Are there rooms in your home that are bugging you now? Maybe you’ve got some ideas but just need someone to help you sort them out? Are you stumped on something and need a solution?
My email Q and A interior design consultations are open.
Today, I’m sharing a Designed in a Click email consultation I’ve done recently, an entry hall makeover, so you can see how these work. See how this homeowner got some direction for an entry hall / foyer space.
Entry Hall / Foyer
This homeowner needed help figuring out the function and some furnishings for this space. It is almost a living room, but right at the entry to the home, functions more as a foyer / entry hall.
The main living space is just on the opposite side of that fireplace. Since this is such an open space too, it is unlikely anyone would come in here to lounge or chat with someone like you might a proper living room.
It’s kind of hard to know what to do with it.
Furniture left over from a previous home filled this space that had no real specific intention or purpose. She wanted to keep the bookcase here and it fills the wall nicely. The rest could go.
These are the front doors to the home, just opposite that space. There are lots of tall windows here on both sides.
She had furniture that was leftover from a former home in this space, just sort of taking up space for now. She wanted this space to have more intention and look appropriate for the entry, while melding well with the rest of her home.
Here’s the fireplace, and just beyond is the main living space of the home, connected to the kitchen.
She had a warm toned color scheme going on with some orange / persimmon color accents. A more traditional, Mediterranean look pervailed with dark wood in the kitchen and travertine floors throughout.
She wanted to keep the bookcase in the space, which I agreed would be good. I like that it is a creamy white painted wood and it fills that wall nicely.
This sort of made it feel to me like a library and I made this my direction….a sort of library / foyer.
She didn’t love all the travertine and had indicated that she wanted to move toward a look that was less Mediterranean, but we still needed it to work well with what was elsewhere in the home.
She also had wondered about some kind of window treatments in here, but there is no need for privacy.
Here was my response.
I'd love to do drapery there, but you have so many other windows, that it would look odd to do some and not more there.
If you will keep the bookcase, then I'd think about a round hall table there, with small ottomans around it for softness. Here’s something a little trad with the base and I really like the light marble top.
I love these caramel leather stools, they work with your accent color in the living room and have a natural appeal.
A round rug would be nice, to bring focus and help soften things. This is interesting, hair on hide. I like no pattern here, keep it simple.
I really like the light, whiteness of this round rug and at 8’ diameter it will cover up a significant part of the travertine floor. If we did a darker rug, the whole space would feel more trad.
I also like the idea of a bench of some kind at the window, it just feels like it needs some detail there. I like how open and simple this one is.
You could add a long, narrow lumbar pillow there, repeating that color.
I'd delete some of the items up top of the bookcase, it feels a little heavy. Maybe take down the greenery and the big round plate. That will feel lighter, then you won't feel like you need to add similar weight elsewhere in this space.
You can do some tall branches in a rustic vase on the round table, for height and a sculptural effect, along with a stack of pretty picture books, and some smaller accessories.
You could also do a floor lamp in the corner by the bench, for height and a nice glow in the evening. I like the organic nature of this lamp.
I think this area is inviting now, and might become the perfect place to perch while waiting for someone. It gives this space a presence, and fills the void without becoming overly decorated or feeling like it is more of a mini-living room.
It still feels like an entry hall with appropriate furnishings and works with the furniture in the next room.
I think there is a definite nod to a Mediterranean look without repeating that exactly here. I love it, I hope you do too. I've got a little mood board attached, for your review.
Need a Consultation?
Do you have a space that is giving you trouble? I’m here to help.
Check out my Designed in a Click service offering here.
Are you a designer who would like to incorporate an email type design service into your offerings? I have my guide to how I work both of my consultations right here, 22 pages of tips and best practices learned from experience.