Updating the Stairs

I have been looking at houses lately trying to decide if we are finally going to move or not. I have a couple that I really like, in two different towns. However there are things that I dislike about both of them. Of course my brother reminded me that it was nothing more than a can of paint, a new door or fixture and they would be wanted I wanted. While that is true both have stairs that I am not in love with. I wondered if I could change those then remembered that my father did that once when I was growing up. He took up the existing stairs and put down new ones that looked more the way he wanted them. Well, the way Ma wanted them but you get the idea. 

One of the homes I am looking at has a very cabin sort of feel. That is not the problem, it is the dark log like stair railing that are too much for me. I did some searching and discovered that gtaglassrailings.com does glass railing. I wonder if that is something that I could change at the house.  I think some glass on that particular set of stairs could lighten things up a bit. Make it a little less heavy and dark. My brother thinks I’m crazy but if I change that railing I could have a better view too. The views of the mountains are beautiful but that ugly railing gets in the way and blocks it a bit on one side. 

My biggest concern about this is the kids. Are they going to break that glass all the time. They are kids after all. Although the area that these stairs are in only lead up to two bedrooms that the older two would have. Since they are older I think the only worry is going to be the bathroom they have to share.

The other house that I really like has some stairs that look like they could kill you. At the very least they make me feel sick just looking at them online. I don’t think there is much that can be done for them other than having the whole lot pulled out and new ones put in. There doesn’t appear to be any reason for the design other than they liked it.

I can just see the kids running up and down those because the spiral is fun. I can also see myself throwing up every time I happen to look over the railing down at something. I don’t know if it is the optical illusion of these stairs or the actual spiral but they really freak me out. With this house the stairs are the only thing to change. We don’t have any stair here and I can remember when my older brother had his kids. They were always running up and down the stairs when they were at Ma and Dad’s visiting. My brother told me that he would help me regardless of which house I chose. Although if he had his pick he would take the first one because of where it is located. He also said he needed one half of the garage for the jeep he plans on leaving there. His words not mine! Has any of you ever changed the stairs in your homes? Was it easy or too difficult for me to even bother?