The stairwell is at the center of this foursquare farmhouse. Like everything else in the house, it was in rough shape when we started. Cracked plaster, chipping paint, and lots of fun surprises during demo.
The HVAC guys were pretty surprised when this doll fell out of the ceiling.
It just wasn’t a very appealing place. After fixing things up and painting the walls and trim a vintage gray/blue, a major improvement was the new light fixture. This simple farmhouse chandelier was the right scale for such a tall space, and gives off so much more light than before,
Fresh paint and a bright light fixture made a big difference.
The next step was addressing the huge blank wall. First we color blocked the paint, which was an inexpensive way to break things up visually. I wanted a beautiful focal point for the back wall. I had been inspired by a patchwork flag wall I had seen in an antique store, and so my mom and I worked together to make one for the farmhouse. It’s a truly special piece of art that makes all the difference in the space. Read more about the wall hanging here.
Family members admiring the patchwork flag.
The stairwell is enclosed, originally having three doors at the bottom — one entrance from the kitchen, one entrance from the living room, plus the door down to the basement. Closing the doors was one way to manage the hot or cold air in the house during harsh Kansas seasons. Until 2019, the house had no heat or AC upstairs. The only way air was exchanged was through open floor vents in the front two rooms.
Since we added AC and heat upstairs, we don’t need to close off the stairway anymore. It seemed like the door to the kitchen was just going to be in the way, so we took it off and made the doorway into a cute little arch. We kept the other doorframe but haven’t put the door back on.
Wallpaper, a cute sconce and the arched doorway make the stairway feel inviting and cozy.
I also added a sweet wallpaper to both the upstairs and downstairs landing. It was the finishing, granny chic touch that the space needed.
The view from the middle landing. My mom lovingly sanded and refinished those doors!
BEFORE - dingy and dark
AFTER - bright and inviting