Entry Makeover

Wow...can't believe it's been over a month since I posted. Clearly things have been a bit too hectic for blogging lately. Anyhow, I'm coming up for air now and hope there are a few of you still out there reading despite my vanishing act. I do have lots to report, so stay tuned!

I've been trying to rework some things around my house over the past couple of months and it's definitely been a struggle because I just haven't had spare time to focus on it. Slowly but surely, I'm chipping away at my list and I have glimpses of progress to share. First off, I changed up my entry. Step one of the process was installing wallpaper. I chose Schumacher's Mosaic in silver, which looks white but has a subtle silvery tile-esque pattern...

It feels really light and fresh and is a good change of pace from the dark bluish gray paint that was on the walls before. This shot shows the pattern a bit more closely...

The new wallpaper called for fresh paint on the trim and ceilings...and I took that opportunity to change out the baseboards and beef up the door frame moulding. I'm pretty sure the existing moulding was original to our 1952 home, so it was pretty spartan. I asked my carpenter to layer a trim piece over the old moulding to create more interest. This route meant I could improve the look without ripping out all of the old stuff. Here's a look at the trim before it was primed and painted...

After the walls and trim were dealt with, I sent the main piece of furniture in the space, a commode that belonged to my great great aunt, off to be refinished. I chose an ebony stain with a light wax finish because I wanted to highlight the lines of the antique and its pretty hardware. The original finish was a flat light/medium walnut and it just wasn't doing the gorgeous chest any favors.  After the finish facelift was underway, I selected a Calacatta Danby marble remnant for the top and voila...

Another major change in the room was the rug. I transplanted one from the living room and I'm loving it in the entry. It's amazing how different something can look in new surroundings. It brings just the right amount of color to the area.

In case you never saw it (or don't remember), this is what it all used to look like...

So, the entry is almost finished aside from hanging more artwork and improving the front door situation. Our door is pretty ugly so I either want to get a new one or just change the glass (it's that rippled Flemish glass) and have it lacquered or restained. I'm anxious to get that underway. It's totally one of those things that I've tried to ignore since we moved in four years ago and I think it's officially time to make a move.

So, what do you think of the changes? I'm liking the new vibe...it definitely flows better with the adjoining rooms and it just feels light and airy.

Stunning Entry

I wanted to share this gorgeous entry that I found on the 1stDibs Photo Archive. The photo was taken by Pieter Estersohn and I don't know who the designer is, but kudos to whomever is responsible! I am extremely jealous of the black lacquered doors with the centered knobs. If they were mine I'd probably just sit and stare at them for hours on end. I also adore the timeless black and white checkerboard marble floors. Simply lovely, isn't it?

Have a wonderful weekend!