Entryways –
tiny as they may be in most cases,
they are often overlooked & relegated as the space to toss your shoes & mails in.
Well, Small or big, an entryway is not a place for mismatched socks & disheveled shoes & jackets.
With just a little bit of vision they could be so much more!
It is a great way to whet the appetite for anyone walking in for the first time. It should leave your guest wanting to see the rest of your home unfold.
And for those living in the house, it probably is the first thing that you see when you enter your home & the last thing before you exit.
Functionality matters more here. A place to have items like keys, umbrellas, jackets, bags etc handy as you are walking out & to toss them back in when you enter is very important to keep the rest of your home neat & tidy.
Fun fact – having your reusable grocery bags or water bottles right by the door increases your chance of actually remembering to carry them with you when you step out. Sustainability beings at home!
The show stopper here is the wall mirror (of course!). A mirror is a very important element to have in an entryway. It gives an instant warmth making small entryways look big & welcoming. I have used that mirror as the anchor here & built a gallery wall around it. Depending on your daily needs, you might want to add other utilitarian items. For me, it is a basket for umbrellas which will be used in winter for scarves & gloves & a tray or basket for the keys. I have a coat closet that I use for shoes, coats & bags just off of the entryway, so there is no need for that right in the entryway for me. Also, as this space opens into the living area, I try to keep this space simple.
In my new set up, I wanted to keep it minimal. I moved things around & brought the jharokha mirror from sunroom to here, the plant table also has a new home now! The umbrella basket stays & added in the white woven basket for scarves as we are heading into fall. The tabletop has a pair of carved wooded Yalis. Yalis are mythological creatures found in South Indian temples and are often portrayed as part lion, part elephant, part horse and with some bird like features. They are believed to protect and guard the temples and I felt they were perfect for the entryway.
To break up the all brown look, I added the smaller blue jharokha frame and a small blue tray. A couple of plants and some interesting elements like the terracotta horse & elephant sculptures to complete the space.
The space felt incomplete and way too traditional at that point. I brought in the big green modern vase and added a bunch of magnolia leaves for some drama! Loving the juxtaposition of the traditional & modern elements here!
If you have noticed the mirror isn’t centered on the wall. Symmetry is overrated. I have placed the mirror off center as I wanted to see the reflection of the wall tapestry in the mirror. Even otherwise, non-symmetrical placement creates a subtle playfulness and also creates space to accommodate big floral/foliage arrangements.
The only new addition to the space is the Otomi table runner from Hidalgo, Mexico that I am using as a wall tapestry. Otomi embroidery created by Otomi people is filled with designs & symbols based on native flora & fauna and even primitive cave drawings found in the Hidalgo region of Mexico. The size is just tailor made for this space!
