Ever since we moved into our house last year the pony wall stair rail has been taunting me. I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to get to take a sledge hammer to that wall during demo!
With our first floor being an open “L” shape with the stairs in the crook of the “L”, the drywalled pony wall pretty much obstructed the view from the living room into the kitchen. And let’s be honest… it wasn’t adding anything to the downstairs aesthetic.
While it might seem like a small detail, updating your stairway pony wall or drywall handrail for a banister can bring about big changes in your home’s overall look!
In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons why you should consider updating your pony wall stair rail into a banister and design decisions you’ll need to make in the process.
First of all… what’s a pony wall?
A pony wall is a half wall, also called a knee wall or cripple wall, usually constructed with drywall. Pony walls got their name because the trend started when a farmer in Nebraska, Walter Clydell, built short walls between his stables so he could see into stalls more easily. In the 90s, when the trend of open-concept homes was really entering the scene, the use of these half walls made its way from stable use to floor planning!
Despite the cute name I’m still not a fan of the pony wall, knee wall, whatever you want to call it. It’s so 1990s.
If you like the updated trim look in the after photo or the taller baseboards, check out my other blog posts on those projects
What are alternatives to pony wall stair rails?
When it comes to replacing a half wall banister you have so many options. You can go with a classic banister with a vertical baluster design or if you’re into a more modern look check out Pinterest for modern horizontal railings. The options are endless, but either way it’s going to be a major upgrade!
Why you should update your pony wall to a banister?
1. Open up the space
Pony walls and bulky drywall handrails can make your staircase area feel closed off and cramped. If you’re looking to open up space and create a more airy and spacious environment, upgrading to a banister and baluster system can do wonders. The open design of balusters allows light to flow freely and allows the eye to peep through, making it a much more open feel.
Even though we left the treads closed (meaning you cannot see the stair treads from the side view) it provides a significantly more open look. I personally think the closed tread style looks a little more seamless and less busy.
2. Create a higher-end look
One of the most compelling reasons to update your stair railing is the aesthetic transformation it can bring. Replacing that outdated pony wall or plain drywall handrail with a beautifully crafted banister can instantly give your staircase a more elegant and inviting appearance.
The look of wood banisters can create a rich and timeless ambiance that a drywall hand rail simply cannot achieve.
3. Opportunity for Added Character
Updating our pony wall stair rail into an actual banister has done wonders on our space! The colonial style newel post paired with the tapered balusters has brought a touch of character to an area that was completely lacking any architectural interest before.
Replacing a wall with a traditional handrail gives the opportunity to add in any architectural style of your choice. Go with a box newel for a craftsman feel or colonial style for a more delicate look.
How to Design a New Banister
Every homeowner has their unique taste and style preferences. Upgrading your stair railing allows you to personalize your space to better match your vision for your home. Next, lets talk about how to go about finalizing the design of your new banister.
1) Gather inspiration
First, you’ll want to gather some inspiration for your new banister look. With so many options out there, it may be overwhelming to decide on all the design details before having a good grasp on the look that you want to achieve. Take a scroll down the Pinterest aisle of “stairway banisters” to get an idea.
2) Choose your newel post design
After gathering inspiration, the first design detail to decide on is the newel post (this is the post at the top and bottom of the stairs). This choice came relatively easy for me because I knew I wanted something that didn’t take up a lot of space since we were working with a relatively small area. A railing that cascaded down into a flat handrail was on the wishlist to keep the space feeling open and lines simple
The colonial post with open cap fitting was the perfect fit for what I had in mind.
3) Decide on post cap
The post cap is the part that goes on top of the newel post. For modern looks you can go with a flat post-cap or a finial style if your style is more traditional.
For the post cap we went with a flat continuous colonial handrail with no finial. Again, there are tons of styles to meet just about any personal preference.
4) Choose handrail style
Handrail profiles can differ drastically! Flat, squared versus rounded are all great options depending on what look you’re after. We went with a graceful rounded style. I think the slightly more elaborate rounded look is great for a traditional look and a comfortable grip.
5) Select the stair spindles (aka balusters)
The options for spindles is almost endless. You could go with horizontal metal or cord style stair rails or more traditional vertical options.
For our stair spindles (aka balusters) we selected a simple tapered wood option with no footing. I love how simple, yet timeless this option is. You can add a foot to a simple tapered baluster for a beefier bottom or opt for a more elaborate turned spindle.
We repeated the same look at the top of the stairs over the upstairs landing.
Why we hired out the stair rail project…
- Codes – staircase in compliance with local building codes. This is especially important if you plan to sell your home in the future, as it can affect how smooth the inspection goes. There are codes for the distance between the spindles for baby head purposes.
- Sturdiness Required – it was ESSENTIAL that the banister be sturdy. I wasn’t going to trust our DIY skills for this high stake feat.
- Time – learning curve wasn’t worth my time or likelihood of wasted materials in expected errors. Solid wood is expensive!
We hired JF Stairs here in Raleigh, NC. Jorge did an awesome job and was a pleasure to work with.
Stair banister update was not a DIY project I was willing to tackle on my own. First of all, we were in the middle of the kitchen renovation when we decided to do this update. With enough on our plates, the learning curve wasn’t worth our time or efforts.
To be honest, the complexity of the project when it came to the need for perfection and sturdiness was a little intimidating (and probably for good reason). Plus, we were on a tight timeline and only had a two day window for the project to be completed before other workers needed to be in for kitchen renovation purposes.
How we saved on labor…
We were able to save on some demo and painting labor. Trust me, it was my pleasure to demo the drywall from this pony wall!
As for the painting, my perfectionistic painting tendencies may have had a say in this choice. So I not only saved $800 in my efforts, but also was able to use products I love and trust.
While I love a classic stained look for a banister, all my inspo pictures on Pinterest contained black balusters and banisters. So I didn’t fight the urge – I went with Jet Black by Wise Owl OHE. This paint has a lovely satin finish and is incredibly durable for a high traffic area.
I applied using my HomeRight Superfinish Max for guaranteed zero brush strokes. Not to mention, this is the the same color we used on laundry doors upstairs so it was a perfect match. It took me a few hours to carry out all the prep work, apply a coat of primer and 2 coats of paint.
Once I completed my end of the painting project and the second coat had dried I handed them off to Jorge for the next step… install!
How much does it cost to replace a pony wall with banister?
Grand total = $2,927.38
The whole thing came out to just under $3,000 for both the up and downstair banisters with each length being about 4 feet.
When is the best time to replace stair banister?
If you’re planning on making other changes to your home, such as installing new flooring or renovating adjacent rooms, it’s an excellent time to update your pony wall stair railing. Coordinating these upgrades can ensure a cohesive and unified look throughout your home.
With guidance from our contractor, we opted to complete the stair banister after the floors and before dry wall touchups or trim.
I love how the dark color of the banister compliments our new flooring.
In conclusion, updating a stairway pony wall to a banister can make a huge difference in your home! It will make the whole room feel more open and can bring in much needed architectural interest.
Whether you prefer the timeless charm of oak banisters or the modern appeal of horizontal iron balusters, the choice is yours! Either way, if you’re looking for an upgrade that will really make your space look and feel more high-end start with your pony walls!
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Girl Behind the Blog
I’m Jess, the creator of Oak & Grain. A mid-west girl at heart who now resides in Raleigh, NC. I love finding old things and giving them new purpose by way of refinishing or incorporating unexpected, overlooked thrift store finds in the modern home. I work full-time in medicine and I love dipping into my creative side and in the process, keeping my sanity. Follow me on Instagram and YouTube to see more behind the scenes action.