The Newly Painted Foyer

I want to feel welcomed into a home the minute I step into it.

My Pittsburgh home had the most amazing foyer. It was huge! Terrazzo marble tile floors, a pretty crystal light fixture, and blue and cream striped wallpaper. I loved it! Something about that entry was just, in a word, gracious.

Our new home had an entry that just felt darkish and brownish and not so gracious.

I like stripes, but circus stripes? Not a fan.

So, continuing with our cooling color palette, I chose the same color that we had used in the lower portion of the office library room. Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige.

A little bit lighter, a little bit brighter. It feels airy and spacious now, where it once felt closed in.

I'm finally starting to hang artwork and decor on the walls. It takes me a while to decide if I like something in a particular spot.

I thought this painting worked well here, as it leads out to the garage. Our coat closet is on the right. Would you believe that we looked at quite a few houses in the Chicago suburbs that had no coat closet? Hell-o! Chicago! As in c-c-c-cold winters! Where do you put your coats, of which I have many? Coat closet was a must have on our wish list.

We still have to carry the paint color up the staircase and to the upstairs hallway. When we do, we also plan on painting the risers and spindles of the staircase a creamy white. I think this will help to brighten the front entry immensely.

This color palette is pushing me out of my comfort zone. In the past, I have always chosen colors that lean to the warm side with just a hint of yellow. And I still love those colors, to be completely honest. But this house has so many yellow tinted wood tones that I just felt the cooling colors will help balance that out. I keep telling myself that I'm choosing the colors that the house needs.

Just last night, my husband asked me "Are you sure you don't want to paint all the wood trim white?"

Am I sure? Of course I'm not sure! But at this stage, I am keeping it because it seems like so much work to paint it. Painted white trim is the trend right now, but in a few years it could swing back to wood stain again on a designer's whim. I think the wood trim matches the tones in our furniture, and the longer I live with it, the more it grows on me.

Soon, we will have our windows replaced and then we can proceed to painting the kitchen. I think when that gets painted (SW Lemongrass, on left in photo above), it will make a big difference in making the lower level color scheme feel completely cohesive.

One room at a time. That's been our plan all along for the Fixer Upper house. We've been here for two months now, and I think we're making some real progress in a short amount of time.