found on Pinterest.
The post attached to the wall is a facade. I did not want to have to replace the bottom tread on the stairs. I also did not know how to secure a new newel post so the newel post at the bottom of the staircase is a sleeve made to fit over the existing newel post.
During this project, I learned how to do several things.
- I used a table saw for the first time.
- I learned how to refinish hardwood stairs.
- I built a newel post from MDF.
- I built custom balusters from 2×2 pine.
- I used a jigsaw successfully for the first time.
- I salvaged, stripped and stained a banister
and then after almost 4 months of working on this project every other evening after work, I gave myself a pat on the back.
My husband is amazed at how it all turned out and I’m still pinching myself everytime I look at my foyer.
I’m dying to do the floors but that project is part of a very big project so for now I have to live
with the linoleum.
If you would like to see the entire process of remodeling this staircase then please join me over at my blog The Pursuit of Handyness for more details.
Sandra here: Uhmmmmm…my jaw just dropped and my mouth is hanging open! Ayisha knocked it out of the park and this is her first build? That wainscoting is AMAZING! I don’t know about you but I’m heading over to The Pursuit of Handyness right now to see what other amazing projects she has up her sleeve. Great job Ayisha!
Kim Massa says
Your new space looks so peaceful. How nice to enter a home a be greeted with calm and restfulness. Good luck with the rest of your renovations.
Kristin says
You rocked it out!! Oh my–what a beautiful job and congrats on being woman enough to take on all those first time tasks! I really need to do our entryway and stairwell but the molding coming up from the stair treads has us at a loss. I will have to check in to your blog and see if I can get any info. there. I googled forever and it only talked about removing your treads. I don’t want to take out what is there (the stair molding that runs up with the stairs) and tear apart the stairs to add wainscotting!
Melanie Swank says
It is so beautiful! I am very impressed!
Susan Poll says
It is beautiful!!!
kristin says
WOW it is just stunning! Love all the detail thanks for sharing, heading over 🙂
Chantelle - ThousandSquareFeet says
So. very.beautiful! It really makes me want to get working on our unfinished entrance. I am heading over to your blog to check out the rest!
Rpbyn says
Love Love!
OMG I want to move into a house with stairs so I can do this too.
Lisa says
Where did you find the piece of black furniture? What is it called? I’ve been searching for a piece like that, not too deep, for a small space.
ayisha says
Sorry I’m so late Lisa. It’s called the Hemnes shoe cabinet from Ikea.
Michelle says
Do you remember what the paint colors were? I love the grey tones.