Today I will interject in pink. Hi Christine,
I saw Carol's questions on her carpet runner and your incredibly helpful answers(s) and have a few questions of my own, as we're also putting in a carpet runner for our stairs. Unlike Carol, who has a nylon carpet but wants a waterfall look, I have a wool carpet (Stark Carpet's Woodcrest II in Wheat)
and am leaning towards doing a New York wrap since many of the steps on our stairs are exposed on the sides and am a bit hesitant to see that gap. Would a wool/New York wrap combination look weird, or is it always better to go waterfall with a wool carpet? It will look great- I actually was referring to more of a fine hand knotted runner- which comes out much softer than a machine made piece that is made in broadloom and cut down. Although- a well-installed runner won't be giving you a bad view of the underside. Like the example below:
They can have a waterfall installation and still be "tacked down" on the edges. I would tell you to have it installed either way with your carpet- whichever look you prefer. The example below is a bit on the grand side- it is from a palace in Rome- but I was having a hard time finding an example of a New York Wrap. :)
Also, you recommended that Carol have her runner surged instead of tucked and turned, but what about binding? My installer said he always uses a high quality synthetic 7/8 inch binding (with almost a 1/4 inch reveal) and a zig zag stitch. What do you think of bindings (synthetic, cotton or otherwise) wider reveals and straight v. zig zag stitches? Having yours bound- it is hard to give my opinion without actually seeing the binding- if it does not look "too casual"- (frequently they are a very casual cotton look)- I'm sure it will look great. The fine hand knotted rugs are surged- which is why I mentioned that before. 
And while you're looking at my stairs, what do you think of painting the risers white? Important or don't bother? I'm definitely having the decorative wood moulding along the outside edge painted white, adding some sort of paneling or wainscoting on the walls on the way up and want to darken the banister either to a darker color or maybe even black (without the mess of stripping the existing finish on site, but have yet to figure whether they can take the banister out to refinish somewhere else or use a special product on site).
I love a painted riser- it will change from an element that needs no maintenance- to one that is potentially going to need future attention. A white riser would look great though. 
Would love any opinions!
and am leaning towards doing a New York wrap since many of the steps on our stairs are exposed on the sides and am a bit hesitant to see that gap. Would a wool/New York wrap combination look weird, or is it always better to go waterfall with a wool carpet? It will look great- I actually was referring to more of a fine hand knotted runner- which comes out much softer than a machine made piece that is made in broadloom and cut down. Although- a well-installed runner won't be giving you a bad view of the underside. Like the example below:They can have a waterfall installation and still be "tacked down" on the edges. I would tell you to have it installed either way with your carpet- whichever look you prefer. The example below is a bit on the grand side- it is from a palace in Rome- but I was having a hard time finding an example of a New York Wrap. :)Also, you recommended that Carol have her runner surged instead of tucked and turned, but what about binding? My installer said he always uses a high quality synthetic 7/8 inch binding (with almost a 1/4 inch reveal) and a zig zag stitch. What do you think of bindings (synthetic, cotton or otherwise) wider reveals and straight v. zig zag stitches? Having yours bound- it is hard to give my opinion without actually seeing the binding- if it does not look "too casual"- (frequently they are a very casual cotton look)- I'm sure it will look great. The fine hand knotted rugs are surged- which is why I mentioned that before. And while you're looking at my stairs, what do you think of painting the risers white? Important or don't bother? I'm definitely having the decorative wood moulding along the outside edge painted white, adding some sort of paneling or wainscoting on the walls on the way up and want to darken the banister either to a darker color or maybe even black (without the mess of stripping the existing finish on site, but have yet to figure whether they can take the banister out to refinish somewhere else or use a special product on site). I love a painted riser- it will change from an element that needs no maintenance- to one that is potentially going to need future attention. A white riser would look great though. Would love any opinions!Thanks,
Angela
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3 comments:
I agree with painting the riser!
angela, please send a picture of the finished product!!! i vote for the painted risers as well.
Good luck with your runner project! I'm still waiting to get mine installed. I've changed to a Masland wool broadloom runner now, staying with serged edges and waterfall layment. I'm glad to know Christine's help with my project helped someone else. I do like my white risers - haven't needed to do any maintenance yet in the ten years we've lived here. How will they handle the turn on your landing? Will the carpet change direction after the landing? That's what they're doing with mine.
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