Holy Handrails

Sometimes I wonder if I am ocd. I will get fixated on a project, and build it in my mind a hundred times before I actually make anything.

I have been thinking about doing this project for two years now, so its been meticulousy considered - probably too much.

Well, the timing was finally right to update our staircase with some classic handrails to match the rest of the dark oak trim in the house. The process went like this:

Buy/Order all the parts ($200)

Prep the plaster and remove old ugly handrail.

Measure and assemble handrails. (this was the hard part)

Sand and stain oak to a dark walnut finish

Install with railing hardware

Pictures below document the entire process.

Original staircase had no handrail. Boo.

Handrail endings

Rail bolts and glue makes the wood turn magically

Two 90º turns with rosette endings

Stud finders don't really work on a plaster wall

Bare wood test on wall

Sanding smooth

Staining with a gel, really nice to work with.

Downstairs handrail, finished

Upstairs handrail, finished.

Detail of turn and rosette

Wrigley wishes he had thumbs

More angles

Detail

Trial run. Approved by Becca