This course of might be a 500-page ebook. Probably the most boring ebook ever, however for design nerds like me I’d learn it. I’ve by no means achieved a stair runner earlier than and realized SO MUCH, however it was a reasonably arduous course of as we went by means of so many choices to be advised “no” time and again and over. Right here’s the way it went down.

We pulled up the carpet, discovered that the wooden flooring was completely tremendous (basic 2″ fir), and determined to color as an alternative of changing them. Nice. We at all times meant on a stair runner for consolation, slippage, and noise discount. Needs to be simple, proper? Not likely. It was way more sophisticated than it seems to be. You see, our stairs are two completely different widths – on the backside they’re 70.5″ vast, then it turns and it narrows to 47″ vast. I had needed to purchase readymade runners and set up them, however with the completely different widths, it grew to become very sophisticated.

Thought #1: Runners + Then Wider Rugs In A Fairly Woven

Rug

I wasn’t essentially phased by this measurement distinction factor (that a lot). I figured I’d purchase three runners for the size and a bigger rug for the touchdown and the primary three wider steps. I’d have the bigger rug reduce down and sure. I spotted I’d should have a minimum of 9′ of size and the rug I needed didn’t are available a 6’x9′ so I figured I’d order an 8’x10′ and reduce it right down to 4’x10′. I used to be going to run it straight towards the steps on the touchdown and cease it the place the runner would begin going up the second run of stairs (does that make any sense??). Nice. I ordered the rugs after which known as round to get them reduce and sure. As quickly as I began calling I bought pushback in regards to the rug that I had chosen, saying that it’s what “decorators love to do” however no installer will do it as a result of it gained’t final as a stair runner. I used to be admittedly irritated on the mansplaining however I additionally have a tendency to love to take professional recommendation. I despatched pictures/video of the rug so they might see the weave they usually mentioned that it was simply method too free, that it might give method an excessive amount of when folks step down with ahead power and that this might make the stripes wonky. These appeared like truthful factors. They, after all, needed us to go the business route which I’m not against however I wasn’t impressed by. I needed fairly rugs!

Thought #2: Runner + Rug Combo In A Hand-Knotted Rug (Not Woven)

Rug

Nonetheless hoping to work with Rejuvenation I assumed possibly certainly one of their extra sure and hand-knotted Persian-style rugs would work. I had one available from the pantry reveal and checked out them on the steps. It was fairly, however since they didn’t promote 3’x5’s or 4’x6’s we might once more have to chop down a a lot bigger rug. Additionally, these patterns could be a lot tougher to chop and paste, what with the border and the sector sample.

Thought #3: Enkay, A Stable With So A lot Texture

Rug

Across the identical time, Enkay despatched our household room rug which was so beautiful that I assumed possibly we use them on the steps. They offered runners that might work (or so I assumed) however once more we’d have to chop down a bigger rug to suit the bigger touchdown. I put the pattern on the steps and it was simply so stunning – calm, with a lot coloration variation, and delicate. However once more, as quickly as we began calling round we bumped into the identical difficulty (it’s too free). ALSO, the binding wouldn’t match as they self-bind (with the identical yarn because the rug). We might rebind all of them (runner included) to make the binding match however man, this was getting sophisticated.

Thought #4: Classic Persian Rugs

Whereas we didn’t need this rug to be loud or tremendous patterned, after all, I really like classic/vintage Persian rugs. Okay, I considered gathering classic Persian carpets and mixing them. I didn’t discover this for lengthy sufficient TBH as a result of looking for 5 that appeared good collectively (three runners and two rugs for the touchdown) felt nearly unimaginable, or else I’d find yourself spending $15k. I’m VERY choosy about my classic/vintage rugs and like them in cooler-toned colorways. We additionally didn’t need it to appear to be a carpet showroom and if this wasn’t completely achieved, it might. One other difficulty is that classic runners aren’t all the identical width – they’re normally off by a number of inches. Some rugs could be reduce off at bizarre factors, chopping the sector sample with out the border, and many others. This might all completely be tremendous however it felt prefer it was going to take months or years to gather the fitting ones, tens of hundreds do get those that I need, then troubleshoot the set up – the danger of it not trying good could be excessive. If I had an infinite funds and time that is probably what I’d have achieved, however to do what I needed would have taken an excessive amount of cash and an excessive amount of time. I might have purchased a bunch and had them shaved and dyed to match, however once more wouldn’t it have been value it? Thought, nixed.

Thought #5: Certain Wall-To-Wall Carpet – I.E. Industrial/Residential Grade

We lastly began giving up on utilizing a fairly rug and went to a carpet place on the town. I used to be legit impressed with numerous the choices and we introduced again samples. I didn’t love them as a lot as any of the opposite choices above, however the carpet itself was tremendous. A salesman got here to the home to measure and we bumped up towards the problem of the place to cease the carpet on the touchdown. I assumed that the decrease carpet would basically meet the underside stair on the touchdown – with NO Hole. The very skilled salesman mentioned that this isn’t one thing he has ever achieved and suggested towards it – “It’s simply not the way it’s achieved”. Y’all I like listening to consultants, individuals who have achieved one factor time and again for 20 years. Whereas we’d not typically share the identical fashion, their experience is so legitimate. At that assembly, we lastly determined to get a quote on a light-weight blue, sure choice and have the carpet make the flip to go up the steps. Tremendous.

The quote got here in round $5k and never solely did I really feel like that was quite a bit, however extra importantly, I simply wasn’t enthusiastic about it. I appeared for HOURS on the web for stair runners that I favored and nearly none of them that I liked have been sure wall-to-wall carpet – or a minimum of didn’t appear to be it. It didn’t have to be a giant assertion however I didn’t need it to appear to be a business area. I talked to Brian about it and he supported me and mentioned, “Simply do no matter you need to do, no matter shall be prettiest and make you cheerful”. Now, I don’t need to do one thing that can have to be changed in 5 years, however I really feel like we might nonetheless select a fairly rug that might final 10 years (which is a good time for carpet, no?).

I reached out to my contact at Annie Selke and despatched them choices, asking what they suppose would have probably the most longevity for stair runners. She despatched me again these two choices.

Malta Navy Handwoven Wool Rug | Denim Plaid Handwoven Cotton Rug

Thought #5: The Winner!!! Tight Weave Runner + Certain Rug

These felt sturdy and once you tried to stretch them they have been stiff. Any of them might have labored however we ended up going with this one. We partnered with Annie Selke and ordered three 2.5’x8′ runners and two 3’x5′ rugs. We in the end determined that the touchdown stairs solely wanted to be 6″ wider than the extra slender stairs. So due to this fact two 3×5 rugs would do it. Had we paid full value for this the rugs themselves could be $1,058. Maintain that in thoughts as we add up the labor…

Time to Bind

After being advised “no” and “unimaginable” a number of occasions about binding our rugs collectively, Gretchen discovered a man who not solely would do it however documented the entire thing! He needed to match the sample and ideally make it look seamless. WAHOO!!! This price $180 and was achieved in a number of days by the nice of us at Ray-Burt’s. He additionally urged and reduce our carpet pad to go beneath it which price one other $165. So at this level, we’ve spent $345.

Prepared To Set up

I lastly discovered a crew of installers that might do that carpet (they’d beforehand mentioned no to the woven one). They felt that it was tight and sturdy sufficient. They needed to troubleshoot a bit (we ran out on the high, thus the hole that doesn’t trouble me) however they have been such execs and made it look good. They laid out the carpet pad (solely on the treads, not taking it up the risers) and started expertly stapling them down. They matched the stripe sample on the longer run of stairs. WAHOO. The set up took 4 hours and value $600.

Stair Rod

Then they added the stair rods, with the lovable little finials (that don’t actually have a perform, however look so fairly and ornamental and assist it from trying like sure carpet). We realized that we have been lacking two 36″ ones that are actually on order from Rejuvenation. We selected the black to be much less blingy (Rejuvenation has all completely different metallic finishes) however brass might be so fairly, too.

The Reveal

We love the way it turned out and I’m SO MUCH HAPPIER than if we had achieved a business carpet. We determined to take the sure 3’x5’s (so the three’x10′ runner) and simply have it go straight again, with a spot on the touchdown earlier than the riser. We very very like how this seems to be, regardless of it not being the “norm”. I feel it simply seems to be extra like they’re rugs on stairs as an alternative of business carpet if that is sensible and is extra the look we have been going for. Whereas we prefer to hearken to consultants they’re additionally typically caught in doing issues the best way they at all times have and I personally suppose rethinking views can get you one thing extra fascinating.

I need to additionally acknowledge that this course of took a lot of my time (and my crew’s time) – had I been charging myself (or you probably have a designer) know that doing these troubleshooting moments so as to do “one thing fascinating” can price within the hundreds in time. So I totally get how and why a contractor or designer would carry of their carpet man with their samples and get it achieved in a single appointment. I’m glad we went this manner and I assumed that it might be useful for these at residence seeking to do one thing comparable, however it actually took quite a bit of time to troubleshoot which lots of people don’t have.

Wallpaper

When strolling on the steps it feels extraordinarily stable, i.e. not slippery in any respect. That is in all probability because of the staples and non-slip carpet pad, but when I needed to guess I’d say that this might final for a lot of a few years. Additionally, it’s darkish and tremendous forgiving. This carpet itself is wool so it’s not this loopy delicate texture however we knew that going into it and it’s nonetheless very delicate. Whereas we don’t enable sneakers in the home we additionally know that at occasions youngsters will overlook, so I really like that is the primary line of protection earlier than they get to the touchdown (which can have a painted gentle sample) and their gentle carpet of their bed room (which does scare me TBH).

How A lot Did It Price?

Okay so the rugs would have been $1,058, the binding was $180, the carpet pad was $165, and the set up was $600. So in whole, it might be about $2k. Far lower than the $5k quote for a product that I simply wasn’t enthusiastic about. If I have been to do that once more, I’d skip all these troubleshooting concepts and go for a really tight weave or hand-knotted rug + runner combo, have them sure (if mandatory – the hole may hit at a riser and work, however ours was going to hit on the touchdown so we needed to go sure), and name a smaller mother/pop set up firm that isn’t attempting to make their cash off of the sale of the business carpet. Now our touchdown was bizarre, however most of you in all probability have stairs which might be all the identical width, due to this fact, decreasing this troubleshooting SO MUCH. I additionally need to make clear that nothing is unsuitable with commercial-grade sure carpet, however the place I don’t adore it a lot are the “turns” of the steps that may find yourself trying actually company (IMHO) as a result of they observe it nearly too completely. I just like the simplicity of it simply trying like a rug on a stair, not a giant overly designed set up if that makes any sense.

Thanks for coming to my one-woman present on stair runners. Please you probably have different perception for different folks go away it within the feedback. I’ve solely achieved this as soon as so have data solely based mostly on my private expertise in Portland. xx

Sources:

Rug: Annie Selke
Stair Colour: Smoky Blue by Sherwin-Williams
Wallpaper: Scandinavian Wallpaper
Wall and Trim Colour: Additional White by Sherwin-William
Image Gentle: Rejuvenation
All {Hardware}: Rejuvenation
Wooden Flooring: Oregon White Oak by Zena Flooring

*Photographs by Kaitlin Inexperienced