Not a fan of dark colours, they show too much dust and muck. I really like the colour it is and would just seal it.

i was once told that "any wood matches any other wood" and that's helped me live happily with mismatched timbers for many years..of course it's probably possible to sand and stain the floor (ask a laminate timber floor supplier) but it'll be a tedious waste of sweat and tears for an uncertain result..what about make sure the walls, ceiling, architraves and skirting boards all look great and don't worry about under the hearth if it's not being moved, maybe add a matching trim around the hearth and plan a new floor for "later"

My husband loves the ceiling only suggestions and also keeping the timber below the dado. I'm not as attached to all the wood and after a total revamp .... I had thought white ceilings and lime washing walls, but realised I'm after a brighter interior. I will have a look at different painted wall panelling. Definitely don't want to go from a wood overload to a white overload! MB you are so right choosing a white is the hardest part! I'll be in touch Milray Park. Thanks for the input and advice everyone!!

It is a funny stair with a mixture of styles. The open riser is a more contemporary look, whereas the newel post, balusters and handrail have a very traditional look. Painting it white will not improve this mismatch of styles. If you paint the treads white then you will be regularly re-painting them as painted stair treads wear back to the timber quite quickly with foot traffic. From your photos it looks like you have a traditional, older style home, so you may want to consider replacing the stair with a new stair that has a more traditional look that doesn't look like a stair that was added in cheaply by a builder who had no idea when your first floor extension was done. However, a traditional stair will make your hallway seem more closed in without the open risers, and having the underside enclosed. The other option is to go very contemporary with steel and timber which is visually lighter and is in contrast with the rest of the entry hall. It is a really important visual element to the entry of your home and a coat of paint is not going to fix its problems. Best of luck with your considerations, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls