Entry-vous

So, I spent today working on a vignette that's been on my mind a LOT lately.  My foyer.  I know, selfish.  Some days are just not work days, though, you know?  I've been collecting quite a few inspiration images on my personal pinterest page (found here) and can't decide which direction to go.  My husband has requested that there be some sort of seating in the general area for the putting on of shoes, and whatnot.

My hubs is the strong, silent type, and as such doesn't really express his opinions very often, so I know when he does, it's a pretty compelling one.

Here are the (many) options I'm considering:

A console table-benches combo, like the ones seen here:

AllModern

Houzz

Brian Watford ID

Console table with special chair(s)?  (LOVE this chandelier, btw.)

Houzz

Cabinet or dresser with chair(s)?

 Dunlap Design Group, LLC

Fieldstone Hill

And what will I hang over the furniture?  Art?

Marie Burgos Design

A mirror?

Glenn Gissler Design

Many mirrors?

Horchow

I just can't decide!!

So, for now, I'm going to stick mostly with what I have until divine inspiration strikes.  I decided to go ahead and do a lil' photo shoot while my son was sleeping.

After I had shot about 100 pictures, opening the doors to my house so I could get "just the right angle" (I'm not a professional photographer, ya'll.), I noticed an unsightly cord hanging down and peeking it's ugly head out.  So I fixed it.

While I was doing that, I tweaked the setup a bit.  So, here I go, shooting it again, opening the doors and crouching down like I always see the pros do.  (By this point, my son was awake, caterwauling at me to come get him out of his crib.)  Then I noticed I had (of course) left the roll of tape I used to "fix" the unsightly lamp cord that had originally offended me RIGHT ON TOP OF THE BOOK STACK.

Just SO offensive, no?  Rude.

Now my son was letting me know he was really ready to be back in the world of the awake by singing at the top of his lungs.  Cute.  Distracting.

Okay, having planted my child in front of his favorite show about children who fly around the world in a red rocket, learning about classical music and fine art, (At least it's educational-ish.) I'm ready to shoot again.

Here's the entry part of my foyer, as it stands right now.

Simple (inherited, in need of a refinish) double drop leaf table.

Basket for shoes.  (You can see a few peeking out there.  It was overflowing prior to the "cleanup"  I did for the shoot.  Left some in there because we live here, people!)

Birthday rug.  (Hubs knows the way to my heart.)

Totally awesome mirrored lamp I scored at Pottery Barn quite a while ago.

Stack of books with fresh cut flowers for a different level.  I love fresh flowers, don't you?

Framed art to create some visual layering/interest.  (Bowl for keys.)

Another viewpoint.  (Pay no mind to the OFFENSIVE roll of masking tape on the bannister, there!)

I'd like to take up a bit more of that wall by replacing the table (which is a little too traditional for my taste) with a larger one,   And, as stated before, provide the hubs with a little seating.  Perhaps a magenta chair?  Swoon.  But, like I said, I can't make any decisions.  I'm a LOT better at decorating other people's houses for some reason...

What about ya'll?  Are your entryways in need of a little decision-making?  A little de-cluttering?  Some freshening up? Do you want some help?  ;)

Cornice, Of Course!

I just love a cornice!  Such a lovely way to cover up the "business end" of draperies.  Here’s a closeup of a cornice-drape-shade situation:

Sheffield Furniture

See?  No rings, grommets, or hooks!

Cornices are also great way to add more textiles into a room.  

Natalie Clayman designed this GORGEOUS dining room pictured below.  So inspired!

Straight on shot.

Natalie Clayman

Cornices can inject a graphic element into a room.

The banding across the bottom and around the edges of this cornice/drape combo is divine.

DecorPad

Below is a beautiful tailored cornice with a greek key pattern trim.  You can find both the trim and the greek key elsewhere in the room (in the drapery ties and the side tables).  The cornice design just ties  the whole room together!

DecorPad

Cornices don’t have to be straight, either.  Some popular options include arched:

LOVE that they follow the arches of the windows.

All Thing Material

and step:

Sadie & Stella

A few more cornice-drape combos for you to feast your eyes on…

This vibrant cornice/drape combo add another shade of green (and more depth) to this room.

Susie Brennan

The example below is one of my favorite cornice/drape combos I’ve seen on the web, mostly because the graphic banding on the cornice is repeated across the bottom of the drapes.  Genius.

by Jamie Herzlinger

Banding along the bottom of the cornice and edges of the drapes.  (Again.)  Drool.

by betsy burnham

Cornices don’t have to be paired with drapes at all.   Places where long drapes would get in the way or be in danger of being damaged (like a breakfast room or bathroom) can still benefit from a little window dressing! 

Don’t you just love the buttons and trim on these?

Rockwood Cabinetry

This is such a pretty way to bring more fabric into an otherwise textile-free bathroom!

Muse Interiors

Even if you’re not sold on fabric cornices, you can have wood or plaster & wood ones made to elevate your windows and make your home look just that much more custom.

This is a stunning way to incorporate a cornice into the crown moulding of a room.

DecorPad

Here’s another example of a cornice made of plaster (or wood) with crown moulding on the top and bottom sides:

Houzz

This last one is a cornice + drapes HEADBOARD.

Just take a minute… Soak it all in.

Home Depot

Totally gorgeous, no?

So, what do you think?  Which is your favorite?  Could cornices be in your home’s future?  Do you have any spaces that could use a little dressing up?  Do you want some help?  ;)

XO,