If you haven't had enough of my entry yet...

I know, I'm kinda obsessed with it. I decided to try a DIY stair runner. There are only 5 steps from the front door to the 1st level so I figured I could handle the installation. 

I picked a flat weave wool rug off Overstock (or, I guess it's "O.Co" now). It's about 2.7" by 10 feet, which left me about 12" of length.  It's flipped over the top step here and I think I might secure it down and leave it rather than try to cut the wool.  I also used some carpet padding on each step for softness.

As you can see, I used a staple gun to nail this baby down. Just keeping it real around here. I'm going to add some black-finish nail heads to hide the staples for a finishing touch.

Stripped Banister

What I have learned recently:


Stripping latex paint from steel SUCKS. It comes off in sticky, gooey gobs and needs to be scraped off bit by bit. My simple plan to strip the banister of icky white paint turned into a 2-weekend project fraught with tears and frustration.

Also, steel is heavy.  This m-effer was a pain in the neck to work with.

But a sleek black spray paint job is much nicer than yellowing, chipping, sticky white paint applied with a brush!

Corner of my entry way. Whoops - that price tag can come off now!  Next on the docket: a runner rug!

Small Entryway Solutions

My indoor/outdoor rug has arrived! It's a little smaller than I hoped but it covers most of the grody tile in the entryway (which probably needs a good scrubbing, too).

One of my next projects is stripping the chipped paint off our metal railing.  It's pretty grubby in person so I was thinking of stripping it to see what it looks like au natural and then perhaps re-painting.  I swear, if it's not one thing, it's the other in this house.

Indoor/Outdoor Rugs Save the Day

I was thinking about ripping out the floor in the entry way and retiling. Then I remembered I am DYING to re-do our kitchen so the money sunk in to a tiling project would be best directed to the kitchen fund. (Rather, Jake pointed this out and I grudgingly agreed his was right, this time.)

Instead, a rug can cover most of the weird slate tile stuff. Off I went looking for a 3 x 5 indoor/outdoor rug in a neat print. Why indoor/ourdoor? We use our front door often, and traipse down the stairs to teh lower level a lot.  Plus, we have a dog that loves to tear crap up so something a little more study is wise.

Here are three great options.  Once of which is coming my way this week!

Martha Stewart Faux Bois

Ballard Designs as seen over on Little Green Notebook

Another Ballard Designs choice I considered

What do y'all think, is a polypropelene (aka plastic) rug tacky?

Entry Wallpaper

I've been a little more than obsessed about wallpaper lately. My old posts covered a few patterns and types of paper I investigated. Initially, I considered removable wallpaper from Tempaper and then moved onto ogling "regular" paper but DIY-ing installation. Thankfully, I snapped into reality and realized that this is way beyond my skill level. Folks who hang their own with great success must have a special level of craftiness that I don't possess.

Then I ordered about a billion samples from Graham & Brown. They have lovely patterns in all styles and semi-reasonable prices. I actually found my pattern (Elinor) somewhere else ever slightly cheaper.
It comes in several other colorways.


So, I saved my pennies and called in an installer to put it in my split level entry.




In love. I know what designers and decorators mean when they say splurge on one high-drama piece for a room. It does make a difference.

Entree!

Our collection of dog paintings is now living in the entry way. We have a small landing where the front door opens into our split level. It's paneled in painted white wood, which I quite enjoy. But it was lacking interest. And since I have decided my decorating philosophy is "more is more", why not cover both walls with our highly curated collection of ultra highbrow dog paintings. (Read that last bit with mucho sarcasm.)

Now, to wallpaper the top half of this space in Elinor by Graham and Brown:

Runner Rug

I'm thinking of adding a runner to our entry stairs and these cotton ones from Dash & Albert might work.



There are also some jute runners from Company Store that may be an option, too. Jute would likely wear better in a heavy-traffic area.