Mtnredux, do you have lights on your gate posts? I think that makes an entrance look very inviting, in day or night. A white gate is just naturally welcoming :) KSWL - Yes and no. The PO were big fans of outdoor lighting (one of them was a set designer) and we must have 100 outdoor lights set into the patios and or around the grounds. In some places it is very lovely (uplighting of our pergola and trellises, entwined in vines). In other places it is too much. We have two entrances. One gate is well lit because of the lighting of surrounding trees, one is not as well lit. But in either case I think I'd prefer the look of a dedicated light lighting the stone wall and sign. Just trying to find something that is not too fussy or kitschy colonial. I did not realize you had a barn on your property. Is that where you are keeping the square boxwood wreaths? KSWL - We have a small barn, and my fave, a cute little stone house. But the barn doors I hung my square wreaths on are my front doors. I wanted an unusual and distinctive front door, but nothing ornate. The barn doors open to a vestibule and then i have another set of french doors to the entry hall.

Thank you all for your opinions. I feel like I'll get tired of seeing "pantry" etched out and it does seem fairly trendy which is why I asked in the first place. You confirmed my hunch. I really like it now but its something I can see myself getting tired of and we don't plan on staying in our house forever so its probably better to keep things simple. I'll check out some other options for glass doors to see if there is something different I can do to break it up but the doors will probably end up staying as is. Thanks again, much appreciated!

I do think we live in a disposable world. When my parents were married, you bought really good stuff and you intended to keep it "forever"! And as you got a bigger house, you got more furniture. Now, with so many outlets selling so much "cheap" (inexpensive) merchandise, it is not a "forever" purchase but rather for the season or until one tires of it. I remember toasters and coffeepots were a "one time" purchase. Now they are disposable -- if yours stops working, you just pitch and buy a new one. Decor is like that too -- especially holiday decor (any holiday, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and of course, Christmas). It's what is trendy that year. I know one lady who buys all new Christmas decorations each year -- she has a theme (usually by color) and instead of packing it all away, she puts it in a garage sale in the spring. She wants it gone so she can come up with something different next year. I also have a friend who buys new living room furniture every three or four years. It's not worn, it's not broken. She's just tired of it and wants something different. And some of that disposable has something to do with trends in the marketplace. And that's what they want you to do -- change your decor to the "latest" and "greatest"! If you don't think "life" is disposable, just drive past a garage sale -- and see the stuff they offer for sale. Even thirty years ago, that wouldn't happen. Martha

Do you want or need the pony wall there? You may, and nothing wrong with that just didn’t know if that possibility might help explore additional options. I’ve seen before the space between studs be knocked out to create a niche area or shelf type space. That might provide a little drop zone area typical of entry. Have you seen what I’m talking about? If not, I will try and find a few pics.