New This Week: 3 Wall Treatments to Elevate Your Entryway
Use graphic pattern to raise your spirits every time you come home — no matter what your style
Mitchell Parker
June 17, 2016
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
A lot of decorating attention gets paid to kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms … well, almost every room in a home except the entryway. But the threshold through which you cross into your home can make or break your mood for the remainder of the time you spend there. That’s why it’s important to make this area really lift you up. One surefire way to do that is with graphic wallpaper. These three entryways show how a little pattern can go a long way toward welcoming you home.
1. Bright and Modern
Designer: Dee Murphy
Location: New York City
Size: 24 square feet (2.2 square meters); about 8 by 3 feet (2.4 meters by 0.9 meter)
Homeowners’ request: Create a showstopping entryway in a first home in the spirit of traditional, glam and preppy.
Wallpaper: Rosey Posey Trellis in Ginger Jar Blue, by Anna Spiro for Porter’s Paints, via Black & Spiro
Other special features: Jewel-like mirror. Slim and sleek console to hold keys, mail and other personal items. Acrylic chandelier. “The trick was to add elements that would enhance but not compete with each other,” designer Dee Murphy says .
Why the design works: “A purposely cohesive and playful mix of geometric patterns, and the consistent blue color scheme that weaves together both traditional and glamorous styles, allows this small space to pack a big punch,” Murphy says.
Designer secret: “You can create a powerful impact but not get too overwhelmingly busy in any room by mixing patterns and styles if you focus on keeping specific design choices compatible — in this case the color blue, and the use of geometry in the console, mirror and wallpaper,” Murphy says. “The rug happens to be doing its own thing, but the colors are neutral enough so that it adds texture but doesn’t distract from the rest of the decor.”
Splurges and savings: The homeowners splurged on the wallpaper and mirror, and saved on the console and runner rug.
Also on the team: Jenny J. Norris (photographer)
Safina rug in Blush: Lulu & Georgia; console: West Elm (discontinued); Romano wall mirror in sapphire blue: Bungalow 5, available on Houzz; Travis aged brass pendant: Hudson Valley Lighting, available on Houzz; floral blue-and-white porcelain umbrella stand: Oriental Furniture, available on Houzz
See more of this home
Designer: Dee Murphy
Location: New York City
Size: 24 square feet (2.2 square meters); about 8 by 3 feet (2.4 meters by 0.9 meter)
Homeowners’ request: Create a showstopping entryway in a first home in the spirit of traditional, glam and preppy.
Wallpaper: Rosey Posey Trellis in Ginger Jar Blue, by Anna Spiro for Porter’s Paints, via Black & Spiro
Other special features: Jewel-like mirror. Slim and sleek console to hold keys, mail and other personal items. Acrylic chandelier. “The trick was to add elements that would enhance but not compete with each other,” designer Dee Murphy says .
Why the design works: “A purposely cohesive and playful mix of geometric patterns, and the consistent blue color scheme that weaves together both traditional and glamorous styles, allows this small space to pack a big punch,” Murphy says.
Designer secret: “You can create a powerful impact but not get too overwhelmingly busy in any room by mixing patterns and styles if you focus on keeping specific design choices compatible — in this case the color blue, and the use of geometry in the console, mirror and wallpaper,” Murphy says. “The rug happens to be doing its own thing, but the colors are neutral enough so that it adds texture but doesn’t distract from the rest of the decor.”
Splurges and savings: The homeowners splurged on the wallpaper and mirror, and saved on the console and runner rug.
Also on the team: Jenny J. Norris (photographer)
Safina rug in Blush: Lulu & Georgia; console: West Elm (discontinued); Romano wall mirror in sapphire blue: Bungalow 5, available on Houzz; Travis aged brass pendant: Hudson Valley Lighting, available on Houzz; floral blue-and-white porcelain umbrella stand: Oriental Furniture, available on Houzz
See more of this home
2. Bold and Traditional
Designers: Gil Walsh, Lauryl Guse and Michelle Scott of Gil Walsh Interiors
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Size: 108 square feet (10 square meters)
Homeowners’ request: Happy and vibrant decor
Wallpaper: Jacaranda in chartreuse, Designers Guild
Other special features: Leopard-print rug with green border. Antique French chest with marble top.
Designer secret: “The use of layers in a room always adds interest,” designer Gil Walsh says.
Also on the team: Faye E. Carter Construction
Rug: leopard center by Stanto and green border by Radici USA; chest: antique, with marble top by A1 Plus Stone Design
See more of this home
Designers: Gil Walsh, Lauryl Guse and Michelle Scott of Gil Walsh Interiors
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Size: 108 square feet (10 square meters)
Homeowners’ request: Happy and vibrant decor
Wallpaper: Jacaranda in chartreuse, Designers Guild
Other special features: Leopard-print rug with green border. Antique French chest with marble top.
Designer secret: “The use of layers in a room always adds interest,” designer Gil Walsh says.
Also on the team: Faye E. Carter Construction
Rug: leopard center by Stanto and green border by Radici USA; chest: antique, with marble top by A1 Plus Stone Design
See more of this home
3. Breezy and Transitional
Designer: Carole Weaks
Location: Atlanta
Size: 72 square feet (6.6 square meters); 6 by 12 feet (1.8 by 3.6 meters)
Homeowners’ request: Turn a boring rear entrance into a welcoming and interesting one
Wallpaper: Stripes, Osborne & Little
Other special features: Painted antique cabinet. Patterned valance and rug.
Why the design works: “By carefully selecting pieces that were the right scale and interesting enough to catch the eye, we created an area that doesn’t fall short,” designer Carole Weaks says.
Designer secret: “No tricks, just careful planning to make sure that the few pieces that could go in the space were the right size and shape,” Weaks says.
“Uh-oh” moment: “It’s certainly not unusual for this to happen, but for once, because we had spent a good bit of time planning, there were no hiccups,” Weaks says. “I have found that in design, there is almost always a solution that doesn’t necessarily involve ripping the walls out. In my 30 years of experience, I’ve never regretted measuring twice and cutting once.”
Antique cabinet: Parc Monceau; lamps: Ainsworth-Noah, Atlanta Decorative Arts Center; painting: Alan Avery Gallery; all fabric: Osborne & Little
See more of this home
Designer: Carole Weaks
Location: Atlanta
Size: 72 square feet (6.6 square meters); 6 by 12 feet (1.8 by 3.6 meters)
Homeowners’ request: Turn a boring rear entrance into a welcoming and interesting one
Wallpaper: Stripes, Osborne & Little
Other special features: Painted antique cabinet. Patterned valance and rug.
Why the design works: “By carefully selecting pieces that were the right scale and interesting enough to catch the eye, we created an area that doesn’t fall short,” designer Carole Weaks says.
Designer secret: “No tricks, just careful planning to make sure that the few pieces that could go in the space were the right size and shape,” Weaks says.
“Uh-oh” moment: “It’s certainly not unusual for this to happen, but for once, because we had spent a good bit of time planning, there were no hiccups,” Weaks says. “I have found that in design, there is almost always a solution that doesn’t necessarily involve ripping the walls out. In my 30 years of experience, I’ve never regretted measuring twice and cutting once.”
Antique cabinet: Parc Monceau; lamps: Ainsworth-Noah, Atlanta Decorative Arts Center; painting: Alan Avery Gallery; all fabric: Osborne & Little
See more of this home
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Love the use of paint to brighten up any entryway!
I consider the entry like the business card of a house. Beautiful proposals
Love how you incorporated books into this gorgeous entryway!