Monday, September 12, 2011

My entryway needs help...

I wasn't planning on linking up to the Roomspiration blog hop & link party except for a couple of the days, but I found myself looking at today's links of people's entryways and getting jealous. So I thought I'd make a quick post about my entryway. It needs help.



We live in a split-level house, which means when you walk in the front door you either take the stairs up to the main, currently-finished level, or take the stairs down to the basement, not-finished-yet level. It's a really neat idea (looking out the windows we're above ground-level), but not really any space for a true "entryway."

I've debated for awhile what (if anything) to do on that wall with the banister. We have a coat closet at the top of the stairs, so there really isn't a need for a place to hang coats. I've thought about putting a mini-bench in the space on the tile/rug against that wall (where a few pairs of sandals tend to hang out), but it's so narrow, and we keep all our shoes in the coat closet too and just sit on the stairs to put them on.



The only thing I've done so far is to hang a little plaque we got as a house-warming gift, and a couple pictures of our family (really really outdated pictures...)



From the outside, I've done quite a bit with landscaping and flowers around the front of the house (please ignore the almost-dead hanging plant). We've put a few pumpkins on the steps in the fall. And recently I've debated painting the front door...

So there you have it. Our boring entryway. Any ideas? What would you do if this was YOUR entryway??
Roomspiration




19 comments:

  1. I'm glad you linked up! I don't have a pretty finished entry either, but didn't let that stop me. :)

    I like the pics you've hung already and your little mini-bench idea. That shot of your front door with the landscaping is so sweet! It looks like such a beautiful home!

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  2. Carrie, I think it is a great idea to link up with Roomspiration and ask for help. Good for you. Sometimes its easier to give advice to others than to figure out what to do in a space you have been looking at day in and day out. I'm not sure what your budget is. However I have a few ideas. The BIG wall space you see when you enter the house needs something big to fill there. Do you have a larger photo of your family you could place there? It would be cute to have a bigger photo on canvas or framed with maybe a vinyl saying? I might put some sconces on both sides of the door. You can find these easily at Kirklands or other decor places. Get the one's you put candles or flowers in. Another idea would be to place a Mirror on the wall with the bannister in your first photo on the left above the area where you put your shoes. I don't think a bench would be good to have in that small area. Hope this helps! Thanks for linking up today and coming by my blog to say, "Hi!" Great to make new friends!! :D Happy Monday to you!

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  3. Hey, I don't really have any input. I just wanted to say we live in a bi-level, too, and I'm pretty sure our entryway is painted exactly the same color as yours! Haha. Our landing is a little bit bigger, though, so we have room for a console table that I decorate with seasonal decor. We also have a ginormous clock on the big empty wall. I got it at Kohl's when it was on sale and I had a 30% off coupon, so it wasn't terribly expensive.

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  4. Great ideas Shan! We don't have much of a budget for these things, but maybe that's something I can put on my Christmas list... :)

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  5. Thanks Kelly! :) We moved in 2 years ago this October, and the landscaping was non-existent. It's been fun to try and put some things together!

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  6. What a neat home! I'm thinking some color is needed. Specifically, RED. I love red and use it all the time in accent pieces at home. Maybe paint the front door red!

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  7. What about a little mail center or something. Inbox, outbox, key holder, etc. to organize. Maybe you already have one of those somewhere else in the house? Something like this perhaps: http://www.brooklynlimestone.com/2010/03/mail-call-diy-mail-center.html

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  8. I was looking at the Roomspiration entryways and the blogger that hosted that link party had a fabulous collage in her entryway. Something like that with some different pieces of art, family photos, pretty stuff etc. would look great on the really big wall (it looks from the photos like the one to the left as you walk in the door). I think that would be really cool especially if you can see that wall from the upstairs/main level. Above Sadie suggested a big clock, and I was at World Market the other day and they had some fabulous clocks! They might have been a bit pricey but I think they have some pretty sweet sales from time to time.

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  9. Hi Carrie, thanks for stopping by!

    I agree with Gabrielle, I love red doors and think it would add a pop of color to your home. For your wall, I'd look for items you already have to re-purpose, a clock, a mirror, a print in another room. Or make your own. Do you sew? If so, do you have fabric scraps that you could frame? You can buy frames super cheap at thrift stores. You could also add a bit of nature on the landing. I think enough light comes in to keep a pothos or other hardy plant healthy.

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  10. Your house is set up almost identically to our VA house, though I like yours better because I hate the paint job in our entryway.

    I agree with Linda, above, pothos works great in that space - at least it did for us!

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  11. Found you from the blog hop and am now a new follower.

    http://cumminslife.blogspot.com/

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  12. I love your outside area. It looks very nice. The entryway looks like a tough area to design. I like the photos/plaque you hung up. My entryways is basically my living room. Outside, I have a wreath and a welcome mat.

    Good luck on your design! Following from Blog, hop, skip & jump Wednesdays.

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  13. I like the idea of creating a gallery wall. I'm sure you will create a beautiful space and you must share again when you make changes!

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  14. Hi, I'm a new follower from Mommy Living the Life of Riley's Sock Hop Wednesday. Please stop on by at my blog, Royalegacy, and follow me back. Thanks so much! You have a great blog here.

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  15. Have a wonderful day!!!! I found you on the blog hop and subscribed to you via GFC as masugr. Please visit my site and add me back!!! masugr@yahoo.com
    http://mywildcrazylife.blogspot.com/

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  16. Hmm maybe I'll have to talk to the hubby about red. It might be a little bold for him, but I like it :)

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  17. Oooo good idea! Our current "mail center" ends up being the kitchen island. :-P Our wall calendar is posted at the top of the stairs, so maybe I can incorporate something there...

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  18. I've seen quite a few rooms with those "gallery walls" too, both in the entryway link-up and yesterday's living room link-up. That's probably something I'll seriously consider, since a bunch of normal-size frames at yard sales can be much cheaper than a huge picture or other form of art! I hadn't even considered doing anything on that particular wall -- the one against the garage -- but it CAN be seen from the main level! Me likey... :)

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  19. I like the idea of plants, but we have 2 cats and I read that pothos is poisonous to them. :( Maybe I'll search around for something similar...

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