Back when I first posted this renovation, I got some comments about safety. Like, do I ever fall on my ass when I go down the uncarpeted stairs? I'm here to tell you that YES INDEEDY I do. I have fallen a few times, in fact. These satiny steps are killer.
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An especially bad fall happened two nights ago. I was wearing my slippers as I'm supposed to (these stairs are a no-sock zone), but the tread on my slippers was no match for my careless thundering-down-without-holding-onto-the-railing descent.
My foot slipped off a step, and I took the last four to the back, butt, thighs and ribs....while carrying an unsealed can of white oil-based paint.
I know what you're all thinking, "Oh no, did you spill paint on your stairs??" And after that, "Are you ok??" Well yes, I'm ok, relatively speaking. And no, miraculously I didn't spill paint on the stairs. Although, I'm beginning to think that maybe some texture paint on the treads would be a good idea, as Shaun has also fallen a time or two.
Right now I feel like I did after getting rear-ended in my car many years ago. My neck is whiplashed, my ribs ache, my butt is sore, my thighs hurt when I try to cross my legs, and I ache in areas I don't want to mention. Getting out of bed requires hoisting myself up out of the squishy Tempurpedic material with my arms only. I feel like a paraplegic.
With my record of clumsiness, I've struggled with adding a stair runner when I really don't want to cover up all our hard work. It's a tough call, since I have yet to find a runner that I love. I do like the wool carpet that Aubrey and Lindsay had bound for their basement stairs:
And Copy Cat Chic has a nice post about runners here. Although, I must admit the thought of nailing/stapling anything into my beautiful stairs makes me want to puke more than my aching body does.
Has anyone else found uncarpeted stairs to be a safety hazard, or is it just us?
It's not just you, I promise! At one point I started scooting down the steps like a toddler. I'd probably end up on my butt anyway! Haha
ReplyDeleteAlthough you don't want to cover up your gorgeous stairs, I think you bum will appreciate it!
Ugh, youch! But the stairs are gorgeous!!! It'd be so hard to cover them up with even a runner because they look so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWe haven't fallen down the stairs, but we're known to miss the last step. The hardwood stair just blends into the floor somehow. Hope you're feeling better soon!
Ouch! That sucks, but time. I wouldn't want to cover up these lovely stairs! Can you add another side rail, would that help at all?
ReplyDeleteoh no! glad you are ok... or will be ok. i'm so worried that this will happen to me, it doesn't help that our stairs are not all that even either.
ReplyDeletei wonder if there is something that you could add to the finish that would help?
i do like the runner on aubrey and lindsay's blog. but your stairs are so pretty... i am no help. maybe get a narrow one? :-)
Glad you (and the can of paint) are OK! The stairs are so, so pretty, it is a shame to carpet them. May I suggest some of those textured daisies they make for the tub? Just kidding.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, what about a runner that just sits on each stair, rather than one that runs up the backs, too. Might be a little less distracting and still safer.
Ohh I would hate to see them covered up! I'm interested to see if you find any textured paint/finish solutions to this problem, as we're about to tackle finishing the wood on our stairs.
ReplyDeletePS. I think the previous owners of our yellow-paint/gross off-white carpeted stairs houses must have been friends :)
Total bummer! And not just you! I'm going to get in trouble for mentioning this, but Lee was a little tipsy NYE when we got home at a very late hour and when he went to check the doors to make sure they were locked, his feet flew out beneath him, he landed on the very edge of the wood step overhang and cut open his buns. He's had a long gash on his bum ever since.
ReplyDeleteIt hurts my heart to think of covering up those beauties. Is there a temporary solution? Something cute that you could just roll out when you're running around? Perhaps an inexpensive stair carpet runner, held in place with rods secured to the riser by a screw eye hook at each end?
Or is that just crazy talk?
Ouch!!! I feel for you girl. If I had a dime for all the times I feel down our hard wood steps in my family home growing up I'd be rich. It's funny it took me falling down the steps from top to bottom at age I guess 18 for my parents to freak out and come rushing "ARE YOU OK?!??!?" (I was coming down for dinner). Seriously? This is like the millionth time I've fallen?! I guess it's because I hit my head on the huge grandfather clock at the foot of the steps. You'd think after 18 years I'd learn to not wear socks in the house - the entire house minus bedrooms and living rooms was hardwood.
ReplyDeleteTake it easy on yourself. I really think the carpet runner will look nice on the steps :) And help!
ugh *fell not feel down! ;)
ReplyDeleteUm, yeah, the two gouges in our wood stairs....both me, falling down them while wearing shoes...twice. I REALLY don't want to put in a runner as the whole rest of the house is hardwood, and I also don't want to paint as we just refinished. I guess I just need to remember to slow it down!
ReplyDeleteOh no... that makes my back hurt just thinking about it. I don't blame you for not wanting to cover those stairs - they are gorg. I'm drooling over the entire entryway.
ReplyDeleteNon-negotiable - entryway. =)
Good luck with your decision. Whatever you decide will look fab, knowing your taste. =)
"Ooooh honey!" (quote from my mom) Honestly, I think that whatever you do will look great. The beautiful wood will still be visible on the sides, and if you choose a nice runner the two will complement each other.
ReplyDeleteOuch! I'd consider a runner. Maybe you could choose a dark brown carpet that matched the paint on the steps? I love your steps, but I have to go with safety first. (I've even fallen on our carpeted steps.)
ReplyDeleteYikes! Falling down stairs is not cool! I understand why you would not want to cover them up - they are gorgeous. There has got to be some sort of texture you can put on them right??
ReplyDeleteOur basement stairs are not carpeted and are pretty slick. I've had a few near accidents but mostly I just have to remember to slow down. It kinda sucks though. :\
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are okay! I speak from experience in saying that falling down the stairs hurt. I fell/flew off of the stairs in my childhood home. I fell all the way down and flew through the air hitting the wall. It was incredible actually.
ReplyDeleteMy mouth literally dropped open when I read about your recent fall w/ the unsealed can of paint -- I will admit to think of that before your well-being. :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds very painful. We have carpeted stairs to our basement, but I can imagine I'd take a few spills if our were as slippery as yours! I can understand your objection to covering up all your hard work, but it might be worth it if it saves you (or Shaun) a broken leg? :) If you do break down and decide to get a runner, maybe it will actually be a fun experience to pick one out and you can use it as another way to express your great sense of style! (trying to look at the positive side)
They are beautiful stairs...
ReplyDelete... but oh please, please, please! Don't keep hurting yourself! I agree with Alexson's comment above. If you could figure something out that would basically be a much more attractive version of the bathtub grippy concept. That way it would not cover the majority of the staircase.
They are beautiful stairs...
ReplyDelete... but oh please, please, please! Don't keep hurting yourself! I agree with Alexson's comment above. If you could figure something out that would basically be a much more attractive version of the bathtub grippy concept. That way it would not cover the majority of the staircase.
Happened to me two weeks ago. I bruised my buttocks. I can still feel the pain just thinking about it. It hurt so bad I almost cried. Luckily I didn't break any bones.
ReplyDeleteWe had hardwood stairs at our old house. And a baby learning to crawl! So we ended up using a runner that still showed a good 6" or so on each side - the best of both worlds for us!
ReplyDeleteYup! Coming down from the 3rd to 2nd floor our stairs turn. I was wearing slippers but the rubber traction things were worn out/covered with reno dust. Fell smack on my ass. The bruise was perfectly horizontal right across the middle. Hurt for days.
ReplyDeleteOur stairs are still naked but we'll probably add a runner once we paint the risers. It's just safer for us & the dog.
Mostly the dog though. He's slipped a few times too so he ALWAYS hesitates coming up that turn. Every single time.
GL!
I have uncarpeted stairs to our bedroom and I have fallen once. We had a runner on them many years ago and I wasn't crazy about it, but now I am considering it.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain, literally. I've fallen down our hardwood stairs too. I love yours though-so shiny and pretty. I wouldn't be able to cover it up with a runner.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize uncarpeted stairs were so dangerous! I had the same issue but with carpeted stairs in an old apartment I lived in. One fall was so bad that I couldn't sit for two days and I hand an entire butt cheek that was purple and blue (sorry for the visual). The runners are nice, though...but I know what you mean about injuring your beautiful stairs.
ReplyDeleteWe have wood stairs without a runner and I haven't ever fallen on them, even with socks on. It has 2 right turns in the stair case, however, which I think helps me navigate more carefully. DON'T COVER UP YOUR STAIRS!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of your comments. I've decided to either find or make myself some super non-skid slippers instead of getting a runner. I just couldn't bear to cover my steps! On a normal day, I'm fine...it's when I'm running up and down the stairs constantly while doing laundry, painting, or cleaning that I get in trouble. A perfect time to be wearing some special slippers. I found a fun tutorial on making any slippers non-skid using caulk! Seriously?? Check this out!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nicolehindes.com/2007/09/18/making-slippers-non-slip/
What a coincidence - I fell down my stairs on the last four this past weekend... in my slippers. Crazy!
ReplyDeleteOur steps aren't as pretty as yours so we're thinking carpet for ours. I love your dark wood caps though so I agree a runner would look nice. Here's to healing!
Scary! Our master is downstairs, so we really don't go upstairs much at all right now, but once we have kids, that will change. I can just see it now... me falling down the stairs with an infant in tow! Actually though, they have never felt slippery to me before, so maybe as long as I've got grips on my shoes, it will be okay. :) I don't know what to do to help that, because I think even a runner could be slippery if you're wearing slick bottomed shoes.
ReplyDeleteI want you to be safe- really I do.... but those stairs are just so handsome without a runner!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe buy those socks with those sticky things at the bottom!
How have I missed those stairs? I am looked all over your blog but somehow never stumbled on those pics. They are gorgeous and I can understand why you do not want to cover them. But practicality might have to win out. Our stairs are covered in carpet (as in even wrapped around the edges...awesome) and I have still managed to fall down them. But that also could be because I am such a klutz.
ReplyDeleteOur stairs do a weird curve at the bottom, so you would think the would be dangerous... But we have yet to fall on them. But the ones to the basement are carpeted and we hardly go upstairs, so that probably has something to do with it.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I'm such a klutz that I fall down our carpeted steps all the time. In the past, we used non-skid stair treads that worked well. You just have to make sure they don't lift.
ReplyDeleteThose stairs look GREAT!!!!! Way to go! Thanks for the comment on my blog and I am so honored that you will be including me on your reading list!
ReplyDelete