Oh how we love a transformation! It's our favorite part of any design show; the amazing contrast between the before and the after. Even better if we can do it, or learn how to do it, ourselves. And, when we can't get our fill from design shows, we turn our attention to the blog world...
One of our recent favorite transformations is Centsational Girl's staircase. She turned a bland oak staircase into a grand entryway using a little stain, a little paint, a little wallpaper and a lot of imagination. Check out her blog to get the details on how she did it, from where she got her inspiration to how she managed to put together those wallpaper panels to a trick she uses for putting up wallpaper, as well as a look at the other projects she's doing as she makes over her home. (And help her out by voting for her staircase in One Project Closer's 2009 Before & After Contest).
Do you have any before and afters to share with us? We'd love to see them!
[all images by Centsational Girl, all rights reserved, used with permission of Centsational Girl]
Alexis' Modern Glass House 
Before & After: A Bathroom Goes From Pinky Peach to Sleek and Chic
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Tom Black Espadrille
20 Scrumptious Brunch Recipes 
Magic One-Ingredient Ice Cream 5 Ways: Peanut Butter, Nutella, and More
Comments (19)
wow that is impressive, love it.
it's a little too much...it'll be better without the fabric insert. or if the moulding is painted to the same color as the wall.
That's a great solution.
amazing!
Gorgeous!
mmm! love.
This is so beautiful! I love it!
Wow!
Hmmm, it's odd to me that the pattern on the stair part is oriented to the chair rail, instead of directly up (to be consistent with the direction of the pattern on the landing). Still a nice idea.
Darkening up that wood made such an impact. Bravo!
very imaginatively conceived & neatly executed. My only negative comment is that, in the pictures at least, the stairway looks narrower & smaller. In the original picture it was bland, but more open looking.
I might try this idea when I paint my dark stained ugly hollow doors white.
I suggest painting or glazing the molding covering the fabric panels in a light gray. They over-power the fabric panels a bit too much.
Looks swanky! I think she should have ripped up the carpet and painted the stairs, too.
I agree with two comments; DosChalupas - paint out the molding so that the contrast is not so stark and Keira - rip out the carpet and paint the stairs. This is a beautiful transformation though. This took patience and a good eye. Lovely!!
Bravo. I would consider painting the light switch to make it disappear.
nice!!! A little weird with the floral but the concept is just beautiful!
Not at all my style, but wonderful execution. I would have just pulled up the carpet and stained the stairs & bannister with the same finish. I also have an old lady fetish for wooden stairs with a narrow runner and carpet rods.
Love this in a major major way. What a great use of color and space. Good on Mate!!
i was hoping the hideous carpet would go, but the rest does look much nicer.