Foyer ideas
I like the look, but am willing to have less wood. Use columns, but at least have painted wall. Could even have painted columns IF we have the wood door treatment and SOME stained beams. I'd want the columned wall builtins to serve as a 'buffet' serving area for a Dining Room...have a Butler's Pantry entry from the kitchen. Use the Butler's Pantry for ALMOST all everyday dinnerware / dishes on a 'reachable' level so we don't have to climb on a ladder. Have some wide shelves for platters, cake plates...most of those are seldom used, but too wide for standard shelf depth. WITH FEW overhead cabinets in kitchen, we eliminate issues with tall counter appliances (Keurig, Kitchenaid Mixer, Blender, Food Processor, Knife Block, etc)
Stained front door in entry, but painted woodwork. LIKE the dining room columns/cabinets..BUT cabinet top space is wasted by too many columns that eat up the possible "buffet" space. Why not flanking the 'buffet' cabinets either side of a wide entry space between the built ins, with the columns on the floor...not on top of the cabinets......
Like the transomes, the high row of windows, the tucked in staircase, front door & sidelights...LOVE the look of the whole package...I have a trunk chest like that, but have created a hall tree look above the trunk with period look wall hooks on stained oak hung either side of 2 mirrors in mounted in a frame. The mirrors are on the 2 doors from vintage armoire that belonged to my husband's grandmother who lived in TX. 1903 St Louis is on the back..same period as the grapevine pattern marigold color pitcher I have that came from my great grandmother who lived in St Louis. The mirrors would not work on this stair wall, but maybe there is a wall facing the door where it would work. With a wall facing the door, guests would see the wall and not into the main living area...we had an entry like that years ago...great for a chest, a chair, a curio cabinet.
WOW, way over the top but love the look, the lighting ...the feel of the space...maybe the ONE vaulted ceiling area, but perhaps with less fanfare, more simple beams / decor and a window wall that looks out at woods, rather than water....so no picture windows below, but instead do casement or sash windows...or doors to a porch or patio. Maybe the upper windows could be able a porch rooftop??? just a row of the 'transome' windows???
Q