Summer Project #2 - The Entryway

"Welcome, come on in, be comfortable, we've missed you..."

This is what I want our entryway to say. Our entire home actually. Prior to starting Vista Trail I had already started making some changes.  A new front door.  The mud bench (in black) that now resides on the front porch (in white) was here instead of the dresser.  The coat rack, mirror and key are the same.    I recovered these hat boxes and painted the picture frame earlier this year.  The wheels were turning, but I wasn't sure what I wanted...

When we replaced the front door when we first moved in (6 years ago) I did not realized how much I would miss the natural light that the original door gave.  I love the door itself, but the entryway definitely needs brighter lighting.

I think that I still really like these each of these pieces, but there is so much brown and black that it's just adding to the darkness of the space. 

We've had this dresser for a long time.  It's a great piece, in wonderful condition, but a little out of style.  I'm thinking about painting it. 

So today, you see a dresser, the coat rack, mirror and a black key on the right. Again, the light fixture is pretty, but doesn't really help my desire to lighten and brighten. I would love a lantern.  The entryway definitely needs brighter light, and the lamp cannot be plugged in because there is not an outlet.  Is there such a thing as battery operated lamps?  The connecting hallway has some black  iron pieces that I could repaint or take out all together. That will be for a different post.

All in all, I would like to paint, maybe re purpose some items, shop my house and find some new ones - we will see.

Summer Project #2 - The Entryway After

Well, I have to say, I am super excited to show off my progress.  Progress because really I'm never completely DONE.  I decided to paint the dresser a creamy white, make a wreath I saw at Jones Design Company (tutorial here), switch out the pewter bowl to a jar of shells, change the lampshade and add a new piece of artwork.

The lighting is sooo bad.  You can really tell in these pictures.  However, the overall feel is much lighter!

This is the new piece of artwork.  I really like the color it gives the space.  I tried to keep a little triangle of black.  The picture frame, the mirror and the coat rack.  Not sure why, but it seemed to balance and ground the space.

Now, when you look toward the door it's not a black hole.  The door is still dark, but the things around it are much lighter and really make it all feel more welcoming instead of scary.

My favorite part of all was how the dresser came out.  We have had this piece for 10 years, 3 different houses and I had not ever realized how pretty the bottom of it was.  Kind of crazy - but it has always sat on dark wood floors so you couldn't see it.  I LOVE it!  Now I'm trying to decide if I want to glaze it.  I love the tried and true Ralph Lauren Tea Stain Glaze.  I don't even think they still sell it, but I have some and think it might be great!

I would still like to get a new light fixture, a rug (I'm trying out a zebra print right now which you can see in the corner, but it's a little much) and maybe paint.   Hope you have a great day!