I am posting this, but will not see the results for a bit of time, so hopefully someone will be able to give me some answers while I am away from the computer.

I am thinking about painting the banister in my foyer. I would like it to be a very dark color. What prep is needed? What paint do I use so it doesn't end up looking a rental unit where the landlord came in and just coated everything in sight with paint. Will it ever look right, or can I only get the look I'm thinking about with stain? And this really isn't the right wood for that, I'm sure.

Also, if someone would bump this up every now and then just so that it gets as much action as possible I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance, and I am looking forward to any responses when I return!

This is what the railing looks like now, and I'm only talking about the handrail, and maybe the other stained parts.

{{!gwi}}