Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Stain My Oak Banister?

Did you see this over at Southern Hospitality?

Here is her banister before:

(Whoops ladies, I got a little confused! This "before" photo is from Censational Girl who also stained her banister. Go here to see her amazing transformation. She also painted and added moulding. You'll love the "after" it is BeAuTiFuL!)


Now, here is Southern Hospitality's Before:

Okay, you are not going to believe this...
are you sitting down???


Here is the after:

Be still my heart...
I Luuuuvvvv it .
Now, here is my banister:


Look familiar?

Censational girl sanded and prepped all of the oak. Southern Hospitality just put on the stain without any prep work.


I'm a little nervous about staining it but how can I NOT do it??
Of course I would also stain the wood on the steps (it is the only hardwood in the house so I don't have to worry about it matching anything else).

Has anyone else out there done this?

What do you think...
should I do it????

23 comments:

Mary Elizabeth said...

Wow! That looks amazing! I absolutely love it!!!! :) Kiss your brain for that one!

Melissa said...

Go for it! I LOVE the darker look and yours would look just as gorgeous. Good luck and be sure to share pics if you decide to do it! :)

Sims Family said...

I say go for it...
Thanks for all the fun ideas, btw. I am working on my 30 meals right this very second!

Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

Kate at Centsational Girl gives you a step by step tutorial here http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2009/07/the-staircase-reveal-part-one/

Ter said...

I think the dark looks more expensive (even if it's not) and more modern. I would also do the spindles (is that what they are called?) I wouldn't leave those white, but that's just me! :)

Anonymous said...

I saw it at Centsational Girl, and I am going to start mine next week!!! I am nervous but SO excited! I was going to add the link from CG, but I see someone already has. Hers is amazing- I'm going to attempt the wainscoating as well! If you try it we can be bansiter buddies! :)

Anonymous said...

I saw it at Centsational Girl, and I am going to start mine next week!!! I am nervous but SO excited! I was going to add the link from CG, but I see someone already has. Hers is amazing- I'm going to attempt the wainscoating as well! If you try it we can be bansiter buddies! :)

Anonymous said...

I saw it at Centsational Girl, and I am going to start mine next week!!! I am nervous but SO excited! I was going to add the link from CG, but I see someone already has. Hers is amazing- I'm going to attempt the wainscoating as well! If you try it we can be bansiter buddies! :)

Anonymous said...

Sorry- not sure why that comment posted 3 times! Oops!

Tiffany said...

Do it! We did ours...it's a little bit (a lot) of work to strip/sand it down, but it's worth it!!! The biggest problem I ran into is keeping kids/people off of it, because it really needs 3 or 4 coats to hold up to all the traffic, and the longer it can dry between coats the better so you can fine grain sand it in between each coat. Good luck 'n' stuff..can't wait to see the finished product!

Room to Inspire said...

I think it would look great! If you choose to darken them up, I can't wait to see the photos!

Chelsea

Anonymous said...

Hi there- it does look really nice, and, I hate to burst your bubble but the pictures are not of the same house! The top picture is of Centsational Girl's house, and the after picture is quite gorgeous- but the after picture you posted is not the same railing. Click over at Southern Hospitality to see the right pictures!!

Goings on at the Glenn's said...

YES! Do it! That would look great. Can't wait to see what you do.

Lynn Kellan said...

But look at all the white trim and walls that will also get stained! I'm scared!!

Teresa said...

Just getting read to do the same thing. The oak is so 90s I think. I would like to paint my hardwood floor since it is about the same color. My hubby would probably kill me though and bury me under the house, LOL. I am thinking about painting my handrails black though, no stain, paint.

Petit Design Co. said...

Do it!

Michelle said...

Go for it...it'll look absolutely wonderful the darker color! Keep us posted :)

Happy Wednesday!
~Michelle :)

Drew and Michele said...

My mother-in-law just did this to her banister and it looks awesome! I would totally go for it. She used a gel stain and said it worked great. I am thinking about doing my dresser (which is plain oak) she gave me all her tips if you want I can send them your way!

aimee said...

I think it will look great. It is also on my list. Keep us posted (I am most scared about the steps).

Heidi said...

you can do it! good luck, can't wait to see the afters!

Grace @ One Craft Girl's Corner said...

I think you should do it! We moved into our house and tore out all of our flooring to put in travertine, new carpet, and Brazilian Koa wood. The wood is dark and darkens in the sunlight. Now it WAY darker than my stairs and cabinets. I'm so tempted to stain them too, but I just don't want to do all that sanding. Plus, I have 14 month old twins who probably shouldn't be breathing all the sawdust. Good luck! Come and visit my blog for some fun projects!
onecraftgirlscorner.blogspot.com

kate said...

DO IT!!!! It will look fabulous and chic instead of tired and "90's".

Jennifer said...

you should do it! I just redid my kitchen table and chairs to a dark brown stain tabletop and black bottom. It changed the look and feel of my house and I LOVE IT!

Plus it is a great memory of something we did as a family.
Jen