We decided that we needed another project and took apart the banister.  We had to strip 8 layers of paint off the posts down to the original wood. 

Kitchen Concepts installing the kitchen.

We had about 450 sq. ft. of original hardwoods to refinished and 450 sq. ft. of new to match up to them.    We use unfinished red oak and stained them to match.  

Sanded and Stained:

Final product: