The entryway needs updating

This is what it looked like a couple of years ago.

The bench serves as the entryway table. It was a purchase from Target online many years ago. I loved the inset tiles and still do.

 and the spindles.

Every so often, items get changed - seasonally and otherwise.

A piece from my blue-and-white collection.

I bought this vintage brass repousse magazine rack from Phat Dog on Etsy and love that it is aged - some discoloration and a few dings lends it character. Now it serves as the catchall for the mail that comes through the door. 

I also purchased this adorable basket on Etsy from Simply Objekts - I love woven baskets of any size - and this is little and perfect for car keys and house keys mostly. Occasionally I will keep my smaller measuring tape in it for when I am running out the door and just to have it more accessible.

By now you would have noticed my vibrant American Cheese wall color by Benjamin Moore. It is a bright and a really sunny color and really helps brighten up a space which does not get the most sunlight.

This color needs changing.

So I have been looking at paint colors, trying to decide in which direction to go.

The items that will be staying should be considered. The mirror above is a "maybe". My dad kindly painted it for me one year when my parents were visiting. I picked it up at a local consignment store over ten years ago. The frame used to be a bright gold but I was not keen on the gold-on-golden-yellow effect. I might have other plans for it and have something to replace it with if it is moved. The bench stays.

A few weeks ago I replaced the worn out, outdated, traditional patterned runner with something more contemporary.

This runner..in the background...

.....with this.

More things to share next week. Some ideas for new paint colors and other items I want to incorporate in the space.

Thank you for all who visited and left kind comments on my last post which was part of the One Room Challenge hosted at Calling It Home. If you missed the reveal of my daughter, Emily's room, click here. 

I will share the resources of items in this room soon.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often. 

Keeping The Entryway Organized

Do you find it difficult keeping the entryway/foyer clean and organized? This is the first space people see when they enter your home. It creates an immediate impression and usually reflects the state of the rest of the house.

If one has an entryway/foyer table, this could be where the mail can get dumped and where keys are thrown.


I had shared this space with you in my first post last year. I had purchased the bench online from Target. It was initially for the outdoors but I brought it into the house. I love the tiles on it and the spindles beneath the arms lend character.

I have repurposed the bench. It serves as an entryway table and a good size one, too.

I would like to show you how I keep this area of the house clean and organized for everyone.

I purchased this unique vintage English brass magazine holder from Phat Dog on Etsy last year. I had initally thought I would use it as an accent piece in the living room and I had it there for a few months. It has two compartments.

Although it has some discoloration and a few minor dings, it has some beautiful repoussé* work of an outdoor pub scene and I have chosen to leave it as is. It has more character untouched.

* repoussé - malleable metal decorated or embossed by hammering from the reverse side.

I also found this adorable woven basket from simply objekts, also on Etsy.

It is just 9 1/4" high (with handles) and 8" wide.

I have both items on the bench as tools for keeping mail and keys organized as they are brought in the front door.

The basket has ample room for all keys  - house and car. And I also keep my spare mini measuring tape to grab-and-go for when I am shopping for items that require measuring. A small one is lighter, naturally, and adds little weight to my already heavy bag.

The mail is placed in the magazine holder. Magazines and catalogs in the back compartment and everything else in the front.

From here I can easily discard/recycle junk mail. On occasion this has got quite full on days when we have received more than the usual amount of mail but I am getting to be more diligent with clearing the magazine holder. These two items have been worth every penny.

This is an easy way to stay organized in the entryway before these important items - mail and keys - get lost and/or add clutter to any space. The basket saves time looking for keys and the magazine holder enables some initial organization of mail before it is moved to the next location.

I love this system. As you can see, the bench has room for flowers and when I am running in-and-out of the house through the day I do leave my bag on it, too.

We have a coat closet as well as a mudroom (or mud "nook", as I sometimes refer to it) for coats and backpacks and shoes.

Staying organized saves time and of course, conserves energy.

Do you have an organized system in place for your mail and keys? I would love to hear about it.

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A Stroll Thru Life

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Entryway at Roomspiration Blog Hop & Link Party

I have featured my entryway a couple of times since my first post back in May. Today I am linking up my entryway to the Roomspiration Blog Hop & Link Party on Abode Love and I have added a few additional pictures.

I live in a 1939 side-hall colonial which originally had white siding and a white front door. I decided to change the color of the outside to a pale yellow and for a soft but noticeable contrast, this blue door. The color of the door is somewhere between Marlboro Blue and Blue Hydrangea by Benjamin Moore. 

I love the effect of the blue against the yellow walls. The walls are American Cheese by Benjamin Moore, where it is described as a "happy yellow-orange". This side of the house gets less sunlight and this shade of yellow lights up the foyer during the day.

In honor of the anniversary of 9/11

I  managed to dig a "before" picture up. This was while we were going through construction six years ago (we lived in the house during those four to five months). The previous owners had a orangey-brown tile on the floor (no pictures) which I decided to remove and replace with wood.

This is how it looks today. Ignore the runner going up the stairs - 10 years old, faded and well-worn it needs to be replaced. The bench is one of my favorite finds. I love the tiles on it. I purchased it online at Target, initially for my back patio but I decided not to weatherproof it and placed it in the entryway instead of a regular table.

This mirror is one of my first consignment store purchases. You would have seen it above in the "before" picture with it's original gold-toned color. I loved the unusual shape and this space needed a mirror and some curves! My father painted it for me in this metallic pewter paint (I forget the brand I used, this was done a few years ago). I wanted to balance the yellow walls with a cooler frame.

Cactus from the local Trader Joe's where I shop often.  

This multiple votive holder was purchased on a trip to India. It is reminiscent of Portuguese ceramic tiles (as are the tiles on the bench).

The bench has a lot of character.

I received flowers in this stunning royal blue vase from a dinner guest many years ago. It's a sizeable piece.

I also have these ceramic plates on the wall across from the bench and heading towards the kitchen the mirror from Overstock. It is reverse painted on glass. Overstock has a good selection of these.

So there you have it, my entryway. I need a rug by the bench. I have a couple of options. I will add more artwork/photographs on the wall leading up the stairs.

Remember to visit Abode Love to join in and/or view other entries to this party. I plan to link up the progress on my living room next so stay tuned.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Room by Room Entries & Foyers Party by Cottage and Vine

This was my first post about my entryway back in May of this year.

 

I live in a 1939 side-hall colonial which originally had white siding and a white door. I decided to change the color of the outside to a pale yellow and for a soft but noticeable contrast, this blue door. The color of the door is somewhere between Marlboro Blue and Blue Hydrangea by Benjamin Moore. 

The Entryway

I love the effect of the blue against the yellow walls. The walls are American Cheese by Benjamin Moore, where it is described as a "happy yellow-orange". This side of the house gets less sunlight and this shade of yellow lights up the foyer during the day.

Ignore the runner going up the stairs - 10 years old, faded and well-worn it needs to be replaced. The bench is one of my favorite finds. The tiles drew me to it.

This mirror is one of my first consignment store purchases. I loved the unusual shape and this space needed a mirror and some curves!

Cactus from the local Trader Joe's where I shop often.

Another favorite, really good purchase from a trip to India - this multiple votive holder.

                                                       

I received flowers in this stunning royal blue vase from a dinner guest many years ago. It's a sizeable piece.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this post. Over time, I shall elaborate on how this space fell into place and continues to evolve...stay tuned.

Today, I have linked up my entryway post to Room by Room hosted by Rene of Cottage & Vine. Click on the button below to join in the fun and/or to visit others who are participating!

 

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Entryway Rug - Take the Poll

Last week I showed you a part of my entryway. The bench is really the focal point of the space. The room has no soft furnishings except the runner going up the stairs behind the bench (that does not count as it will be replaced soon).

I would really like to place a runner or rug of some sort in front of the bench to ground the space and add more visual interest.

Here are the options. Please take the poll at the end of this post to let me know which one you think would work and do leave a comment, too.

Cane Indoor/Outdoor Rug in chocolate
 1.
Source

Arcadia Rug
 2.
Source

Woven Diamond/Denim Indoor/Outdoor Rug
 3.
Source

Rajputana Indoor/Outdoor Rug
 4.
Source

Embroidered Flatweave Rug
 5.
Source

I do have another option which currently lies on the floor of my guest room (soon to undergo a makeover). This was purchased some years ago on a trip to India.

Multicolored Dhurrie
6.

Again, here is the space.

I also have these plates on the wall across from the bench.

Please take the poll below and leave me your comments.

Which area rug should I use in the entryway?

• Cane Indoor/Outdoor Rug in Chocolate
• Arcadia Rug in Copper
• Woven Diamond/Denim Indoor/Outdoor Rug
• Rajputana Outdoor Rug
• Embroidered Flatweave Rug
• Multicolored Dhurrie

Created on Jun 1, 2011

View Results

poll by twiigs.com

Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa