No Contractor or Carpet Installer For The Keeping Room

The waiting game is still happening here for the keeping room progress. Since Week 2, nothing has happened to move forward. The contractor mentioned that he would come to work on the project by the end of this week. It is Thursday of Week 3, and I have nothing new to show. No contractor and no carpet installer returning calls, emails, and messages.

Taking matters into my own hands, I have attempted to install the stair runner myself. I thought, how hard could it be? I have the runners from Jaipur Living in the blue, teal, and green waiting for installation. The colors are perfect to balance out the new keeping room color scheme and the color of the New Ravenna Climbing Vine in glass aquamarine and quartz backsplash seen from the staircase.

Purchasing a rug pad to cut to the runner width size, double-sided carpet tape, a carpet knife, an electric staple gun, and my fabric scissors in hand. I was ready to tackle. The installation style I was after is the waterfall style, which falls from the edge of the stair tread to the bottom of the stair riser without upholstering under the outer edge of the tread. I purchased two runner-size pads that measure 2’ x 8’. The width of the runner is 30”. Because the pad width is 24”, I was in luck that there was no need to cut the width of the pad, and worked out perfectly.

The staircase was painted in Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace in a high gloss finish.

Prepping the Keeping Room Staircase For The Runner

• Sweep clean any debris from the treads

• Wash any dirt spots and wipe clean

• Measure the width of the runner and mark the edge location with a pencil

• Cut the pad to the width of the runner (if need be)

• Attach carpet tape onto the pad in the center and two otter edges

• Adhere the pad to the stair tread working from the top tread to the bottom tread

Installing the Stair Runner

• Start from the top riser

• Staple the finished edge of the runner under the top tread overhang

• Staple again at the bottom of the riser to secure in place

• Staple the two side edges

• Work down the staircase until you get to the middle, stop there

• Start at the bottom staircase riser and work up to the middle

• Match the pattern of the two runners in the middle

• Cut where the pattern matches

• Staple at the bottom of the riser on both edges to complete the match

Because the runner is a stripe pattern with varying widths, I wanted to match the pattern without noticing. I had purchased four 8’ runners to have enough for the 16-tread staircase. Knowing I would probably have one runner extra. It worked out great, and the extra runner would be used in the mudroom to protect the mosaic marble hexagon floor for the winter.

Hoping my contractor comes on Friday to work on the keeping room cabinet installation and the painter comes to pick up the bookcases and shelving to paint soon. Fingers crossed, I will have more progress to write about for Week Four.

Come back next Thursday to see what events and challenges have transpired with our new keeping room and progress on installation.

I want to thank Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge, once again for creating this motivational design event.

You can follow more of my ORC on Facebook and Instagram as well. Come back to see Week 4 of my keeping room creation. Better Homes & Gardens is the official media sponsor of the ORC.

Follow these 20 talented Featured Designers of the Spring 2021 ORC.

About Debbe Daley

Debbe Daley is New England’s leading interior design expert in the fields of design, decorating, and styling of interior spaces. She is a professional speaker, educator, influencer, and business coach in interior design. She also teaches creative interior design and change-of-career-minded individuals at her School of Interiors. These courses provide mentoring and hands-on training. Debbe is currently an installed Design Services member for the Boston Design Center. She also is an educator and instructor at Middlesex Community College in the field of interior design.

Contact Debbe at ddaley@daleydesigns.com or (978) 697-0288.