The Inviting Entry
Our first apartment in Manhattan was a little jewel box. Nestled on the second floor of a tree lined street in Manhattan’s west village, sat our cozy little one bedroom apartment on the second floor of a brownstone.
Unique to many apartments in Manhattan, the two other people who lived in this brownstone all entered through the same front door and sorted through their mail that came through one mail slot, and walked up a wooden family staircase to get to their doors. I loved that apartment. It felt like a home. Especially our entry hall. All 750 square feet of our apartment was charming, but the entrance to our apartment made the whole space feel special. We had a hand painted bleached oak demilune table with an iron oval mirror above it with little painted birds embedded in it. It felt like a true landing spot and had a real warmth to it.
Our New Jersey home does not have a grand entrance either. There is actually quite a bit of quirk to our entry, if I’m being honest, but I worked hard to recreate the cordiality that I felt in our Manhattan apartment, and I think that I accomplished my goal. Whatever your space, find my key elements to help you get the most out of our entry below.
Key elements
Create some semblance of a seat. Be it a small-scale chair, petite pouf or wooden bench, this will become a place of rest for many things. From mail to school bags, to dog leashes and tiny bottoms putting on their shoes. A perch of some form goes a long way!
Mirror, mirror on the wall. Add one. They create additional natural light, make a small space feel larger and gives those walking by something to look at.
Layer textures. I’m all about a table skirt! There is nothing quite like having fabric in an entryway to set the tone for your home. Also, table skirts can make the most uninspiring tables beautiful and allow for storage under the skirt.
Light! A beautiful table lamp (don’t forget to think about the shade!), lovely hanging pendant or statement sconces will brighten any entry and light the way for your guests!
ART! Your entry is the preview to your home. This is where you can make a statement with a stand alone work of art. Don’t miss your opportunity to use your entry hall as a gallery and allow those stopping in to admire your great taste in art.
