Entryway Reveal: Cool, Calm and Collected

Updated: Apr 4, 2020

It's been just over a month since we completed our front entry refresh and the space's cheery, yet chill vibe has been bringing me a ton of joy through these winter days.

Before, our front entry was just a space to quickly breeze through when on your way somewhere else. With bare walls, bare floors and poor lighting, no one wanted to linger long.

But now, it's got enough warmth and interest to make a good first impression when family and friends come through the door.

The changes--primarily furnishings and cosmetic updates--made a huge difference. Keep reading for more pictures of the space, before and afters and links to everything you see.

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Not only did it take us a while to come around to decorating this space, it took me forever to get the pictures up from this reveal! So, feel free to make a game out of spotting the touches of Christmas cheer in these pictures.

I have to say, the semi-flush mount light we selected is one of my favorite pieces. It just adds a touch of modern in a house that can feel pretty traditional. But its mid-century vibes also kind of remind entrants that they're still in a split level.

The gray paint we went with just has a much nicer finish than the "contractor special", matte ivory that came with the house upon purchase. We kept it simple and went with the same color we had used in the butler's pantry/dining room.

Both the console, which was an Ikea hack, and the large piece of art I painted were a lot of fun to craft and are a much better scale for the space.

Painting the door a deep blue felt like a bold move, given this is such a small space, but I am so happy I went for it. It brings some much-needed color to an otherwise neutral palette and brought the door's old brass hardware to life.

I also didn't want the door mat to compete with the somewhat busy rug, so I went with a very simple one that practically blends in with the hardwoods.

The console is a little tricky to decorate. I always struggle with these vignettes and how to make them pretty but practical, curated but not messy or overcrowded. I opted for a little greenery and a lot of pots/containers to vary the height of objects along the console.

The stacked home sketches (another DIY I shared on the blog) on the wall opposite the console, give that side of the entry some interest without a lot of weight. I like that this wall isn't competing with the other side of this small front hall.

Finally, the brass claddagh mirror is probably the most fitting touch for our family, not to mention a practical addition for a quick peek at yourself as you run out the door.