Lots of people have painted floors, and concrete's big now too, but until you train your dog (ahem :-), I wouldn't use anything on the steps but either vinyl (which if done by an expert may answer your bullnose problem), or tile. Unless the steel is stainless (how likely would that be?) it's going to rust if your dog keeps going on it! Tile might be perfect if you laminate upstairs because the relative heights of both could address the height-matching problems. There are also various kinds of stripping used to transition between various materials, so you need to find out which would be best for your situation. You might also want to ask kitchen counter dealers about handling the bullnose problem as they have different kinds as well.

That is a great idea about talking to kitchen people.

The dog is a Yorkie, so we're talking about a tablespoon of pee at a time, and the steps are 60 years old and incredibly thick, so I don't think they're likely to rust through -- although that would a a news story, don't you think?

Regarding training her, well, she can do 14 tricks and agility courses, but when it comes to her toilet habits, she's pretty stubborn. She's a rescue, and her previous owners got rid of her because of this problem. I work at home so she goes out in the yard constantly, but she'll come in and five minutes later, there's a puddle. I even keep piddle pads for her in the house and she uses them, but not consistently.

I figure the options at this point are get rid of the dog or decorate around her. That's a no-brainer! The dog is here to stay, pee and all.

LOL. I have a sixteen year old schnauzer male who 'marks' occasionally. I can't tell you how many floor renovations this has cost us, not to mention an antique china closet he has removed the veneer from. It works better than paint thinner. I'll miss him when he goes, pee and all.

I can't wrap my mind around solid metal stairs (have seen the open ones), but you know, I think I wouldn't mind it at all. It's one of those things sometimes you're better off highlighting than trying to hide. I am thinking jet black lacquer type enamel. Even old wooden farmhouse stairs have been featured on home decorating magazines done this way with stencil work done on the risers. If you have baseboard trim, don't paint it black. You can buy some decently attractive grit or rubber treads to match and secure with adhesive. Much safer than tred rugs, and the dog won't be so interested since they're not fabric.

That is an interesting idea. It's different, and it will look on-purpose, rather than make-do. I'm going to image-google to try to see examples. Thanks!

That's the idea. When you have something so 'pronounced' that anything you to it will look like you're hiding something......then you take a perspective like a cat does, lol, " I meant to do that!"

Frankly, I do not know what type of decorating you are fond of, but shiny clean black painted steps will not look too out of place with any one of a number of themes, from provincial to industrial or minimalist.

I forgot to mention I got that idea from an old Canadian farm house Debbie Travis redid on "Painted House" on HGTV years ago. I have a very old house with wooden steps. I really, really don't want to have to strip them down, as they have been painted through the years before we got this house. It's such an old house, it's not like it's fine hardwood......but more like planks. I may do mine like that. Been thinking on it really hard, so I'm prejudiced. LOL.

Well, I'm also thinking about painting the upstairs concrete floors now. I just got back from HD and the people at the paint counter were outraged that I wanted to paint designs on my floor. According to them, it can't be done! Impossible! But I've been googling and have seen lots of painted floors that look great and were not porch-and-floor gray.

One thing leads to another.... I started my home renovation by just planning to move a sink. Then, wth, I put in a new kitchen. Then new floors on the first level...

"I just got back from HD and the people at the paint counter were outraged that I wanted to paint designs on my floor. According to them, it can't be done! Impossible!"

I had to laugh. Been there, yup.

Of course, this means that you MUST move ahead with your project exactly as you have visualized it, and that it will end up being fabulous.

I used to joke that I knew a remodeling project would turn out great as soon as I heard the magic words... a contractor or HD employee asking "whad'ya wanna do THAT for, lady?".