As an update, I found two more sets in the garage. 16!! The slightly humorous thing about this all is that there is absolutely no convenient place to hang our bags when we walk in the house, whether through the garage (which we currently aren’t doing because it is still filled with boxes), or by the front door, which will be the norm for us and our guests.
When you walk into the house, this wall with the mirror on it is slightly to the left, but mostly right in front of you, which seems like the perfect place for some hooks and a sort of entry wall.
Initially I thought, maybe a large painting there. Some pretty flowers. But somewhere over the past months, my design aesthetic has tweaked, because something being just pretty no longer does it for me. Especially an entire space, or wall in this case. It needs to work for me. It has to function.
So while this is really pretty:
It doesn’t really do a thing for me. On the other hand, these entryways are more what we’re looking for when designing that wall:
What do you think?
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I just found your blog and realized I just happened to live a couple blocks from your old house in SF. (on 1530 east…saw your house for sale on SF indoor yard sale) I LOVE what you did to your house, we just built so our house is a clean slate! Thanks for the ideas and inspiration!!
I like the second one—it’s minimal but has everything you need!
At least they left a drunk octopus hook!
We can completely relate, we have a catch all entry way, that seems to catch everything. I’ve been procrastinating and telling myself its a winter project.
I’ve been struggling with finding a functional and appealing solution to our entry way as well. We don’t have kids, but we need a place to keep shoes and the dog leash/bags so it doesn’t look like a cluttered mess. I love the look of image #1 and #2 above. Also, I saw this on Pinterest this morning and loved it! http://pinterest.com/pin/52495151877904680/
I just spent a whole week making an entryway space in our apartment (door opens straight into the living area). I pinned that first one and basically did bench/space for shoes/key hooks/art (a huge chalkboard). No space for a mirror without seeing yourself walking around the apartment which would totally creep me out every time I forget about the mirror lol! Functional and pretty is the way to go. :)
As you found with your Ikea shoe rack in your last house, they have some great entry way options. And they’re stuff can be personalized in so many ways!
How did I miss that video!!!!! What a riot!
I love benches in front entry ways. I am determined to find something similar and functional for all our SHOES. Holy dina. So frustrating. Why does my family love shoes so much!
The third one is my favorite with the planked wall behind the bench and the photo ledge above that. It just seems to welcoming.
This one is my favorite.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/jenna-amp-jeremys-handmade-row-home-house-tour-187061
I copied it completely, and it is so functional.
I love the first one with the rustic bench. Only wish that suited our house’s style more! But I will say, I just finished a big entry storage project with a built in bench, shoe baskets, hooks, and more and going from no storage to lots of storage is LIFE CHANGING! You will never want just a good-lookin’ entry again when you can do both good lookin’ and functional. We now have places for everything – shoes, coats, and whatever else my kids drag through the front door. Go forth and store your stuff Marcums!
I love that you can have an entry like that! When you walk in our front door, there is a hallway direct in front and our stairs to the left. I haven’t figured it out at all! Off to find some pin-spiration I guess?
Have you looked at Ana White’s shoe console? We built it (modified) it is pretty and functional and HIDES the shoes for our family of five! Ours is closser to the pottery barn inspired one but modifided to fit our space and needs. I Love Love Love it! http://ana-white.com/2011/01/shoe-dresser
My favorite is the third one, but that’s my personal style. For your house, I would go with something more like the second one. No matter what you do, I bet it’ll look great anyway!
Hey, so glad you are able to get settled in the new house. Have you heard of Ana White Furniture Designs? She has lots of ideas for entryways. I like your first idea for the clean and simple but I feel like I would want/need more storage. :)