Before and After: Solving Storage Woes in a Home’s High-Traffic Zone
Look, having any entryway at all is a luxury—in all my studio apartments, you walked in the door and bam, that was it. But if you do have one it can be tricky to keep it functioning and looking its best. This particular entryway has a lot going for it (high ceiling, built-in storage), but it’s not quite as luxurious as it could be.
In this full-length photo, we can see that this is a pretty typical entryway (narrow, high-traffic, multi-use) filled with typical entryway stuff: coats, shoes, a floormat, and perhaps a donation bag waiting to be brought in? This is all necessary stuff to have right by the door, but is there a way to make the whole thing a bit prettier?
Yes, this is a styled photo—featured on Retro Villa—and there are probably coats and jackets hanging here on a regular basis, but let’s take this opportunity to admire that fabulous wallpaper! I LOVE the idea of creating a statement wall in the entryway: it’s a great way to set the tone, a dramatic entrance is always a good thing, and you don’t have to worry to much about how it looks in juxtaposition to the rest of your rooms, since entry hallways are generally pretty isolated. The new paint color is fantastic, and it complements the wallpaper so well.
That wall-mounted cabinet is certainly handy, but it only provides a limited amount of storage.
This renovation takes the good idea of the wall cupboard and improves it 100-fold. There’s now so much blessedly hidden storage! The new cabinets extend farther than the old one did, and remember that the wall there is recessed so the cupboards are even deeper than they appear. I’m not sure whether they’re deep enough to accommodate coats, but they definitely hold plenty of shoes, while that sweet stool provides the perfect spot for shoe application and removal.
This shot reveals the amazing pendant light and gives us a better view of the mobile, which is a Galaxy Globe by Kaja Skytte, available from Retro Villa; the combination of light, globe, and framed art is really lovely. Those hanging baskets are great for grab-and-go items, such as dog leashes. The mirror is just right for last looks (bonus points for the interesting hanging scheme), and that is the world’s most fabulous feather duster. Be sure to check out the makeover post for lots more photos!
Thank you, Retro Villa!