One of the things I was most excited about updating in this house was the stairway. It greets you as soon as you walk in the front door, and 30-year-old carpet (topped off with a good two years of abuse from the Clark kids) just wasn’t saying “welcome.”
As part of our upstairs renovation, we had the carpet pulled up and replaced with wood treads and an antelope stair runner:
When I went to the carpet store, I had my heart set on a natural fiber runner like sisal or seagrass. But, once I got there and spotted the antelope, I was pretty smitten. (It’s kind of like going to get your hair trimmed but when you get there, you get braver and come home with a short bob.)
It’s made by Karastan and the pattern name is “Savanna Scenes”. We went with the more golden colorway, and I think it’s the perfect fit for disguising the dirty that’s bound to happen in this very busy spot. It’s nylon but gives me the look of wool–at a much better price point. The saleslady was very reassuring about its durability.
A couple of quick details to point out, in case you’re installing a new runner at any point. We had it inset at 4″ from the wall on each side, starting at the top. And, we ended the runner right under the first tread. I’ve seen it done other ways but this is my favorite finished look.
We also had new railing installed and stuck to classic black and white.
wallpaper – framed silhouettes – lighting (similar) – table (thrifted)
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Hi Emily,
Your staircase looks beautiful. I also recently had hardwood treads installed and I’m still debating on whether or not to put down a runner. Did you consider leaving the treads bare? What was it that made you decide on a runner?
I knew I wanted a runner. A certain 5-year-old that speeds down our stairs at 60 mph was the deciding factor for me. ;)
The key to beautiful long lasting carpet is a good pad, and a no shoes in the house rule.
Your staircase turned out so nice! I refinished my staircase a couple of years ago, but haven’t put a runner down yet. I live in the Charlotte area and was wondering what store you found the carpet at and are you satisfied with their work. Thanks!
We worked through our contractor with Warner Carpet.
That looks so cool!!! Almost makes me wish I decorated in a more chic style instead of totally California relaxed/natural. It looks great with your emerald cabinets and graphic wallpaper.
Love it, just gorgeous!
It looks AMAZING! Looks like a new house! That’s one of my favorite patterns. We are looking at a similar redo for our stairs hopefully sooner than later. If you don’t mind me asking, was it super expensive to do the wood treads? Our stairs look kind of similar to yours except we have a bottom wood stair and the part around our spindles is wood, not carpet. So not sure how we would do that. I wonder what it would look like if we just did it carpeted like it is now? One side has the wood and the carpet goes to the wall on the other side.
I would also love to know the approximate price…. my staircase looks very similar to your “before” picture. It is a home I am not going to stay in, but my staircase is the first thing you see when you walk in. I have gone round and round with options, but ultimately I want to do just what you had done, wood treads, antelope runner, and stained banister. Such a lovely mix….and such a smart pattern for a high traffic area.
It’s a good choice especially for a young family with 5 children. The stairs sure take a beating with kids running up and down the stairs. I know when my 3 kids were growing up how much use my center hall colonial house stairs had gotten, especially in the summer.
Love your runner choice! Semi related question as someone who has a center hall colonial with the front door that opens directly into the stairs – any tips on how you make the space function? we are about to embark on a reno and take out a closet to open the space up more. This layout drives me crazy when we have guest cause there not much space to open the door and greet.
I’ve had my eyes on that lovely antelope too but I’m afraid my cats will rip it to shreds. It’s so so lovely looking in your house.
Love it!
Wow, it all is coming together so beautifully. The colors, patterns, and textures are gorgeous together. I love that we get to watch your style in this house evolve right along with you. Thank you for sharing, Emily!
Really lovely, I would never have thought to install that as a stair runner. But it is perfect.
Pat
How well does the runner stay flat? I have thought about buying a runner but was always nervous that my kids would trip on it on the stairs?
Love the combo of patterns you have going in!
LOVE the runner. I am buying a new home and getting some great ideas here. Keep them coming!
Regarding the rail handle, I love the white and black minimalistic look. Did you just paint the old railing or install a whole new one? If you painted it, it must have been really tricky!
Everything had to be pulled up and redone when they did new treads so it’s all new.
I do love the look of your new runner! We’ve had bare wood treads since…forever. I’m wondering – how do you install or fix the runner to the treads? Is it something that can be easily be replaced or is it glued down on to the treads?
That is smashing.
Your house is such eye candy!
I was thinking about doing something similar. Can you show how you finished the top of the stair? I was wondering if I should go all the way down the hallway or just stop at the top.
Awesome! Love that it looks classic but still fun! And your styling is always so good!
It looks amazing! I’ve been dying to add an antelope runner to our house since we moved in 4 years ago!! I love it and love the style of your home. We have similar taste 😉
Love it! I was also wondering what you did in the upstairs hallway. Did you use the antelope carpet there?
OMG! It’s gorgeous! I am dying here from envy. Last year we refinished our stairs and when we were looking for the runner, my husband agreed to ANYTHING, but animal print. I knew this runner would be perfect. Ahhhhh…… Why didn’t I convince him???!!! I want to pull off our expensive $2000 (oriental classic blah blah ….)wool runner and replace it with this beauty. But I am sure if I do that, I will received divorce papers :(
P.S. Emily, I LOVE your blog! I have borrowed many ideas from you. You are so talented.
Awesome! I love it.
Love it and it’s so refreshing looking while being so practical. Always wondered about that nylon type–glad to hear that it’s so hardy.
WOW – especially love the peek into the other room with it – nailed it!
This is so beautiful!
Wowza…I wish I had stairs! Althoooouugh (strokes chin), I do have a long hallway that needs a runner.
You are fabulous!
That turned out beautifully! I just finished staining our stairs black and was going to put a seagrass runner down, but this has got me thinking differently.
Hi, I have been looking at this carpet for months but I can’t decide which color to choose. I can not find a sample large enough to show the Savanah Scenes (more brown/ gold tones) darker stripe. The picture with you standing on the carpet is the Savanah Scenes Ashen color. (more grey /black brown) But in the paragraph below you stated you went with the brown/gold pattern. Which color did you actually end up with? I can’t tell from the photos.
Love the Stairs!
Emily, can you, please, let me know the width of your anthelope runner? I am going to order this runner but want the pattern to have very light boarder like your. Thank you!!!
I too am wondering what you do at the top of the stairs. does the carpet continue down the hall? what if there is a landing and a doorway and the hall is in another direction? It has always perplexed me and is one area you never see a photo of!
I really really really enjoy your blog.
The runner stops right under the top step and the rest of the hallway is hardwood.
I’ve been eyeballing this antelope carpet runner for our stairs but can’t decide what flooring to transition to upstairs. I have hardwood downstairs and love it but I need carpet upstairs. What did you use? Any suggestions?
Here’s the carpet we used upstairs: https://emilyaclark.com/2018/03/upstairs-update-ceiling-fans-kids-carpet.html
The hallway is hardwood.
This looks fabulous and is a great welcome! Could you give approximate pricing for a reno project like this?
Hi
I entering this late in the game. I have the same carpet sample I’m deciding on in 3 color ways. The tan (like yours), grey, and navy. Love them all but leaning towards the grey or navy. How do you like yours a year later?
Thanks and love your blog.
Kam
Love it! I think it’s one of the best design decisions I’ve made for a house full of kids. :)
I’ve been trying to find out how the antelope print sits on the carpeting. The carpet is twelve feet wide and the print is a three foot repeat. Does the print start on the edge so there are four repeats across or is the center of a print on the center of the 12 feet which would make half of a print on each edge. Just wanted to make an area rug and know where the prints are going to fall. Thank you. Even the Karastan website and customer service cannot answer the question.
Hi- I LOVE this runner!!! Do you know what color this is? It is perfect but cannot tell if it is Antelope, Ashen Antelope, Golden Antelope… Also, how wide is your runner?
Thank you!!!
Hi Emily!
Like many others who commented, I fell in love with this runner the minute I saw it on your blog! Also, as others mentioned, I can’t get Karastan to recommend the width based on your design. Is it possible to get the width of your runner? And color? I can’t tell if it’s Ashen or not.
Thank you in advance! Your entryway is gorgeous!
Hi–It’s 34″ wide but I cannot remember the exact color name :(
Emily, thank you very much! I am actually going to the carpet store this weekend to match the best color with my current flooring it will sit next to. And thank you again for the measurement. Yours looks so nice and I wanted to make sure mine turned out just as fabulous!!
-Wendy
Omg. I am getting ready to order this same carpet as a 9 X 12 rug. You just sealed the deal. Quick question- would you have the “stripes” running long ways (horizontal) like the sofa sits or vertical? I have hard wood planks that run vertical to the sofa.
Thank you!!!
My first instinct is horizontal…