Sorry about the title, everyone! We figure that if we’re going to share some really embarrassing and ugly truths about our homes, at least we should get to make puns while doing so. So consider this your part of the bargain.
Our disaster confessional series is distinguished by our use of horrible puns and bravery at sharing some really non-blog worthy areas of our home. It’s all too easy to project an idealized image on the internet, and we think it’s important to show the not-so-ideal parts, too. Fortunately, that’s easy for us, since we’ve got a lot of not so ideal things to share! We’ve talked about the various holes and gaps in our homes, our sheds and messes, and even that time that one of our basements flooded. (Spoiler: Sage’s basement has flooded numerous times too, she just hasn’t posted about it because last time she tried to do so, a different kind of disaster occurred and required coverage on the blog.)
You’ve probably figured out that today we’re talking about our stairs.
“My Basement Stairs are an Ugly Death-Trap” – Naomi
I was so proud to share my basement clean-out and new workshop space a few weeks ago!
But what I didn’t share was the situation going on right behind me as I took this shot…
And that’s the cleaned out version. The stairs are really ugly, with chipping gray paint and some sort of brown-ish fabric tread tacked onto each one. I’ve dreamed of painting these, but it doesn’t seem worth the effort since I don’t think they could ever look that attractive.
However, that’s not the worst part. They’re also quite unsafe because they are so steep and narrow. My size 6 foot just barely fits on them, and there is a big overhang that trips you on the way up and makes the stairs seem even smaller on the way down.
It feels really precarious walking down with a basket of laundry. Add to that a really low ceiling ridge (I’m 5’2 and I can walk under it, but it’s low enough that I reflexively duck).
Think that is bad? It used to be even worse. The top used to have these shelves jutting out, making the space feel really cramped and putting you off-center before you even started down the stairs with your basket of laundry.
The shelves were also a magnet for clutter of the worst kind.. the kind that you put there because you have no idea where else it should go. So when we cleaned them off in our basement clean-out, we decided to take them down entirely. They can’t collect clutter if they’re not there!
It doesn’t exactly make the stairs pretty, but it’s an improvement.
“USPS avoids my house” – Sage
Speaking of ugly death traps…my front steps have seen better days.
We barely use them (since we enter around the back), but I feel for the poor delivery people who brave them to bring us mail, pizza, etc. because they certainly don’t look or sound structurally solid. Like, would you feel confident walking up a flight of stairs where the first one has giant holes in it?
Maybe that’s why they have started leaving many of our packages at the bottom of the steps, and I can’t blame them.
I don’t think they’re actually dangerous yet, but I think we’ll need to replace at least portions of them next year and will need to repaint all the stairs and the landing. Yay for homeownership!
So be honest, are you glad you only have to see our houses online rather than trying to brave them in person?
I was thinking how bad could they be? But they’re pretty bad! I applaud your delivery people for leaving things at the bottom.
The front could look really nice — and will, after you get around to it!
nope . don’t think I could brave either of those sets of stairs .. but , all things in time , right ?
Exactly! We wouldn’t have any blog content left if we didn’t have places like this!
We didn’t look too closely at our basement steps during inspection, but… one whole portion of the structure appears to be held up with random scrap wood tacked all over the back. And we have a cracked tread. It makes me feel marginally better to see yours, while also resolving to do something about ours soon!
Glad we could help Liz!