safety gates?

hi girls- I did a search for this..but nothing on the parenting forum came up
I know someone (JennRennerr?) posted about their selection of gates, how they installed them, the cost, etc

please post your experiences as we need to put up gates...
have 7 steps up from our front door to our lving area. I know that you are supposed to put gates at top and bottom. Why I dont know since the baby will only be at the top unless she is being held and I need to take her into the garage. I also know that it should be a gate that you mount into the wall. Since we have plaster walls, I am guessing I would have to install some type of wood moulding vertically, so that the mounting hardware of the gate has something to grasp onto

also I was thinking of gating off the open entrance from the living rm into my dining room. That entry way is 76 inches and I haven't found anything yet that is that wide.
Thought I could put my plants and wine rack in the dining room so that's why I would gate it off

any guidance appreciated

Hi PHyl!!
How did the party go ??? post a review and pics please!!!

We just bought this gate for the top of the stairs.
Safeway Gate
It seemed to have overall great reviews.

and we have this one closing off our great room.
Secure Stand Gate
We're not crazy about it. (wish I still had the box to return it. We wound up taking the little feet off, because they just seem to be in the way) It does serve its purpose I guess.

Claud had posted a good review post on gates.

I haven't researched gates yet, but I will be soon...