When we started working on our entry not too long ago, we added a bunch of functionality. A bench, bin for shoes, hooks for jackets and a mirror.
Pretty quickly, we knew we needed to re-work the bench. We talked about that here. Not only did it not look the best for the very first thing you see when you walk in our house, but as soon as a bunch of jackets were hung on the hooks, it became nearly impossible to sit on. I was happy we finally didn't have a bunch of shoes at the front door (although we have learned that 3 shoe bins is a bit overkill), but as more time went on the bench + jackets right when you walk in the front door started to wear on me. So many jackets! So, we took a step back and reevaluated what was working and what wasn't.
The hooks are definitely great to have and we absolutely need a place to hang jackets--plus, gorgeous. We won't get to our mudroom/laundry until winter/spring so having somewhere to hang things now (and a permanent place for guests later) has been nice. But maybe we don't need them front and center right when you walk in the door? No. No we don't. We could put them on the back wall where the mirror is. And that's when we had our A-ha moment, you could say. A bench, mirror and hooks can ALL fit on the back wall!
Another aspect that brought upon this re-redecorating is the fact that we have been adding to our art collection around here, finally--I can't wait to show you!, and one major addition is this large 32"x48" Edward Hopper oil painting I've loved since college. Edward Hopper is a genius with a brush. We really wanted a prominent place in our home for it and that wall, right when you walk into our house (where the hooks are....were) is the perfect spot.
So, here's the new entry plan. 2.0 if you will.
We ordered this fun wallpaper for the back wall to add a little interest. We've been wanting to add wallpaper somewhere around here and this felt like a good application for it. With the stark black and white, we ordered this warm wood mirror to hang and this blue upholstered bench for underneath the mirror. And, of course, the hooks are here to stay hanging to the right of the mirror and bench. As for an area rug, with our DIY bench out of the way, our space opened up a lot more and a standard runner size is probably too small. I know a few of you mentioned you thought it was too small to begin with, but now it really is. We need something like a 5x14 area rug, which is crazy. After poking around a little, it felt like a good application for FLOR tiles. We used them in my studio in our last house and loved them and really love the way their Suit Yourself line works with the other pieces I picked out. And lastly, Nighthawks for the win.
Everything is either here or en route, except the rug--we are still trying to decide on a color there--so hopefully this will be a pretty quick redo of a redo. As hard as these posts can be to write (it's never fun to backtrack, especially when you're doing it in front of thousands of people), we are hopeful this new entry will be better suited for the direction we're headed around here. First things first--remove that doorbell box! Onward.
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We are working on the same area of the house (minus the hooks and have 0 organization so far) I look forward to seeing what you come up with ! Where will you put the storage with the new bench?
I love this new direction! I think the more you use spaces, the more the spaces evolve to your needs...so there is nothing wrong with 2.0, 3.0, etc. because needs change :)
I was thinking, under the beautiful painting, you could add a console table to anchor the painting and act as a "drop zone". A dish for keys, a place for mail (if desired) and even a fresh bouquet of flowers, a lamp, the options are endless. It would be a nice vignette to greet your guests. And then you also won't need as wide of a rug.
Can't wait to see the "final" result :)
Really good ideas here. I, too, have animal print slated for my entryway. I want Glen Eden's Safari runner in "Cheetah." Chic, with a little bit of wild fun, you know? I'm also a big fan of that painting. I know how much art affected me growing up, and how many memories I have of family members' homes that had signature pieces. I'm glad your little girls are growing up with this exposure.
Fun I love your new direction. Can't wait to see it!
This looks like a fabulous idea. Our entry (still only four months old) has NOTHING going on but a console table. Want to find the right piece of art rather than just filling the space for the sake of filling it(sounds like your recent post)!
But I am REALLY here to relay a hilarious encounter I had this past weekend with the piece The Nighthawks. We were in Buffalo, NY, and visited the Albright-Knox Art Gallery (Where The Nighthawks has been on display). We stayed at this Guest House that was very different than B&Bs we typically stay in. This was Halloween-motorcycle-tikibar themed, with Elvis and Marti-Gras beads, and beer coasters to go around. And, sure enough, just above the entranceway to the kitchen was a parody of The Nighthawks print... entitled Boulevard of Broken Dreams. And who is painted at the infamous counter but Elvis, Marilyn, James Dean.
I'll never forget it! Nor will I look at the original the same again!!
Happy hanging :)
Hahaha. I love it. There are so many parodies of this painting! I love the Lego one floating around.
Loving that wallpaper! I can't wait to see what this looks like all put together.
So the painting will be going on the wall where your mirror, bench, etc currently are, right? Just trying to make sure the mental image in my head is correct.
I really love this new plan! I think it's going to be beautiful. Hopefully, second time is the charm :)
The painting will be on the wall where the hooks and bench currently are, and the back wall (where the mirror currently is) will house a smaller mirror, bench and the hooks and will also be wallpapered. :)
Oh, ha! I meant to refer to the wall with the bench/hooks, not the mirror. Sorry if that got confusing. Thanks!
I cant wait to see the new touches,especially the wallpaper! I just wanted to encourage you guys. I have so many 2.0, 3.0, 4.0,ect....but ultimately as long as you get to a space that YOU love, you win!
Did you ever consider making that a closet wall? Like, installing some tall pantry-ish cabinets to hide all of the shoes, jackets, etc.? We have a similar entry but our space is far too narrow for anything other than some hooks. It just drives me nuts to see all the jackets and shoes.
We did think about that but realized this is a temporary place for all of OUR jackets and shoes. Once we complete the mudroom right inside the garage, this will be a place for guests to hang their coats and things. So we didn't want anything to big or bulky there all the time.
Those hooks are still incredible. I love them. We have hooks on the backside wall of when we open the door. There are mainly backpacks and purses (no use for jackets haha) but on the the other side we have a mirror and our shoe storage bench. It has completely transformed our entry way and we love it. It rarely gets cluttered thanks to that storage bench. If you take the shoes bins away, where will shoes go? Can one bin act as a hats and gloves bin?
I love that painting! I'm excited to see this area transform! I love it when spaces change as you grow and evolve. It is important I think. I try and rearrange our furniture a couple of times a year just to see if it improves the flow, or just to mix it up :-)
We'll definitely keep a bin for shoes out there. Just didn't include it in the picture. I didn't even think about hats and gloves! It's almost that time of year.