I had this exact same dilema 6 months ago - we opted to rip up the old and have a uniform look. The wood we put down was kempas, our staircase railing is oak. We had the stairs wrapped in wood (it was carpet) using oak. the flooring looks great with no 'break up' in the pattern. The stairs and railing match each other and provide a nice transition to another level. good luck with your decision.

We had the same problem when we bought our house. The foyer was dark wood with matching staircase railing. The adjacent rooms were carpet which we removed to find beautiful 40 year old hardwoods that were light and yellowed. Our floor guy sanded them all, working especially hard in the foyer to remove the dark stain and match them up. Then he polyurethaned them all in a light/natural color. The woods are different so there is some variation in grain, etc. but they look great (untill our flood last week, but that's a different post!) I think this is preferable to more contrasting floors. Can you refinish the foyer to match the new floors and not remove it? ask your floor guy. Oh, and as for the stair handrail - here we are 4 years later with it still dark wood. I started refinishing it myself 2 years ago and abandoned the project! maybe in 2007 :) but I have to admit, not one person has ever noticed that it doesn't match the floors. Good luck!

Thanks Nicole,

We have decided that we would like to have all of the wood match. I think I might just replace the foyer wood as it is 2 1/4" and I would like wider planks throughout the rest of the house.

The handrails will be left alone (for now) but I am trying to decide what to do with the landing area on the stairs. It is the original hardwood which matches the handrails and foyer. I am leaning towards leaving it alone. It is part of the stairs and, as the previous poster replyed, would provide a natural transition to another level.

I think changing it to match the new hardwood color in the foyer would look out of place in the middle of the staircase. Did you have the same problem?

Thanks for your help.

Why not border the foyer, with the new woods color, to tie it all in, and give it a very custom look, for less work, then tearing it all out.

Our stairs are carpeted, so I didn't have to do anything with the landing. But I think I would leave it the way it is too. One of these days we'll remove our disgusting carpet and refinish the hardwood floors that go all the way up and through the 2nd floor of our house. Good luck!