Nifty Tip: The Black Lacquered Banister

Nifty Tip: The Black Lacquered Banister

Last fall, we visited some friends who had moved to Connecticut.  Of all the details in their beautiful home, one element stuck out as something truly unique.

Instead of a dark stain on their staircase’s banister, it was painted a glossy black.  So chic!  So polished!

I asked about it, and my friend mentioned that she used Farrow and Ball’s high-gloss Pitch Black paint.  I immediately purchased a quart of it, thinking that one day I too would paint my own banister a shiny black!

Fast forward several months and we are about to embark on our own house-decorating adventure.  I have my F&B Paint at the ready.

Here’s a shot of our new house’s foyer.  Imagine this foyer with hardwood floors, a hardwood staircase with a runner up the middle…and the gleaming sheen of a black banister.  Oh, I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Too hard to envision?  Well, I’ll be sure to keep you all updated with photos as we make changes, but in the meantime, here are some shots of beautifully executed black banisters…

This is Alison Pincus’ house (co-founder of One King’s Lane) in SF.  Aren’t the kelly green lacquered walls so interesting?  But also check out the banister – shiny and black.  Gorgeous.

Love this floor almost as much as I love this banister:

Via Zsa Zsa Bellagio

Love these simple lines.  Made even better by the black & white checkered floors!

Via Pinterest

An upstairs landing.

Via House of Fifty

Apparently this is actress Amanda Peet’s home.  So Old Hollywood!

Via Because I’m Addicted

Okay, so this isn’t ‘high gloss’, but it’s black… and pretty!

I love the combo of white and black here – repeated again and again (the stripe on the wall, the picture frames, the Chinese garden stools…)

Via decorpad.com

This is Kelly Wearstler’s home.  Talk about making a statement with all that high-gloss black!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a staircase like this, have you?  Love the clean, modern vibe.