I love the wall of skulls. Especially the small ones mounted on the plaque. Good job!

I love the wall of skulls too! Good choice on the mirror, it looks great.

Though I'm normally not a fan of skulls, of any kind, these work perfectly in your home. You and your hubby did a great job!

Gorgeous foyer, wood ceiling and stonework. The wall of skulls looks great in its composition and with the stone as foil, and considering they are recycled and fitting to the home's style and location, I think they are all-around terrific there.

I love the room, everything about it, except the skulls. Odd man out here.

The room itself is spectacular, but the scale of all the furniture, including the mirror is really too small for the size of the room and the boldness of the stone don't you think? The mirror finish is a bit too fancy for the finishes in the room. IMO

I am not sure why but I actually like the fact that the mirror is not rustic at all. It is a nice contrast. The dresser under it could be wider but I still say the entry is a full success.

I agree that the rustic mirrors would be expected, the gilt is more interesting.

I do agree to that larger pieces would be good, as the OP said when she posted. But I think this is where real world meets theory. If you have pieces you like, and they work but are less than perfect (in this case, maybe just a tad small), really, what should you do? It's very wasteful to get rid of these ... Maybe have no place to put them ...,and buy new.

I love everything that you have done! It is so very refreshing to see something unique rather than rooms that look like magazines/catalogs.

Sometimes the unexpected is better than what one thinks it "should be". Personally, I like the fact they aren't big pieces, but they are special pieces. More meaning that way.

It looks wonderful. I like that the mirror is a little glitzy in comparison. The skulls are great. Your foyer is grand and interesting. Love the look of your home!

"If you have pieces you like, and they work but are less than perfect (in this case, maybe just a tad small), really, what should you do? It's very wasteful to get rid of these ... Maybe have no place to put them ...,and buy new."

That's the story of my entire house-----well, the main floor, anyway. More of our stuff was inherited than purchased so the decor has been largely driven by knitting these things together with color and fabrics. Nothing has ever been "perfect" in terms of either the space or how things have gone together. If we hadnt had a designer who was able to make functional rooms out of it all i wouldnt be nearly as satisfied. The lower level is entirely new furniture and accessories, and the sheer congruity of the design still gives me a thrill, lol. But, if i had to choose i would keep my upstairs stuff......i absolutely understand using what you have because it has your history, as well as the tremendous loss of value when you sell good furniture.

Love what magdelena lee has done!

Magdalena, I could just sit and stare at your stone wall all day! Love it. You've done a wonderful job with your foyer, it is just so interesting. And there is that beautiful color, Brainstorm Bronze, again. I forgot that is what you painted your pantry and it's what Amy eventually chose for her new home. It's really catching on!

Literally a place to hang your hat, and the bench and the apothecary cabinet are my favorites. The skulls aren't my thing either, but the way you have collected and displayed them make it work and they fit right in. Well done!

Well, thank you so much everyone!

We don't have a coat closet (not much need for one in Central Tx) so I thought hooks would be a nice alternative for guests. For now, I have my gardening hats hanging.

My mom gave me the apothecary cabinet a long time ago and I've always loved it. I keep varies keys and gardening seeds in the drawers. I have no idea how that started.

Ah, the wash basin. That came from Pappy's wood shop. DH's grandad. When Granny died at 98, the family swarmed around her house like vultures. One of the aunt's was literally posted at the front door, checking to see what everyone was taking. Granny was known for keeping rolls of cash hidden around the house so it was a feeding frenzy. DH didn't want anything to do with it, so he went out to Pappy's wood shop and there was the wash basin with a piece of linoleum tacked to the top. DH's mom asked him if he wanted anything and he said no, unless the wash basin went unclaimed, then he would like to have it. A few months later, DH's mom showed up with the wash basin beautifully refinished. She died a few month later so that was the last thing she ever gave him.

Obviously, the wash basin deserves a spot of honor but I'm not opposed to putting it somewhere else. I have a couple of other good places for it. I just have to find something worth that spot, KWIM?

Yowza! The stone, the woodwork, the wash basin (love that it was your Pappy's!), the light... love it! I'm not usually a skull fan but those are mounted really nicely and look great. Like kslw2 said, your foyer is the most interesting ever! As for the wash basin, I love it there. If you want to move it, put it in my house. :)

You definitely have a great eye. Even the hanging hats add to the artistry.

What a neat story about the wash basin. You got a double blessing there. :)

love your foyer-- looks really pretty! agree that the mirror and tables could be larger, but like the mirror over the size of table that you have.

I like the variety of skulls... surely they weren't all so nicely bleached white when you found them?? how did you clean them? and mount them?? skulls don't bother me like beautiful furry heads with big eyes staring (pleadingly) do...

The mirror is 36" in diameter. I could actually go up to something 60" but when I was looking, I couldn't find anything that big and affordable. I was thinking about doing a few burst mirrors in a grouping but felt that was leaning a little too trendy for me.

Most of the skulls were given to us by a friend with some country acreage. They were sun bleached and almost totally white. A few of them (that we found) needed some whitening mostly due to mildew. The preferred method is getting some hair bleach (strong stuff from Sally's Beauty Supply) and brushing it on the skull and letting it sit for a day or so. The skunk still had some fur and it's nose so I had to do a little work on it. I almost barfed but got the job done. Taxidermy is not in my future. I painted the plaques and DH did the mounting.

Magdalena, your story makes the placement of these pieces all the more special. What treasures you have there.
I didn't realize you lived in Texas. We lived in Lubbock for a short time in the late 80's and loved it. We only moved back to the Midwest to be closer to family.

oh, hair bleach! I was picturing soaking them in Clorox and wondered how that worked...

are you planning to add more? I could picture that wall with even more!

Justgotabme-

DH was born in Lubbock and that's where Granny and Pappy lived. They have such a rich story - tenant farmers during the depression and because of government intervention due to the Dust Bowl, they were able to purchase land outside of Lubbock and became cotton farmers. DH's mom said that when Granny died at 98 she had $2Mil in the bank and was living on about $6 a day.

Busybee3- Clorox eats the bone so peroxide is preferred. I posted a pic of the skull wall to FB and I'm getting a ton of messages from friends wanting to give me skulls! So yes, I envision a growing collection!

Wow! I hope someone has taken time to write the family history for those that come after us. A story such as this should not be lost in time.
I loved living in Lubbock. If it weren't for being so far away from family, we'd have stayed. I'm so glad we came home though because my Mom passed suddenly 7 years later and Dad six after that.

You're foyer is so unique! The stone is gorgeous and what wonderful history behind the pieces in there. The coat rack and bench look so welcoming.

I remember the discussion about the mirror a while back --- and have to admit that I was skeptical. But I have to say that it's just perfect. Your foyer is charming and unique, even without the personal history of these items.

MagdalenaLee, was your GW name something else originally?

Allison, yes, I'm Kelly! Did you recognize my house?

Now that's a foyer! Really makes me what to see the rest of the house! Hint...

I like the small wash stand. You could add a chair to the side and you're good. Skulls are great -

Yes, I thought I did! But I didn't recognize your photograph. Now I have face w/name(s).

I absolutely love the washstand

Love it!