Lost in Space

By Connie Britell, ASID
Special to the Coastal Point

These spaces without inhabitants are necessary to the design of the house and, as such, are utilitarian, but they also offer a special opportunity to make a personal statement.

The entry hall or foyer not only introduces you, but also welcomes guests into your inner sanctuary. It’s a space both public and private that tells a lot about who you are and what is to come in the rest of the home. Unfortunately, the entryway can often be tiny, disjointed or irregular in shape. Frequently, it has a shortage of walls because it is loaded with an army of doors and doorways, and sadly, what wall space remains is odd-shaped, making it a challenge for placement of furniture and art. All this, when what you really want is a space that is warm and welcoming, an uncluttered area that works, and is great to walk through.

What to do?

The first task, whether your space is tight or spacious, is to determine both what it needs to work and what will make it special. The needs list will most likely include a table on which to toss keys, mail, and whatever is coming or going as you dash around. If space permits, select a table that also provides room to display your favorite collection, or a vase of fresh posies. In addition, attractive storage pieces can keep the area open and uncluttered.

Spread the light around

I love good lighting. It makes all the difference. It is especially key in the design of a foyer because it not only sets the stage but also allows folks to see each other as well as the door. Foyer lighting needs to be versatile and diverse. It should originate from more than one source and be balanced. Beyond the appealing image of the soft and romantic glow of the lamp in the foyer window, is the fact that often this space needs and wants drama and sparkle. Enter: recessed low voltage lighting!

Use very narrow-beamed bulbs and work your magic by highlighting wall art and table accessories or spotlighting the rich colors of an area rug. Determine the furniture and art placement, and then bring the scene to life with light — the exceptional and often overlooked — design element. And, remember dimmers. Another possibility could be a pair of wall sconces flanking a framed mirror which works double duty by providing light and a place to check yourself before leaving.

Traffic

If there’s going to be a lot of traffic in the foyer, take care to position the furniture and other pieces. Measure to be certain they will not block stairways or obstruct the opening and closing of doors. Flooring and floorcovering in high traffic areas needs special consideration, too. Natural hardwood, tile or other stone are durable, easy to clean and make good choices, whether used solo or with a durable area rug. Often a well-anchored Oriental rug proves to be the perfect solution.

Are we having fun yet?

My sister, Mary Jo, a designer, is quick to say that the entryway or foyer is your first and last opportunity to make a personal statement. So, make it sensational with art, and if you have the space, an oversized mirror or even a fireplace.

One of her clients tore down a dining room wall to let a double-sided fireplace open up the foyer and give it a sense of grandeur. Be courageous and try something unusual! Remember, the entry is a springboard to adjoining rooms. My own entryway is a modest 8 x 8 feet, and flows into a long stair hall that leads to the living room. To make it special (and useful) I added shallow bookshelves on both sides of the hallway. The rows of shelving house not only an array of my favorite books, but also family photographs, a collection of Asian roof tiles, antique baskets and other treasures. I especially enjoy the view going up and down the stairway.

Stairway to the stars

Though stairways and hallways don’t require much decorating, they can still make a lasting impression. Try to see these spaces as more than just passageways.

The real estate in the walls of these areas of your home is often undervalued. I say, press it into action! If you are feeling adventurous, paint the walls a bold shade of your favorite color — spicy pumpkin or Old Glory blue. If you are the romantic type, dress the walls with pale hues like delicate apricot or cream to soften the backdrop. If you tend to the traditional, find historical wallpaper in a palette you favor. Then, against any of these backgrounds install a gallery of your art. I like to group a collection of large black and white framed photos (purchased or your own), but any theme-related or unrelated art is fine – as long as you love it. Remember that your home, your nest, and this gallery are personal expression of you.

Do not fall into the temptation of using what I call “leftover” art — stale art that no longer makes your heart sing. We all have had it. Art’s whole purpose is to be beautiful and lift your spirits. Everything else should be pitched or donated.

The right light

Again, remember good lighting. Far too many halls and staircases have hopelessly inadequate lighting. They should be well lit at all times, with light on the floor to show any changes in levels and surfaces and light on the walls to show switches, door handles and now, your wonderful art collection.

Finally, draw the eye up the stair with a beautiful runner. Painted white stair risers often act to brighten and add crispness to the design. If you dare to be a little irreverent about “the Rules,” try something slightly avant-garde. Paint the balustrades (pickets) one of the colors of the stairway runner. For example, I recently installed a narrow-striped runner on a large and open stairway in a home in Indian Beach. Because of the particular architecture of the house, almost every wall is white.

The rug’s colors were three shades of blue on an off-white ground. I approached the client with the notion of stepping back from the traditional for a moment and asked that she consider painting the banisters a rich medium blue pulled from the carpet. I explained that the blue accent would set off nicely against the surrounding white walls and act as a visual anchor for the stairway as a whole.

To her credit, my client gave the idea a little consideration, but ultimately confessed she could not tolerate the concept. This deflated me for the moment (I got over it) and we went about painting the banister the usual white. I can’t help but think, though, that it would have been glorious in that beautiful blue.

Landings, too, are important oases as accent. Whether narrow or more generously apportioned, these little ‘rooms’ can be made inviting and stylish. They are there to be admired — these spaces without inhabitants, where nobody spends more than a minute. So permit yourself a little harmless excess with the addition of a full-length drapery panel, a shade, a special light fixture.

Though these sometimes lost spaces in our homes are a bit more challenging, take heart, as they can be transformed into little jewel boxes that say a lot about you.

My next article will address making the most of your living room. Meanwhile, I invite your e-mail questions or suggestions addressed to DovetailDeziner@aol.com.

Connie Britell, ASID, is owner of Dovetail Interior Architecture and Design with offices in Washington, DC and Ocean View, DE.

She is also co-author of SOS, Sisters On Style, The Professional Organizer For Your Home Designs, available through www.SistersOnStyle.com.