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Foyer Design: Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out

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In this post: By utilizing creative foyer design, we were able to expand our tiny entryway without building out and completely transformed the entrance to our home.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

One of the biggest challenges in renovating our house was how to make the front entry welcoming. The original entry was a tiny space that then opened directly into the living room where the staircase to the second floor was located. You can see the old space below, which was so small, it was impossible to stand in it and get an accurate picture.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

We decided to open up the space by knocking down the small walls that connected it to the living room, tearing out the miniscule closet in the entry, and adding walls to separate the new expanded entry from the now reduced, but still large enough, living room.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

We also added a much larger closet to the new entry and used marble tile to separate the space from the adjacent room.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

There was now room in the new space for functional furniture including this antique bench.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

We added egg and dart molding to offer some character and a gilded mirror for both function and delight.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

One of my favorite details is the closet hardware added to the new double doors.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

A painted white chest lends a space to store hats and gloves and is flanked by Rachel Ashwell’s Darcy chairs.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

For lighting I found an antique lantern and had it rewired for functionality.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

Needlepoint rug and pillows pretty up the room, helping to make it welcoming.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

The bureau vignette includes an Italian pottery urn from a recent trip and mercury glass candlestick holders.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

I lined the stairway with some of my old life drawings, one of the few places in our home where I’ve displayed my artwork.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

From the new entry one can glimpse the living room and through the mirror one can get a peek into the den. The final touch was a brand new banister, stained to match the new doors.

Foyer Design | Expanding an Entryway Without Building Out - designthusiasm.com

Foyer Design Source List – Click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. (This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)

  • French chairs
  • Painted white chest
  • Gilded mirror
  • Cherub statue
  • Mercury glass candlesticks
  • Italian vase
  • Lantern light fixture
  • Aubusson pillow

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like these renovations:

Master Closet Makeover | Closet to Butler’s Pantry | Dramatic Kitchen Renovation

Closet Organization          Dramatic Kitchen Renovation without Removing Cabinets | Designthusiasm.com

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39 Comments Filed Under: Evergreen Decor, Homestyle   Tagged With: foyer design

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Comments

  1. Jenna says

    Monday, August 18, 2014 at 8:54 am

    Little changes make a big difference! I love the light chest now and the light floors with the dark wood accents~ your gallery wall takes me back to art school days~you have made the sketches elegant in this framed grouping~very inviting now!

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Monday, August 18, 2014 at 9:03 am

      Yep, art school days indeed! I actually didn’t even bother framing the originals. In fact my intent was to print them on fine art paper, but I did the layout with xeroxes and wound up just using them… lol!

      Reply
  2. Renovating Rebecca says

    Monday, August 18, 2014 at 10:35 am

    Looks so beautiful! I love the mirror!

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Monday, August 18, 2014 at 11:09 am

      Thank you Rebecca! Yeah, I’m definitely a mirror girl… 😉

      Reply
  3. Alycia Nichols says

    Monday, August 18, 2014 at 10:42 am

    Wow. Just…wow!!! Double wow, in fact! What a huge difference! Not only enlarging the space, but lightening it up the way you did. It’s gorgeous! The furnishings and accessories are gorgeous! My cousin lives in a home with a tiny vestibule-like space like you had. I wonder if she’s ever considered getting rid of that in favor of opening it up? I’m going to send her a link to this post so that she can see the major difference it makes.

    The new banister looks terrific, and I love the stairs with those carpet rods!!! So elegant! I’ve been rallying for the same here. I just think it looks so cool with some of the stairs’ wood exposed.

    SO in love with the door hardware and that bureau with the pretty chairs flanking it!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Monday, August 18, 2014 at 11:14 am

      Thanks Alycia! I actually remember seeing someone post last week about a tiny vestibule, which is what reminded me to do this post. Was that you? Did you post somewhere about that? I actually have some older “before” pics from when we first moved in, which are really shocking, but didn’t have time to scan, but they do show the layout better. I highly recommend this type of change for your cousin, though. If she has the space in the adjoining room, it is so worth it. Our theory was, we weren’t using the part of the room by the staircase anyway. Thanks for the enthusiastic compliments!!

      Reply
  4. Michele says

    Monday, August 18, 2014 at 11:56 am

    OH. My. GOSH!

    WOW wow wow wow wow. This is an amazing transformation, holy moly I absolutely adore it.

    WELL DONE, ma’am!!

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Monday, August 18, 2014 at 4:48 pm

      I LOVE your enthusiastic comment, Michele!! Thank you so much… 🙂

      Reply
  5. Michele says

    Monday, August 18, 2014 at 11:57 am

    PS

    Your artwork is incredible, too – you have subtly highlighted it perfectly.

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Monday, August 18, 2014 at 4:48 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  6. Jazmine says

    Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 9:47 am

    I love the antique bench and the painted chest. I love vintage and antique things, they’re so gorgeous. I think putting them all together is what make each piece stand out. I love it.

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 10:12 am

      Thanks Jazmine!! And thanks for visiting… 🙂

      Reply
  7. Jennifer says

    Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    Looks fabulous! I’m wondering what the to in our hallway and that marble is beautiful. Thanks for sharing – Jennifer

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 11:36 pm

      Thanks! Yes, I think some things make a really impactful difference and marble is one of them… 🙂

      Reply
  8. Julie says

    Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 10:23 pm

    This is just so gorgeous and elegant. And that lantern…oh my goodness! Your art is beautiful!

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 10:46 pm

      Thank you so much Julie!! Thank you for the G+ share as well… 🙂

      Reply
  9. Christine says

    Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 9:11 am

    Oh wow, not that inspires me! I have been trying to talk the hubster into taking out the wall in ours…Seeing yours tells me I was right. It would look even bigger and brighter.

    Beautiful entry!

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 10:14 am

      Thanks! Yes, this is one of the best things we did, especially since we were pulling from a room that is rarely used… 🙂

      Reply
  10. Sinea Pies says

    Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 7:54 pm

    Lory, this is just beautiful. My grandmother had chairs with the roses similar to what is pictured in this post. She loved that look! Newest fan/follower here.
    Sinea from Ducks ‘n a Row

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 9:13 pm

      Thanks so much, Sinea! Very much appreciated… 🙂 I actually have chairs in the living room that were my grandmothers. You’ll see those in a post soon.

      Reply
  11. Jen says

    Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 1:24 am

    It is gorgeous! Knocking down those walls made a huge difference. I love everything you have done!

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 1:57 am

      Thanks so much Jen!!

      Reply
  12. Karen @ From the Garden Table says

    Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 9:51 am

    What an amazing job you have done! Beautiful!

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 1:32 pm

      Thank you Karen! And thanks for stopping by… 🙂

      Reply
  13. Bernadette C @Aimless Moments says

    Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 11:27 am

    I love that little white chest. I can’t wait till we move and I can redo things (again!) 🙂 It came out great and the colors and accessories go well together.

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      Thanks Bernadette! Yes, I sometimes think of moving just to have an opportunity to re-do things… 🙂 (But then I’d miss the things I already re-did!)

      Reply
  14. Melissa Smith says

    Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 9:28 pm

    It looks amazing! & I love your decor, mostly your artwork hanging.

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 11:44 pm

      Thanks Melissa!!

      Reply
  15. Stacey says

    Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    So beautifully elegant! All of your choices come together perfectly.

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 10:19 pm

      Thank you so much Stacey!

      Reply
  16. [email protected] of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says

    Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 7:51 am

    What a beautiful entry to greet your guests! I’m sure it’s an accurate preview of all the loveliness to come. XO

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 11:02 am

      Thanks so much Christy! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  17. Suzan says

    Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 8:17 pm

    What a brilliant idea – and I’m in love with how you decorated it – the mirror – the dresser -and that chandelier – GORGEOUS !!!
    xoxo

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 12:02 am

      Thank you Suzan! I feel so much better when people come to my door now… 🙂

      Reply
  18. Vanessa says

    Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 9:18 pm

    What a gorgeous entry!! Actually your entire home looks absolutely beautiful and I’m so pleased to see someone else with yellow walls. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm.com says

      Friday, August 29, 2014 at 10:23 am

      Thank you so much Vanessa!! Yes, I love the sunny feeling of a soft yellow… 🙂 Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  19. Marilyn Kelley says

    Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at 8:07 am

    What a beautiful entry, Lory. That flooring is just gorgeous. My living room runs the entire width of my house, with the front door smack in the middle. Would love to have a separate entry.

    Reply
    • Lory at Designthusiasm says

      Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at 11:12 am

      Thank you, Marilyn! Yes, having the tiny entry really drove me crazy. In your space, do you have your room divided on either side of the door, like with separate conversation areas? If so and the space is large enough, you may be able to decorate it so that it feels like an entry foyer.

      Reply
  20. Jana says

    Monday, July 15, 2019 at 5:40 am

    We were out of town all last week, so I didn’t get to visit many of you, but I had a great time going thru the links picking features this week. Amazing what lies behind those little thumbnail photos that are posted! Here are just a few of the wonderful links from you all last week, that are full of vintage Fall and Halloween inspiration.

    Reply

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