The console table is perfect for that spot - what a lucky find. It looks like you have it centered over the vent but try moving it slightly to the left to see if it is visually balanced better. It looks like it needs to be connected to the side of the stairs a little better. Don't worry about the vent (painting it is a great idea) because once you have the table decorated no one will notice.

Is the front door regularly used by the family so do you need a basket for keys?

I confess to not being very good at this, but wanted to tell you that your table, foyer, and staircase are really pretty! I would be tempted to put a vase with some tall branches on the right side to balance the height there.

Yes, definitely paint the vent. Is it plastic or metal? You may need to prime first so paint will stick. I have painted them with a brush (if you don't have a sprayer).....just thin the paint a little, especially if it needs two coats. You can even use a foam brush.

Keep your mirror fairly plain so it doesn't compete with the stairs and console. A lamp, a pretty bowl or basket, and a potted plant for some greenery would look nice. Very pretty foyer!

Zoe, I hope you'll share more photos of your home with us. I really like your attention to detail, and would love to see more of your house for much-needed inspiration of my own!

Since you have an outlet there, I'd move the table to the left a bit and add a small lamp with low wattage on the 'tall' end. You could use just that bit of light without the overhead chandy. Then use a stack of leather books on the other end and maybe a small pewter or silver bowl or tray in the center to hold keys, mail, etc if needed. I put small wrapped mints or chocolates in mine when we have guests and they can grab one going out the door.

Thanks for all the complements! I know I promised to show more pictures of my home after the build in the home building section. But it took a while to get all our cabinet doors on after we moved in and all the other punch list items completed. I still have boxes of paintings and pictures to hang when I figure out where they are going to go... if I will even use them! Also I am still buying furnishings ... thus the new console. I have a sofa and coffee table coming in next Friday. So I will probably take some more pictures now that we are finished with our punch list and actually have some furniture (at least on the first floor for now). Believe me it took forever to get the builder back in here to finish up after we paid him in full last April. We still have a few outdoor lights that are not working properly that need to be dealt with.

FWIW the vent grill is metal and came white. All they did was install it. I am going to take your suggestions to paint it the wall color. We do not normally use the front door as an entrance since we usually go out our back hallway into the garage. So no need for a key basket.

Any suggestions for a style of lamp or mirror? I want to keep the lamp fairly small. You said keep the mirror simple, but I am having trouble figuring out what shape mirror I should do there with the stairway infringing on the upper space. I was thinking maybe a quadrefoil- shaped mirror due to the reduced height from stairs. But need to find one that is not too big.

This one's probably too big, but I really like the flat styling of this lamp!

Link

This one is smaller ...

Link

Beautiful lamps! Where did you find them? Any links? The console dimensions are: 60W x 12.75D X 36H if that helps at all. And I moved it down a tad towards the stairs. Because the console is so narrow my husband used some loop brackets to attach it to some studs. (I have cats that could jump up and tip it over). There was a little leeway so I could move it down a bit to the left.

Zoe, I found them at Lampsplus.com, and the links should be there in green. Do you see them? I know what you mean about cats dictating our design choices! Mine, particularly the young one, are causing me to think and re-think every decision being made with our new decor! Good thing they're so cute, or we'd have to murder them. ;-)

Oh thanks I found the link! My cats are why I decided on building a traditional home with doors to keep them out of my DR and LR. We paid a lot extra for those windows and doors in the hallway, but it was a priority of mine to keep them out when I was not in there. We Just got a new kitten ... she is the one I worry about right now. She is not too wild but does climb some. My other cat has some arthritis issues but she was my wild one in the past. So far the kitten has learned NOT to jump on the counter (at least not while I am home) and for now the other cat no longer does it... or she would learn it from her. I have a squeaker toy that I squeeze everytime she tries to get up on it from my barstool chairs.. which I do allow her on, but may regret if she scratches the leather on the seats.

Oh, kittens are in a special "drive you bonkers" category all their own! Our "kitten" is approaching three years of age, but she is still so very curious and is into everything. Two nights ago she figured out that she can go from the floor to the counter to the top of the fridge, and then either to the space above the cabinets (waaaaaaaay over to the other side above the oven, where we can't grab her), or else to the windowsill in the adjacent dining space! The little stinker. Repeated attempts to get her down the other night resulted in DH going to the garage and bringing in his blower. Yep - he "blew" her down. She wasn't hurt, but she didn't like the air blasted at her one bit, and she did jump down right away (then sat and looked ticked off at us for a little while)! However, last night she attempted The Great Climb once again, and I grabbed her just as she was about to spring from the fridge to the cabinets. Ugh.

Mine have scratched the heck out of our older leather pieces, but I just consider it to add to the "distressed" look I like anyway. We purposely bought our two most recent leather pieces with that in mind.

Ha... your cat sounds like ours who will be 12 years old on Labor day. She is the older one but her flights of fancy........ jumping to the highest levels in our last home.... have done her in. I have to give her meds every night now bc she is suffering from arthritis.

I would def paint the air return the same color as your walls. The white grille is very distracting and will detract from whatever is put on the table.

Awwww, bless her! It can be heartbreaking when you realize your babies are getting old. We have three that are around 11 now, and then the "baby" who is about 3. The older ones don't have the same get-up-and-go that they once did, although they still enjoy being up in the middle of the night and trying to make ME get up with them.

I love 'em. They're my sweeties.

Nice Annie! I like your style! I need links for the lamp and mirror please

Lamp from horchow

The mirror was just an image off the net...just a suggestion....the actual size of that mirror may not work anyway...you'd need one that fits your space.

I like the idea of a mirror in the foyer for quick checks before greeting people. I also like the dish as a place to put keys and such.

Hi Zoe!! Love the pic!! More more! :)

If you think you need a mirror, I'd like a rectangular one where Annie has the lamp so you wouldn't have to squat down to look into it.

Yep, that mirror would reflect back my belly button... I'd need to sit on a chair to see my face. But a nice design -- maybe something other than a mirror, like a small piece of artwork to hang there?

Not this mirror in particular, but something like it to fit the space at the end of the console.

Depending on how it's hung, the mirror could tilt up slightly so you'd see your face...

I really want a mirror in there since the hall is so narrow. That is going to be my hardest problem to solve. FWIW I would be able to see in a mirror over the middle of the table as my belly button comes just above the console (36" H) Any mirror I put in there would have to be short though...... some of them are just way too tall and wide. I took a tape measure and measured 39.5" H from the table top (from in middle of the table) to the bottom of the staircase. Knowing the stairwell infringes on the height and some of the width on the left side I was thinking a 30-32" circle or square shape would fit and still allow me to see myself. But a rectangle or quadrefoil shape (Which cuts off some of the sides) may look better. Any suggestions based on my measurements?

Cut a sheet of newspaper and hang it there with painters tape to see what size you think might look best.

FYI, for painting the vent, many paint stores have a machine that will put standard paint colors into an aerosole spray can. Much easier to spray those vents than to try to use a brush. Just rough up the finish a bit with sandpaper and spray 2-3 light coats. Very easy DIY project.

Here's a page with endless photos of decorated credenzas.photos

I really love your home and details! Maybe a collection of small paintings with movement? Or just a single piece of wall art. Add one tall candlestick on the right and a small interesting wood carving on the left. I'm particularly fond of Peter Medlicott's light bombing art below and like the movement.

That table is so SO pretty! Your entire foyer is :) I usually start with one piece that I love/envision for my space and then work off that....even if it takes a year (not a professional decorator am I) <g>