Renovation Diary··3 min read
One Partially Failed DIY and One Gorgeous Roger Oates Runner
A weekend of DIY that didn't quite go to plan, and a Roger Oates runner that went beautifully. Our latest renovation diary entry.
Renovations are rarely a straight line of triumphs, and this week proved it. We have one project to celebrate and one to quietly learn from. The celebration is our new Roger Oates runner, which has turned a tired, echoing staircase into the best-looking part of the house. The lesson involves a tile cutter, a bag of grout and a weekend we'd rather not repeat.
Let's start with the bad news, so we can finish on the good.
The partially failed DIY
We decided to retile a small area by the back door ourselves. It's a modest patch of floor, and we'd ordered tiles and a few bits of tiling kit online from wallsandfloors.co.uk, so we felt reasonably prepared. The tiles themselves were lovely. Our technique, less so.
The problems started with the cuts around the door frame. We underestimated how fiddly they would be and how much patience a manual cutter demands. A few tiles cracked, a few edges ended up less crisp than we'd hoped, and by Sunday evening one corner had a gap that no amount of grout could disguise.
- What went well: the main field of tiles is level and looks smart.
- What didn't: the edges and cuts, which we'll redo or hand over to a professional.
- What we learned: order extra tiles, practise cuts on spares and give yourself far more time than you think.
It's not a disaster, just a reminder that DIY skills are earned slowly. We'll call it partially failed and move on.
Some jobs teach you how to do them; others teach you who to call next time. This one did a bit of both.
Why we chose a Roger Oates runner
Now for the good part. We've admired Roger Oates Design for years. The company is known for striped flatweave stair runners and rugs, woven in Britain from wool and finished by hand in its Herefordshire workshop. The flatweave has a crisp herringbone texture and clean edges, which gives the runners a tailored look without feeling formal.
We wanted something that would soften the noise of a busy staircase, protect the treads and add colour without overwhelming the hallway. A striped runner does all three. It also draws the eye upwards, making the stairs feel like a deliberate feature rather than a route between floors.
Choosing and fitting the stair runner
The hardest part was choosing the stripe. We brought samples home and laid them on the bottom step for a week, looking at them against the wood floor and the walls painted in our Little Greene paint colours. In the end we went for a design with a calm base and a few sharper accent stripes that pick up the greys in the hallway.
Fitting was not a DIY job, and after our tiling weekend we were glad of that. A professional fitter handled the measuring, underlay and stair rods. The result is neat, centred and secure, with an even border of painted tread showing either side.
Living with it so far
It's only been a couple of weeks, but the difference is remarkable. The stairs are quieter, warmer underfoot and far more inviting. Flatweave is practical too: it doesn't trap dust in the way a deep pile can, and the stripe is forgiving of everyday wear.
- Vacuum regularly with a gentle setting to keep the weave looking crisp.
- Deal with spills quickly by blotting rather than rubbing.
- Check the rods or fixings occasionally so the runner stays taut.
What's next in the renovation diary
The back door tiling will be finished properly, one way or another. After that, attention turns to furnishing the hallway, and we're browsing the January sales with a careful list. Our end of sale edit rounds up the pieces we've had our eye on.
If you're weighing up a stair runner of your own, our advice is simple: take your time choosing, invest in good fitting and enjoy walking up your stairs again.
Questions readers ask
What is a Roger Oates runner made from?
Roger Oates Design runners are flatwoven in Britain from wool and hand finished in the company's Herefordshire workshop, giving a herringbone texture and clean edges.
Should you fit a stair runner yourself?
It is possible, but stair runners need careful measuring, underlay and secure fixings. We used a professional fitter and would recommend it for a neat, centred result.
Are flatweave stair runners practical?
Yes. Flatweave is hard-wearing, easy to vacuum and less likely to trap dust than a deep pile, and a striped design helps disguise everyday wear.
