Embracing the entry
I’m really supposed to be focusing on a living room makeover, but I got distracted this weekend by “the room” in our house that get just as much use: our entryway. And when I say entryway, I mean our side entryway. While we do have a formal front door, I am pretty sure only one person has come in that way. Ever.
Because the side door is the way in and is also the home to our laundry area, I’ve been trying to make this space function as a formal entry, a mudroom and a laundry room. And while spending a few years trying to get my husband to put his jacket and shoes in the closet was fun, I’ve decided to embrace the entryway for what it is…a place to hang little snowsuits and monster hats.
(My sister made that hat for our little monster. It’s very fitting.)
It’s taken me a while to get to this point and I’ve often blogged about ideas that I had for the space (like shoe storage, which I mentioned last year). But a little inspiration from my entryway board on Pinterest was enough to finally get me moving.
The corner pictured above was formerly the home of a black table where I regularly set up seasonal decor. I photographed that space two weeks ago (while the table was featuring some nondescript, in-between-seasons garb) and for about a dozen other posts:
But the table never had a functional purpose, so it went to a new location and I installed some built in coat hooks in its place.
And some on the other side of the room, too. Right now those hooks are sporting my work tote and The Daycare Bag.
It was a pretty inexpensive project. I had the 1×4 primed boards on hand already, as well as the paint. I just picked up the decorative end pieces (so that I didn’t have to worry about straight cuts!) and the coat hooks. I have to admit, this project started bringing me flashbacks of my hallway faux-paneling last year, but was much easier in the end.
First I applied the end pieces with Liquid Nails, and then cut the boards to fit in between, nailing them to the studs as I went.
To make the nail holes invisible, I sunk them with a nail set tool and then used wood filler. I also hid my bad cuts with a bit of paintable caulking. It all dried quickly and, after a little sanding, I was painting in no time. Although clearly it got dark in the hours between…
In the morning I added the coat hooks and we were in business!
As if that wasn’t productive enough, I also found time to swing by TJ Maxx for a new rug and Goodwill for a whole slew of frames that are destined for a gallery wall above the coat hooks. At least I have something to keep me busy for the rest of the winter….you know, other than a living room makeover!
Stay tuned for more to come.
Did you have your power tools running this weekend? And is your entry way formal or have you embraced the look of everyday coats, scarves and hats?
Love those end caps! What a neat trick that looks good, too! We live in three-story, so our main level is the entryway. The tricky bit is that when you open the door, the stairs are right in front of your face. The hall to the garage is next to the stairs, and that’s where I have coat hooks set up. Generally our coats go upstairs in the small coat closet and the entryway hooks are for guests.
You might consider adding a row of hooks at kid-level. I hung some metal Command hooks in our kitchen at kid-height, and my boy loves to get his coat from it’s special place. It’s a good way to train him to hang it up – unlike his daddy, whose coat always ends up on the newel post!
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Erin Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Thanks, Laura! I thought about a lower row of hooks for Ike, but decided to wait until he is more ready for it. I’ll have to come up with something soon enough, though!
xo,
- e
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Wow, it looks great. It must be so nice to have a landing spot when you come home. Congrats on a great project!
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Erin Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Thanks, Toni! It does feel good to come home to an organized entryway!
xo,
- e
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Great solution. I broke out the power tools to put some shelves above the changing table and a “planter” high above the crib to keep all Ellie’s misc stuffed toys. We were in desperate need of some storage. Have some shorter shelves I still need to put up by the window, so the room looks like a disaster. Can’t work when she’s awake…can’t work when she’s napping in there. Guess I’m waiting until next weekend to have another person around.
I put up a gallery wall up our stairs before Christmas. And, they are still filled with Christmas pics (everything else is down). I can’t decide what I want to put in them yet, so I guess Christmas will stick around a bit longer.
Just posted Baby in a Bar – We were THOSE people.
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Erin Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Yeah, nursery projects are hard to get done once the baby is born!
xo,
- e
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a) You said Liquid Nails and studs. You are my hero. b) That hat is awesome. c) GALLERY WALL! Let’s do it!
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Erin Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:02 pm
Ha! I try to use the words Liquid Nails once a year. What can I say. The gallery wall is coming; I promise!
xo,
- e
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Love how it functions, yet looks nice!
xo,
A
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Erin Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Thanks so much, Angela!
xo,
- e
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This is a great solution! The table looked nice, but function is way more important. Plus, it’s one less area to dust
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Erin Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Yes, form over function is oh so important these days!
xo,
- e
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I love the way you organize the house. Since I’ve started following your blog, my view about house chores has changed, in fact, I enjoy much more the time I spend at home. I take more seriously some irritating problems at home and try to fix them. Thank you very much.
Also, It seems you are subscribed to Pinterest. It seems an interesting site, right? Can you please send an invitation for me as well? I’d like to get inspired more and more!
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Erin Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Aw! Thanks, Sahar! That comment made my day. A Pinterest invite is coming your way!
xo,
- e
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Wow – love it! I’ve added your pinterest board to the ones I follow, cause I’m in need of entryway makeover ideas! I bet I could do something similar to add coat hooks to our entry also, right now it is definitely a bit of a mess with coats overtaking the closet and I’m forever picking them up off the floor…
katy
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Erin Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Thanks, Katy! We’re only into day one of the work week using it, but it is already working!
xo,
- e
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Looks great, Erin! I like the use of the end caps – dresses it up just the right amount! Nice touch!
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Erin Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Thanks, B! I try to channel you in every home improvement that I do!
xo,
- e
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Looks good! I just added a hook rack inside of our itty bitty entry way closet so we have extra hanging space. It has been great. Can’t wait to see the gallery wall when it is finished
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Erin Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Thanks, Jenny! I am super nervous about the gallery wall!
xo,
- e
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Yay for little projects that give a big impact! Good stuff.
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