This Entryway Makeover Uses a Brilliant Overlooked Spot to Display Art
The perk of buying a historic home is the added charm, but when original parts of the home have been ripped out, it’s up to the homeowner to bring back its original appeal. Paulette Sopoci (@oldhomecharming) encountered this with the staircase in her late-1800s worker’s cottage in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada.
“Imagine the most boring staircase with zero character. That was my staircase,” Paulette says. “Although it was well made, it didn’t reflect my love for a more vintage look,” she adds. It was a white staircase with gray treads. “[It] felt sterile to me,” she says.
“The staircase was boring and bland, and with it being in the center of the small home, I was looking for maximum impact!” Paulette explains.
Use what you have.
“As I am an old home lover and the original staircase was not in the home when I purchased it, I considered ripping this staircase out and replacing it with a salvaged piece,” Paulette says.
After she got a quote for more than $10,000, she went with a different plan that cost $3,759 all in. Paulette says that her current 1000-square-foot home is a stepping stone to something larger, so she didn’t want to spend too much money on this project.
“I opted to create a more traditional look by hiring a local woodsmith (@woodsmithdesigns_) to help me bring my vision to life,” she says. To save money by not ripping out the existing stairs, the woodworker used the existing structure.
Paulette says this part of the process was also a test in knowing your DIY limits. “I knew the woodworking part was something I have no interest or skill in, so I opted to bring in an expert,” she says.
Take a risk.
“I was very frightened to go dark and moody on the stairs, as I do love my neutrals,” Paulette says. But painting the staircase a deep blue, Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy, paid off. “Take chances. My guess is that you will love the end result,” she says.
“Dane and Jute (@daneandjute) helped me with the sisal runner, brass rods, and end cap embellishments,” she says. “The runner adds a level of warmth that the house needed and the brass rods add a sophisticated touch,” Paulette says. They also “added a sense of grandeur to an otherwise boring staircase.”
The new staircase also doubles as a space to showcase art, hanging from the banister and on the wall. Using her staircase and railing as an extra gallery wall makes this entryway stand out even more than the dark paint alone.
Transform your space.
“I am so glad I was brave enough to go dark,” Paulette says. “It’s my favorite part of the house.” Going from white to dark blue makes a huge difference.
“Although the staircase functions the same, it’s more about how you feel about living within your space,” Paulette says. “Your space should be your haven, and as it’s the main focus when you walk in the door, this staircase gives maximum impact,” she explains. And this transformation does just that for Paulette. “Every single time I go up and down my staircase I feel joy!” she says.
Inspired? Submit your own project here.