You aren't going to put oriental stair runners on the steps? Just in the hall? What am I misunderstanding?

No was thinking of putting oriental stair runners on the hallway and the stairways. But now that we have cheaper wood on the back hallway I am not sure that it will look good there to see any of the wood.

Before you make a decision about oriental runners, you have to provide the width of the front stairs and the stair configuration and the width of the backstairs. I suspect they will be different width. Are they a straight run or are there landings or is the front stair curved? All these factors will influence our suggestions.

Sometimes premade runners are only available in 30" or 36". That width may not be enough for your upper hall.

I'd put an Oriental runner on the formal stairs and wall-to-wall berber on the back staircase.

I think you will have to treat them similarly if they meet at a landing somewhere.

Stairs eat up LOT of space . Redesign the plan to regain that space by only having one stairway.

Too late to redesign.. we are building. Our framing is almost done and the roof and sheathing will be going on next week.

Although I only wanted the one staircase (which would mean more space for our great room and my adjacent laundry area) my husband insisted on having the second stairway. He has his office upstairs and an exercise room so he will be going up there a lot. I assume he will mostly be using the great room stairwell to get there.

Neither of the staircase treads can be seen from the other as they are at two ends of the upstairs hall.

Ok so if the width is too small for the upper hall would it be ok to end carpeting at the top stair with berber on the back stair and then an Oriental runner up the front stair?

Yes, it will be fine and look perfect. The back staircase seems to need full carpeting. If the stairs are not yet built, you could also save a few dollars by having plywood under them as they will be fully carpeted and put that money into great carpet.

What is the flooring surface on the upstairs hallway?

The front stairway and the upstairs hall will be on-site stained and finished hardwood as is the remainder of the home. We only have tile/stone being installed in the bathrooms and laundry room.

I LOVE the whole two-staircases thing. Carry suitcases up and down the "utility" staircase so you don't bang the walls of the formal staircase and leave marks.

A client of mine has the same setup, a formal, Oriental-runner staircase that rises from the main foyer, and a back staircase (for the children). The back staircase, as well as her staircase to the basement, are done in wall-to-wall berber, which holds up very well.

Bumblebeez's suggestion to use plywood on the back staircase is a great one. No need to put expensive wood under wall-to-wall carpet.

Thanks, Tibbrix and Bumblebee! I am glad to hear that it is not an uncommon solution for a two staircase scenario.