home tour: stairway to heaven

does a staircase count as an official part of a house tour?...because it's the latest new-and-improved nook of our house these days.

our staircase is not only narrow and steep, but it was also very slippery. much to my mother's horror (and my own!), i fell down the stairs twice while pregnant (the first time was just a couple of stairs, the other incident was far scarier)...and i had slipped before pregnant as well. 

we had talked for awhile about installing a carpet runner, but the pregnancy falls--and impending arrival of the babe we'd be carrying up & down those stairs--finally propelled us to take action.

i purchased the three runners from dash & albert (fantastic rugs!) and one saturday, with the help of his dad, andy got to work. we had to wait on the third runner to arrive, but andy quickly finished the project (including the second mini-flight of stairs around the corner) and won the admiration of the resident lady & baby in the house. 

we think they turned out pretty great!...and they're so much safer with a good grip. (added bonus? we estimate we saved ~$400 by not having to hire anyone.)

next plans for this area: paint the walls surrounding the stairs and in our back hall. it's on the list for 2014...