That title just about sums up this entire post. And this one nearly made me hang up my DIY Diva toolbelt.
Not really, but this just might be my most challenging DIY project yet.
If I had any sense at all, I would never have torn the carpet off the steps, but I don’t and I did, so here we are now with something pretty spectacular, if I do say so myself. Carpet across blogland may be flying off stairs after this one. 
Let me remind you what the stairs looked like BEFORE, matted ugly carpet that was wrapped around those ends of the stairs on the left, like a furry little animal. Not my favorite look. It was impossible to refluff the middle of the stairs in the traffic pattern no matter how much I vacuumed. 
And you’ll remember these beautiful stairs, which head to our upstairs rooms, which we had finished in hardwood when we moved in here 4 years. ago. The quote to do the downstairs set of stairs was an additional $1000, so that didn’t happen at the time. So, my goal was NOT to match this set of stairs, but to do something that would complement them.
I proceeded to rip the nasty old carpet off that downstairs set of steps……
And this is what I ended up with. Sad, isn’t it?! If I had any illusions that my stairs underneath were in somewhat decent shape, that was quickly put to rest as soon as I finished tearing off the final piece of dead carpet. I had myself a really BIG project ahead of me.
Can you believe the ugly here?
Not one to be put off by a challenge, I quickly embraced my inner-DIY Diva and set forth on this journey. I knew my carpentry skills were sorely lacking, but that didn’t stop me either. This pic was even after most of the hideous and evil tack strips were pulled off. That wasn’t fun either. But, this was what I was left with. Notice the gaping seams on the ends and underneath each step. There was nothing even resembling a finished set of stairs underneath that carpet. The best thing they had going for them was a nice thick stair tread.
I’ll save the complete HOW-TO for another post, along with all the rest of the horrible pics of just how bad the BEFORE state these stairs were in, but for now, let me just show you what I’m completely proud of at this moment.
You will NOT believe this until you see it! I promise you….
I know, your jaw is hanging to the ground about now, huh?? I can hardly believe I did this either, but I really did. With my own little nubby nailed hands.
I sanded, I puttied, I cut molding with my miter box (a whole bunch of molding), I caulked and I painted and painted. And I bought a cute little jute khaki and cream runner from Overstock (which looks totally different in the pic, but I do love it) to use down the middle. And I could NOT be happier with the outcome. It was totally worth the effort, the scratching my head and the nubby nails. 
And let me just say, as with all of my projects, this one is neither perfect nor would an expert carpenter pronounce it anything but wrong, but I made it all work for me and I’m pretty much over the moon about how this looks right now. And it did take a lot of work, but again, totally worth it. 
When I show you some of the close-ups, you’ll see nails painted over, raw wood painted over and lots of dings and staple holes. I think that all gives them plenty of character and isn’t that what we’re after these days. Well, these babies have plenty of character, to say the least. 
This is actually the right side of the jute runner I ordered, but when I got it in, I totally liked the smooth side better, so that’s the side I used. 
A staple gun was what I used to adhere the runner to the stairs. Lots of 1/2″ staples. And I used black porch and floor paint for the stairs, so they should hold up just fine with 3 coats.
The staples do show a little bit but feeling particularly OCD, I got out my craft paints and just touched them up a little bit, but for the most part, they don’t show too bad. That I can live with.
Since I used the wrong side of the runner, there’s a raw seam on this side, but that didn’t bother me too much either. I just let it show at the top of the stairs. 
You can see here all the molding I had to add to the stairs to trim it out and hide ALL the gaping seams that were in these stairs. I’ll do a complete tutorial for you soon so you can see the blood, sweat, but no tears that went into this project. If I can do this, so can you! I was not fortunate enough to have nice and finished stairs on this project (like Sarah did on hers, lucky girl!!). These stairs were just about as bad as it could get. Wait til you see the other BEFORE close-up pics I took, then you’ll appreciate even more how great they look now.
Here’s a glimpse of how I finished out the end of the stairs with molding. This part was the biggest challenge of all, but I figured it out and cut all these pieces with my trusty miter box. Molding and caulk hide the ugliest of sins. 
I’m completely, totally and deliriously happy with my new stairs!! My hubby thinks I’m pretty smart too.
Coming soon: Lots of Before and During pics of the whole process!
And for a fun painted steps twist, check out Donna at Funky Junk’s staircase painting. It’s very cool and they don’t call her funky for nothin’!
Added to Shanty2Chic’s Made it Without My Hubby Party!
Thanks for stopping by! I'm Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn't have to cost a fortune and I've spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yardsales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I'm here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won't you join me? 
{ 121 comments… read them below or add one }
Rhoda,
The stairs are looking beautiful! Great job!! They are so classic looking… love them!
Lindsay
A Design Story
So beautiful! Proof that hard work pays off and I bet that you enjoy and appreciate your stairs more than the ones you had professionally done!
Great job Rhoda! You know I’ll be joining you in this before long. Now that we are painting the hand rails the carpet is really starting to scream at me!
Your stairs look just lovely and are so much more to my liking than the carpet! 
Thanks for the inspiration!
The stairs look wonderful and I am amazed at all the molding. What a wonderful job, it looks super to me. I love the runner too. Beautiful. Hugs, Marty
Very nice!! I think I would have cried after I pulled the carpet off and saw what you saw.
Are you kidding me??
You’re a pro! What an awesome job. That was a job that I won’t even THINK about doing. It looks gorgeous!
I LOVE them! I wouldn’t have thought to use that runner down the stairs, but it looks fantastic. You did a great job girlfriend and I know you must be feeling proud right about now!
STUNNING, simply stunning. I cannot wait for the play by play. (CG sighs and glares in frustration at her own carpeted stairs). You, my dear, will be inspiring a blogland trend !!!!
OH Rhoda, they are beautiful-I got up half way through your post and ran to dig under my carpet on my stairs to see what I found-thanks for the inspiration!!! Pat K.
Great job Rhoda!!! I have to do something about our basement stairs they are so ugly with green pukey looking carpet. Then I have to pull up two rooms of carpet in the next week. Going to be lots of fun!!! Wanted to stop by and say hey!!! So hey!!
You did such a GREAT job! I’m loving that runner!
Amazing! So much fresher! Fantastic!
xo
jaithan + eddie
I think the concept flows very nicely with the design of the rest of your home. It must feel completely gratifying to have completed this project. What a huge undertaking!
Stunning!!! My favorite part is all the molding, of course!
So worth all the work, isn’t it? You should be proud!
Wonderful job!
They look great!!! Fantastic job — I love em!! You ought to be PROUD!!
Wow! You did such an amazing job! I love the trim along the edges. I’ve been searching for a nice runner for our stairs for a while now. Can’t wait to see more before and after pics!
Your steps look outstanding.
Wow! The striped runner really fancies it up! To me it looks like 1920s style, which is one of my favorites. Thanks, I may use that!
I am impressed, Rhoda! You did a great job! We had removed the carpet from our stairs about 10-15 years ago and they were pretty decent underneath, but not hardwood. I would love to paint them though from the oak stain we had put on. I’m dreaming of that dark and white look myself.
Absolutely and Totally Amazing!!! I can’t believe you did that all by yourself!!! Awesome!!!!!!
That looks amazing! Our stairs are on my “to do” list, hope they turn out as good as yours!
Great job!
Looks great! I have hated the carpet on my stairs since the day I moved in…and it was new carpet! They used cheap padding and the steps are already worn feeling in just 2 years. (And I live alone!) This looks like a great project for me since I already know that the steps are basic builder boards. Can’t wait to hear how you did it all!
Terrific job! I love the black and white look.
We tore up our carpet a while back (no I am too embarressed to reveil) and have been living with ugly sense. The stair part isnt wood and we need to figure out how to replace it then we can stain and not be so embarressed.
That is so creative and fun. I’m sure the process had you wondering sometime mid process, but like you said, the end result is totally worth it!
Gorgeous!
Becky K.
Hospitality Lane
Wow, Rhoda. That is unreal what you accomplished you divine tool diva. They look awesome. I don’t see any dings or bad places. Love the runner, too. They just look marvelous!!!
I am in awe. You are amazing and I can only imagine what Hubby thinks of his DIY’er,
A@WESOME do i dare try this? i am scared. but i love yours.. mishelle
Rhoda, Rhoda, Rhoda!!!! Girl they look awesome!!! Pat your sweet little southern self on the back-you did a fantastic job. I LOVE it!! Makes me want to do mine except for the fact I have those large sweeping steps on the bottom that make a half-circle. I am totally scared to even try & see whats underneath that carpet-its probably not even real wood!
Way to go!!!
Well, Ms. Rhoda … you are right about ONE thing, my jaw is practically resting on the ground. I cannot believe how this project turned out ~ you are to be congratulated (and maybe even bowed down to in a deep curtsy.)
Even better than I would have guessed. It’s the rug that gives it a real kick! So fresh and new.
Love it, You are The DIY Diva!
Wow Rhoda! AMAZING!!! They are gorgeous!
I smiled when I saw your before. They felt so at home for me as mine looked like that for YEARS.
Thanks for the shoutout too!
I just love the runner you added to yours. Knockout job!
Donna
It looks great! I was just looking at that same rug for under my dining room table! I feared ordering a rug so large from the internet but now that I see it on your stairs I may just go get it! Is it shedding much?
Oh my gosh, that turned out FABULOUS!!! You rock
! Love the new runner, the stripes are my favorite thing.
Blessings,
Stacey
RHODA RHODA…..
I just returned from our trip to CA and what do my eyes behold…. BEAUTY pure BEAUTY……fantastic job I LOVE them….
I happen to be a carpet person….I KNOW shoot me now !!! But I am ripping ours up after seeing this……the honey do list just got LONGER !!!
Great job Rho….. I salute you !!!!
xo Kathy
Girl you worked it and you worked it HARD!! Very impressive, especially your trim carpentry skills!!! I hope you do a little relaxing until the next project. I’ve been wanting to do my stairs forever, but i just get an anxiety attack everytime I think about how much work is invovled!
You and your nubby nailed hands should be proud indeed!!!
This is incredible! Is there nothing you cannot do???
I’m lovin’ it!
Rhonda
Great job! Give yourself a big pat on the back for a job well done.
I am so inspired!
Awesome job! They are just gorgeous now. We redid our stairs a year ago and I just love them. It makes such a big difference in the rest of the house. Very clever idea covering up the ends of the stairs too.
What a great project! You should be VERY proud of yourself, it looks great! Now sit back and enjoy! *Amy
Absolutely amazing! One of these days I need to rip up the carpet on the stairs in this 110 year old house and I may get the surprise of a lifetime.
Herbal Blessings, Mandy
Rhoda! This looks so good! I know it was tough ripping off that old carpet, but isn’t it such a good feeling when you look at the result! ~Andrea
Hi Rhoda –
All this staircase inspiration… My foyer staircase is going to be seeing some of this action soon as it needs a revamp BADly. What I love most about your stairs is not only the hardwork you put into it and how great they came out, but the fact that you liked the wrong side of the carpet better and went for it. I have done this many times with fabric. Thanks for the inspiration I am looking forward to your play be play of the process.
Wow, those look amazing. You did a wonderful job.
RAD-ICULOUS!!!!
BEST LOOKIN’ STAIRS ON THE BLOCK GIRLFRIEND!
You ROCKED this project and I’m super impressed with your mad DIY skills!
Layla
i just stumbledupon your blog (SU) for the first time and i can’t tell you how impressed i am with your design skills and carpentry skills!……amazing,….i am a fan….maureenlynne
Rhoda, You are one industrious lady!! I know this had to be a very labor intensive job but you did not let that stop you. Amazing, Bravo to you Miss Rhoda, I am impressed! Kathysue
Girl, All your hard work paid off! The stair transformation is amazing.
I AM IN TOTAL AWE! When I started reading your post, I thought, poor Rhoda, she’s in for it now. You are an inspiration. Can I have a transfusion of your can do attitude and spirit? You have totally rocked the house with this one, girl.
Great job. Love it
I love how you did the stairs!! The black looks great and I really like your runner. Super job!!! Love & blessings from NC!
Hi Rhoda,
I am flabergasted by this transformation. I have been wanting to take up the carpeting in our staircase for sometime but hardwood can be so costly. I can’t wait to show hubby this post and I’ll be patiently waiting for all your before & during pics. I’m going to try & pick my jaw up off the floor now. TFS! Sheila
Wow, that is incredible! I took out the carpet here all by myself (900 sf). Tack strips and staples…oh my those took a lot of time to remove! Now the hickory floors have been professionally refinished and are much easier to maintain than carpet. Your stairs look great and look at the money you saved too.
Totally amazing!!!!
I am soo impressed!!!
OK now I have to redo the stairs to the basement.
Thanks for the non-stop inspiration.
Yeah, Rhoda! YOU ARE THE WOMAN!
Way to turn those ugly ducklings into beautiful swans. I know that was a ton of work, but it definitely was worth it.
Great Job! Now enjoy…
Your staris look beautiful I have always wanted to do that to mine, but didn’t have the courage. I can’t wait to do mine now. Looking forward to the how tos. Great Job I love your blog.
Wow! Rhoda, the stairs look so AMAZING! YOu should pat yourself on the back lots of times for this one project…….it looks like a ton of work but you pulled it off beautifully!
Bonnie
Oh my word, Rhoda….that is incredible! How long did it take you from start to finish? The stairs are beautiful and I can’t believe you added all that trim…and all the measuring & cutting!!! Fabulous job…just fabulous! Beth
All I can say is WOW! It looks incredible and I know what you mean about the traffic worn center bit of the staircase, sigh!You certainly don’t shrink from those monster jobs Rhoda…………..you really should have your own TV show and give we women more confidence when it comes to using tools about the house. Perhaps then we could tear up the ‘honey-do list’ and really get things done!
BTW, I really admired your recent post on how we design our homes – you told it like it is and perhaps helped many people realize one doesn’t have to follow trends to have a comfy, pretty home. I’m just gathering the things that I love and which I enjoy looking at as I go about my day. I never shop for new these days, as I’m having so much more fun trolling the thrift shops, antiques/vintage malls, flea markets etc. The good old stuff is out there and it’s much better than the new!
Thanks Rhoda for your kind words about my new blog.
Hugs – Mary (A Breath of Fresh Air)
I am SO impressed! It looks amazing! I can’t wait to see the step-by-step so I can get ideas for my stairs!
Rhoda,
You did a fantastic job. I have a set of stairs that I need to tackle. You are giving me some inspiration.
Cynthia
WOW!!!!!
I want to rip the UGLY carpet off our back stairs…but it’s about twice as big of a job…I think I’ll have to wait till the kids go to camp this summer to tackle that one!
Great job!
You are awesome!
Wow! That was definitely a job! I tore the carpet off my stairs last year and they are still sitting there waiting to be sanded and refinished or painted. At least mine were finished at some point so they are completely raw like yours were. I am in awe of this project. Go you! The stairs look great!
Amazing! I really wouldn’t think you could pull that off after seeing those nail-filled steps. Bravo!!
Oh my goodness, you did a wonderful job!! I hope that you have a power miter saw. I purchased one at Big Lots several years ago for about $100 and it was money well spent. You are a very skilled woman!
Fantastic job! I will be doing mine soon. I have been putting it off for so long! I am totally motivated now!
OMG OMG OMG OMG
my jaw DID drop!! these are the cutest stairs EVER!!!! EVER!!!!
I am in shock and awe! unreal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You go girl! Great job.
Sami G.
Wow…..they are gorgeous…love the colors you used!
Simply stunning.
Beautiful! I love the way they turned out and all your little detail is wonderful! I am quite certain it was a pain – but boy was it worth it!
What a great job!!! You go girl……I wish I had some stairs too:)
I am so impressed with all the DIY you take on, very impressive. Keep up the great work!!
I can’t wait to see all the how-to photos – I currently am in the process – and it’s going to be a long process – of painting my stairs also. We had two – yes, two – layers of ugly carpet nailed – yes, nailed – to the stairs. It’s going to be hours and hours of pulling out nails and filling holes and sanding, etc. I’m so glad to see a finished product in your pictures!
OHHHH!!!! This makes me want to do our stairs to the basement NOW!!!!!!!!!! They are the same way….all worn down in the middle and no way to make them FLUFF UP!!!! I woud do ours exactly the same….LOVE the black and the runner!!!! Fortunatly my hubby is VERY skilled at mitering and molding so here’s hoping we will pull this off too!!!!!!!! XO, Pinky
Wow! You did a fantastic job Rhoda! They look fabulous! It certainly looks like your hard work and nubby nails paid off! I like the colors you selected.
~ Tracy
Holy cow, Rhoda! If I pulled the carpet off and saw that mess underneath, I would’ve covered it right back up again. I’m amazed by this transformation. Beautiful! Wish I could hire you to come and do mine now.
wow, your stairs look fabulous! maybe you can find a pretty piece of trim to cover the raw seam.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. You had your thinking cap on, didn’t you? What a great creation! Congratulations!
One quick visit to your blog and a peek at this project – I’ve bookmarked you, girl! I’m in the midst of trying to pretty up on the cheap myself, so I need connections with some folks not afraid to DIY.
Those stairs are what you might call “value added”! Love them!
You know, if it really bothered you, you could hot glue some really neat braided trim or something over the staples and the raw seam. You now, how upholsters often hide their work on furniture. Or better yet, upholster tacks would look good hammered in too. I think your stairs look beautiful and that you are a talented and brave woman!
Wow! That’s about all I can say. You did a fabulous job and they look so great! Such a neat, clean look. I have a set of 14 stairs going from the entry to the basement that I’ve been fussing about for years. I think you’ve given me just the boost I need!
Oh, Rhoda it’s stunning! Wow! I mean, WOW!! My hubby is officially mad at you for putting this idea in my little head!! I must have stairs like Rhoda’s!!
I’m a new blogger and I just adore your blog! I’m a fellow southern girl, myself. I love what you did with the stairs but I especially love the fabulous green color in your laundry room. Please tell me the color and brand! =)
Wow, Rhoda! I think they look better than the expensive stairs! Way more character! I’m sure there were moments when you wondered if it was worth it, and your hard work DEFINITELY paid off. An amazing transformation!
I am floored (or should I say staired) by this.
You did such a beautiful job!
Awesome job!
THIS is exactly what I have been looking for. I have builder grade stairs underneath my ratty brown carpet, so I am really excited to see your moulding tips!!!
I love how it turned out. When I first saw the picture of the final product, I just KNEW you had great looking step underneath that carpet but WOW it was nasty! I probably should do something like that with my steps so I can’t wait to see the full “how to”!!!
Rhoda!
I just LOVE it! It looks so fabulous! I love the runner down the stairs – it just gives it the right amount of pizazz! Good Job!
Manuela
I love this! I would be deleriously happy too. Fab job!
Hi Rhoda.
I love your blog. I just posted to your party– #69. I cant find a way to email this so I am posting to comments.
I have a question. I cant find the runner you said you purchased at overstock. I have two sets of stairs that I have ripped up the carpets and am in the process of refinishing (it is on my blog) but I cannot find reasonably priced runners. I did find a coir (made from coconut) for $200 each that may work though.
Thank you,
Lori
Hi Rhoda!
I’ve been checking and checking for this. I couldn’t wait! It looks really, really nice. I love the black treads and the rug. I would’ve pulled that carpet off, took one look and probably cried because I would’ve been overwhelmed with what to do. lol Someday I’ll be tearing my carpet off and will keep this in mind.
Rhoda, I’m flabbergasted at how great a job you did! They.are.gorgeous! I’ve been wanting to do the same to mine, but it’s a little low on the list right now. I’m completely inspired by your’s!
WOW — I am SO impressed. Your stairs look beautiful. I figure if anyone get close enough to see a staple, then they’re looking for something to criticize. I would love to do a project like this and maybe I will in the future. An added challenge I would have is my spindles comes all the way down and are nailed into the steps. So — out with the spindles, which leads to….WROUGHT IRON spindles. I’ve mentioned this to DH, but he just keeps shaking his head and pointing to my list of 20 other items I want to do. He’s right. I will have to live with that nasty old carpet a bit longer. I think I’ll try to rent a steam cleaner and really spend the day working on them. Perhaps that will spiff them up a bit. But I regress…you did a WONDERFUL JOB!!!
Rhoda,
You are a gutsy girl….I want the carpet off of mine too but am not tackling that, especially since the ones I an concerned about go from the FR upstairs.
I just found your blog…while pondering what to do with my horrible carpeted stairs…I’m sooo doing this…at some point when I can convince my husband it’s a good idea!
Rhoda – I’m late to the party…just saw this post. AMAZING!!!! I love, love, love it! I’m thinking of doing something similar with my stairs, although I’m lucky…they are already carpet-less!
I’m so glad I found your blog through another this evening – No lie, I just ripped the ugly carpeting off my foyer stairs and was going to stain them but, after seeing your beautiful stairs, you have inspired me! Bring on the black paint!
Oh, what kind of black paint did you use? I was wondering if you used flat or semi-gloss.
Suzanne, the porch & floor paint I got at Lowes was by Valspar, in Satin finish. It’s great paint!
You are amazing!! How did I miss this one? Half my stairs are torn up right now, we don’t know what to do…I’m on my way to your DIY part!
XO
Kristin