Expert Talk: Entryway Wallpaper Ushers In Style
Set the right tone from the first step inside with this insight from pro designers on how to use wallpaper in an entry hall
I recently wrote about fantastic carved, painted and patterned front door designs that give visitors a proper greeting. Just as important is what's on the other side of that door. These designers show how wallpaper can provide the perfect welcome.
Layer it. This entry was part of a show house and was designed by Christy Dillard Kratzer of Dillard Pierce Design Associates (formerly Dillard Design Group). "The inspiration was a great, fresh traditional take on a foyer," she says. "The large-scaled damask was a great way to give the walls a subtle backdrop and allow for a layering of artwork and furnishings to shine in front of it."
She adds, "I think wallpaper gives a room great dimension and a nice layered effect."
Wallpaper: damask, Bone, Dillard Pierce Collection
She adds, "I think wallpaper gives a room great dimension and a nice layered effect."
Wallpaper: damask, Bone, Dillard Pierce Collection
Create a cohesive feel. Here's another design by Christy Dillard Kratzer where she took a subtle, textural approach to a more contemporary-style interior. "The client wanted neutrals in the foyer, so I created a way to see all of the unique elements in the space with cohesiveness," she says. "The effect on the wall is to have it look like a fabric treatment but with a wallpaper that is more durable."
Wallpaper: Texture, custom color, Dillard Pierce Collection
Wallpaper: Texture, custom color, Dillard Pierce Collection
Balance is key. Jean Verbridge of Siemasko + Verbridge used this large-scale wallpaper to provide a bit of formality to the entry of an otherwise casual house. "The stylization keeps it from being too formal," she says. "The oversized pattern creates a balance with the woodworking detail in the entry — the stair rails, crown molding and the inglenook. The color provides a neutral backdrop so the artwork can be rotated periodically."
Warm things up. This is another design by Jean Verbridge of Siemasko + Verbridge. "The traditional wallpaper establishes a formal theme appropriate for this updated Victorian," she says. "The warm, golden hues provide a welcome balance to the crisp white of the trim details, and the warmth is captured again in the wood floor."
Reference the past. "My client was heavily influenced by her grandmother's style and use of mirrored and acrylic furniture from the 1960s," says Ben Dial of Dial Meyers Design. "She also had a monochromatic color palette in mind, coupled with a grand foyer. This wallpaper was my solution."
Wallpaper: Zoffany, Spitalfields, National Trust Collection 2.
Wallpaper: Zoffany, Spitalfields, National Trust Collection 2.
Embrace graphic patterns. "This hall is actually somewhat small, but instead of reflexively choosing something light, I intentionally opted for something dark," says designer Andrea May. "When you go dark in a smaller space, the corners disappear and it fools the eye into thinking it's a more expansive room."
She adds, "I chose the graphic pattern of this paper because it keeps the eye moving. So, again, you don't focus on the size of the space and it sets the tone for a slightly offbeat, eclectic scheme. Graphic patterns like this are a staple for me, and they are very usable in smaller spaces like halls and powder rooms. They're also a great way to bridge traditional and modern elements."
Wallpaper: Neisha Crosland
She adds, "I chose the graphic pattern of this paper because it keeps the eye moving. So, again, you don't focus on the size of the space and it sets the tone for a slightly offbeat, eclectic scheme. Graphic patterns like this are a staple for me, and they are very usable in smaller spaces like halls and powder rooms. They're also a great way to bridge traditional and modern elements."
Wallpaper: Neisha Crosland
Give a sneak preview. This is an elevator foyer in a high-rise condominium on Nob Hill in San Francisco. The elevator door opens into a small private foyer that's just outside the front door of the apartment.
"My goal was to create a warm, welcoming space that would give a preview of what to expect upon entering the home," says designer Tres McKinney. "It's a small space, so there was only room for the chest of drawers, a pair of lamps, a beautiful area rug and a pair of antique benches. The wallpaper elevates the space and gives it personality and a polished, cohesive look."
She adds, "I use wallpaper in most of my projects. It brings warmth and texture to the rooms, whether it's a more contemporary grass cloth, a simple stripe in a bedroom or more exuberant pattern in a tiny powder room."
Wallpaper: Brocade Stripe 7958-05 in yellow, Colefax and Fowler
"My goal was to create a warm, welcoming space that would give a preview of what to expect upon entering the home," says designer Tres McKinney. "It's a small space, so there was only room for the chest of drawers, a pair of lamps, a beautiful area rug and a pair of antique benches. The wallpaper elevates the space and gives it personality and a polished, cohesive look."
She adds, "I use wallpaper in most of my projects. It brings warmth and texture to the rooms, whether it's a more contemporary grass cloth, a simple stripe in a bedroom or more exuberant pattern in a tiny powder room."
Wallpaper: Brocade Stripe 7958-05 in yellow, Colefax and Fowler
Shine like a rare jewel. I previously interviewed Thomas Riker of jamesthomas for a Houzz Tour of this amazing Chicago apartment. He explained that since this entry has a lowered ceiling, he and James Dolenc went moody, with a touch of glamour. "The dark paint on the ceiling relates to the color of the iridescent wallpaper and defines the space in a jewel box kind of way," he said.
Reflect on red. I loved this foyer from the moment I walked into the 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Manhattan. Bryant Keller used red to brighten a space that receives little natural light. The zebra wallpaper, tiger-print pillows and animal accessories are a tribute to legendary designer Albert Hadley, who was a huge animal lover.
Zebra wallpaper, tiger-print pillows: Scalamandre
Zebra wallpaper, tiger-print pillows: Scalamandre
She adds, "The neutral color worked well off of the other rooms which are connected to it. It was a splurge, but the client was so happy she did it."
Grass cloth: Rings, Phillip Jeffries