Fine Foyer
It’s the Grand Central Station for your family’s departures and arrivals and serves as the unofficial welcome center to your friends and visitors. Your entryway may be the smallest room in your house, but with attention to style and emphasis on organization, it can make the biggest impact.
Running shoes, mail, keys, school projects, umbrellas and soccer balls — the clutter in your entryway is utterly inevitable. Luckily, there’s a range of options to totally tame the chaos and up the glamour. If your foyer is tiny try using a narrow entry bench with storage. Stylish baskets or wire containers can be the perfect solution for organizing everything from sports equipment to designer bags. Hooks, floating shelves and cubbies will efficiently gather your keys, pet leashes and children’s backpacks. — by Pam marquis
Get Personal
This utilitarian space is also the perfect place to define your style. Use it to give visitors a taste of the luxury that lies beyond the welcome mat. Consider using a bold chandelier (we spied an eye-catching wooden number adorned with beads and tassels from Source Interior Designs, sourceinteriordesigns.com). Or use shadow boxes to highlight your treasured items or hang your favorite works of arts or family photographs to show guests the things you truly love. Let your entryway say with pride, “Home is where the heart is.”
Case Goods
Chic Classics
Perhaps consider using an antique demilune table. Popular in France in the 1700s, demilunes are the perfect piece for narrow spaces. They can be found in virtually every style, from ornate Louis XVI to classic English Hepplewhite, and they’re crafted in a wide variety of woods from mahogany to cherry.
Accents
Practically Posh
The perfect start is a high-end doormat showcasing your taste and keeping dirt outside where it belongs. Once inside, lay down an area rug that’s stylish, but also practical. Try jute or sea-grass carpet, which traps sand and dirt, hides stains and stands up to heavy traffic. West Elm on Magazine Street has a custom rug program that lets you design your own rug, so you can choose the color and size that’s just right for you. westelm.com
