Ezra's Project-in Progress

Since we moved in, we've been talking about getting a railing for our staircase. As it stands, it's just about the most dangerous staircase ever- with no railing, a drop over the edge would mean a fall onto the hardwood floor, or worse, the bricks surrounding the fireplace. Not good.

It's been an endless discussion (on Ezra's end), and something that turned into a huge project trying to design a piece of ironwork. We decided to use iron because it could be removed again. Our staircase is so small that whatever we put up would need to be removable in order to get furniture in/out.

After weeks of planning and trying to create an original design-Ezra even went around with a notepad and pen, compiling bits from ironwork in the city into a master design!- he decided to check out antique salvage shops.

That did it! He found what he thought was a great piece, and wanted me to approve it. We went one Saturday, and this is what I saw:





I'm sure, underneath all the rust and corrosion, there might be a pretty design. Another couple in the shop kept raving about it- perhaps they'd been planted there by the owners to encourage people to buy their old iron, who knows. Anyway, on the hope that things might turn out well, we bought it.

Ezra got right to work on it, to prove to me (and maybe himself, too!) that it really was going to be a great find.



Hey, look at that! The rust disappeared, and a much more attractive pattern emerged!



Finally, after some sealing spray, the iron is up and in place- and we no longer fear a fall to the bricks. Now, we just need to attach a rail to the top of the iron, to make it match the existing rail on the opposite wall. Almost done!