I did go get more basswood, but I want it for another project I'm thinking of, so I put together a simple design with skinny sticks for the 3rd floor big room:

I gave it a light stain and have the 1st coat of sealer on it now... I'll buff it down and try to flatten it some more before I install it...

So I decided to mix it up a little with the 2nd story stairs-- just copying the 1st story stair layout was too predictable, so I did a variation on a bash that I had done for the Orchid stairs (see my Orchid album):

Before stair installation, I carpeted the green room; this is a nice upholstery-type fabric that I found at Walmart, remnant section I think it was, and makes great flooring. I didn't lay it on card; I measured and cut it out, then smeared white school glue over the floor (but not too thick), and then laid the carpet down, maneuvering into place. There are two tiny spots toward the back of the room where I think the glue seeped through a bit, but overall it looks OK. Whoops, still need to touch up that spot on the wall...

I put the spindles on the stairs, pushing pieces of pin into the spindle bottoms then pushing it into the step; it is not the sturdiest, but I think once I get the railing in and the big posts, the railing will hold it all together. I was trying out a piece of elastic that was in my fabric scraps, for the runner-- I like the colors and how they tie things together, but I ultimately decided to leave the 1st floor stairs bare in order to let the white color pop. Well I may ultimately decide to put it in there after all because I just like it (my mother sent it to me with some other findings that she thought I could use for miniature-making!), if I can find some suitable ends for stair-rods that will fit on either side of the runner... I did get some more gold paper from Hobby Lobby, but had enough scrap anyway for the 1st floor staircase accents.

For the 2nd story staircase, I had some brown fuzzy paper that I had gotten from HL, that I used for accent. Not quite the same brown as in the carpet, but I think it adds some contrast.

I will look for a good stair runner (or maybe just little "mats" for the steps only) for the 2nd story staircase, because I don't think I need the white to pop as much here... If I could find something in brown AND green, that might be good. Hmmm...