Varnished Hand Rail

£18k he's on now which is not a lot for a managerial position. This is why he (and others) do all that overtime just so they have a decent wage every month. They should have that in the first place THEN the incentive would be there to earn even more. It's all about staff morale, something that is severely dented both in the private AND public sector at present. It makes me sick even thinking about the state this country is in. VAT on imports from China will help though and it's about time. The pic of the rail is in the box above but please imagine a bright red carpet in place of the hideous old one we have at the moment. Thanks!

And thank you! I couldn't see the print on the tin you see so I could open it up on Adobe Reader from Ronseal's website, would you believe. On it it said what you had already told me, so I apologise for not mentioning it before..I genuinely forgot...and the pic of course, which is here now.

I didn't even sand mine, just stripped the paint & varnish and went with "shabby chic"... I did paint the risers white, though, but there again they're not smooth.

I dread to think what the state of our stairs are underneath that carpet as they do creak..some more than others and I guess I'm old-fashioned in my love of carpets..but not patterned ones. Flojo has gone to work on the one you see in the photograph and it must've been a dear carpet when it was new (when Jesus was a lad) as a cheapo one would be in bits by now. Also, the in-laws never covered it up when they were steaming the original wallpaper off, such is their love of making a mess whenever they do any DIY. Put it this way, the same red carpet would cost around £700 before labour, to be laid in the living-room, so to carry it on in the hallway and up the stairs and across the landing..well, you're talking a couple of grand easy. I won't settle for a cheaper version as it won't last and they're generally made abroad. I want a British made one to keep people here in work.

I was thinking that too, you could just take up the carpet and sand and varnish the floorboards, and get some nice red prints for the walls, very cheaply from one of those shops that sell things for the home cheaply. i should keep this secret, but i have a couple of pictures in my home i bought in poundsaver for just a few pounds, and they are the right colour and are just a flower. now you have the varnishing expertise, the floorboards could be next. though its a bit trendy middle class to have sanded floorboards, there are some things worth pinching.

Wow, designing office decor, I bet that was brilliant to do..as they can be so drab can't they? No doubt it was wonderful because you had a 'free hand' in planning it..good for you. The rail is made of pine. It's got a nice 'pine' smell too, which I like. Yes, the carpet will be up..eventually. The replacement will not be cheap though so, no doubt, the prints will come first. I'm torn between these 'types.' http://www.allposters.co.uk/gallery.asp?startat=%2Fgetthumb.asp&txtSearch=theberge&CID=72D9B309366B4ABC98A14058D8520ECB http://www.allposters.co.uk/gallery.asp?startat=%2Fgetthumb.asp&txtSearch=tango&CID=13D9A59625EC4EEA81D72596373FE693 In total I'd like 5 prints from EITHER section, whether it be Claude Theberge or a selection of tango dancers in the second link. Whichever prints I choose they will certainly liven up that white wall..then the saving will start for the RED carpet...shown below. http://www.ryalux.com/ChooseCarpet/ChooseByColour/1/35 In case it doesn't come up above...the carpet would be Red Cabochon and yes, I DO have a sample of it and have done for about 4 years..and I'm willing to wait another 4 until I get the carpet!

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder as they say and for me, I would never go for stuff that would clash with each other and in your case it will if you do not change your staircase carpet to a self colour, already now. Putting up the wall decor having floral or whatever designs with the present staircase carpet being still there, are you sure it will not clutter the place? Just a thought Janey.

I worked out the other day that the red carpet I keep dreaming about would be about £700 BEFORE LABOUR if we had it in the living-room..so if I want it carrying on in the hallway, up the stairs and along the landing as well..you're talking about £2,000 in total, possibly more. However, John does know a carpet fitter which helps enormously in these situations AND he's the best in the biz at fitting stair carpets, hence his knackered knees!

Well, I do wish that you get your favorite red carpet. You and your husband deserve to have nice things. In time everything will happen. And if you wish hard enough, your wish will come true.