Hellobee Boards

This is what we got for our kitchen. It's a bit pricey but totally worth it. It pressure mounted so you dont have to make any holes or drill. It gives you the option though in case you want to. The door is super nice!

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Strongly recommend a retract a gate. Expensive, but way less annoying than a swinging gate. Also, you can use zip ties and and extension piece to avoid drilling. You could probably pad it to avoid even scratching that gorgeous woodwork. Zip tie solution looks like this photos.

We had a set up like @mrsbucky, except with a swinging gate, at the bottom of our stairs. We attached the gate to 1x1 pieces of wood, which were then zip tied to the railings. It worked great and was very secure.

@Petitduck: @MrsBucky: and are they easy to open/close. I’m thinking for my 6 year old to get through.

@Petitduck: my 4 year old can mostly do it on his own. I’m guessing a 6 yo would be fine. The mechanics is there is a button on the top that you have to push down and twist to unlock it and then you have to pull the gate to unhook the two hooks, then let it retract. It does take coordination to get it re-closed because you have to keep the tension on the gate (ie not let it retract) while you catch the hooks. Then pushing and twisting the lock is easy. It’s not hard, but I have to teach new adults in our house how to do it- it’s not self explanatory.

@Petitduck: @MrsBucky: Thanks! Sounds like he would be able to do it if we taught him. I like the idea of not having a gate swing into the hall.

Another vote for the retractable gate. We have them at the top and bottom - were recommended and installed by a professional baby proofer.