Hallway Help Please!!!

12 years ago

oops the photos to go with my earlier post................After moving in I stripped the hall way and so am starting from scratch. I am really struggling to lose the bland feeling in my entrance and would really appreciate advice. I have cream/cappuccino ceramic tiles but am lacking the welcoming, warmer feel to to an entrance which I have always had in my old house. I love my giraffe lampshade and table - must keep those! And in the evening with the lamp on, there is a nice glow to the area. The main light is also new and to keep. I had thought of a console under the mirror to the left, but can't find one tall enough to accommodate the radiator - and now I have had the floor put down moving the radiator is not an option . My style is clutter free (but not minimalist) , contemporary (rather than traditional) and warm too (if that makes sense!) and I do like the odd quirky item. On the walls there are 2 mirrors and one is behind the stairs down a passage way - this leads to the cloakroom. I need a mirror on that wall as the passage is so narrow. I do not want curtains across my doorway - do you think a green plant would brighten this area - or a runner of some sort. Any advice very much appreciated!

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User

12 years ago

Definitely some kind of runner or mats to break up the expanse of floor.

Maybe some tall greenery on either side of the doors?

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User
12 years ago
And maybe add a frame to the mirror above the radiator, or a hall mirror with a shelf to take the place of a stand?
missmjbs thanked User
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You could get a radiator cover like this: But I don't think you really want one. Why not have a carpenter build a console that is custom made with the dimensions you need or a shelf that is mounted above the radiator? Decent radiator covers aren't cheap and if it isn't what you want, get someone to build what you do want. If you are going to paint your door (which I don't think you should, but I am in the "no door curtains" club), have it or shelf or console in white. If you aren't going to paint the door, having it (whatever "it" is!) in a dark wood but also have a small table (under the giraffe shade) in wood, too. I hope you start to think it is exciting again soon. Maybe look around at magazines or Houzz for entryways you really like the look of for some renewed inspiration.
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I have just revisited this item and a thought has struck me. If you are intending to do the whole house room by room then it occurs to me that the hall should be the last area to do - simply to save tears. While you alter all the other rooms you will be carrying all materials and tools through the hallway - and of course that will increase the wear and tear factor, along with dings and scrapes from long and large bits of materials and furniture. I don't know the layout of the house, nor how badly other rooms need sorting out but I would start with rooms you actually use rather than simply pass through. Kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom. In fact I would suggest sorting the living room first before you get so moved into it that vacating it to work on it would be problematic. The kitchen and bathroom don't tend to attract the amount of clutter and furniture that living rooms collect, so are easier to clear to basics to start work on. During this process your hallway may well end up being a makeshift store for materials while work is going on.
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To me this hallway is screaming out for some dado rail height panelling, I would run this all through and up the stairs and, as the stained glass seems to be consistent throughout, pick a colour from this, i.e. a light green to paint the panelling. Then a nice light but bold print wallpaper above the panelling would look really nice. The staircase is a nice example but needs a bit of cosmetic work to tidy it up and a new lampshade and this hallway could look great!
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Thank you for the ideas so far, I hesitated about a mirror as we have mirrors all over the house and I don't want people to think we're vain!!! But it is crying out for one I agree. I have a canvas that would look good over the radiator and I could change the wall light for a spotlight. We inherited the carpets from the previous owner and can't replace at the moment, but I did wonder if a rug would make it into a space in its own right. Something like this maybe ... https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/2014-parade-home-lehi-transitional-entrance-salt-lake-city-phvw-vp~18608984 what do you think? Also can't decide about pendant lights. We have an art deco style fireplace in the adjacent room and I like that 'look'.
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boundsgreener
12 years ago
I think you need a bit of wood and fabric in there to create the warmth and it'll tie in your door to the scheme. The purple giraffe lampshade fits the quirky requirement and I like the lamp base and the table, but is there another place where you can put the base and the table? I think the giraffe would look better with a wood base or a solid colour that matches a colour in the lampshade (a yellow or orange?) and I think a bigger and wood table would be better because at the moment you have floors that are quite shiny and the lamp base and table are shiny and that is why it doesn't look warm.

I assume the mirror is that high so that you can see your head in it! Maybe put that one somewhere else and get a much bigger mirror that you can see your head in and it comes within a few inches of the top of the radiator.

If you are a fan of radiator covers, you can have one made that has a proper ledge on top or have a shelf built that sits a few inches higher than the radiator (so that the radiator can still do its job) so you can put a vase or other decorative items on top of it.

Stairs are the perfect opportunity for hanging art and photos and that will further add warmth without cluttering the space.

P.S. The Dancing Cow lamp is attached because I thought it might appeal to your quirky gene...and it would look great!

Costello Lamp · More Info

Charley Harper Vireo Table Lamp · More Info

Twist Lamp · More Info

Dancing Cow Lamp · More Info
missmjbs thanked boundsgreener
missmjbs
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you so much Boundsgreener - I love all all your lamp suggestions! I agree about the lamp base and have a wooden one or copper coloured one in mind. I had set my heart on the mirrored table as saw one in someone's house and liked it so much. Can I trouble you to ask your opinion about the door? Would you suggest a curtain across it? And as I love your lamp suggestions, could you recommend a rug as well?!t The mtirrors were just put up whilst I find what I am looking for as I had them at my previous house - they do need changing I absolutely agree. I have never had a radiator cover before - and am not particularly keen on them, but was wanting something to add some dimension to that wall. thank you so much for your advice!
Helen Charlton
12 years ago
Would painting the door be something you'd consider. The dark brown is rather heavy in comparison to the floor/walls, and painting it white will lighten up the entrance. We have a similar large doorway, and have hung curtains which pull right back onto the walls either side. You can use the curtains to introduce colour, and they'll help with the cosiness, particularlyb in the winter. Go for a coordinating rug, and you'll increase the colour injection and warmth a lot.
missmjbs thanked Helen Charlton
missmjbs
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Helen - yes I would love to paint the door - all the frames in the house are the same colour and I would love a rich cream colour....but that will have to wait for next year! I think curtains at the door would work actually - but feel at a loss what to choose....really struggling with this hall way!
boundsgreener
12 years ago
Goodie on the lamps! Don't get me wrong, I love a mirrored table, I just don't think it is doing all it can in that spot. They are great in a bedroom and also in a dark corner in a living room. I'm sure you can find the perfect place to show it off.

I don't usually like radiator covers either, but sometimes, and in the right material, they can work well. Go with a shelf mounted above it if you are unsure, but because your front door (more on that later) has those wonderful vertical lines in it, you could have a radiator cover with the same long slats.

I think your door is great - it has strong but simple features, that I thought fit with your clean line aesthetic, while letting in light. I may be against the grain here, but unless your house is incredibly drafty and it is a 16th Century cottage or a French chateau, I wouldn't dream of having a curtain across a door. Call me crazy, but our last house was a wonky Victorian with a beautiful, enormous front door with stained glass in it and around it and the wind used to come in so strong around the edges that I felt like I was in the Arctic Circle, but there wasn't a chance I was going to cover up such a beautiful piece of architecture. Yeah, that is a bit crazy....

You could paint it in a cream to match the rest of the house, but make the other changes to the entrance hall first, live with it for a while (next year, as you say) and then see if you still want to paint it.

I'll go and look for something for the floor now while other people tell you I'm wrong on the door curtain idea!
missmjbs thanked boundsgreener
boundsgreener
12 years ago
Ok, so this rug has to be practical because it is near the front door and if you get anything plain and pristine you are going to scream the first time a muddy shoe soils it. I would actually place it length-wise across the front of your two front doors so it really is an entrance rug (how much clearance is below the door? If there's a proper lip, it'll be fine). I think if you have a runner it might end up looking like a runway and like you are trying to save the tiles from footprints. But I can't really see how the doorways to the left and right of the front door work, so maybe something set back from the front door and larger than it would be better.

Anyway, here are a few suggestions on practical but adding texture and warmth (some are links you'll have to click on). If you hate them all, I'll keep looking.

Reflection Jute Rug · More Info

Sentimental Handknotted Black And Grey Rug · More Info

Madras Leather Hemp Rug Natural · More Info

Lollie Natural Jute Rug · More Info

These two to go with the giraffe:
Madras Leather Hemp Rug Brown · More Info

Moroccan Style Rugs · More Info

https://www.thelongeststay.com/nz-wool-rugs
https://www.thelongeststay.com/pebble-rug
http://www.made.com/rugs/dhurries-mogul-rug-120-x-180-white
missmjbs thanked boundsgreener
missmjbs
Original Author
12 years ago
love this idea and the doors either side of the front door open into the rooms ,so I could place horizontally - plus there is lip under the front door so room for it to open. I do have a covered area outside where there is a door mat for feet wiping so hopefully muddy feet won't be a problem! Do you think a brighter (dare I say quirkier..?!) rug would work or do you think neutrals better? I am so struggling with this space......really appreciate your help! :)
boundsgreener
12 years ago
Definitely go brighter and quirkier with the rug if everyone who enters your house is thoughtful (I would like to meet them, if that is the case!). There are soooo many gorgeous rugs out there and with everything except the giraffe being neutral, you could have fun choosing one.
missmjbs thanked boundsgreener