A foyer, vestibule or entryway can make a home or break it. In Washington, where traditional houses often have entries that feel cramped, even claustrophobic, the consensus of experts tipped more toward the latter.
Fortunately, a number of fixes can lighten up that space, making a foyer feel stylish, welcoming and functional.
Having visitors greeted by a heavy stairwell right inside a doorway is a problem, designers and architects said, but there may be an easy solution.
| Resources: |
| » archaeon.com |
| » kramerarchitects.com |
| » michaelcallison.com |
| » decorbydenise.com |
| » margaretcarterinteriors.com |
"Nine times out of 10, a stair with painted risers and natural wood treads looks better than one that's all wood," said Michael Callison, a Washington architect and furniture designer.
To go all out, replace the old staircase with a floating one that really opens the room.
Architect Bob Wilkoff of Archaeon Architects in Cabin John substituted a floating-style staircase during a recent Bethesda remodel, designing a three-story open stairwell to replace the original heavy staircase and wall.
"When you walked in the door, you could see up to the second floor, down to the basement and straight back was the family room and a wall of glass," Wilkoff said. "The vista drew you straight into the house."
Because a foyer has fewer elements to work with, said Sarah Willis, design associate at Vienna-based Decor by Denise, this is a homeowner's chance to go bold.
"You don't have window treatments or places where you can add a lot of decorations, so you can put a really bold graphic wallpaper up or paint a really rich color," Willis said.
She suggested using complementary art in both the foyer and the living areas to connect the jazzy entryway and the more neutral spaces in the rest of the home.
Make a foyer distinctive by using unconventional flooring. Wood is commonplace, so try stone and liven the space up with a bright rug, Callison said.
Foyers need to be practical, too, as they often are where boots are removed, coats are hung, purses are slung, keys are tossed and mail is sorted. It may seem counterintuitive, but what is less important, according to Mark Kramer of Kramer Architects in Bethesda, is a coat closet.
"Get the closets out of the foyer and leave that space open," he advised. "People would rather have a built-in bench and little cubbies than a coat closet. I want a sense of 'I can put some things away,' but I don't want to be walking into a wall."
Tuck the coat closet away elsewhere in the house and allow a small bench to act as a welcome rest spot.
"I had a client who had three boys, and they'd walk in and take off their shoes and there was a shoe pile there," said Margaret Carter of Margaret Carter Interiors. A simple upholstered bench with a removable lid can hide the clutter while still being attractive.
