Hickory Hardwood Floors and Staircase Makeover
Thanks to Lowe’s for their support and installation of the floors in this home improvement project!
I am thrilled with the progress in my house—this renovation has been a long time coming. When I first started (you can see where it began), I never imagined how much would change. It has felt like waiting forever, but seeing these updates makes it all worthwhile. Today I’ll share the latest on the flooring and staircase—these photos are more “in process” than final, but the difference is already huge.
To appreciate the transformation, it helps to look back at what the staircase used to be. With carpeted steps and dated paint on the walls, it didn’t fit my style at all. We lived with it for years while slowly tackling updates, but the change has been dramatic.
We started the makeover by priming the oak handrails and painting them black—an easier step to do safely—then added wall stripes for a bit of personality. Those simple changes already gave the stair area more character.
These progress pictures show how far we’ve come from the heavy carpet and dated walls. At one point there was a lot of that old paint throughout the house, and we’ve since reduced it to just a few rooms. It’s satisfying to see the improvement step by step.
The stairway looked rough in the middle of the process, but I knew the finished result would match the vision I had in mind.
One of the big delays was waiting until we could afford to repaint the two-story entry walls. Having only part of the staircase done while the rest remained unchanged was frustrating, but we did what we could when we could. Once the entry walls were painted, the outdated color was gone and the space felt refreshed.
Carpet was the final element we wanted to remove. Thanks to Lowe’s and their installers, we now have Hickory solid hardwood floors installed throughout much of the space. The new floors are full of character, low-maintenance, and exactly the kind of relaxed-yet-refined look I envisioned—almost like an informal beach house where you can feel comfortable with sandy feet.
I chose prefinished Hickory treads so we could use the stairs immediately without having to live through sanding or staining with kids and pets around. The risers are primed white but haven’t been painted yet; that will be an ongoing project. Eventually we’ll repaint all the white trim on the staircase to a fresh, true white to replace the slightly pinkish tone that’s there now.
From the upstairs hallway you can see the new wood flooring. A couple of top steps still await their risers, but the main flooring and quarter-round trim around the baseboards are finished. The difference in the flow of the house is noticeable already.
The bedroom also benefits from the hardwoods and fresh paint. Even though the room isn’t completely finished, it feels cleaner and more inviting. I ordered new curtains and hope to share more progress soon, including paint color details and after photos.
Every day I’m delighted to walk up and see the hallway with the new hardwood floors. They’ve brightened the house and brought a lighter, more cohesive look that aligns with the style I’ve been working toward. The floors add warmth and personality and make the whole home feel more finished.
The previous carpet didn’t suit the vision I had for the home, so I’m grateful I waited until I could choose the right flooring. The extra time allowed me to refine my tastes and commit to something I truly love.
There’s still more to do—living room, dining room, and the kitchen remodel are next—but these flooring updates represent major progress. I’ll be sharing more updates and photos as the other rooms are completed and as the kitchen remodel moves forward.
Thanks, everyone, for following along as I transform my house. Sharing this journey has made it more fun—your enthusiasm means a lot!
For my FAQ about my Hickory floors, see the original post.
Thanks again to Lowe’s for partnering with me on this project and helping make my hardwood floor vision a reality. My contractor complimented the installation, and that professional approval felt great—these floors truly transformed the home.