Georgian Stairs...

[atlasfever]

Hi All,

I had a hiatus for a bit, but I'm back. Lucky you

Today's question: Stairwell/Foyer.

Background: Own a flat in a georgian house
Opportunity: Freeholder is renovating the common areas, so have opportunity to influence how it will look.

Questions:
1. Flooring: I asked and he agreed to black/white alternating ceramic tile, laid on a 45degree turn (hard to describe, but basically standard diamond look). Is there supposed to be a regular perpindicular laying of the tile at the perimeter?

2. Staircase: The staircase is rudely carpeted right now. I am planning to ask to have the carpet removed, the wood steps exposed, sanded, painted white, and then a carpet runner with nosings.

3. Staircase: The banister will be white painted verticals and the handrail is to be sanded, and restained (it's a dark wood).

4. Runner: The carpet runner: I think it should be a dark red, with some black or white pattern. Any recommendations on what is looks good/approapriate? It needs to be thick, with an under lay, but any thoughts on the design? For example, is the edging in a difference colour? And, brass nosings?

5. Wall lighting: Can anyone recommend fixtures? Something period, something nice. I am trying to keep budget in check obviously.

Thanks for any info or validation.
Rgds, A

 

[Nigel Watts]

Georgian could be anywhere from 1714 to 1830, which covers a wide range of styles.

What is the hall floor made of? If it's wood I wouldn't advise laying tiles over it.

The idea of a runner up the centre of the stair held in with stair rods is a sound one, although earlier Georgian houses would very likely have had no carpet.

I would not go for white paint on the treads - it's inauthentic and will quickly look shabby. If earlier Georgian, use a deep cream, buff, a sage green or some other colour from a Georgian paint range. If Regency/late Georgian you could be bolder. They used stronger colours. My hall, although 1840 and therefore Victorian, is still close to late Georgian in style. I used a dark green/grey on the treads (F&B's downpipe), with matt back banisters in imitation of wrought iron:

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Restain the handrail--- no no no no, if it is the original mahogany or pitch pine it should have a lovely natural patina of its own.
Plain thick carpeting with commercial standard natural underlay on the stairs, and as Nigel points out use a deeper period colour for the treads , If the staircase gets a lot of use it might be worth considering carpeting across the treads, as the exposed edges do collect an awful lot of dust which spreads itself nicely over everythng in the vicinity!

 

[LadyArowana]

On a rather dull and boring note, if the freeholder is upgrading the common parts then he should consider current regs as regards things like emergency lighting, fire alarms, extinguishers etc. Yes, I know all that stuff is tedious and can be ugly, but it will make any of the apartments/ offices / whatever more saleable, and may actually be required. Our mansion block common parts were recently done and this was all incorporated. When I was apartment shopping last year with a friend I commented on the lack ofit in a place we visited and it was indeed highlighted in the survey.