I would love to see how you brightened up the rest of the basement, but I have to say that the way you painted the stairs gives me the impression of this scenario: You previously had a runner going down the stairs; you painted the area *around* the runner white; you removed the runner; you are planning to repaint and/or put in another runner, but you haven't gotten around to it.

I like that you attempted something out of the ordinary, but this looks like an all-too-familiar unfinished project.

Id have kept the runner and had it professionally cleaned,and painted the exposed wood white.Uncarpeted stairs can get noisy.

I would have kept the runner. I think it would've look fantastic against the white. x

I like the natural wood / white paint combo. Clever way to paint the stairs but not have to deal with the inevitable scuffed and dirty paint in the high-traffic center.

Makes me dizzy. Somethings are better left alone.

I would've done something funky, like paint the wooden part a super bright color.

It looks fresh, fun and light. The runner looks fussy, stuffy and old-fashioned. Good job!

Beware! I have white on the sides of my stairs and every speck of dust shows up. I really liked that carpet but it looks nice afterwards.

huh? this looks very odd to me.

Nice job. Love the reversal of the way stairs are usually done.

I want to like it, but it just looks unfinished. Perhaps if more were done to the walls too and this stair treatment were one component, but with it as the main attention grabber, it just looks wrong.

I hate runners on stairs; accident waiting to happen. Better a little noise than a fall. I agree with babayaga, it looked fussy. I like the idea of reversal but you're not done; something is missing.

I like it! It's simple and clean looking - well done!

I like it better than the runner. It's clean and modern. But I think you need better lighting.

I like it. The sides will stay whiter since that part doesn't get worn so quickly.

Considering the fact that these steps lead to a workout room I think you should "pump them up"!! Give them a bit of color or design there instead of just the blah white and brown that looks like you painted around the rug.

sounds great in theory, looks a little unfinished in reality. seeing as it's just a stairwell leading to the basement level and you're happy with it, it's not a big deal to leave it as is. you can only do so much now without in-doing all of your efforts.

un-doing*

Good on getting rid of the runner, looks very 80's (and not in a good way) but I'm with jessjeang, paint a different color down the center--orange would look good.

Jae, do you find that the bare wooden stairs are any more or less slip-proof than the carpet was? We're in the middle of redoing our own basement stairs -- they previously were carpeted, and now they're unfinished wood that we're about to paint. I'm worried about the bare wood being dangerous (we always seem to slip on the bare wooden stairs leading to our second floor, but we never slipped on the old basement steps when they were carpeted), so I just talked with folks at a local carpet store to have a remnant cut and bound into individual stair treads. I'm really curious to hear how your experience compares. Thanks!

I love it! I'm obsessed with white + wood. Very clean, very fresh. Well done.

I just can't get past painting perfectly beautiful wood stairs. Plus how its painted makes the stairwell look smaller than it actually is. Not a fan but I appreciate a creative approach.

I think it makes perfect sense for a workout room. It makes me want to run up and down those steps- good job!

Fantastic. Not a fan of paint on the stair, but this is good. My inclination would have been to take off the carpet and have all wood. I've seen too much wood trim painted white and it always sucks eventually. But this does look good.

The wood is pretty, but it looks slippery...especially if it's been covered for years, it looks smooth. And, I don't know what else is in the basement, but if you're tracking muddy boots, etc., or bringing things up and down, not sure about using white, re: keeping it white.

I like it better than the runner :) it is a very interesting and compelling choice!

Very stylish. I bet you smile every time you walk up and down the stairs.

Yes, good riddance to that dated runner! Fresh paint looks so nice. I love the white and do agree the middle portion would look great with a paint color. Would look more finished but I still do like it.

Well, I like it! I don't think it makes it look unfinished, I think it's pretty clear it's intentional. And I think the runner gone is good. And I don't think it makes the stairs look smaller or darker or anything.

I really think it looks nice.

Beautiful and fresh! My sister's white painted stairs look beat in the center of the treads, you've hit on a brilliant way to avoid that!

Walls the same shade of white would look even better. If the walls are already painted the same color, it may just be this photo/lighting.

I think this looks great and is a great example of turning traditional treatments, like a stair runner, on its head. The naysayers will never get it. It has a bit of humor and is fresh and young.

I would maybe paint the door at the top a fresh color. Mint?

Looks clean and fresh; can't imagine how quickly that dated runner gets dirty. The white may be tough to keep looking good, but this is a nice, finished improvement.

I don't like the after.

We do not find them any more slippery than the carpet was. And I was originally concerned about sound but haven't found noise from lack of carpeting to be bothersome.

The goal was to make this small stairwell look better using what we already had. Btw, totally agreed about the lighting. That's next on the list.

I like it! I second the vote for painting the walls a mint color though. It would make the white look more intentional.

I'd have to tweak it a bit, make it a bit more intentional. I'd paint the risers white, too, giving the impression of a floating stair.

I love it! Fresh and modern :) love the combo of white and wood. Wish I could see what you've done in the basement too!

This looks exactly like "We are expecting the carpet guys to show up with the new runner any minute now."

Its cool. Just really cool.

I think it would look excellent with a modern runner.

I really don't like this. I agree with a few of the commentators about it looking sort of unfinished.

I expected something more like this one from the Rockaway Novogratz house
http://dluximages.photoshelter.com/image/I0000DHOt6Ee688E

or this one in ombre of blues
http://dreamingofjune.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Painted-Stairs1.jpg

The after is definitely an improvement to the before. I think it speaks to my dislike of runners on stairs.

I love that you did something different! It's refreshing to see something new. The runner was ugly and old-fashioned. And I'm so over ombre stairs, people. Kudos!

I love that you did something different! It's refreshing to see something new. The runner was ugly and old-fashioned. And I'm so over ombre stairs, people. Kudos!

Love IT!!!!!