Style - well that is a good question... I would say it is a modern contemporary urban style home, brick frontage etc... not a victorian style or anything like that. Have solid wood two tone staircase, with dark and natural color maple that stands out prominently when you enter the house. The rest of the house, the Kitchen etc is bit traditional, yet modern finish. Dark solid wood cabinets. I do have 9 foot ceiling but only 9', as that is the maximum that we are allowed to have in our neighborhood. I like to add bit of character and architectural personality to the house, but wasn't sure if wainscotting would in turn make the house look very aged, as we generally see them on older Victorian style homes. Or perhaps I am just mistaken in my limited knowledge about home styling and decor. I see soooo many different styles, which makes it so difficult to choose one because I like them all. So the challenge is to pick one that suits the best. Is it generally better to keep the stains neutral so that the wainscotting trim blend with the wall or will it stand out too much if I make panels that are stained dark. These are the questions that are holding me back from venturing in to this project. Any other comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Do you have rules where you live about spacing of spindles can you have horizontal ones? These are interesting stairs I might be tempted to talk to a metal worker and get something custom.

Tsilanko, I would always recommend professional installation where needed. But what I am doing here is suggesting that WHEN you are planning to build or renovate, to consider how your plans will affect you in 20 or 30 years time. Split levels are very hep when you are young. A kitchen 3 steps down at 30 is rarely a problem, but might be a hazard at 60, or, as Marjie1059 suggested, if you break a leg. ... All my parents' homes were terrible for old people. They were forced to move to a bungalow in extreme old sge because the location and design of their home was more suitable for an active young couple with a large family than for an elderly couple with stroke disabilities. I would not want to move again, so my present home has features built in that make ageing in place simpler. Mostly small changes, like grab rails, and lever handles on doors and faucets. A major disability suddenly suffered requires major changes if permanent. I did look at this because it came up in the discussion, but if you look at the heading, Planning for Disability, it means just that. Plan ahead so you don't have to make expensive changes later on. But thank you for your advice, yes, major changes are not in the DIY domain.

HOME DESIGNING Menu A Two-Story Home with a Sleek Grey Color Palette Save Tumblr Not every home has a unifying color theme, but without one it can be easy for a house to feel disjointed or erratic. A color palette can unify a home's design so that it flows easily from one room to another, but that does not mean that each room has to be decorated in exactly the same colors. In this house, for instance, grey creates a throughline within the home but does not overwhelm the design. Instead, it creates a foundation for each room so that the overall look is comforting and harmonious -- without being too "matchy-matchy." Take a look inside this home from visualizer Andrei Lychkouski to see what we mean. 1 |The main, open living space itself is the room that takes the gray theme to the extreme. 2 |From an oversized dark gray section to clear gray lucite dining chairs and texture gray walls, this is the center of the home’s color story. ADVERTISEMENT 3 |The colors that are dotted throughout the space draw the eye but are still subtle, and largely live within the neutral family from green to teal to warm brown. 4 |The high ceiling creates a dramatic feel for an otherwise fairly conservative design. 5 |A few creative elements do stand out, including the glass coffee table. 6 |When light gray is used in conjunction with white, a space can feel much more open without the blinding effects of white on white. 7 |Gray furnishings show the commitment to the palette, such as this freestanding dresser. 8 |The stairs in this home also act as an important design element. ADVERTISEMENT 9 |White wood steps are suspended in air, making their way to the second floor with the bright green accent wall behind them. 10 |But staying downstairs for a moment, the kitchen and breakfast bar keep with the gray theming. 11 |Dark gray stools, light gray countertops, and a narrow window make this kitchen feel particularly cozy. 12 |In the dining area, open to the kitchen, a smattering of pendant lights add a bit of interest as well. 13 |The kitchen itself is not particularly spacious, but the use of natural light and a bar/island mean there is room to do the work required for cooking. 14 |A small strip of grass grows along the windowsill for another pop of color. 15 |Upstairs, gray gives way to black for the second floor railings. 16 |Propeller-inspired light fixtures are both playful and unique. 17 |Large picture windows let in plenty of light during the day but must be kept closed in the dead of winter. 18 |The mater bedroom also tends towards darker grays and blacks. 19 |A wood slat accent wall is darker while the cushioned headboard is a lighter shade of gray. 20 |Color is brought in with creative art pieces. 21 |Gray linens and black light fixtures give this bedroom decor a bit of an edge. 22 |In a house with no separate home office space, its important that this desk is included somewhere — and there was no room in the living area. 23 |Moving into one of the two children’s rooms, colors are quite a bit brighter. 24 |A lovely blue chair, green rug, and pink pillow are so much more vibrant that most of what we have seen in this house. 25 |But even so, the idea of cray threads its way in with a shadowed sleeping nook. 26 |Fun wall art is a perfect way to bring a child’s personality into a room’s design. 27 |The faux grass carpet is perfect for a cold winter, too, when playing outside is a bit less common. 28 |In the second child’s room, colors go even further with an astronomy-inspired accent wall. 29 |A bright orange chair is the perfect homework spot, looking out onto the yar. 30 |Built-in shelving is required for an kid’s room lest things get too cluttered. 31 |A similar piece of wall art brings the charm in this room, too. 32 |The bathroom decor slides comfortably back into the gray theme. 33 |White and gray match up with natural greenery. 34 |Of course glass and tile are all but required. 35 |An overhead lighting bar is a stylish solution for the over-sink vanity. 36 |A second bathroom is smaller but pulls from a similar style. 37 |Again, white and gray play nicely together. 38 |In this room, an overhead ring light is the best solution. 39 | 40 | Recommended Reading: 42 Gorgeous Grey Bedrooms 40 Gorgeous Grey Kitchens Did you like this article? Share it on any of the following social media channels below to give us your vote. Your feedback helps us improve.