Foyer Decor

[crabcake]

I want to dress up my foyer a bit ... right now, it's just plain taupe walls, white crown moulding, and the oak hardwood floors. I want to repaint and put some artwork up, but not sure what kind. Anyone have suggestions/ideas or pictures of pretty foyers they want to share? The attached pictures reflect my current foyer.

Think color ... I want something kind of bold (like a nice, brick red or a deep, dark blue) ...

 

[Chasey_Lane]

I want to dress up my foyer a bit ... right now, it's just plain taupe walls, white crown moulding, and the oak hardwood floors. I want to repaint and put some artwork up, but not sure what kind. Anyone have suggestions/ideas or pictures of pretty foyers they want to share? The attached pictures reflect my current foyer.

Think color ... I want something kind of bold (like a nice, brick red or a deep, dark blue) ...

What amount of lighting does the foyer get? If it is minimal, darker colors will only make it darker. Are you trying to make it match/blend with any other portion of the house?

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Here's some wall art from Pottery Barn: http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/acc/accdec/accdecart/index.cfm?cm_type=lnav. Also, Target is having a sale on one of their lines - Bazaar something I believe. Anyhow, they have some really cool wall art that you could check out. Don't forget Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, etc. for cool items, too!

 

[vraiblonde]

Since it's a narrow foyer, I'd skip the pictures on the walls (not optimum viewing distance), paint it that brick red you mentioned, and put a big potted fern in the corner by that window.

 

[vraiblonde]

Nevermind - now I see that that's a doorway, not a window.

 

[mAlice]

I've looked at it a couple of times and can't imagine putting anything in that space that's not attached to the wall or ceiling.

That said, I'd go with a rich color that compliments rooms that it flows into and hang some kind of art on the walls.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

I completely agree about the walls... It already seems crowded and would seem moreso with anything hanging on the walls. I love the brick red paint idea. How about hanging plants in places to add color and break up the view? I vote for really nice looking fake plants so you don't have to worry about watering and leaves on the floor.

I wonder if the hallway picture just makes the hallway look small. It definitely looks narrow and if so, hanging something on the wall wouldn't seem right.

 

[Nickel]

If it were my hallway/foyer, I'd hang a pretty, simple chandelier, paint the walls and leave it at that.

 

[crabcake]

There is a good bit of natural, filtered light in there ... how you see it lit in the pics is a combination of natural light and the flash. I was eyeballing a gray color as well that could easily transition into my kitchen and go nicely with the appliances, cabinets, and granite. I'd rather warm it up with some wall art and hall way rugs. I like the ones I have now (not in the pictures) ... they're middle eastern Bahkteiri rugs and have a good bit of color in them. Also, the floors being red oak lend a lot of warmth to the areas as well.

 

[vraiblonde]

If it were my hallway/foyer, I'd hang a pretty, simple chandelier, paint the walls and leave it at that.

This gets my vote.

 

[crabcake]

This gets my vote.

Aside from the chandelier, that's pretty much what I'm looking to do ... paint it. It's color that I'm not good with.

One vision I have is to rip off the carpet, stain the stairs black (lets the wood grain show through but looks pretty cool), make the risers white, and go with the gray color for the walls. It'd seem somewhat cool, but again, the oak floors and bannisters would warm counter-act, I think.

 

[Nickel]

Aside from the chandelier, that's pretty much what I'm looking to do ... paint it. It's color that I'm not good with.

One vision I have is to rip off the carpet, stain the stairs black (lets the wood grain show through but looks pretty cool), make the risers white, and go with the gray color for the walls. It'd seem somewhat cool, but again, the oak floors and bannisters would warm counter-act, I think.

What are the colors of the adjoining rooms? For good flow, it would be best to stay in the same tone or color palette.

 

[crabcake]

While this isn't my kitchen, it's pretty close in terms of colors (white cabinets, darker counters, dark appliances, etc.), and I like the more modern look of the gray walls with everything. That's about the gray I'm talking for the hallway/foyer as well.

 

[vraiblonde]

Aside from the chandelier

Maybe not a full-blown chandelier, but an interesting light fixture. Even a small ceiling fan, if there's room.

One vision I have is to rip off the carpet, stain the stairs black (lets the wood grain show through but looks pretty cool), make the risers white, and go with the gray color for the walls. It'd seem somewhat cool, but again, the oak floors and bannisters would warm counter-act, I think

If you go black for the stairs, I'd go with red or blue for the walls to add some color. I think gray would make it look too prison-like and wouldn't look right with the hardwood floors.

What's the rest of the house look like?

 

[crabcake]

What are the colors of the adjoining rooms? For good flow, it would be best to stay in the same tone or color palette.

The one adjoinging room would be the kitchen (attached) The other room would be the office (which is open to the dining room, but you can't see the DR from the foyer).

 

[Sharon]

If it were my hallway/foyer, I'd hang a pretty, simple chandelier, paint the walls and leave it at that.

But, I'd put a mural on the plain wall and paint the door side.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

While this isn't my kitchen, it's pretty close in terms of colors (white cabinets, darker counters, dark appliances, etc.), and I like the more modern look of the gray walls with everything. That's about the gray I'm talking for the hallway/foyer as well.

Ooooh, I like that!

 

[Chasey_Lane]

The one adjoinging room would be the kitchen (attached) The other room would be the office (which is open to the dining room, but you can't see the DR from the foyer).

Very interesting counter tops. Corian/Zodiaq?

 

[crabcake]

What's the rest of the house look like?

Well, we redid the family room a while back ...
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/bchbns48/new.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/bchbns48/new3.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/bchbns48/new3.gif
The formal living room is now an office for me & DQ (but this doesn't show that) ... to the right and far corner are the french doors from the foyer ...
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/bchbns48/FormalLR.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

The dining room (needs improvement) ... will probably go with an above/below color scheme with the chair rail ...
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/bchbns48/FormalDR.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

And the kitchen (pre-granite counters) ... through that glass door is the dining room ...
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/bchbns48/kitchen2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/bchbns48/kitchen2.jpg
There's also a guest bedroom off the hallway downstairs, but I keep that door shut so it's not really visible unless I open the door.

 

[crabcake]

Oh yea, that ugly brass chandelier in the dining room is gonna go!

I'm not sure if I should sell it on Craigslist (it is solid brass), or just donate it to Habitat for Humanity's re-use center and get a kick-ass deduction next year with the other stuff I plan to take there.