Fabulous Foyers

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  We got a lot accomplished over the weekend, including our "Meet the Addicts" page, so if you get a chance, stop over and get to know us a bit more!

If you've been following my blog, you might remember that my friend Lori recently asked me to decorate her foyer.  She even offered to hand over her credit card and just let me buy whatever I wanted, which was very tempting, but I thought it would be fun if we shopped for everything together.  Lori and I don't have the same style in home decorating, so I was honored that she trusted me to help her decorate. 

Here is her foyer currently:

I've been thinking about her foyer for a couple of weeks now.  I know she wants it to be a formal entry and she's mentioned that she wants a black console incorporated into the design.  She has even picked out a piece of artwork that she likes, so I have some ideas to work with.  I've been looking around for items that I think will look nice, so the plan is this Saturday, we are going to go shopping together so I can show her some of my suggestions.

I know how stressful decorating entries can be.  I just made the big decision to paint my door, banister and stairs black. 

Your entry foyer is extremely important because it's the first thing people see when they enter your home.  It sets the stage for what type of home you have.

In thinking about Lori's foyer, I've found that many foyers have three similar elements.

1. A table, Console or Bureau

2. Artwork, Mirrors, or clocks

3.  A place to sit

Here are a few foyers I found that offer an example of these elements.

Delores, over at Vignette Design just spruced up her entry and she incorporates all of the above-mentioned elements.  I love her wicker seating with the European feed sack pillows and the seagrass rug adds an element of texture. 

This foyer offers all three elements, a table with a clock hanging directly above it, and a bench. The shadow-box trim and the runner up the stairs make the space more formal.

Photo: Better Homes and Gardens

The next foyer has a bureau with a piece of artwork hung directly above it.  The bureau provides storage and at the same time serves as a display piece.

Photo: Better Homes and Gardens

Again, we see the three elements in the next photo: a clock, bureau and chair.  I like the antique bottles!

Photo: Houzz.com

The next traditional entry uses a card-catalogue type console to display candles, a picture and a beautiful vase filled with a touch of the outdoors.  This console offers an open space beneath it for baskets.

photo: Houzz

This clean, crisp foyer displays a topiary and an orchid atop the console.  Notice the mirror above the console which reflects the light provided by all of the windows.  I really like the baskets placed next to the door.

                                        traditional entry design by san francisco general contractor Harrell Remodeling (Houzz)

Here, the staircase takes center stage.  The round end table fits nicely with the curve of the staircase.

                                     traditional staircase design by los angeles interior designer Elaine Morrison Interiors (Houzz)

And finally, I love all the creamy whites in the next photo.  The enormous clock on the stair wall is gorgeous and completes the shabby chic decor.

                                               eclectic entry design by los angeles interior designer Brooke Giannetti (houzz)

What about all of you?  Which of the above foyers do you like and why?  I'd love to hear your comments.

If you have a foyer that you'd like to share, please email pictures of it to me!  We need as many ideas as we can get before Saturday!

Finally, if you get a chance, stop over to This Old House and check out our submission for "Before and After" home remodeling contest.  Don't forget to rate the remodel!  For more "Before and After" pics, see the "Our Fixer Upper" page.