In most homes, the main stairway greets all who come in the front door, creating a grand entrance. Many stairways, especially those in older homes, were built to be a house’s showpiece, and when time and traffic wear on them, they deserve careful restoration.

Almost as soon as they bought their stately center-hall Colonial, the new owners started in on some careful restoration. They were especially keen to return the entry hall to its original glory, particularly the elegant staircase that took three turns as it wound up two flights. Some of the parts were painted, while others had been left natural, but they all needed careful scraping and sanding to remove old finish and smooth decades of wear and tear. When the repainting was done, the oak treads and the foyer floor were stained with Minwax® Wood Finish™ English Chestnut to give the wood a rich, traditional color. They were then top-coated with Minwax® Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane for Floors in a semi-gloss sheen, turning this nearly new stairway into a truly delightful climb.