First Impressions – Creating a welcoming entrance in your home
The entrance to your home is so important because this is the first impression for your visitors so I like to create a very welcoming entrance. The entrance is also the hub for a busy family so the right storage is also important. When you walk into your home you should feel happy because you love the look of your home but also happy because you have great storage so it’s practical as well. We all dream of an organised life where there is a place for everything and the kids actually put their stuff away, but in reality we need to make it as easy as possible so it may actually happen.
This entrance in my Essendon Project has a long hallway typical in Federation style homes so we didn’t have a huge amount of width space. When you first walk into the home it feels cosy and welcoming and it has timeless appeal. I added a beautiful rustic timber console with three drawers so the family has plenty of storage. They can store their keys, garage remote and all the things a busy family needs as they are coming home or leaving. I like to have a drawer especially for things like a hairbrush, hair ties, coins and a pen so when you are in a hurry you can grab items quickly on the way out. I also added a wicker trunk for the kids to store their shoes when they come inside. I love wicker baskets because they look great and they have lots of space inside for storing items.
In this home we had lovely high ceilings so I chose these beautiful glass and metal pendant lights that have a Hamptons look for the entrance hallway. I think they work because they don’t take away from the Federation style features but they give it a more modern look. I like to add a mirror in an entrance so you can check yourself before you go out or answer the door so in this entrance I chose two mirrors side by side to take up the same length as the console. Lamps are lovely and welcoming so if you have the chance please have a power point in your entrance so you can have lamps.
My Wattle Glen project is set in bushland so I chose neutral colours and natural materials that compliment the beautiful views. We started with new oak flooring in a large herringbone pattern which I think gives it a more modern look that suited the clients style. My clients already had this buffet from their previous home so we added it to the entrance for lots of lovely storage. I added a glass hurricane candle holder which is a great alternative if you don’t have a power point in your entrance. I also added a large rustic vase with foliage from the garden and I always like to add a bit of wicker to give the home a cosy feel so this natural tray is perfect for dropping your keys and mail.
In my Donvale project we gave the staircase an update by painting the balustrade, adding feature trim and painting the stair risers. (See the Before entrance) The black balustrade looks very elegant and I love the contrast with the white and the timber. This beautiful console is perfect because it looks very stylish and it’s quite narrow so it’s a perfect fit for this narrow space. The console has 3 large drawers which is great for storage and I added two hurricane candle holders because there were no power points here. I love to lean art for a more relaxed style and this piece with a black frame sits very well in the space.
Decorative boxes are perfect for styling in an entrance and they are a great place to put your keys.
If you would like to give your entrance a make over so you have a beautiful and organised home then contact me. I hope this has inspired you to create a home you love.
