While setting up my house's landing strip as part of the January Cure last week, I went on a hunt for a little inspiration. While we have tons of inspiration here at Apartment Therapy, I wondered if the world outside of our blog had caught on to the name. Eventually, I ended up at the home design photofest, Houzz. And it turns out that "landing strips" do indeed have a presence over there.
There were a total of 39 results for keyword search "landing strip" at Houzz. While some referenced outdoor walkways and lighting schemes emulating the airport, there were plenty of small hall tables and mudrooms to behold. Five favorites are pictured up top:
1. A more modern wall-mounted table has a recessed space on top that acts as a sort of built-in bowl for keys and wallets.
2. This small enclosed cabinet holds a plant and bowl on top (with a mirror above for checking your face on the way out the door). Just imagine how cool it might be if there are shelves of shoes behind those doors!
3. This traditional arts and crafts table has closed storage below and space for a landing strip and flower display on top. We love the nifty basket placed beneath.
4. Steel lockers act as a closet and landing strip at the entry to this family home.
5. A wall-mounted table actually fits well behind the front door because of its curved shape.
(Images: 1. Sarah Greenman, 2. J. Weiss Design, 3. Atypical Type A, 4. Summer, 5. Joanne Palmisano, all via Houzz, as linked above.)
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I have the wall mounted West Elm nightstand as a table by my front door for keys and such.
Love the lockers!
The french doors in the last picture look like the carpet gets stuck under it.
I didn't know the idea of a landing strip was new - my family always had one, so growing up I assumed it was a standard feature of a home. Same with an entrance hall/mudroom (even if tiny). I was beyond puzzled when I moved to North America and kept seeing houses and apartments that open right into the living space. I kept thinking - where do people keep their coats/hats/scarves/shoes/bags/keys?
Agree with SilverFlame...it's not a new idea for AT but they put a different spin on it...it's much more inviting and part of the home. Were as before, it was just where you hung your hat.
It isn't a new idea in North America. I'm at least the third generation of my family that does it. Calling it a landing strip might be a fairly recent term for it, though.
I found an old dresser at a thrift store, painted it a vibrant yellow and had a piece of green marble cut for the top. It has seven drawers, so lots of storage for dog stuff, stationary, odds and ends and a bowl I made on top for tossing change into.
yeah, i don't think it's such a novel idea, but maybe calling it a landing strip is (which i still don't do, because it recalls a totally different meaning to me).
I love a nice, well-thought out landing strip. I totally agree that they are essential in keeping your essentials all in one, convenient location. As I type this, I am currently in the midst of my goal project for the January Cure and creating a working landing strip is my goal of the month. Our little apartment simply does not possess the space for the LS I would like, so I have gotten creative with ours, but the important part is that it is fully functional and looks fantastic! Thank you AT for the push I needed to get my LS up and running!!!
AT has branded what people have done as long as there have been houses.
How smart that the Victorians had hall trees (hat, coat, keys, mail, brolly - and sometimes a small seat!) before AT.
Imagine!
Also photo 2 makes me cringe - the glass door opens toward a row of metal hooks. No door stopper. The mismatched metals are also annoying.
Agree with vividiti. Seriously? Claiming AT pioneered the idea? Maybe the cringe worthy term but not the concept.
I don't like number 4. It looks like a rejected set from 'Happy Days'.
Vividiti, yikes, those mismatched metal frames are indeed quite annoying and not so pretty to look at.
I absolutely love number 1, but if you look at the blueprint of the house, it is next to the front door across the house from the garage! It is beautiful to look at, but doesn't seem very functional unless you always walk through the front door.
We just always called it the coat rack shelf in the front entrance way. I didn't realize a term had been coined for it.
Ours are two now discontinued IKEA MOLGER wall shelf's with the hooks under it. You put your keys, sunglasses on top, coats, bags, backpacks on them.
It kind of just depends on what kind of home you had. The US is full of different types of homes and different layouts. I've had apartments open into a hallway and the only room you had was for keys. I have a house with a proper foyer so you can put things down. It's pretty common for people to have these kinds of areas, but the challenge is how do you do that when the home you're in doesn't allow for a logical place for hooks and coat racks and things.
Looks like there's a door stop at the top of the door in pic #2...
#4 makes me want to be 9 years old and climb up on a stool to tell Mom about my day. :)
I found a shallow crate someone tossed out, well-made of thick wood. With the 2 shelves I added, it looks like a very small bookcase. I also put casters on the bottom and handles on the side. Found an old mirror in Grandad's garage, tall with a plain, thick wooden frame (he was a carpenter - he made the frame and that thing is SOLID!). I painted them both to match with leftovers from painting the front door, and hung the mirror over the crate-thingie in the entryway. My entryway is TINY but I did this about 5 years ago and it's still the perfect landing strip. Cost me about ten bucks to do.. \m/
I need a vertical landing strip. In our new, small in-law, I have a 3 x 8 ft wall between the bedroom and the bathroom, which I think would be a good place to have pockets for the mail, possibly some kind of pocket or hanger for the phone (as there is an outlet), clips to hang gloves (in season). I saw some great new burlap prints the other day that might make a decorative backdrop for such a piece. Also, I need something for the counter in the kitchen to store the laptops and tablets. I would like something like a vertical file system, but have not found anything yet. Any suggestions? Thank you.