Interior Painting · Jul 2020
Two-story foyer and rooms painted gray, stair railing painted black
Two-story foyer and rooms painted gray, stair railing painted black. These are in-progress and after photos from the job, taken Jul 2020. This interior painting project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Two-Story Foyer and Upstairs Rooms Painted Gray With a Black Stair Railing
The in-progress photos show the crew working in a tall two-story foyer with large windows above the front door. One painter stands high on an extension ladder while another cuts in along taped baseboards, and the bare subfloor is still exposed. In a side room, a painter brushes a medium gray wall under a row of transom windows, with paint buckets gathered on the floor. In a bedroom, another painter rolls the ceiling with an extension pole over freshly painted gray walls. The finished photos show a layered gray scheme. The foyer and upper walls are a light gray, while bedrooms, the loft and the hall are a deeper medium gray. The stair railing now has a black handrail, newel posts and shoe rail, with bright white spindles and white stair skirts. White six-panel doors and baseboards keep the grays clean, and new gray carpet ties the rooms together.
Our Steps for Painting a Two-Story Foyer and Railing
- We taped baseboards and windows and covered the subfloor before new carpet went in. Doing paint first means no worries about drips on new flooring.
- For the tall foyer walls, we used extension ladders and long poles. Cutting in along high window frames and ledges takes patience, so we worked one wall at a time.
- Lighter gray went on the foyer and upper walls, and a deeper gray in the bedrooms and loft. We kept a clean line wherever the two colors meet at corners.
- Ceilings in the bedrooms were rolled with an extension pole to refresh the textured surface without heavy buildup that could flatten the texture.
- The stair rail was cleaned and sanded, then the handrail, posts and shoe rail were primed and painted black. Spindles and skirts were brushed white for a crisp contrast.
- We finished with doors and baseboards in white, pulled all tape, and touched up any marks so the home was ready for the carpet installers.
Paint Colors Similar to This Gray Foyer and Black Railing
Here are similar grays and a black to consider for a foyer and railing like this one. They are not the exact colors used here.
Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray SW 7015
A light, soft gray close to the tall foyer walls. It keeps a two-story space bright while still showing a clear gray tone.
Sherwin-Williams Dorian Gray SW 7017
A medium gray in the same range as the bedrooms and loft. It adds depth in rooms next to a lighter foyer color.
Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron 2124-10
A soft black for handrails and newel posts. It pairs well with white spindles and gray walls like this staircase.
Questions About Painting a Two-Story Foyer
How do painters reach the top of a two-story foyer?
Most crews use extension ladders, ladder levelers for stairs, or a small scaffold. Rolling is done with long extension poles. The setup depends on the stair layout and window placement. Protecting walls where ladders lean and keeping the ladder base stable are a big part of the job.
Can I use two shades of gray in connected rooms?
Yes. Using a lighter gray in a tall foyer and a deeper gray in bedrooms adds depth without clashing. Picking two shades from the same color strip keeps them related. The change should happen at a natural break, like an inside corner, a door frame or a wall edge.
Should spindles be white when the handrail is black?
It is a classic look that many homeowners like. White spindles keep the stair bright and match white trim and skirts. All black can look heavier but very modern. The handrail usually goes dark because it gets touched most and hides hand marks better than white.
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