I think the bench is nice, but it doesn't seem to fit the style of your decor, judging by the DR furniture we can see.

How much margin will you have on the sides? I see wheat sheaf chairs in your dining room. This bench is very mission-ish. How do you characterize your overall decorating scheme?

My decorating style is "eclectic" - mostly stained wood. The newels are Mission, the stair rail brackets are Victorian, the DR chairs are what? Country French? But the LR is more transitional (maybe the tables are a bit Arts and Crafts).

Still working on drapes but will be something like this for LR

Maybe something similar (same fabric?) with a tailored valance for DR. FR is a bit more contemporary with only inside-mounted Romans, no rods/curtains, generic microfiber seating, but some antiques/oak furniture, kitchen is very 90's looking honey oak but I chose cabinets to match my china cabinet.

House is a generic farmhouse colonial with (Victorian? not authentic, but styling) vintage wicker, but no gingerbread trim

I think it would be fine there. I like the idea of a bench in a foyer. It gives you a place to remove boot, set down grocery bags, etc.

I love the idea of a bench there, but I don't really like that one - sorry :(

I like the idea of a bench as well, but not sure about the CL one.

Off-topic, those stairs would make me VERY nervous with side railings to the bottom. I don't think they would pass code where I live without at least one rail along the bottom steps.

I have to ask this question because your house is one of my very favorites because of the farm style on the outside.

Why don't you decorate in farm/country style for the inside? It doesn't have to be rustic, just antiques and vintage mixed with some modern.

Can you take a picture of the whole space where you want to put a settee? I can't really give an opinion with the small range picture.

I think I'd like it on the porch. Every time I see a photo of your house, I always wonder what railings would look like all the way around, rather than just on the end. Have you ever had someone Photoshop some in?

Even reupholstered, the style of the bench says "southwest" to me, which is fine if that's what you'd like there.

I'm also curious about the stair railings. Do they stop at the wall, or do they go to the end of the stairway and have just been removed for some work? If they stop at the wall, it looks kind of dangerous to me.

The bench is too big for that space and would sort of ruin some of the 'air' around it in my opinion. If you want a bench there I'd get a smaller, simpler one that has no arms or back, and maybe hang some coat hooks or a shelf and a mirror or something. It looks like an entry area and should be a welcoming space, not a seating area.

My question is, what function would this bench serve? If it is solely for decor purpose, I personally would put a table there, with art/mirror above. I also agree that the bench does look southwest, and you really want to measure the area and the bench, as it might look way to big for that area, and look misplaced.

I think a small bench would be fine in that area so long as it isn't too big/long/wide. No arms for sure. Not sure how large your entry foyer is, but the CL bench looks much too big in scale with what you have to work with space-wise. The CL bench having arms and back looks big to me. Also, even if you re-do the fabric, the bench doesn't seem to fit with your current style. I picture that bench in a log cabin.

Also, I think that area (if it is large enough) would look nice with a small chest of some sort and a mirror over. A bowl to put your keys and check your lipstick on the way out the door.

Wondering if the stairway is finished, also curious about the lack of railing? If you will be installing railing, that will dictate what you can use as well.

OK, I won't even email for dimensions on that bench. DH doesn't really want to buy anything until we finish the baseboards anyway. The tile might have to come up this summer if any more comes loose (I've had practically the whole foyer re-set). I really want a bench b/c we don't wear shoes in the house - but we tend to come in through the garage, don't need a place for keys, and I don't wear lipstick LOL though a decorative mirror might be nice - I have just the one!

About the stairs - it's a long story (like anything with this house). I wanted a bullnose with a volute. Builder ignored me, put in straight steps (bottom one same width as the rest). I think he *forgot* the railing - he told me he didn't order one b/c "he figured I'd want to pick my own, the modular company only did one style." So we lived for 2 yrs w/o one (yes, the inspector said we'd have to put one up but gave us CO anyway), I laid HWs in the DR twice (first wood defective), then found out newels should have done in before the floor. We only have 3ft from edge of bottom tread to wall so don't have room for newels in front anyway (which is why bullnose would have been nice). I couldn't find anyone to put newels *on* the bottom step, so my cousin put this up. It meets code b/c there is a "guard" (newel you can grab) on each side on the step that's 32" from the finished floor. I'm not crazy about the lone one (no railing) on the right (looking up) but this is the best I can do until I can find someone to install a newel (or 2) on the bottom step (in which case I will change everything b/c I wanted over-the-post railing, not post-to-post). It's been like this for about 9 months now but at least it's improvement over *nothing*.

oakly - what would you consider "farmhouse" but not "rustic"? I'd love to see pics of the kind of bench you envision. I kind of liked the JCP Slat bench - very mission-like as well but low. Of course, I'm still kicking myself for not getting the Windsor-style bench I saw at used furniture store last year.

With the explantion of the newel and only having 3 ft from that to the wall, I would say you need to find a much smaller bench if having a bench in that spot is what you have your heart set on. Is the bench going to be functional in that small space? Maybe a picture of the area from a different vantage point, perhaps from the door looking in at the stairs would help. It appears that your entry space isn't overly large?

Have to agree that a bench without arms and back might work best.

About the railing situation - are you saying that you can grab onto the wood behind you should you start to lose your balance? I am not sure what you mean.

I think a bench in that location is a great idea. Need something that is a good fit and multi-purpose for your family. Maybe a bench with storage underneath for shoes (but in the color to match your woods).
{{!gwi}}

If you search for "Farmhouse Style" on Amazon.com, there are lots of great books about that style (if that is the way you want to gravitate). You can be very eclectic yet still project a Farmhouse style...so have fun decorating. I also love your home...that porch is to die for. :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Farmhouse Style Pictures

I love the Windsor bench that you posted for your space, but not the CL one. It looks very Southwestern and I'm not sure it works with your wheatback chairs in the dining room (love wheatback chairs!).

I've seen benches like that in JCP catalog but too big - I only have 43" to side of stairs (36" in front of stairs). About the "guard" - I guess if something is lower (bottom 3 stairs) it/they can be open since even if someone did fall they figure it's not a long drop so injuries wouldn't be serious. My kids have been fine with just the wall rail & "guards" though I think it looks unfinished and would like to have a railing on the DR side (and maybe on foyer side too since the newel looks strange there by itself) just for looks even if it's not required. After we figure out the tile situation this summer and I refinish the stairs treads (linseed oil and beeswax doesn't hold up) maybe I can find someone to finish the railing.

If you only have 36" in front, have you thought about a Demiloon table? You can find some very nice and inexpensive ones online that takes 5 minutes to put together.

I consider farm/country decorating similar to shabby chic but with color. lol. I consider my dining room to be "elegant country" because of the black wallpaper and the farm table in there.

Rustic is darker, IMO.

The best thing about decorating in the farm style is you can find just about anything at thrift shops, garage sales, etc.

You have such a classic farmhouse that's why I think decorating in that style would be great! And inexpensive!

The wood floor in front of the stairs is the part that's only 36". That's why I don't want newels in front of the bottom step, wanted them to sides (on bullnose step) originally, now given I can't do that with these steps I want them *on* the bottom step, coming straight down from where the ones attached to the wall are.

I have 43" of wall on the side of the stairs and it's about 6ft deep though I don't want to put anything deeper than an 18" deep bench there. A bench would really be more useful than a table for us. I keep checking CL and thrift stores, so far I haven't even found a cheap twin headboard, small dresser, or even an nice (small) old door I can make into a bench.

Here is a link that might be useful: Inspiration

A small bench would be great. Oakley's idea of a demilune table might work across from stairs.

Here's a really BAD picture of my entryway, but my dh made the bench a long time ago and it's a perfect fit. It's similar to a picnic table bench but he but a ledge on the bottom and rounded the corners.

It's 12" deep. He made it out of pine. I use it all the time in winter when I sit to put shoes on, I keep my purse on it, and we put our shoes under it in the shoe tray when they're wet.

I think you should consider a hall bench or hall tree, It will fill up the space on the wall nicely, Check out the link below and hopefully you find something nice. I bought most of my Home Furniture online with them and it was a great experience.. It was Free shipping and no sales tax. Hope my Post helps you!

Here is a link that might be useful: Home Furniture

I'd love to have an antique one. Those angel linked to are just out of my price range (if they're MDF). I had bookmarked this one, it's solid oak, definitely a good price if still available, but I hestitated b/c DH said no more til we finish baseboard, it's big (unlike the bench we could move out of the way), and is it too much oak with the stairs and the DR set?

Here is a link that might be useful: Oak hall tree

The hall tree was sold. What about this? Wish it was stained, but how about painted a different color? It's 43" (confirming at widest point of arms, not just back) so it will barely fit.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cottage bench

What about a telephone bench? It's kind of a hybrid table/chair and I think the proportions would be better.

Here is a link that might be useful: link to telephone bench ideas

Here is another thought: maybe something like this

Ya know, in our house, the kids just sit on the stairs to remove and put on shoes. As long as there is shoe storage space, I would just be happy with a nice table or small chest of drawers in that space. Is that an option, or are you set on a bench?

The kids go in and out of the mudroom. This is (mainly) for guests, I can't ask them to sit on the stairs.

A tall arm on a heavy bench could be good as an emergency banister, but it would have to be a really heavy bench or secured to the wall if the balusters/newel aren't actually attached to the treads.

A built-in is an option but I'd like to build it out of components such as a cabinet or toy box rather than paying someone to build it from scratch. That would definitely have to wait until we get the tile replaced (I found more loose tile in front of the mudroom door so I think it's time to take the installer to small claims court instead of trying to reset loose tile every year).