Traditional Brown Entrance Ideas and Designs

Whole-house remodel of a hillside home in Seattle. The historically-significant ballroom was repurposed as a family/music room, and the once-small kitchen and adjacent spaces were combined to create an open area for cooking and gathering. A compact master bath was reconfigured to maximize the use of space, and a new main floor powder room provides knee space for accessibility. Built-in cabinets provide much-needed coat & shoe storage close to the front door. ©Kathryn Barnard, 2014

A Family's Retreat

Marshall Erb Design Inc.

Marshall Morgan Erb Design Inc. Photo: Nick Johnson

Restored Federal Portico - Sea Captain's House

Torrey Architecture, Inc.

New Waterfront Home

J.P. Franzen Associates Architects, P.C.

Photography: Stacy Bass New waterfront home in historic district features custom details throughout. Classic design with contemporary features. State-of-the-art conveniences. Designed to maximize light and breathtaking views.

Chesapeake Entry Way

Parkwood Homes

Photos by Vic Moss, Moss Photography.

* 2011 THIRD PLACE - ASID - RESIDENTIAL * Scottsdale Elegance

Ernesto Garcia Interior Design, LLC

Scottsdale Elegance - Foyer - General View Stairway with wrought iron handrail

53rd & Drew Ave - Minneapolis Fulton Neighborhood

Sustainable Nine Design + Build

Notting Hill Flat

Sigmar

The floor has stone slabs in the middle, which is hard and durable, great for an entrance. The stone is edged with the same oak planks that flow through the rest of the house. The walls are painted in Sure Grey from the Damo collection, available at Sigmar. The woodwork is Cocoa, also from Damo.

Pinnacle Country Club

Celtic Custom Homes

Driveway Gate - Double - Tongue and Groove

Harwell Fencing and Gates Inc

Arian Harwell

Private Residence Interiors

User

Carolyn Culp

Traditional Foyer / Front Entry

Design Find

This space just used to throw you into the family room/sitting room upon entering through the front door - a pet peeve of mine. No entry! This space was a 20 year old addition onto a 100 year old house. I wanted to create an entry and also try to make the "new" addition tie into the older home. I purchased an old, salvaged room divider, which divided the two spaces yet kept an open feel, and then carried the wainscot on the knee walls of the divider all around the rest of the foyer for continuity. The floor tiles were 12x12 ceramic tiles, meant to look like marble. A lot of cutting was involved, but it was worth it! It's hard to find old looking tile that doesn't feel like it should be in a bathroom, so I became one with the wet saw to get the look I wanted. The door and door frame were purchased off of Craigslist. I loved that people who came through the home never would have guessed that the foyer wasn't original to the home! Photo By Obeo Minneapolis

Sabot 10407

Tuckahoe Creek Construction, Inc.

The “eyebrow” porch is a warm and welcoming entry to this home. Photo by kip dawkins photography.

Puritan Avenue

Dwellings

Laura Davidson

Slate Entryway in Oceanview District, San Francisco

Continuum Tile Co.

Slate Entryway in Oceanview District, San Francisco Tile provided by Echeguren Slate Co.

Georgian Residence

Tucker & Marks

Interior Design by Tucker & Marks: http://www.tuckerandmarks.com/ Photograph by Matthew Millman

Cat Mountain Residence

Cornerstone Architects

Conceived as a remodel and addition, the final design iteration for this home is uniquely multifaceted. Structural considerations required a more extensive tear down, however the clients wanted the entire remodel design kept intact, essentially recreating much of the existing home. The overall floor plan design centers on maximizing the views, while extensive glazing is carefully placed to frame and enhance them. The residence opens up to the outdoor living and views from multiple spaces and visually connects interior spaces in the inner court. The client, who also specializes in residential interiors, had a vision of ‘transitional’ style for the home, marrying clean and contemporary elements with touches of antique charm. Energy efficient materials along with reclaimed architectural wood details were seamlessly integrated, adding sustainable design elements to this transitional design. The architect and client collaboration strived to achieve modern, clean spaces playfully interjecting rustic elements throughout the home. Greenbelt Homes Glynis Wood Interiors Photography by Bryant Hill

Grand Westchester County Estate

Robin Baron Design

Laundry 7027

J.S. Brown & Co.

Mudroom / Laundry storage and locker cabinets. Knotty Alder cabinets and components from Woodharbor. Designed by Monica Lewis, CMKBD, MCR, UDCP of J.S. Brown & Company. Photos by J.E. Evans.

Foyer

Anna Berglin Design

Traditional Brown Entrance Ideas and Designs

The entrance of your home is a critical area to design well because as we all know, first impressions count. As the first thing that visitors will see when they arrive, your entrance is your opportunity to offer guests a warm welcome while introducing the personality of your traditional home. Equally important, it welcomes you home every day, so make it somewhere that you’re glad to come home to. The entrance to your home begins the moment you get to the front door, so make sure both inside and out get the attention of your decorator’s touch. Make your traditional foyer the best possible introduction to the rest of the house, and if you wish, you can have a bit of fun with the doorway; paint, tiles, door handles and lighting are all ways to make front doors a statement – a dramatic entrance, if you will.

What traditional front doors can I choose from?

Your first decision when updating front doors is what type of external doors you want to use, taking into account style, security and accessibility. Investing in a high quality front door is always worthwhile – this is a purchase where a little extra money goes a long way. Hardwood exterior doors remain the most popular choice of front door; as well as being the most economical, timber also opens the door to an endless selection of paint, hardware and embellishment. However, natural wood doors do have their downsides – prone to warping, they require more upkeep and may require replacing if not adequately cared for. Whether you opt for solid oak external doors or an oak veneer option, wooden doors are a match made in heaven for period architecture – it’s hard to imagine a Georgian house without a solid, six-panel door, or a Victorian home sans its gleaming hardware and stained glass panes. If you prefer non-wooden exterior doors, the alternatives are UPVC doors, GRP doors (collectively known as composite doors) and steel doors. UPVC front doors are often the most inexpensive alternative to timber and offer added insulation benefits; because the material itself can be a comparatively insubstantial, UPVC external doors are built into steel door frames for added reinforcement. GRP (glass-reinforced plastic, or fibreglass to you and me) doors offer the same properties, with a woodgrain effect that can provide a happy medium for lovers of timber. Steel doors are less widely used in the UK than the US, and make great contemporary front doors thanks to their sleek, modern appearance.

How do I decorate my traditional doorway?

Renovating or replacing your front doors is one of the quickest ways to give your home a makeover, and affords the perfect opportunity to add a splash of colour to the front of your home. To improve your front door’s kerb appeal you can flank the doorway with decorative trees or flowering plants in attractive planters and “dress” the door with shiny hardware. Door knockers and door knobs can be more than functional with a range of styles and materials available to add some personality to exterior doors. A traditional brass door knocker can be the perfect complement to a solid oak doorway painted in a rich shade of green or blue, whilst contemporary chrome door hardware will look perfect against a white or eggshell door. If you are looking for an elegant front door option, opt for a hardwood door with built in obscured glass panels to let light into your hallway. If you would rather avoid a glass paned front door for security reasons then smaller decorative glass panels can also be inserted into the surround or door frame. You can choose stained glass panes for decorative effect, patterned or textured glass will allow light in but protect your privacy or get your home name or number etched into a glass pane for a practical but personal touch.

How should I light my traditional front entrance?

The warm glow from a doorway is one of the most welcoming sights that can greet us when we arrive home. An entrance light is of practical importance – we have all spent time fumbling for our house keys in the dark – but it also offers an opportunity to add warmth and character to front doors and entrances. A wall mounted lantern is a charming traditional choice, or for bright, directed illumination opt for a security spotlight. There are a whole variety of switching options available – you can choose a motion sensor light that switches on right when you need it most, a timer light that will offer illumination on a fixed schedule or a switched outdoor light. Pointing light upward is a good way to avoid harsh glare, or choose recessed lighting if you prefer not to have a hanging light in front of your external doors. An entrance is also a great place to display lighting as a decorative feature – choose a table lamp that echoes the lines and colours of the hall beyond it.

What furniture and storage do I need in my traditional entryway?

It’s important to keep the entrance to your home as open and clutter free as possible, so selecting a few practical items that will help with storage and offer a warm welcome is the best approach for this area. Coat stands, umbrella holders and shoe racks are practical foyer additions that will keep the area tidy. For the knick knacks and paraphernalia that so often accumulate by front doors, sideboards or console tables are helpful and opting for a something with a drawer is a clever trick to ensure these things can be stowed out of sight. If you have the space, an armchair, occasional chair or hallway bench will prove useful for perching on when removing shoes and definitely consider multi-functional furniture such as a storage bench for shoes. A wall mounted shoe cabinet is a must have for a tighter space, getting shoes off the floor and neatly stowed away.

How do I decorate my traditional foyer?

Particularly in the entrance to the home, colour can be a wonderful tool to set the tone of the house. Neutral palettes can create a serene atmosphere appropriate for greeting guests; alternatively, you might find yourself being a little bit more adventurous by choosing a whimsical wallpaper or a bold wall colour that could look overwhelming anywhere else in the house. In either case, the foyer can be blended seamlessly into the home with details that connect it to adjoining rooms. Even if your entrance is not self-contained, instead with exterior doors that open straight into the house, visual tricks make it possible to create the illusion of an entryway by defining the space as such. Changes in flooring, a well-placed rug, a screen or curtain, or even furniture such as a console table or coat rack, can be used to delineate the space and distinguish the entrance from the rest of the hallway. Decorating walls and furniture with photographs or artwork is a simple way of bringing your personality into the foyer and plants, lamps, candles, vases and ornaments can be displayed on windowsills, tables or shelves. As a final thoughtful touch, mirrors placed next to front doors are a practical choice for those last minute appearance checks, as long as it’s not directly opposite the doorway, which could back-light the user – decidedly not helpful!

Ireland

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