I need your help...

I'm at a loss. This is a minor issue in the house, just one of the many things on my 'wish' list. However, I'd like to do SOMETHING with this railing and the wall it runs up to. Should I paint it black and just leave it alone?? Should I replace the whole thing and do a wrought iron railing? Or should I do both, paint the top and bottom, but replace the posts with wrought iron...Hmmmm...