01
Before — Fresh Plaster Stage
The hallway and staircase as we found them: freshly plastered walls and ceilings following renovation works, with existing timber flooring and internal doors still in place.
Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield · Case study
Hall, Stairs & Landing Transformation — Boldmere
A full hall, stairs and landing redecoration in Boldmere following plastering and renovation works — fresh plaster prepared and sealed, everything sanded with dust extraction, and a Farrow & Ball scheme finished off with a striking two-tone staircase.
Phased across the ground-floor hallway, staircase & first-floor landing
Fresh plaster preparation, dustless sanding & full hall, stairs and landing redecoration with a two-tone staircase
Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield
Transformation
Before & after.
BeforeAfterThe brief
A considered, long-term finish.
Four Oaks Painting & Decorating completed this full hall, stairs and landing redecoration in Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, transforming the main entrance and staircase of the property following extensive plastering and renovation works.
With areas of fresh plaster, existing painted surfaces and detailed staircase woodwork to contend with, the project required careful preparation throughout before the finishing colours could be applied.
The aim was to create a clean, contemporary space while making the staircase a real feature of the home.
Project specification
The detail behind the finish.
Timeframe
Phased across the ground-floor hallway, staircase & first-floor landing
Scope
Fresh plaster preparation, dustless sanding & full hall, stairs and landing redecoration with a two-tone staircase
Location
Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield
Client type
Private homeowner
Property type
Family home — hallway, staircase & first-floor landing
Products used
Farrow & Ball colour scheme — neutral walls & ceilings, lighter spindles and a darker contrasting colour to handrails and newel posts
Spray systems
Professional dustless sanding equipment · brush & roller application · full floor and surface protection
Challenges
What this project demanded.
- 01Preparing and sealing fresh plaster alongside existing painted surfaces
- 02Turned spindles, multiple newel posts and handrails needing clean, detailed preparation
- 03Working safely across the staircase and both floors
- 04Protecting existing oak flooring, the kitchen and finished surfaces throughout
- 05Achieving crisp junctions between the two staircase colours
Process gallery
Stage by stage.
02
Before — Landing & Stairwell
The first-floor landing and stairwell at the same stage — bare plaster throughout and the existing balustrade waiting to be prepared.
03
Sealing & Preparing the Plaster
Freshly plastered areas were correctly prepared and sealed before decoration, with light fittings bagged off and floors fully protected before any finishing coats were applied.
04
Dustless Sanding
Walls, ceilings and woodwork were sanded using professional dust-extracted equipment — a smooth, consistent surface with dramatically less airborne dust throughout the property.
05
Staircase Preparation
The staircase was prepared in detail — treads, strings, handrails, newel posts and every spindle cleaned back and made ready to take the two-tone paint system.
06
Two-Tone Balustrade
Handrails and newel posts were finished in the darker contrasting colour with the spindles in the lighter tone, creating a sharp contrast across the whole staircase and both floors.
07
Finished Landing
The first-floor landing finished in the Farrow & Ball scheme — bright neutral walls and ceilings framing the oak doors and the dark handrail detail.
08
Landing Detail
Ceilings, hatch surround, walls and painted woodwork all decorated as one continuous programme for a clean, consistent finish across the landing.
09
Finished Hallway
The ground-floor hallway looking towards the front door — the two-tone staircase now the focal point of a bright, contemporary entrance.
10
Finished Hall & Woodwork
Neutral walls, crisp painted woodwork and the existing oak doors and timber flooring working together for a modern finish that still suits the character of the property.
Craft
Preparation & finish.
Preparation
Freshly plastered areas were correctly prepared and sealed before decoration, and existing painted surfaces were inspected and made good where required. Walls, ceilings and woodwork were sanded using professional dust-extracted equipment to achieve a smooth surface while dramatically reducing airborne dust in the property. The staircase — handrails, newel posts and every individual spindle — was given particular attention, as thorough preparation was essential for the crisp two-tone finish.
Finish details
The customer selected a Farrow & Ball palette that sits warmly alongside the natural oak internal doors and timber flooring. Neutral walls keep the hall and landing bright and spacious, while the handrails and newel posts were finished in a darker contrasting colour against lighter spindles — giving the existing staircase a completely different appearance and a strong architectural presence without overpowering the space.
Services included
Everything in scope.
- Fresh plaster preparation & sealing
- Professional dustless sanding
- Farrow & Ball colour scheme
- Two-tone staircase decoration
- Handrail, newel post & spindle detailing
- Ceiling, wall & woodwork decoration
- Hall, stairs & landing redecoration
- Full floor & surface protection
- Final clean-down & quality inspection
Outcome
The customer result.
The before photographs showing the fresh plaster and renovation stage make the finished transformation particularly noticeable. What began as a space requiring extensive preparation is now a bright, finished entrance to the home, with the two-tone staircase providing the focal point.
The combination of light Farrow & Ball tones, dark staircase detailing, oak doors and existing timber flooring gives a much more modern finish while retaining the character of the property.
It is a great example of how the right preparation, professional dustless sanding and a carefully chosen colour scheme can completely transform a hall, stairs and landing without replacing its original features.
Quick answers
About this project.
- Who was this project for?
- A homeowner in Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield who needed the hallway, staircase and first-floor landing fully decorated following plastering and renovation works — with the staircase turned into a feature of the home.
- What is a two-tone staircase finish?
- The handrails and newel posts are finished in a darker contrasting colour while the spindles are finished in a lighter colour. It relies entirely on preparation and clean detailing — with turned spindles, multiple newel posts and handrails running across two floors, every edge and junction shows the quality of the work.
- Do you use Farrow & Ball paint and dustless sanding?
- Yes. We work with Farrow & Ball and other premium paint systems where the customer chooses them, and we sand walls, ceilings and woodwork with professional dust-extracted equipment to keep the property clean while achieving a smooth finish.
Related
Services & area.
Learn more about the services used on this project and the area we cover.
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