About

 
Arren Williams is the name, and I'm a stylist, editor and trend reporter. You'll catch my work regularly popping up in print in the likes of the National Post, House & Home and elsewhere. I'm also a guest expert on Citytv's CityLine, and you can occasionally find me on HGTV as well as on ABC 7 News in Chicago.

To keep things fun I've tapped a couple of friends - Julia Black and Jenn Hannotte - to contribute their views on design too. Enjoy!

Subscribe

 Subscribe in a reader

New posts delivered right to your inbox!

Search
Admin
Powered by Squarespace
Add to Technorati Favorites
http://www.twitterbuttons.com

Ask Arren > Black Stair rail

Hi Arren,

I have a home that has pickled oak stair railing with white balusters and a matching pickled oak base cap. I have been researching sanding and painting the stair rail a semi gloss black and was interested in your opinion regarding what I should do to the base or bottom cap (approx. 6 in wide x 1 in high) that the balusters are attached. Three options: Paint black to match railing, try to remove the pickled oak finish (it's red oak underneath) and stain with natural oak finish, or Paint it white? Stairs are carpeted, so the balusters attach to the base cap versus, being attached to the stair tread. Thanks in advance for any advice. Hard to describe without a picture. Jim

September 8, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJim

Hi Jim, Thanks for all the info. Okay, I think I get the gist, and what this really comes down to is simplicity - I love the fact that you're doing the handrail in a semi-gloss black, and great that the balusters are already white, so let's keep things consistent and paint that pickled oak base trim white too. Refinishing it in a natural oka finish would keep things rather confusing, not to mention masses of work, and I think the black might be a bit much, so the white is a definite.

Cheers, Arren

September 9, 2009 | Registered CommenterArren