Help! How to Replace Carpet around Splinters with Laminate!

Hi all,
I need advice. I have carpeted stairs that have carpet around the banisters (main problem). How can I replace the carpet with laminate without having to tear down the splinters? Would it be tacky to cut the wood with shapes to cover areas around the splinters?

Any instructions or creative ideas are welcome. Thanks!!!

Here is a little more info. We like to replace the whole house with laminate. Underneath our e carpet is not hardwood so we cannot just tear out the carpet and refinish the floor.