We usually share bits and pieces of our homes here on the blog, but we’re going to try and do more full room home tours as we get rooms “finished up” (are rooms ever finished?) First up for me… My foyer. Now, I should explain that no one ever comes in our front door. It’s kind of sad since the front door is so cute now. (Take a peek at the door here.)
I think you’ve seen this part of the foyer before. Chair. Accent Table. Gallery Wall. Wallpaper.
I love this little vignette. The chair was thrifted, the table is IKEA, the bird is from Michael’s and spray painted yellow, the red frame has the chair material in it, and the lamp’s from Homegoods and is actually broken as of 3pm today. (Ugh) The chair needs a mini black pillow with a & symbol on it… Hopefully coming soon!
Darn that I didn’t dust before taking these pictures. The poor bird is in a sea of dust!
Ready to see my NEW FAVORITE THING??
Introducing….
My Big Foot Rug!
If you follow us on Facebook (which I definitely think you should) you got a little sneak peek of this rug. It’s from Overstock.com and you can see it here. Now, I know the size is a wee bit weird, but honestly the space is weird. Square and Circle rugs are muy muy expensive! (Didn’t know I was bilingual did ya?) I saw this big foot and laughed right out loud. I knew it was meant to be.
Oh, and did you notice… the door is charcoal? The Ombre Door Disaster is fixed. Did you miss that catastrophe? You’ve gotta check it out here.
I need to buy a non-slip pad because it’s sliding all over the place!
Here’s the view from the living room into the foyer
Here’s the opposite view, from the stairs. The Moroccan-ish mirror is from Target.
I’m a dork, and was attempting to do a funny, Miss America wave, but you can’t get the full effect in a picture, so I went to a peace sign, but I’m not that kinda girl, BUT I am the mom of a 7yr old, so I know that Bunny Ears are one of the funniest things to do in a picture, or so Kade insists. Are you laughing yet? See, Bunny Ears… they work like a charm.
One of the cool things in our house is the foyer ceiling and light. It’s a double trey ceiling, which the builder loved, but to us just meant lots of wasted money on molding, although, truth be told, now I do love how it looks. (note to self: replace one bulb)
Now here’s my true motive for showing you the foyer from all angles… I need help. Shocker Right? I want to do something above the door. I see it from the kitchen, I see it every time I go upstairs, I see it all the time. So tell me, what you would do?
Don’t be swayed, but here’s what I’m kind of fixated on. I can’t even explain why, but when I look at the door it’s actually what I always envision.
I’m thinking of using my mini-projector and painting the word HELLO in really large, graphic letters. I have been trying to talk myself out of it, but I think I’m sold. If you have other ideas, please share em!
So that’s my foyer. A tad quirky, really dusty, and 99% finished. Let me know what you think and then help a girl out with your ideas!
I was going to say word all, i.e. vinyl or painted before you mentioned it! go for it, you can always paint it back if you don’t like it 🙂
Not to burst your bubble, but I’m not loving the hello idea, since people will also see this on their way out the door on the occasions that they use it.
How about some cute yellow birds in flight (or roosting in a tree) to match the one on your accent table?
I agree….yellow birds would look awesome.
Thanks for giving me your advice Kristen!
I can’t wait to finally decide and get it finished!!
Thanks for reading!
Monica
Hey Christina!
Thanks for your ideas! I totally get the Goodbye vs hello, my hesitation was that I see it from my kitchen all the time. I want it to be something I like seeing from there. Hmm… so many good ideas from readers!
Thanks so much!
Mon
Hi Monica and Jess! It’s your friend, Bernie, the decorative painter. I’d suggest painting the rest of the foyer a shade or two lighter than the darkest gray in your stencil pattern. Then, in black (maybe a splash of red), paint the silhouettes of your family. You know, like those stickers that you see on the back of minivans? Mom, Dad, 2 kids, 1 dog, etc. Maybe give Mom a red purse and red heels. Projector, trace, paint, done!
And that trey is screaming for something up there!
Hey Bernie!
Thanks for all the ideas!! Man, there were so many awesome ones from readers! I will email you tomorrow with some dates for the birch stencil and I actually think I’m going to keep the table solid. I really want the wall to be the focus. I’m so excited about it!
Talk to you soon!
Monica
You should do a large blown up picture canvas of everyone in the family, with their hands stretched out and focused on, with “goodbye” or “Y’all come back” written on the palms like they’re waving goodbye
How about hello AND goodbye in several languages (but recognizable by most) angled, straight, etc. Maybe 6 or 8 of them?
Melissa,
Thanks for taking the time to give me some ideas. I like the languages idea. Who knows, maybe my kids will be smarter bc of it! lol
Thanks for reading!
Monica
I too was struck with the sense the “good-bye” would make more sense. Or maybe some sort of travellers’ prayer to bless people as they leave.
Thanks for the ideas Sarah!
I can’t believe how many readers had awesome suggestions!
Thanks for reading!
Monica
come again or aloha. ang
Hey Monica, I saw on pinterest where you use lines of acrylic-latex caulk every 6 inches let dry instead of cthe anti slip pad. Love te foyer and the little pops of color!!
Annette,
Thanks so much for the suggestion!! I now have it on my to-do list for tomorrow morning! My huge puppy flies down the stairs and slides it all over the place at least ten times a day.
Thanks for reading and for your help! Have a good weekend!
Mon
Love the foyer; love that your bird is sitting in a pile of dust and that you have a lightbulb out, but that you posted pictures anyway. 🙂 my kinda girl! And I was thinking the same thing before I saw your Hello Idea…you need a BIG word(s) right there!
Hey!
Thanks for your kind words about my dusty house! ha! We’re all about keeping it real, so there you have it! 🙂
I was set on my big words, but now so many people have given me awesome ideas, I have no idea what to do!
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Monica
Too funny – I JUST saw a Pin yesterday with the word HELLO written in yellow above a door. I went back and found it – you can see it on Today’s Creative Blog: http://todayscreativeblog.net/annie-sloan/
sorry, no ideas for you-i have the same problem so i can’t wait to see what everyone says….love your chair and table, i’ve been thinking of a bench for my foyer but maybe i’ll go in this direction instead, also love your pictures going up the stairs, i want to do that too!
I think a picture of everyone in your family…BUT just their bare feet!
I think it should be red and maybe a retro EXIT sign….or even an emergency exit since you hardly use that door. But we’ve also discussed the idea via the garden design of adding a walkway from the street so people do use the front door. It’s kinda bad feng shui when there is no welcome to the front door. But we’ll work on that…Otherwise, I LOVE your style and that foyer. It is near to perfection for me. So cool! ~ Candice Price (garden design 🙂
I would put maybe some kind of inspiring favorite vinyl word art or something.
I’m a Beatles fan so the first thing I thought was a subway art version of “you say GOODBYE and I say HELLO”
Just have to say I love the yellow frame hanging on the wall up your staircase. That pop of color is awesome!!
Thanks Kim! I get a lot of questions about it from people at our house, but I love how it catches my eye.
Thanks for the encouragement and thanks for reading!
Have a great weekend!
Monica
I was totally going to suggest putting a “Hello” sign there, but I also like the suggestion of Exit. I love these wooden signs from Etsy, but you gals are so creative I’m sure you can DIY something
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76818606/xl-hello-wood-sign-made-from-recycled
or this
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60873299/shut-the-front-door-18×22-handmade-wood
So many creative ideas in these comments, I can’t top any of them! I love the shut the front door sign above. That’s kinda perfect:0)
I love your foyer. I like the idea of a word above the door. How about this style? http://blogs.babble.com/family-style/2012/01/10/string-nail-letters-for-the-wall/
Hey Whitney! I loved your suggestion! It’s definitely at the top of my options list!! Even if I don’t do it above the door, I’m determined to find a place for it in my home!! Thanks so much for your input!
Monica
I think HELLO would look AWESOME!!!! Although I do see the point that you would primarily see it when you were leaving, not entering. I still think it would work, though! Or another quirky saying… like YO! Or even MI CASA/SU CASA. Since you’re all bilingual and all. 😉
What a great foyer space Monica and I love the wallpaper – where did you get it?? I think above the front door a metal / iron wall decor piece would look great! It would add just the right amount of interest versus a picture. xo Jenna
Hey Jenna,
I must admit that getting your thumbs up on the space is a huge encouragement. Jess and I aren’t true designers, so it means a lot. THANKS!
I def agree that it needs to be something non-picture related, although suggestion of the pic of the kiddos feet made me chuckle!
Thanks! Talk to you Tuesday!
Monica
Great foyer, I like all of the eclectic elements, especially the wall paper. What about some pallet word art above the door? I made some and it seems like it might be the right scale for that space … and a good reminder of some of your favorite thoughts for your family to see on a regular basis. http://www.thespacebetweenblog.net/2012/01/13/pallet-wood-word-art/
Whatever you decide will be really cool.
Karah
Hey Karah,
First off, I sometimes live vicariously through you. 🙂 The other day I asked my husband if he’d ever want to move to an island and raise my kids there for a while. He looked at me like I was crazy 🙂
Your pallet word art looks awesome! I love it. My husband is a little sick of all my pallet projects, so I think I might have to skip it there, but I’m thinking of doing something on the porch- thanks for the inspiration!!
Have a great weekend!
Monica
I’m always telling my husband everyone keeps paint cans on their kitchen counters!
I love the idea of a word above the door, the suggestion of the Beatles hello/goodbye is cool but I also like the family silhouette idea and the retro EXIT sign.
Marnie,
I’m so glad I’m not the only one with their supplies in the kitchen! 🙂
LOVE the Beatles idea- it’s definitely on my list of options! Too many good ideas are coming through!!
Thanks for reading!
Monica
Your foyer is so cute!! Id say the families bare feet is neat maybe standing in all diff directions. The yellow birds painted on wall or, ……”It was then that I carried you.” Since theres a footprint on rug? So many ideas!
Melanie!
Wow! Great ideas! I never even thought of the bare feet with the rug. Ha! I also love the reference to Footprints in the Sand, Maybe I’ll even make a little printable to hang if I don’t do it above the door.
Thanks so much for your ideas!
Monica
I was going to say the bare feet of your family too! Can’t wait to see what you can come up with!
How about that cute picture of the kid’s sandy feet that you take each year? I was also thinking Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends.
I love your foyer. Two of the projects on my to-do list are to paint the front door black and paint the spindles and base of the staircase white and just the top of the staircase black. Black is so elegant! Also, I DO have a mallet and polyurethane on my kitchen counter. You mean that’s not normal?? 😉 Thanks for sharing. Love your blog? ~Linda
Beautiful foyer!! I love the gallery wall, what a statement! Above the door, why don’t you add a favorite quote or saying?! Something special for you and your family! Wall decals can be beautiful. Uppercase living has some great things, check out their website!
I have a blog too, and love you guys and would love it if you’d visit my blog
glamorousbride.blogspot.com
I love your foyer! I want to tell you that I think it would be funny if the big foot looked like the print of a giant who tried to come in, but couldn’t. So, the rug would have to turn towards the kitchen. And, instead of hello or goodbye how about:
THINK BIG
Cute, huh?
I don’t know if you’ve done anything with it yet, but if it was me I would look for a beautiful stained glass window to hang there (if I had the money to spend on them, they’re expensive!) or I’d buy a frame in an appropriate size and *paint* something stained glass-ish.
If I were you, I’d do what you are fixated on… the “HELLO” but use the circular shape from your cool wallpaper and replicate that as your ‘O’ in the “HELLO”.
Good luck with whatever you choose. I just happened upon your page through Pinterest and am now following you guys. Bucks County, PA? (I’m a Cumberland Co., PA gal). God Bless!