Tile or vinyl on stairs?

[horsepoor]

We have a funky 1970's split level thing going on, and I'd like to get rid of the carpet in an area that sees all the foot traffic between the garage, backyard, front door and kitchen.  We're planning to replace the vinyl plank in the kitchen, which was a horrible decision, and is currently curling to the point that we trip on it.  This is to the left when looking up the stairs.  To the right, of the carpet, is the entryway, which is one step up from the kitchen floor level.  We would like to replace the tile that was shoddily installed by the previous owner with some nice travertine.  I'm planning to use a stick-down vinyl in the hallway (Trafficmaster Allure 12x36") from the garage to the base of the stairs, and probably use the same flooring in the kitchen.  Therefore, it would make the MOST sense to replace this bit of carpet with the same vinyl.  However, the steps have me flummoxed.  It almost seems like the best option is tiling from the base of the stairs and continuing up to the front door, but that leaves a long flooring seam where the tile meets the vinyl at the kitchen entrance (definitely not up for putting travertine in the kitchen).
WWYD?

[Simple Abundant Living]

My opinion is that a lot of different flooring changes break up the house and make it seem smaller (and cheaper).  Is it possible you will sell this house someday, or are you there for life?   What are the ages of your family?  Do you have little kids?  Even if you plan to never leave, if someone becomes wheelchair bound, you may want to move someday.  I think it's always good to think of possible resale in making big ticket choices.

If I had any idea I might sell, I would go with one flooring from entry on through.  My personal preference is wood.  Tile is hard, but durable.  Travertine is a very soft stone, can chip, and needs to be sealed.  It's a hard surface to stand on in a kitchen- and to fall down on, on the stairs.  ;) Of your choices, I would probably go with a good quality vinyl the whole way through.  Or think about cork, it's pleasant to stand on and fall on.  LOL.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I would definitely go with the softest possible option. Tile on stairs would scare the shit out of me, and not just because I have toddlers.

[horsepoor]

Thanks, no kids, no plan to sell anytime soon.  We're 36 and 39, so hopefully not going to be using walkers or wheelchairs in the foreseeable future.  If we are, we're screwed because you can't go anywhere in this house without encountering stairs.  Hardwood is out because we have large dogs and they scratched the shit out of the bamboo we put in our previous house.  I suppose we could put in hardwood treads but that adds yet ANOTHER flooring transition.

[Simple Abundant Living]

Thanks, no kids, no plan to sell anytime soon.  We're 36 and 39, so hopefully not going to be using walkers or wheelchairs in the foreseeable future.  If we are, we're screwed because you can't go anywhere in this house without encountering stairs.  Hardwood is out because we have large dogs and they scratched the shit out of the bamboo we put in our previous house.  I suppose we could put in hardwood treads but that adds yet ANOTHER flooring transition.

At your age, the need for wheelchair accessibility is usually because of caring for a parent.  Given your lifestyle, I would consider a ceramic/porcelain tile everywhere.  There are even ones that look like wood, if you like that look.  It will be durable for your dogs, and will last for a long time. 

[Frankies Girl]

What type of surface are the stairs under the carpet? If they are at least passable wood (something that could be lightly sanded and then painted or even some bullnose rounds might need to be added) that is what I would do. Since the stairs aren't a full flight just three steps, it would be easy to fix them up, paint and find a pretty carpet runner and put that down.

If it was me, I'd make the entire top flooring the same - kitchen, hall in front of garage door, step up to main entryway - same flooring. It would extend to the top part of that first step to the flight of steps in the foreground, and then I'd rip off the carpet on the stairs and paint - nothing fancy - just sand the wood to make sure it's smooth and then paint (probably several coats of white) so it's easy to touch up and the wood grain isn't important.

If you're lucky you have basic wood construction, just prep and paint after pulling out all of the staples and crap from that carpet and then put on a runner that will protect the stairs from the traffic/dogs and adds a pop of color or interest along with some cushion. Then you could tile the top and bottom levels and just have a nice transition of white stairs and the "carpet" part could be replaced if torn or worn (or you get bored with it).

But you really could just paint the wood white and then leave off the carpet runner completely - it would be easy to touch up if needed. I just love the way the carpet runner looks and always planned on doing this type of thing with any stairs in the future...

Attaching a really quick and dirty image of what I am talking about using your main pic as an example.
I'm using the tanish pattern to indicate the flooring (tile? whatever?) definitely doesn't have to be tan just picked as it was easy to differentiate in a photo. I'd definitely do everything on each level the same if possible with just the stairs as a change up.  I'd think you might even want to paint some of the woodwork (trim/doors/bannisters) white as well, as that red toned wood is just screaming 1960s-1970s and then there's the walls that need a new coat of paint and really I'd get rid of that railing/bannister section and put in a pony wall or even plexi/glass or something... but then we're entering the "just one more thing" type of project that can take over the whole house. ;)


Some possible inspiration on white stairs with carpet runner (and some installations):

http://southernhospitalityblog.com/painted-stairs-and-adding-runners/
http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/12/diy-stair-runner.html
http://www.younghouselove.com/2013/11/stairs-and-stripes/


Pics:
http://www.houzz.com/uk/photos/4181624/white-staircase-with-carpet-runner-traditional-staircase-san-francisco
http://www.trendscarpet.com/stairs/lovehomecouk-how-to-lay-a-stair-runner/attachment/carpet-for-stairs-runner-por/
http://norahouse.com/carpet-runner-for-stairs/winning-decorations-accessories-grey-monochromated-stripes-pattern-stairs-carpet-runners-design-in-plain-white-home-stairs-design-ideas-decorative-carpet-stair-runner-ideas-design-with-sweet-carpet-ru/

[horsepoor]

I'd think you might even want to paint some of the woodwork (trim/doors/bannisters) white as well, as that red toned wood is just screaming 1960s-1970s and then there's the walls that need a new coat of paint and really I'd get rid of that railing/bannister section and put in a pony wall or even plexi/glass or something... but then we're entering the "just one more thing" type of project that can take over the whole house. ;)

It's like you're in my head or something. ;-)  I've thought about just taking the railing down completely; our home inspector said the differential between the two levels is small enough that this would be up to code, whereas the baluster spacing is not up to code (and according to me, it's bad Feng Shui).  Probably won't paint the posts though - the great room at the bottom of the stairs has huge exposed beams in the ceiling that are a dark stain, and are one of our favorite features in this house.  My plan is to eventually replace all of the doors and trim with wood in a darker stain, so maybe wood stair treads in a matching stain would make sense, and look less out of place.  Could also sand down and re-stain the support posts when that happens. 

Thanks for the Photoshop, it gives me a better sense of how it will look with one continuous flooring type.

[Greg]

I would put the same flooring on the stairs as in the kitchen, but you also need to think about a kick material, and I would recommend a metal or rubber textured nosing.  In my house I have Marmoleum on the stair treads, reused fir on the kick and a brushed nickel stair nosing.  The nosing keeps the treads from being too slippery, and allows you to both feel and see the stair edge.

[Frankies Girl]

I'd think you might even want to paint some of the woodwork (trim/doors/bannisters) white as well, as that red toned wood is just screaming 1960s-1970s and then there's the walls that need a new coat of paint and really I'd get rid of that railing/bannister section and put in a pony wall or even plexi/glass or something... but then we're entering the "just one more thing" type of project that can take over the whole house. ;)

It's like you're in my head or something. ;-)  I've thought about just taking the railing down completely; our home inspector said the differential between the two levels is small enough that this would be up to code, whereas the baluster spacing is not up to code (and according to me, it's bad Feng Shui).  Probably won't paint the posts though - the great room at the bottom of the stairs has huge exposed beams in the ceiling that are a dark stain, and are one of our favorite features in this house.  My plan is to eventually replace all of the doors and trim with wood in a darker stain, so maybe wood stair treads in a matching stain would make sense, and look less out of place.  Could also sand down and re-stain the support posts when that happens. 

Thanks for the Photoshop, it gives me a better sense of how it will look with one continuous flooring type.

oooh even better - dark woods with lighter walls. I would totally paint the stairs the same dark tone then and have it pick up the same wood tone you end up using on the doors/trim... that could look awesome. And I wondered if there would be some sort of code that made you have the bannister railing/wall there but if it's not that far a drop, that would be really cool to just take it out completely. I also wondered about taking out that half wall at the kitchen/garage (where the picture frame is hanging) to really help the overall flow, but couldn't quite tell whether it was a vital wall or not.

[horsepoor]

Greg, thanks for that photo!  Do you have Marmoleum other places in your home?  It's actually my top choice, but I don't want to spend the money to have it installed if we eventually decide to remodel the kitchen.  If we do remodel, it probably be at least 5-10 years from now, so we really do need some non self-destructing flooring in the kitchen in the interim.  It would all actually tie together pretty well if I used the vinyl on the treads and tile matching the entry way for the kick/riser.  Hmmm...

I'm not sure about taking out the half wall - that is some serious scope creep! I don't think it's load bearing, but there is an air return there, and the fridge/cabinets on one side, so at most about 2' of it could go - not sure if that's worthwhile.  Probably not going to happen unless we totally gut the kitchen one of these days.  Glad you think the darker wood would look good.  I'll definitely go with panel doors.  Replacing the old hollow core doors in our previous house with panel doors made the whole place look so much nicer.  All the baseboards in this house are really beat up in addition to being an ugly color and the wrong scale for this house; it will be nice to get going on changing them out.

Thanks again for the input.  Hopefully we can settle on a plan and rip this carpet out before it needs to be shampooed yet again! :)

[Greg]

We have it throughout the upper floor (bedrooms and bath) of our home... no carpet for us.  We prefer the easy-sweep/vacuum clean of the Marmoleum.  It's worth it in my opinion.

[Angie55]

I've definitely slipped on stairs while carrying something before and smashed my back hard. Tile would be out the window for me as I'd be afraid of doing the same and knocking myself out. Also, tile sounds like a PITA to put on over stairs...

[Stellar]

We have a split level as well.  I ripped the carpet up and found decent stair treads... Given that it is the main entrance to the house, an overly time consuming DIY was not easy so I sanded, painted (porch paint) and purchased these individual carpet tread things from Ebay.  I'll take a picture when I have a chance...

We have installed three different types of floors (vinyl click in bathroom, laminate in other areas).  Decent quality vinyl click is super easy in all aspects to install yourself.  It's about $1.99sqft.