Help with blank slate entryway!!
Sarah Strang
9 years ago
Hey Houzz family! Happy New Year! ...need your help! I have a housewarming party scheduled for 1/17/15. I'm going to be as ready as I can with the house warming/birthday bash! Here is my entry way! Without painting or changing out lighting (it's a new build and I'd rather not do all that just yet)... What suggestions do you have for entry way pieces?? Rugs, furniture, decorative items?? I'll attach several pics and also pics of the living room so many of you helped me fix up! I'd love something like a bench and or coat rack. Happy and excited to hear your ideas!!
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Sarah Strang
9 years agoWith door open facing into the home. Also attached are pictures of my living room and table that is in the dining room.
Sarah Strang
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Lounge/dining room blank slate
Comments (37)Thanks for the comment. I never did get around to updating this. Thanks everyone for your input. Here's some photos - nothing like the amazing professional photos on Houzz I'm afraid, just taken on my iPhone with the room lights on as its very dull today. In the end I managed to convince my wife to go for a light/dark theme. She was worried the dining room would feel very dark but it really doesn't. We love the distinct feel it gives both the living and dining room. Open plan so a feeling of space but feels like two distinct rooms in their own right. For those who like detail... Paint wise we have used Earthborn clay paint. The living room is Feather Pillow (a very warm neutral grey which reminds me a bit of Skimming Stone). It can look very grey in the north facing daylight but not too cold and warms up beautifully in the evening. I love having the ceiling light dimmed low with the table lamp on. The dining room is Damson Mousse. I love how this changes colour through the day. Sometimes it's more purple sometimes it's very soft and warm, almost aubergine. We also used Earthborn in our bedroom (Cupboard Love). In hindsight it was a poor choice for the dining room because it has almost no durability. It will take a brush against the wall but any liquid splashes ruin it (except for pure water which just evaporates out as its so breathable). It wouldn't be so bad if it touched up nicely and the lighter colours in the living room and bedroom do touch up well but the purple touches up terribly unfortunately. All woodwork, including the shelves which I had made by a local carpenter and the alcove cabinets, which I made myself, are painted in Loft White Intelligent Emulsion by Little Greene. You'll notice I did successfully paint the brown uPVC window frames and have had quite a few compliments. The black rubber gaskets were removed for painting and the frames had two coats of Zinsser BIN, a coat of acrylic primer undercoat (I used Leyland) and a topcoat. The wood grain effect on the frames makes it look very realistic. I also replaced the gold coloured handles for chrome ones. The floor is QuickStep Impressive in Soft Oak Natural and continues into the hall. We found a very good local fitter who also fit all of our new skirting board and architraves. The shutters are from a company called Shutterly Fabulous who are on Houzz I think. They supplied, measured and fitted and were a very reasonable £1200. We bought a set of their DIY shutters from their sister company California Shutters which I fitted myself in the bedroom. A few other details...the living room chimney has a false stud frame around it which conceals the wiring down to the left cupboard which contains all the AV gear. It also allows the TV bracket, mounted to the real chimney, to be recessed to get the TV right up to the wall. The room has hard wired 5.1 speaker terminals run under the floor and buried in the walls, all terminated at a 5.1 speaker wall plate in the left alcove. There is also 4x gigabit Ethernet ports in the left cupboard which terminate back at my network cabinet under the stairs. Most of the house lights are remote control and can be controlled by physical remotes, iPhones etc. Using LightwaveRF technology. Both radiators were replaced and the living room radiator moved under the bay window (the love seat does not stop it heating the room). Fitted with decent chrome valves and pipe snaps and chrome roses to conceal the copper. Sofa and love seat are from sofa.com. Both are part of the Isla range. Ceiling lights and lamps are from John Lewis. The dining room light was off centre which I realised after we decorated but I'm a bit OCD about things like that so I moved it over (fortunately the carpet was already up in my daughter's room above fit plastering and decoration and there was plenty of slack wire). Rug, throw, cushions and dining chairs are from Next. Plant and pot were a bargain in Homebase. New oak doors were bought online. Finally, the sideboard is from Cotswold Co and the side tables from a local shop. Both are far eastern imports to save money. The side tables are excellent quality, the sideboard less so but you get what you pay for. We invested a bit more in the dining table which is solid European oak (from Lithuania I think). Anyway I think that covers it. Hope you like it. Any questions please ask and sorry for any typos as I wrote this on my iPhone....See MoreLondon new build is a blank canvas
Comments (6)So the living space is east facing? Is the bedroom North or South? I associate a boutique look with dark furniture, neutrals colours, rich textures (and lamps!). I've had a quick at India Jane which I think would match this look well so it's more or less a one stop shop! (sale finishes today!). If you're going for a fitted wardrobe are you keeping the layout the same as on the plan? I might also get the builder to change the way the door opens so you can make use of the entrance. I'd go for an upholstered storage bed, there's one on Made.com for £649 (Skye). Have a look at the Elmore bedside tables, with maybe the small white canister lamps and the Pearce chair to go in the top left corner of the room all from India Jane. Perhaps wallpaper behind the bed in a grey grasscloth effect paper. If the room doesn't get much light have a look at strong white paint by farrow and ball which is a light grey. I'd add cushions and a throw in greys and taupe. Maybe some Roman blinds for the window in a faux silk in a pale taupe or grey. Blinds2go are very reasonable. If the living space is east facing try just walnut paint by Dulux for the walls. Have a look at the Langdon coffee table and the Alhambra dining table by India Jane. I've found some cheap chairs on ebay which would match (will copy the link separately or I'll lose all the text!). Accessorise the dining table with maybe a patterned ginger jar or a vase of faux flowers. I'd then go for either a mirrored sideboard to bounce light or maybe something in oak so all the furnture isn't dark. Put a pair of matching lamps on the sideboard, again India Jane have some great ones, you could try the nickel urn shaped ones or maybe the pineapple or Palm. Get some patterned and plain cushions for the sofa in lighter greys and taupes, oka direct also do some great ones (I'd go dear on the patterned and then get cheap ones for plain texture). You could also get a rug to zone the living space, I'd keep the colour close to the floor colour so it doesn't make the room feel smaller. Again Roman blinds for the window in a faux silk. Art hung symmetrically in sets of anything from 2 to 12 always looks good. Again, IJ and Oka have a few sets. Hopefully that's the kind of look you're going for! I'll add pics...See MoreIdeas or advice on a blank canvas bungalow
Comments (20)What styles do you like? Don't worry if you don't know, I didn't, and there are so many beautiful rooms on here - it's amazing albeit a little overwhelming. Maybe create a folder and just save images you like (of any style) and then go back over your saved photos and delete the ones you actually don't like (it's surprising how often you get a "why did I like that?" moment). Then have a look at your revised list and see what you have been most drawn to. There will always be a few anomalies but in general, there will be some sort of pattern there. I like the fireplace too and when I saw the colour, my first thoughts were navy walls and lots of texture. If navy is a little dark for your taste what about a different shade of blue? Blue and leather look so beautiful together. This would work with your existing items (including the carpet although are you changing this to vinyl?) and also anything new you would like to add in. If you were thinking of changing the kitchen, you could also carry the blue accents into the kitchen. I've included a few photos (of different styles and blues for inspiration) x...See Morehow should we finish off our new entrance?
Comments (17)After carrying out all that work and the expenditure I would not bother adding more to the workload by adding a porch. You have a modern fronted dwelling so IMO there’s no need to clutter the front by adding a porch especially one with Oak beams as it’s not in keeping with the existing house. That is more suitable to period properties which yours is not. You do need some steps for ease of entering the front door and I would make this a feature perhaps by having a large semi circle double height step if it allows. Perhaps add the step in a blue brick which would tone in nicely with the front door....See More
n247080
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
horselover222
9 years agoSarah Strang
9 years agoThanks for the advice on taking things slow and nice compliments about the home. I've been in the home since August and I'm ready to use my Christmas money to get the entryway fixed up. It doesn't have to be all ready for the house warming party but I need help with ideas. It's being catered so the food prep will be easy and my good friend is a pastry chef so she's making a great birthday cake!! Also my backyard is all ready for some corn hole fun and I'll be adding tiki torches as well as a propane heater! I'm in Houston, Texas so the outdoors can be used year long! Just excited for friends who have been asking to see the house at my home for a fun party!! Also a great way to meet new neighbors! I love hosting parties!!
Sarah Strang
9 years agoI do want some mirrors!! What do you guys think of something like these for the space?? Hoping to spend under $400 for a piece that would go there and then add art work? Anyone hate the buffet table in the pics? Or should that be moved somewhere better??
Sarah Strang
9 years ago
PROJohn Hannah Architectural Design & Rendering
9 years ago
Irene Morresey