Last week I took some time to slow down and this week I’m hitting the ground running, or rather the stairs. When I shared an update on the grand staircase and entryway, I mentioned that I might want to paint the balusters black and we even did a fun mock-up. Well, the entryway got painted, along with the balusters, and I decided on white. At least these balusters, and at least for now…

Here’s what the entry used to look like.

Before

Today

Some of you are probably surprised I was even debating on white because of my deep love for black, and yet here I am. It’s everything I pictured the entryway to be. Just an effortless white on white with the walls, the stringers, and the balusters.

Before

Today

I realized that once I swap out the light fixture for something black and add a runner down the stairs–it will really ground everything, but still allow the railings to remain a quiet supporter in the design.

The white is giving me the look that I wanted with the staircase (I was reminded that I even said I wanted white in our original plans here–something I always need to remember to reference as things start to come together). However, I didn’t make the same choice in the rest of the house.

Bonus Room Before

Bonus Room Today

Okay, this is quite a bit more zoomed in than the before because of all the construction that’s happening here. But the black painted balusters needed to happen here. I think they look so sleek and elegant. Because these railings don’t have the grandeur the front staircase does, I think the black helps add a little something.

Also, sneak peak of the planking being installed. You can read this post here for an update on the bonus room, and also how to DIY your own planking.

Home Office Before

Home Office Today

I love the way the black and wood (the railing and end post are both stained weathered oak and the balusters are painted tricorn black) work together. I debated staining the support post in the middle and on the corners, but I really loved the look of just one wood baluster at the end.

Attic Staircase Recently

Attic Staircase Today

Ignore the shoe-moulding at the base of the staircase. That will get removed and replaced with a wood-toned shoe moulding to match. This space might illustrate my dilemma with the entryway balusters being white, because you can actually see them here! My biggest concern in keeping them white is that they’ll feel disjointed from the rest of the house. It makes me wonder if I should just paint them black. Or is this something I can overlook and just get used to? I think time will tell.

I really love the black and I really love the white. I’m going to keep the entryway white for now, while we add finishing touches over the next little bit and then reassess. It’s the grand staircase, so I think it’s okay for it to be different–but I can’t tell if it’s weird or not. Haha!

Black is Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams.

White is White Flour by Sherwin Willams.

Wood is Weathered Oak