Paint promotes procrastination:
build now, decide on the color
later. But if you're using any natural
finishes on trim, you need to
work out the entire system of trim
and finishes before you build, so
you will know what wood to use
where. It helps to classify the trim
into groups that you can deal with
separately. Certain pieces go
together: if one is natural finish or
painted, the other should be also.
Floors and Stairway
Since stair treads are really
pieces of flooring, natural-finish
stair treads go with wood floors. A
common way to finish stairs, especially
in Colonial houses, is to
paint the stair risers and skirtboards,
leaving the treads natural.
But painted risers scuff easily; in
my opinion