Hi Everyone!
One of my favorite features of our new home is the teensy weensy entry alcove. Our last house didn’t have a foyer or transition space between outside and in, and it always bothered me that the front door opened immediately into our living space. It’s actually pretty typical for bungalows and cottages to have that same scenario, so though it may be very small, I’m thrilled we even have a dedicated entry area.
The tiny space consists of a small window and a coat closet. Since there’s no room for furniture I’m primarily focused on the aesthetics of the space, not so much the function. I think this area is perfect for a really bold wallpaper, stencil, or other wall treatment. I’ve been doing some shopping around and holy moly wallpaper is expensive! Hopefully I can come up with something that’ll be high impact without breaking the bank. Any ideas?
Happy weekend loves! Until next time…
Xo-Shavonda
*All images via Shavonda Gardner
Katja | Shift Ctrl Art says
Oh I LOVE that entry way too. That arch is amazing and something really bold on the walls sounds like such a fab idea. I love it!!
Julie at Being Home says
Love this area and the arch. Not sure if that is a coat closet (by the front door), but have you thought about making a mini mudroom bench inside. I have seen some amazing and beautiful transformations with coat closets. I also have seen the inside of the archway painted a different color than the wall. It can add a subtle or dramatic (depending on paint color) transition from one room to the next.
Welcome to WP! 🙂
shavonda says
Hi Julie! Thank you so much. Im actually really really enjoying WP. Its taking come getting used to though:) Yes it is a coat closet. Ive seen some AWESOME coat closets turned mud rooms. I think its a great idea actually. I just worry about how small and cramped of an area this little nook is. I think it may encourage people to stop and linger for a bit in the tight space. I do LOVE the thought of the area inside the archway being painted a shade lighter or darker than the wall color. It could give it a bit of its own identity without being too overpowering. Thank you so much for your input sweets:)
Katrina says
I think a bold option is best for your – maybe a stencil that mimics a wallpaper you adore?
shavonda says
Im thinking we will likely go with the stencil option. There are so many great stencil designs out there. Narrowing one down wont be easy:)
Claudia says
Hi:
Okay my own 2 cents, I would just leave it with a light colored paint to allow it to appear larger than it is, or go with a stencil that allowed the background color to remain light. In my old house I had a tiny bathroom and I did the wall white with silver Asian symbols by stencil.
I love the little window, it brings in so much light and how lucky to have a coat closet.
Love reading your updates.
shavonda says
Hi Caludia! I think that’s a wonderful idea! Keeping the wall color light and doing the stencil in a richer tone sounds like the way to go if we decide on the stencil route. Its is such a small area and I do want it to give the illusion of having more space than we actually have. Ive also seen little alcoves painted in inky blues and black that looked great, too. There are so many ways to go with this for sure:)
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says
Ooooh, I’d love to see a bold wallpaper! What about doing a Sharpie wall a la Vintage Revivals? That’s a cheap alternative and can be painted over if you get sick of it or want to change things up!
shavonda says
This is very very true my friend, I didn’t think of that:)
Brandi says
You have the perfect little spot to do something out of the ordinary! I remember seeing fabric and liquid starch used as a less expensive wallpaper treatment.
shavonda says
Hmmm fabric and liquid starch, huh? That sounds really interesting. I’m going to have to look into that. I wonder what its like to remove it if you change your mind down the line? Thanks so much for sharing that Brandi:)
cassie says
i haven’t gotten your blog at all since the change to wp and just noticed! i thought you just had been too busy to blog. i love this little nook- i vote funky wallpaper maybe black and white with a bright yellow door!
shavonda says
I saw a picture of a little entry nook with a graphic black and white print and I loved it. Its definitely on my radar:)
The Vintique Object says
Shavonda, apparently I’ve been missing your feeds. I had no idea you had put this many posts up! Things are looking amazing in your kitchen (yay butcher block — fingers crossed you find a remnant!) , and I absolutely love the wall color in your living room. Agree that the entry would be amazing with wall paper or stencil. It’s such a small space, maybe a stencil would work out. I guess you’d have to suss out the small bits of wall around the doorways when choosing a pattern, though.
shavonda says
Hi love! Yes, Im so sorry about that:( When I transferred my blog over from blogger to wordpress it affected my google reader and bloglovin subscriptions. Im hoping I can get my bloglovin subscribers to transfer over in a few days, but all the Google reader folks will have to subscribe again. Its really inconvenient, but hopefully people wont mind.
Anyway, yes Im leaning toward the stencil route at the moment just because its super easy to change out if the mood strikes, plus its much more cost effective, BUT there’s something to be said about a really great wallpaper. The wall color is Sophisticated Teal by Behr.