First Impressions
The story of interior home decor begins with the foyer. Make that space, no matter the size, a unique reflection of your life
First and foremost: A foyer is not merely a walk-through room on the way to see the rest of the house. Make your foyer sparkle with an ornate mirror, a bold painting or a classic vase. Image courtesy Chimera Interior Design
If the entryway provides a sneak peek into the soul of a home, why do so many people either leave theirs empty or choose to decorate their foyers with a generic table and vase?
Interior designers have long scratched their heads over that one. Fortunately, they say, it's never too late to create an entrance that captivates visitors with its charm and gives them an immediate sense of the personality of your house.
"The foyer is one place where you can have fun and do something 'wow' while allowing the rest of the home to simmer down a bit to a more comfortable level," says Miami, Fla., interior designer Bob Biederman.
Among his favorite entrances is one with a dramatic orchid arrangement and a colorful painting by Hunt Slonem that greets guests with bold color and a real sense of style.
Anna Kasabian, author of "First Impressions: Fresh Looks for Entryways, Hallways and Foyers" (Quarry Books, 2002), says the first step is realizing that the entryway is not just a place to hang your hat and coat. She encourages homeowners to be daring when they are thinking about how best to welcome people into their residences.
"Design and decorate it with creative freedom," she says. "It doesn't have to match the rest of your home's décor. It can stand alone as a creative statement about you."
At her home near Salem, Mass., for instance, Kasabian uses select antiques as centerpieces that encourage conversation because they pique the interest of visitors. She likes using functional pieces that can have a purpose as well as being pleasing to the eye. Visitors find in her entryway an antique chest that also hides shoes and boots, an antique brass milk container that holds umbrellas, and an antique cupboard that holds wine. The backdrop is African-influenced wallpaper that possesses its own old world characteristics.
Kasabian says there is no need to go shopping for such focal pieces. When she wants to change the look of a foyer she simply walks around a home and identifies interesting pieces that have not been receiving much attention.
Sometimes a single item will do the trick. A graceful table can features unique collectible for all to see, for example. She doesn't think that chairs or ottomans are appropriate for most foyers, however.
"Don't introduce seating unless the space truly is inviting enough to sit in," she says. Care also should be taken to make sure that furniture does not block the flow of traffic.
While you don't have to spend a lot of money to have a really dramatic foyer, you should be prepared to spend some time to determine what kind of mood you want to convey when a visitor first walks through the door. In her book, Kasabian featured entryways that ranged from a garden nook with greens and interesting pottery jars, to one with a mini-bar complete with wine containers and glasses, to one that was designed as a meditation space filled with cushions and accessories that inspire relaxation.
Kasabian suggests creating a scrapbook with pictures of furniture, fabric and paint colors to help personalize the space.
Valerie Borden, an interior designer in Scottsdale, Ariz., says it is important to be mindful of the limitations of some entryways. She has worked in homes that, for example, featured large vents in the foyer. She recommends custom ordering a table with a backdrop that can cover them. A table with shelves that can hold plants also can help to reduce the impact of a large vent, she says.
Before embarking on major changes, she also suggests studying the lighting. Too many homes feature minimal light in the entryway. Find an interesting lamp or chandelier that warms up the area.
"Lighting is crucial in small spaces," she insists.
Biederman says that small spaces also can be expanded visually with the use of mirrors. The doors to his home open up to a corner wall mirror and a mirrored table extending from it. He displays a vase on that table that draws the eye as soon as one walks in, he says.
Kasabian likes to let the architecture of a space shine through by exploring ways to accentuate it with offerings for walls and the floor. The market is filled with a great variety from contemporary glass tile to reclaimed tile, she says, allowing homeowners to think about contrasting interesting patterns with simpler ones.
"What you want to do is make this space your own," she says.
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