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The Entry {Design Mock Up, Lights and Collecting Artwork}

by | May 6, 2016 | Decorating Inspiration, My Entry, My Seattle House

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The Entry {Design Mock Up, Lights and Collecting Artwork}

One of our inspiration pics for our entry, source is unknown (please let me know if you know it)

We are really excited to see the tone set for the style of this house right at the front door. We pretty much have had the same basic vision for this entry since we moved in (see the inspiration photos I shared here and more of the entry here), but it’s been slow going getting to the final result. Partly because not everyone involved moves as fast as we’d like (trying to keep my patient smile on) and sometimes we ourselves get too busy to keep up with our ideas, ha! But nonetheless, progress is being made and we are getting excited with the direction.

The Entry {Design Mock Up, Lights and Collecting Artwork}

Entry hall, before (dark and swine-esque)

Along the way we’ve taken a turn or two, so since it’s been awhile since we talked about our entry I thought I might as well give you an update of some choices we’ve made and a little visual of how it might look.

You might remember that one of the reasons we liked this house was that it has an actual entry space. Many of the houses we looked at in Seattle opened directly into the living room, so having an entry at all was a bonus, even though it’s more of a small hallway. The front hallway connects all of our main floor rooms together, so giving the entry the right personality off the bat is important. The color was originally kind of a swine hue, so a coat of white paint (Swan White by Glidden) was a first step!

The Entry {Design Mock Up, Lights and Collecting Artwork}

hall with a little paint progress

Our original plan was to add planked walls like we had in our old house or maybe even planking the ceiling to bring more character. We still plan to proceed with that vision! But at the moment we are thinking that part of the project may take a backseat for a bit so we can invest in our kitchen first. We have to balance our visions with reality sometimes, but even if we decide to wait, we do have some immediate ways we can enhance the personality of this space.

The Entry {Design Mock Up, Lights and Collecting Artwork}

a next step door, light and art design mock up

I’m excited because we are for sure proceeding right away with a Dutch door to replace our current front door (YAY!). We are thrilled the door will be one of our next projects. I know it is going to be adorable in this little space and bring big personality to the room. I can hardly wait for the impact it will make!

We also finally decided on our new light fixtures for the entry. It took us awhile to be certain of the lights we wanted, as we had several types of fixtures that we felt would work to take the space in slightly different directions. To help us to make a decision we did a little mockup (messy and imperfect, but still helpful to visualize) of how our entry might actually look with a Dutch door and new lighting with our current white walls and the slate tile floors. Since we are saving the planking for a next step, we left it off our mock up to make sure we were realistic in visualizing the space with just the basic elements. The door in our mockup is not the exact door we will have, but just a good inspiration version for now.

Once we added white Barn Light Electric lights as an option in our mockup, we knew right away they made the right statement. We placed the order for four ceiling entry lights this week! We are thrilled because we really missed the cute Barn Light Electric fixtures we had in our old house. The quality is superb and they definitely ramp up the character we’re looking for.

The actual fixture we chose is the same as the one we had in our map hall, except these will be in a white finish and flush mount (similar to what you see in our mockup above, but not exact). Because we have lower ceilings than our old house, we measured carefully to select the appropriate scale and size of fixtures for our space. In a future post I’ll share some other alternatives.

The exact lights we ordered are here, but of course we will show you them as soon as they arrive and are installed!

Our mock up helps us to actually “see” how the room might look and helps us to refine our vision and play with elements. If something isn’t working for us, it’s easy to change it in this phase (not as easy once your contractor has already done the work!).

The Entry {Design Mock Up, Lights and Collecting Artwork}

some of the art for our wall

Peacock Art Print / Crane Art Print / Sailboat Print / Celestial Print (sold out) / Watercolor Fern Illustrations Set of 2

Because (as I mentioned previously) we will likely save the wall or ceiling planking for a next phase project, we were free to proceed with a simple art wall to warm up and “finish” the entry for now. We’ve been collecting frames at estate sales for a few weeks and have put some art prints on order, so now we just wait for it all to arrive! Making progress on decisions and placing orders feels great, but SEEING it will feel even better!

In selecting pieces for my home, I want to incorporate the ambience of an “island” escape (among other things). One of my favorite places is Lanai (Hawaii) and our home just happens to overlook an island, so that vibe just feels right for this house. I focus not so much on a creating a “themed space” but incorporating a mood into our home that reflects our family and what we love as I am making decisions.

The new and existing art in our home will fit right in as we have been collecting botanicals, birds, maps, ships and other related elements that inspire us. Mixed into the other moods and styles we love, our home will definitely have our own vibe!

The Entry {Design Mock Up, Lights and Collecting Artwork}

Here are a couple of our frames we’ve gathered so far (from estate sales and thrift stores).
We’ll be getting new mats and mixing together art we have and art we like with the new art on order.

The Entry {Design Mock Up, Lights and Collecting Artwork}
Row of Hooks / Chambray Tassel Striped Tote Bag / Sun Hat

A number of you have asked how our new house and old house style might be the same, or ways it might be different. I think the answer is there are some basic style elements and colors I still love (and many I’ve always loved) so some familiar things will be incorporated here in various ways.

But, there are some surprise twists I’m excited to incorporate that I feel will suit this house (such as the unexpected plum walls in our bedroom, and the island vibe of our new beaded chandelier). There will be no sudden style changes or dramatic differences since I still love what I love, but I think that overall this house will end up feeling fresh and unique from my other houses while still being US. I’m looking forward to seeing it come together!

Do you feel like your entry helps set the tone for your home?

PS. Be sure to enter a giveaway for one of 20 signed copies of my new book Make Room For What You Love, over on my Instagram today! Thanks so much for your encouraging response to the book so far, I’m very happy that so many of you are resonating with it. You all are the best! I hope it will encourage and inspire you to make more room for what you really love. Xoxo.

Click here to read through my past posts and updates on this new house!

22 Comments

  1. Cathy

    I love to follow your house plans and progress! Your hall looks much more inviting already with the paint and hooks! I would be interested to know what software you use for your mockups.

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Thanks, it definitely feels brighter already and I’m excited to get the door and lights in! We use photoshop to make our mockups. :)

  2. Diane | An Extraordinary Day

    Melissa, I can’t wait to see the new door and lights in your hallway. I love it already!
    Also… I wanted to tell you that the artwork of the house and the bridge is beautiful. It’s a style that makes my heart go pitter-patter. I’m so in love with those swoopy reddish roofs. How fun for you to have found it.

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Thank you, Diane! It was a great find, I love little landscapes like that! Yes, they make my heart leap, too! :)

  3. Therese

    Maybe you have already mentioned this already…but what sheen do you prefer for your wall paint, it looks to have a glossy ceiling and walls semi?

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      In the entry we use eggshell (the light through our door makes everything a little more glowy I think, but the finish does help to reflect light which is nice ). The eggshell is a step up from flat so it’s a better finish for the entry since it is easier to clean. When we add wood we will use a semigloss for extra durability.

  4. Melinda Young

    Love your entry “vibe” it will really set the tone for your home. Just those few items really add a lot of character.
    We are blessed with a home with no entry. We enter right into our living/great room space. However, I set the tone with a small barn light near the entry closet lighting up a medium sized “5” for the # of people in our family. I added a picture of our family and a tall plant next to the door to break up the door from the rest of the room. Just those little items make a huge difference. Set the tone and tell a lot about our home and what matters most to us. Which by the way, it was one of your posts that helped me decide how to approach our little to nothing entry and add the charm and meaning (thank you). :)

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Yay! That sounds wonderful, I’m so glad you found inspiration for the space you have. There’s always a way to create that welcoming and personal sense, entry or no entry! <3

  5. Christie

    It looks great! The clean lines of the entry make it look done even if it isn’t exactly done.

  6. Linda Stoll

    Loving those metal hooks …

    A house can never have enough places to hang stuff, for sure …

    ;-}

  7. Maureen

    I’m really enjoying following the progress in your home. My home lacks an actual foyer, too. I have a very similar set up to yours. I used to think of it as just a hallway, but then I added a shelf with a decorative box, a bowl for keys and a small plant and that really livened the place up and made it feel like more of a room than just a hallway. Later, I hung a gallery wall over/around the shelf. After seeing your plan, I realize I need to switch the light fixture out. Thanks for the inspiration!

  8. mdn

    Your plans sound great; but, before, you’d mentioned locating the Dutch door on the kitchen side, which is surrounded by a fenced-in yard. This is the first that’s recalled about having this type door at your front entrance. As a cautionary consideration for you..is there the possibility that Jack and/or Lily would be able to get past the 1/2 barrier if the top door is opened and there was some enticement outside (a rabbit, etc.)? Plus, how often would it be left open, unattended, making it easier for someone to break-in from the street when you’re not in attendance? Or, your other pics show that “stationed” there to enjoy the view from the entry hall – if not very often, is it worth the extra expense or would it be better to have the Dutch door at your kitchen and/or basement entry? Please know that these questions are not meant to rain on your parade.

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Yes we are also installing a Dutch door in the kitchen. The front Dutch door will be a bonus! Why have only one if you can have two is our reasoning, ha :) We will use it for an early morning breeze on a hot day and as a way to receive packages and answer the door without our dogs running out. We like the character of it and the friendliness, too. We had a Dutch door as a front door in another house and found it convenient at times so even it isn’t used all the time but we like it and it feels like the right choice for this space and the door. We will see both Dutch doors from the entry so it will be fun I think!

  9. Jo Jo

    Your entry will be so fresh looking and welcoming! I love decorating and thinking design- wise that the entry (no matter size or even if it’s really an adjoining hallway into the home) be thought of as a ‘room’ and really should be the introduction of what is yet to come as one enters your abode. Ours is a long hallway flanked by French doors that lead into our library. So charming to see this other room as you enter. Have fun imaging and ordering and applying your treasures to your entry space! It’s going to be great!

  10. Karen on Bainbridge Island

    I like! I especially like those barn lights.

  11. Barbara

    I with Diane–love the little cottage print! I go crazy over that style. Takes me back to my Mary Engelbreit days. It all looks lovely and like a very welcoming space. Amazing how much thought goes into one area. I see the double dutch doors when we go for walks through one of my favorite beach towns. They look so cute even when they are closed. I think you will enjoy it even it you don’t open it often. I’m sure the kitchen one will stay open more but you will love having both. In the meantime, I like the light your current front door let’s in. Especially with the newly painted walls!

  12. melany

    I know you don’t like your current front door, but it seems to be quite pretty with the stained glass… how about up-cycling your current door as a piece of art for a really big wall? one could distress the paint work a little (to age the wood) but i think that the stained glass is really pretty and could make for an interesting conversation started if it was hanging on a wall somewhere?
    #justsaying ;)
    oh, and ps, I love your books – cannot wait for #3 to hit the shelves in South Africa!!

  13. Sarah

    From swine to swan…love it!

 

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