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Health & Fitness

Spring Decorating, Part Eight, The Entry

What does your entry say about the rest of your house? Make some improvements with part eight in Leslie Dean's Spring decorating series

Few people realize how important the entry is to their home The moment you open the door the entry should convey the feel of the rest of the house.  Our lives are so full and busy that we rarely think about the decoration of our entries and what they reveal about our homes and ourselves.

Consistency is key to the decoration of the whole house , and so important in your foyer/entry.  Look at your foyer in a new light. Open your front door and look at what you walk in to. Really look at it as if you have never walked in here before. See what your friends see when they come to your doorway. What does the floor, walls, front stairway and furniture say about the rest of the house? Could it use some sprucing up?

WALLS:  What is the condition of your walls? If they are painted, is the color light ? If you have dark walls or dark paneling , think about painting them to bring in light. It will make the area seem larger and appear brighter. Make sure the trim is painted with at least a semi gloss paint that will be easy to clean and bounce the light off. If your hall is long and narrow, installing mirror on one wall will visually expand the space. Are your doors in good condition? Do they need Spackle and paint? What does the hardware look like?  You would be surprised by the difference in what changing your door knobs and hinges can do for the overall effect in this space. Nicely framed artwork is a good choice for the walls here. If you prefer, wallpaper is a nice touch for this area. It will give some personality to a smaller foyer and can be dramatic in a larger entry.

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FLOORS: Look at the entryway floors. You walk on them everyday, but do you really pay attention to them much? This is an area that should not be covered in wall to wall carpeting. It is most likely a heavy traffic area and best suited to a hardwood floor or stone floor.  You can add an area rug here if you like, but try not to go with something too light if this is the doorway that gets used multiple times a day. I always love either a wood floor with an interesting inlaid design using different colored woods often known as marquetry work. Stone floors are a nice touch here too. Brick is beautiful in an entry when installed in an interesting pattern like a basket weave or chevron style. If needed, have your wooden floors refinished.

FURNITURE: Hopefully your entry is large enough to put some furniture .  A large console table with a beautiful mirror over it and tall column lamps are always beautiful. An antique bench with a couple of beautiful throw pillows work nicely too. Antique grandfather clock and umbrella stand is also great here.  If you have a small area, small demi-lune tables are great for at least putting the mail and keys.

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LIGHTING: As I stated earlier, entrances can be dark, so lighting is important here. If all you have are sconces on the wall, this will not be enough light. If you can , install some recessed lights here. Have it run on a dimmer switch. This is great when you are entertaining, it helps set the mood. If you have a table in here, put a lamp on it with a three way switch, again to help set the mood. Having a party? Put candles in the entry for a soft feeling.

Let your entry welcome you home after a hectic day and welcome your guests too! Create a special atmosphere  and make the entry a focal point.

  Visit Leslie Dean Interiors Inc. website at www.LeslieDeanInteriors.com. Leslie                Dean Interiors, Inc.  • Greenwich, CT (203) 869-4677 • Wilton, CT   (203) 529-3255

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