Do you have that one space in your house that has never really changed since you’ve moved in?, cause I do! Our entry way is beyond blah, and we’ve barely touched it since buying our house because…
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO WITH IT!!
We moved in (March 2010) and since then we’ve painted, added a desk, tossed a ridiculous (and super ugly) oversized pillow on the radiator/built-in-bench, and hung bunting over the long, weird window.
Overall it’s not completely horrible, but its’ not great either. I’m just so afraid of it!
I have no clue how to approach that long, horizontal window on the north wall; do I leave it naked?, do I keep the “bunting thingy”?, do I try and hang curtains?
I have no idea!
What about that bench/radiator cover built-in; do I add cushion?, would that be weird?, maybe just a bunch of pillows?, or nothing at all?
I seriously have no clue!
What about that sconce, it’s original to the house but looks really sad and old and is only hanging on by a thread; do I buy something new?, do I go chandelier?, super modern?, minimalist??
I just don’t know!
Henceforth I am committing myself to coming up with a “vision” for this weird space and sticking to it. The deadline: Summer! By this time Juneish I will no longer have an entry way that is non-functional and non-prettyful. It will be rad and cool and something I can be proud of.
You hear entry way, you’ve been warned!
Oh man, I would kill for that bench! Our apartment has nowhere to sit and put on boots.
Anyway, my question is: how do you use the space? Do you use it as a “landing strip”, to store boots and jackets, or sort mail? I would let that guide the design of the space.
Personally – I would leave the window naked if you don’t need privacy, make a soft cushion for the bench to make it more comfortable, replace the light for sure and maybe add a rug or a runner. But it really depends on how you use it!
Hey Christine,
Thanks for your comment !
I guess the hardest part is that I don’t know how to use the space. It would be great as a landing strip if everything could be organized and hidden away, but I don’t think it’s possible in this area, as there is not a lot of storage, or walls for that matter to even build storage on.
However, I would like to see it as a landing strip for guests. Since we use our back door frequently and I have the back of the kitchen set up as a mud room we don’t need a front entry for the day-to-day. It would be great if it worked as an introduction to our home, a place that sets the tone for the rest of the house and says something about us as a family but also offers functionality. I envision a place for guests to take their boots or shoes off, hang their coats and make themselves at home.
Thanks for the advice on the window, I don’t have any concern about privacy I just have a concern about that window sticking out like a sore thumb. I think that fabric could add texture or pattern that would soften up the space and that’s why I used the bunting in the past. The window takes up such a big and odd space on the wall I can’t even figure out where artwork should go.
I’ve never thought of a runner, only a full sized rug, and I think a runner could be a much better solution. I’ll have to do some investigating on that.
I’m with ya, that light fixture has got to go.
PS, anxiously waiting your next blog post. I seriously LOVE your blog, you dive into big projects, something I am afraid to do. My husband isn’t so handy so it’s just me and the projects. I get scared of doing the big ones on my own, but I like seeing you do them!
I wanna see how your entry way is coming along even if it’s just a progress update.
You are the most awesome. Posts are coming! Soon!!
My “entry way” is a 3’x4′ corner of the living room that also serves as the stair landing and entry to the coat closet. Your entry way is the posh old grandma to my poor high school drop out. So envious.
I get what you’re saying about the entry way. I feel like ours is such a waste of space, it probably takes up 1/6 of our main floor square footage and it serves little purpose and isn’t very pretty. I wish it was smaller so that I wouldn’t feel so guilty about not using it.
Your analogy made me lolz.
It’s hard to get an idea of the scale, but would a high backed arm chair and foot stool fit there in place of the desk? It could be a nice little reading nook that would provide a little extra seating for guests putting on and taking off boots and coats (though you already have some with that bench). It could be drug over to the living room for extra seating when you had a bunch of people over.
Reading nooks are always my first suggestion for any unused awkward spaces. That elevated wood bin by our fireplace that I refuse to actually put any wood in because hello! BUGS — it’s now a reading nook for the boys. No house with kids can have too many reminders for them to pick up a good book. Reading nook. Done.
That’s a great idea for someday. I should have mentioned in the post that the desk needs to stay for now. I use it daily… I imagine in a year or two the boys might be sharing a room and in that instance I will be using the extra bedroom as a office space, and then of course there will be no desk in the entry. I love the idea of a reading nook, and I wonder if I could do a small bookshelf near the wall where the stairs come down.
Thanks!
One of my most favorite entryways, EVER, has a similar layout to yours. You can see it here: http://www.arciform.com/#/image-galleries/residential-gallery/whole-house/1908-craftsman/dewolf-1908-7
Abby,
Thanks! This is something to consider. You are right, that is the same layout to my entry. I like the idea of a chair and a table, but I might have to consider putting the table more near a wall. I like this and will file it away.
I have this Staircase here.. below ( Mine doesn’t look this Fantastic but it’s the SAME Exact Staircase Sans 3 windows.. I have 1 HUGE window instead of 3) and there is this weird Pea color in the foyer and going up the stairs. been here 1 year and Still can’t figure out a Decent Neutral color ..ohh and how much it would cost for someone to Reach the top to paint it! :sigh:
THE SECOND PICTURE on the link
http://www.houzz.com/projects/4295/Sheridan-Rd–Highland-Park-home-renovation
Oh wow! Beautiful. Mine is similar to what I imagine yours to be just not so fancy. I also have the high ceiling at the top of the first landing to paint. How do we do it? I was just looking into adjustable leg ladders, for the price of one of those babies, I could pay someone else to do it. My deep dark secret: 3 years, and only the upstairs hallway, and down stair entry have been painted, the painting stops half way between the two on the staircase, baaah!
PS I have the built in bench .does yours have storage as well ?
I’m committed to getting a bench cover for it but after pricing it, I’ve learned how to sew well enough to make my own :)
Love your house
Kat!
Awesome to hear from you! My built-in covers a radiator, it would be so nice if it had storage! Jealous. I’ve been trying to price cushions out a bit too. I’m not even sure a seat cushion would require sewing. I was thinking a piece of plywood cut to size, a nice 2″ piece of foam cut to size (the most expensive part) and some cool fabric to cover. Then just staple it all to the plywood, like a giant seat cushion. Or maybe sewing an actual cushion would be good too, I am afraid of zippers though, and I feel like it would need one. Hope to see you back around the blog!
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