skip to main content

Home Decorating

split entry before & after your suggestions

15 years ago

Thank You for the advice a few months ago. I followed the advice about changing the drapery, paint color, & furniture arrangement. We are almost finished except a few touch ups & white trim. Painting is alot harder than I thought it would be. Thank goodness for the "Little Giant Ladder" & a good husband. I wanted to do gallery art(foyer window)like Oceanna, but just don't have the talent. I'm trying to sew now.

Before foyer advice

After

Before upstairs

After

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

jen9
15 years ago
What a great improvement! Great job!
0
peachiepie
15 years ago
Your makeover is simply beautiful. Do you mind sharing the paint colors you used on the walls, especially in the foyer area?

Our foyer areas are similar but not the same. Wish I had those large windows.

You've done a really good job!

Peachie
0
Related Discussions
Before and after pictures of my LR after your suggestions...
Q
Comments (6)
I agree with oakleyok regarding the window treatment. Is there anything you can do to completely cover the white that shows along the top and both sides of the windows? Perhaps panels that hang straight down on the ends and a valance that goes across the whole top of the window.
...See More
Opening up stairs in split entry
Q
Comments (6)
wearybuilder, thank you for your post and rec. I feel as you do about the houses of this style feeling closed in. I live in a suburb that was mostly created in the late 60's and early 70's so there are many, many split entries. Even though I realize they are not very desired, the fact is that they exist in an EXCELLENT school district and often on yummy lots. When building, in the case of my style, they crammed 5 bedrooms and 2.5 baths to make the house SOUND big, but the bedrooms are really small and the bathrooms were so tiny they were barely functional. We have already combined a miniscule full bath, a teensy master powder room and small walk-in closet to make one large main bathroom. With a window! What is it about these houses that the bathrooms don't get windows?? The little "nursery" next to the master is now our closet. Effectively, we turned the three bedroom 1.5 bath upstairs into a 2 bedroom 1 bath, but it is so_much_better. Downstairs, the two bedrooms on the "garden" level, we are making sure they get more closet space and more windows. In the end, it will be a "smaller" house but I think it will feel and flow much better. Now if we can just find a way to make the outside more attractive :-) Can't wait to open up the stairs! Joanna
...See More
Extending/Enlarging Entry in Split Entry Home
Q
Comments (15)
OK, so like this, then? The design challenge is that big empty space above the door, so I faked a window up there. (Although, due to the lack of symmetry and different heights of the bottoms of the windows from left section to right section, perhaps an oval window above the door would break up the three sections better. The three sections being the section to the left of the door, the door section, and the section to the right of the door - we ignore the garage section in this comment.) The palladium I drew would end up fighting with the asymmetry left side to right side. An oval would not be mimicking either side, if you know what i mean.) And don't ever feel the need to apologize for split levels, they have some really awesome use of space due to this (BIG windows and lots of daylight in the lower level). You have a beautiful home, beautifully kept. On getting notices of replies: you have to go to PREFERENCES and "allow for other users to email you." If this feature is turned off, then you will not get notifications of new posts. This post was edited by beautybutdebtfree on Thu, Apr 24, 14 at 19:43
...See More
Before and after Entry way
Q
Comments (80)
Goodness, Suddenly old threads are reborn! Thank you all so much. As many of us here know, these big projects take so much time and effort and resources that you can really sour on them by the end. So it really, truly, makes you day when someone likes what you've done. Thanks. Andi K, The link below is for the lights. I really love them. I wanted two lights because i wanted them over a rectangular entry table. But when you enter, the hall goes straight through to the back patio and the pond, and i didnt want the lights to obscure the pond view. These are so airy! (BTW I would imagine they can be found in less costly versions, although at the time I could not find the size I wanted anywhere else and I caved for these. I can't say they are great value, though they are great quality) Lake Girl - my kitchen is STILL not totally finished, and I am waiting for that before I post. Let's just say it now involves courts, sigh. Someday I will give in and post it anyway. Polly, thank you! I am very proud of them because from the time we started our 2+year whole house project I felt the choice of front door was important. In then end I overruled all sorts of fussy ideas from the professionals and chose these doors. I think they fit my vision for the style of the house, which I call "farmhouse, after a particularly good crop" and DH calls "Shaker, but without all the frills". Funny though, I guess we don't have too many farmer friends or equestrians. When confronted with our front door, they never seem to know how to unlatch it. They just slide the whole thing over ... Here is a link that might be useful: my entry hall lights
...See More
Related Professionals
Clinton Township Interior Designers & Decorators · Athens Furniture & Accessories · Silver Spring Furniture & Accessories · Spartanburg Furniture & Accessories · Toledo Furniture & Accessories · Moraga Furniture & Accessories · Nixa Furniture & Accessories · Tucker Furniture & Accessories · Carpinteria Furniture & Accessories · Sacramento Lighting · La Vista Window Treatments · Littleton Window Treatments · Richardson Window Treatments · South Yarmouth Window Treatments · Grosse Ile Window Treatments
scarlet_morgan
15 years ago
That is spectacular! I love the wall color as well. You should really be proud of yourself!
0
alex9179
15 years ago
What a lot of work :) The paint really warms up your home.

I hate to say anything after all of your hard work, but you may want to move your furniture away from the walls a bit in the living room. Bring them closer together for a cozier conversation area.

You two did a great job, especially with that foyer. It looks completely different!
0
mistihayes
Original Author
15 years ago
Peachiepie, I was hoping you would see the split entry post. It took me weeks, dozens of swatches, & testers all over my DH's bathroom. I really liked SW Ramie & Blond but couldn't go that dark out of fear. So my final choice was 50% blond & I really love the color. It is a creamy gold & goes on very smooth. If you get the "Colors to Go" sample quart, it doesn't go on as smooth or nicely. Here's a bigger photo but the picture doesn't look as gold as it really is. It's a beautiful, creamy gold not the yellow it kind of looks like on my monitor.
0
teacats
15 years ago
Gorgeous!!! A wonderful transformation!

A great great result from all of your hard work!

Well done! :)

Jan
0
mistihayes
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you Jen & Scarlet.
Alex, I tried to move the furniture in & it looked weird to my DH. What do you fit behind the couches to make it look right or what do you do with that empty space to make it look better behind the furniture? Walking up & seeing the back up couches didn't look right. These are before pictures prior to painting but still don't think the paint would make it look better either. What do you think. Sorry for the quality.
0
peachiepie
15 years ago
Misti,

I think I am going to get samples of your foyer paint for my LR/DR redo--I love that color.

Teacat was right to suggest bringing the furniture inward. Looks much better connected. I like it better.

Peachie
0
peachiepie
15 years ago
Alexis should have been credited with the furniture suggestion. Got teacat on the brain :).

Peachie
0
alex9179
15 years ago
Misti, what you had before looked very inviting. The path behind the sofas is just that, the route to open the windows without walking through the conversation or sitting on someone to reach the window hardware :) You used a lovely table behind the large piece for decorative things exactly right. That's what I noticed, not the back of the couch.
I think if you just move the sofa forward to the rug edge then the loveseat in a bit it will connect them without having the larger pathway around the grouping. You can put the sofa table tight between the couch and wall and use that as another surface for lamps. That said, I do like the cozier arrangement since it lets you enjoy the fireplace better and it's easier to talk to the person across from you.

It all depends on what works and feels best for you and your family.

Your DH probably didn't like those corners with nothing to take up the space. You can use plants, artwork or bookcases to fill in over time if that's the case.
0
User
15 years ago
Love the changes you made. The paint really warmed things up.

I just wanted to say I had my furniture against the walls at first, came here and receievd a lot of helpful direction to change it up. Furniture is now angled and away from the walls and it did look funny to me with some of the ways we tried. Your eyes might just need time to get used to it.
0
loribee
15 years ago
Beautiful transformation and I like the furniture "cozied" up like that. :)
0
enailes
15 years ago
What a lovely makeover, very serene!
0

Related Stories

BEFORE AND AFTERS Before and After: 19 Dramatic Bathroom Makeovers

By Becky Harris

See what's possible with these examples of bathroom remodels that wow

DECORATING GUIDES What You Need to Know Before Painting Brick

By Vanessa Brunner

Sure, painted brick can be a great look. But you need to take some risks into account. Here's how to paint brick like a pro

MATERIALS What to Ask Before Choosing a Hardwood Floor

By Mitchell Parker

We give you the details on cost, installation, wood varieties and more to help you pick the right hardwood flooring

DECORATING GUIDES 9 Planning Musts Before You Start a Makeover

By Judith Taylor Designs

Don’t buy even a single chair without measuring and mapping, and you’ll be sitting pretty when your new room is done

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD After the Quakes: New Christchurch Houses 5 Years Later

By Simon Farrell-Green

These New Zealand architects and homeowners have overcome the obstacles and created strong, stylish new homes

LIFE 7 Things to Do Before You Move Into a New House

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Get life in a new house off to a great start with fresh paint and switch plates, new locks, a deep cleaning — and something on those windows

CONTRACTOR TIPS 10 Things to Discuss With Your Contractor Before Work Starts

By Ventana Construction LLC

Have a meeting a week before hammers and shovels fly to make sure everyone’s on the same page

REMODELING GUIDES 10 Things to Do Before the Renovation Begins

By Laura Gaskill

Prep and plan with this insight in hand to make your home remodeling project run more smoothly

HOUSEKEEPING Don't Touch Another Stain Before You Read This

By Mitchell Parker

Even an innocent swipe with water may cause permanent damage. Here's what to know about how rugs and fabrics react

KITCHEN CABINETS Choosing New Cabinets? Here’s What to Know Before You Shop

By Ventana Construction LLC

Get the scoop on kitchen and bathroom cabinet materials and construction methods to understand your options

Sponsored

Preferred General Contracting, Inc.

15 Reviews

Fairfax County's Specialized, Comprehensive Renovations Firm

More Discussions

Need help picking rugs

10

Can I Partially Block a Glass Block Window With Cabinets?

31

need advice on kitchen curtains

3

Renovating 90s home

2

A new updated living room corner help!

2