Make a good first and last impression with a foyer
Photo/American & International Designs Inc.BEFORE: Bloomfield-based designer Susan Huckvale Arann transformed an empty space beneath a staircase into an elegant foyer. Share Tweet 0 Comments First impressions are lasting ones. In the case of the foyer, final impressions are pretty lasting, too, whether the entry room is purely decorative or serves a practical purpose, too.
This is the first and last space visitors encounter, setting the tone of your home’s decor and leaving guests with one final glimpse of your personal style.
“It’s the first thing you see and the last thing you see in the house,” Target Style Expert Sabrina Soto observes. “It also has to be functional. You walk in after a long day and have so many things to drop.”
According to the host of HGTV’s “Get It Sold” and “Real Estate Intervention,” among the elements every foyer should have are a decorative wall mirror, so you can check your appearance before leaving the house, and an easy-to-clean rubber or fabric doormat to ensure no one tracks dirt into the living areas.
Other items Ms. Soto lists are a coat rack or hooks to keep outerwear, purses and briefcases organized and tidy, and a console table with room for mail, keys and decorative accessories. If a table would be too large for the space, choose shelving instead.
A place to sit and take off shoes and boots — i.e., a bench or ottoman — and furnishings that offer storage for footwear also rank high on Ms. Soto’s list of entrance hall must-haves.
“One of my pet peeves is to see a bunch of shoes in the foyer,” she said. “As long as you have a space or storage solution, you can keep everything tidy.”
FORMAL OR INFORMAL
Photo/American & International Designs Inc.AFTER: The designer, owner and principle designer of American & International Designs, believes the entry area should set the tone of your home and allow guests to preview what’s to come. A foyer’s design can be formal or informal, depending on size, style and grandeur. Susan Huckvale Arann, owner and principle designer of Bloomfield-based American & International Designs Inc., said she’s seen a trend toward more formal spaces that feature chandeliers, larger furnishings and paintings arranged around a grand staircase.
No matter the size or style of your particular space, the designer said, it’s important to make it interesting. Really look at the area, taking into account what you see walking into the space and what can be seen from other rooms.
Ms. Arann points out that the foyer should offer some continuity to the rest of the home, starting right at the front door, which should match other doors in its vicinity. For instance, if the front door is bordered by molding, a nearby closet door should be as well.
“It’s an opportunity to set the tone of your home,” the designer noted. “Put some personality in there.”
BEFORE: A few basic ingredients are necessary to go from empty to stylishly functional in the foyer…A bona fide interest-grabber in an ample-sized foyer is a staircase. Ms. Arann advises highlighting this architectural element with runners with decorative rod inserts that act as “jewelry.” For a more subtle approach, she said, paint the risers a different color, add molding to the side of the stairs or simply paint the banister.
If your staircase is more bland than grand, try to focus attention away from it, Ms. Arann said, and suggested utilizing a largescale design on the wall closest to the stairs. This can be a wall covering or an arrangement of multiple pieces of artwork.
“This way,” the designer said, “your eye goes to the wall instead of the staircase.”
THE ‘WOW’ EFFECT
For nationally known designer Jamie Drake of Drake Design Associates in Manhattan, the foyer is a place to create a “Wow” effect with unexpected furnishings — something you may not want to do in a larger area where you spend more time.
“A dramatic punch is a wonderful surprise when you open the door,” said Drake. “It can be the opportunity to connect adjacent rooms.”
Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammela console table for accessories and mail, a bench or ottoman to sit on when taking off shoes, AFTER: … A console table for accessories and mail, a bench or ottoman to sit on when taking off shoes, a mirror to check your appearance and hooks for hanging keys, as shown in this West Brighton home. Drake advises choosing an accent color from a piece in another space, say a bright turquoise pillow in the living room, and painting the foyer walls the same jewel-toned hue. Or, display bold artwork you love in the space, expressing your personality and that of your home.
If you have a large area with high ceilings, Drake explained that a large light fixture is “essential” in making your style statement. Bigger, he noted, is better, since a smaller fixture can get “lost” in the space. Pair ceiling lighting with eye-level lamps, whether a table lamp on the console or sconces placed on either side of the mirror.
Whatever you do, make a statement that resonates whether your guests are entering or leaving your home. As Drake points out, “People understand this is a place to do something exciting and dramatic.”
Here’s a video of Target style expert Sabrina Soto offering more tips on decorating a foyer:
How-to Refresh the Entry Way for Fall from Target Fall Home on Vimeo.
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