Decorate With Intention: Create a Welcoming Entry
Does your house make you breathe a major sigh of relief once you walk into the door? It can, and should, however daily life gets in the method of producing a space as beautiful and comfortable as we would like. Join us this week because we scout out inspiring entrances and discuss tips for pulling together a welcoming house, from appeal in the curb to creature comforts inside the door.
Home & Harmony
The welcoming process begins before you step foot inside, so pay attention to the front of your property first. This does not have to entail spending a great deal of cash, as it’s often the tiny touches which produce the most difference. Go out and take a few moments to think about the front of your house, imagining that you are seeing for the first time. What strikes you? What changes would you like to create?
Design notes: Offering your front door or porch elevation a coat of blue paint is a great way to improve curb appeal. Always try to have something new and green close to your door as well — even if it is simply a few branches plunked in a pretty bucket.
Tom Meaney Architect, AIA
Think about leading a guest from the sidewalk to your front door: Can there be a gently curving route, or is it difficult to find the solution to your door? In case you have stairs, is there a suitable railing within reach? Are porch lights functioning and turned on from the day? Are house numbers clearly visible from the street?
When the fundamentals are so, think about adding a few finishing touches to delight the senses:
Create a peaceful atmosphere and hide street sounds using a tiny fountain.Plant jasmine, honeysuckle or increased close to your front door and be greeted with delicious fragrance each time you encounter home.Add solar-powered garden lights along your walkway.
Julie Holloway
Deborah Needleman in her novel The Perfectly Imperfect Home contrasts the entryway to “the butler we do not have,” which is an excellent way to think of this space. Under ideal conditions, it should graciously greet us in the door, find a place for our belongings and dole them out if we leave.
Design notes: Because the entryway is usually a small space, it may be fun to be a bit more daring in this region. Try wallpaper, a bold mirror, a shapely pendant light, or all three.
Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc..
A console table with a tray for mail on top and a bin for recycling beneath, hooks or pegs to the wall, good lighting and an ample mirror are a winning combination. If you are lucky enough to have a coat closet nearby, you can bypass the pins and perhaps the recycling bin.
Design notes: A driftwood mirror, an iron table and a beadboard wall add as much as a rustic-modern appearance that will be right at home in the city, the state or anywhere in between.
Tara Seawright Interior Design
Not much room? That does not mean that you can not still make a bold style statement. A petite ottoman covered in a luxurious cloth seems chic and can hold a jacket and bag. Insert an extra mirror on the wall to create an expansive sense of space.
Design notes: Wish to recreate a glam look? Plush velvet, curvy contours, crystal (or anything with a little bit of glow), silver and chinoiserie accents all bring to mind older Hollywood elegance.
Brian Watford Interiors
Built-ins might be smart investment if you are working with an awkward entry. Try a window seat with integrated storage or tuck a coat closet to a corner under the staircase to convert previously unusable space.
CWB Architects
For a really tight spot, look for wall-mounted solutions. Sconce light, floating shelves, decorative brackets and coat hooks are all great options. In case the budget is too tight as the space, scour local flea markets for one-off finds like antique doorknobs (which may be coat hooks) and architectural castoffs which may be repurposed as wall shelves.
Design notes: An urn close to the front door is a wise choice for decor. It looks great full of flowers but makes a strong statement even when vacant — and it may be dragged into duty as an impromptu doorstop.
Whitney Lyons
Last, consider including a personal touch, something which will make you smile each time you view it — if it is as small as a distinctive shell or stone or as large as this wonderful photo mosaic.
Design notes: Matt and Kimberly Weishoff made the mosaic revealed here by blowing up a favourite photo, then cutting it into segments which were used as an alternate to the traditional guest book in their wedding (browse the how-to here).
More:
Welcoming and Fashionable Entryways
Entryways Have a Chair