Southend Project - The Entryway

It's our final reveal for the Southend Project. In case you missed the previous posts about this project: click here to see the living room and here to see the dining room. Today, we're wrapping it up with the entryway.

People often underestimate the importance of a home's entryway. It's like the cover of a book, and we all know the kind of judgment we pass on book covers...despite our parents having repeatedly instructed us not to do so. An entryway sets the tone for everything you're about to see. It also welcomes your guests and makes you feel happy to be home again. 

Our client wanted some storage, but that wasn't the priority because there's a huge closet on the opposite wall. Mostly, the space needed to feel welcoming with some basic functional elements: a bench, carpet and mirror. We also wanted to create a comfy feel without abandoning the overall minimalist design.

To handle the function aspect, we went with a hub mirror. It's modern and fun and perfect for that last minute is there anything between my teeth before I enter the outside world check. Its size is also great for bouncing light every which way in this naturally dark space.

We chose a classic, waterfall style bench from West Elm. As the sole piece of furniture in the space it will take the biggest beating, so the largest portion of the budget was earmarked for this beauty. Quick design tip: spend money on the thing you will use the most in the room and/or the thing that will have the greatest visual impact in the room. We're not suggesting to turn down a bargain. Heavens to Betsy no. But, quality is key when it comes to those heavily (ab)used items and, often, quality comes at a price.

We used baskets for a touch of additional storage. Our clients have a young daughter and these durable, floor level baskets are perfect for little hats and gloves. In the alternative, this space could be used for a boot tray or even some seasonal decorations (i.e. lanterns filled with mini pumpkins...because it all comes back to mini pumpkins).

To create a comfy vibe we accessorized with texture and muted colors. The pillows add both color and texture. Double whammy. The rug adds some interest and fun with its modern pattern, but stays relatively mellow thanks to the neutral tones. Patterns also disguise dirt - great for an entryway. 

And, of course, we brought in a big plant. We feel pretty strongly about plants being basically everywhere. Call us plant ladies...because we are. They're good for your mood and great for the air. In fact, NASA recommends that your home have 1 plant per every 100 square feet to keep the air well filtered.

We chose a snake plant because it's low maintenance - just because we're plant ladies, doesn't mean we have green thumbs...or that we expect our clients to have green thumbs. The snake plant will fair well with low light and little attention. When you're plant shopping, make sure to look at the little plastic stakes coming out of the soil in those individual pots. They indicate the amount of water and light a particular plants needs, which will help you find the right plant for the right spot in your house. You can also ask a nursery specialist, which is our go-to move. 

One last mention - the light fixture. It's black and geometric, which plays off the black rimmed hub mirror and the patterned rug and pillow. And, huge bonus, it's designed by one of our DIY/home design blogger favs: Sherry and John Petersik of Young House Love. 

And that's that!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that, at no cost to you, if you click a link and make a purchase we may make a commission. 

Below is a source list for your shopping pleasure and stay tuned next week for the Homestead Project, she's a beaut!!!

Flushmount light fixture - Shades of Light

Rug - Dash & Albert

Mirror - Houzz (get %5 off with our code: 4E318)

Bench - West Elm

Solid blue pillow - Target

Tufted diamond pillow - Target

Baskets - West Elm

Seagrass basket planter - Target (on clearance!!!)

Southend Project - The Dining Room

Today we're revealing more of our Southend Project - the dining room. 

I should first clarify that the Southend dining room is not actually a room. It's more of a space between the kitchen and the living room - we'll call it a dining area. The main living space of this home is as open concept as you can imagine with one big rectangle making up the kitchen, dining area and living room. This was an important consideration in designing the space for two reasons. First, tall dining chairs or an enormous statement chandelier over the dining table would block the awesome sight line between the kitchen and the living room. Second, when a dining room is a dining area within an open concept space, it's also (typically) more casual. 

Our design for the dining area had two main spaces - the table (with chairs and a light fixture) and the fireplace.

Let's talk about the table first. It's a round pedestal table in a muted brown, gray tone. For small dining rooms (or dining areas...ahem), a round or oval table is a great option. It allows for an easier traffic flow than a square or rectangular table. The round shape feels less obtrusive than straight lines and sharp corners. The pedestal bottom (versus four legs) creates the same space-saving, airy feeling.

You may have caught our post from a couple weeks ago about a project that led us on quite the hunt for the perfect dining chair. This was that project and this beauty is the chair we found.

Like the table, it's from Restoration Hardware. It's an all-around winner for the size (we wanted something narrow in order to fit 6), the kid-friendly factor (wipeable/non-stainable), the comfort, the quality and the style. In terms of big picture design, the color contrast between the white chair and the wood table is visually interesting and leans modern. Yet, the chair and table themselves are classic styles. We repeated this mix of classic and modern throughout the entire project to create a comfortable, yet minimalist vibe. 

Another example of this modern/classic mix is the chandelier. It has a somewhat classic shape. If it had a more traditional finish (maybe oil rubbed bronze) and the arms were curved, you could almost picture it over a farmhouse table. But, the sleek, straight arms and polished nickel finish take that classic shape and turn it modern.

For the finishing touches in this space we...wait for it...mixed modern and classic. Like the living room, we added some natural greenery, this time in the form of good, old-fashioned back yard clippings. Never underestimate how good a teeny branch will look in a white vase. We also found some awesome wood accent pieces to contrast the super marble and super modern fireplace.

This post contains affiliate links. This means that, at no cost to you, if you click a link and make a purchase we may make a commission.

Our source list is below. And, we have one more room reveal for this project coming - the entryway. So, stay tuned!

Dining table - Restoration Hardware

Dining chairs - Restoration Hardware

Chandelier - Houzz (if you use our code: 4E318 you get 5% off!)

Mirror - Client owned

White and wood vase (on dining table) - HomeGoods

Large wood and metal vase - Target

White fluted vase - Target

Candlesticks - Anthropolgie 

Getting Cozy for Fall

Fall is here!!! Officially, last Friday marked the first day of fall. Unofficially, fall showed up around the same time. Here in Massachusetts, the nights are suddenly chilly and a cool breeze has begun to knock yellowing leaves from the trees. And, of course, Starbucks began serving pumpkin lattes. Although in Massachusetts we love our Dunkin Donuts...which also began serving pumpkin lattes. It seems that calendars, mother nature and coffee shops are aligned this year.

Beyond leaf raking and latte sipping, we're getting in the fall mood with some home decor. No real shocker there. We have a bit of a formula to share on this front: texture + festivity + nature = celebrating the fall season. Any one of these elements will instantly ready your home for fall.

Texture

The texture element encompasses all things furry, fuzzy, knit and crocheted. All those fabrics and materials that make you want to snuggle up as the weather begins to to chill.

 Chair  / Ottoman / Throw Blanket 

Throw blankets are the epitome of fall. It's not quite sit-around-the-fire-weather, but you definitely want a blanket over your feet while you're watching TV on the couch. Throws are functional and cozy taboot. They're also a quick and inexpensive addition to your home to get in the fall mood.

Pillows and rugs are equally great for the fuzzy texture that makes you want to snuggle in and sip hot apple cider. We're not suggesting you need to run out and buy a brand new, chunky, braided wool, area rug for your bedroom...though they are super textural and cozy. A small, faux sheepskin rug layered over your current rug works just as well (IKEA has one for $14.99). 

Here are a few more fantastic textural finds (say that 3 times fast) to help you cozy up this fall.

Mug sleeve / Pillow / Slippers

Festivity

The festivity element encompasses all the seasonal items that are inherent to this time of year when apple picking, trick or treating, and turkey eating are welcomed traditions.

Pumpkins are as festive as fall gets, hence the prevalence of pumpkin spice overdosing. Keep your lattes to one a day, people! You don't have to go traditional orange to show your fall spirit. We found mini white pumpkins at a local farmstand and piled them into a wire basket. The white is a little untraditional, a little less obvious and really beautiful.

We love the subtle wink to fall these little guys bring. But don't get us wrong, we fully support going whimsical and obvious. Hang a vintage broomstick on your front door. Put a cool, chrome skeleton head on your desk. Fill a wood bowl with shiny red apples for your entryway table. There are plenty of ways to be obvious without crossing the line to hokey. 

Below are some festive finds for your home. We especially love the soy candles - we use them and gift them frequently. Aria Botanicals (who makes them) has a bunch of scents. Macintosh Apple and New England Spiced Apple are spot on for the season.

Pumpkin place card holder / Skull decanter / Apple soy candle

Nature

The nature element is sort of self explanatory. Like all seasons, fall brings noteworthy changes in nature. The goal is to take the most stunning and bring them into your home. Nature makes us more content...it's science...according to a book about Hygge I recently read...

This sweet, simple leaf garland (above) was an awesome pick up from the Target dollar section. Just one strand along a fireplace brings texture and nature. That's some bang for your buck. We also love using clippings from our yard to bring the seasonal outdoors in. And I do mean clippings - a small branch from a bush or tree are free and surprisingly beautiful in a simple vase. 

Fill a basket or metal bin with wood, even if you don't have a fireplace. Put it under your entryway table. Birch logs (like the ones above) are beautiful. Head to your favorite craft store and grab some bunches of dried wheat. You can use them on your mantle, like we did above, or you could (gently) throw them in a vase on a console table. A wreath of leaves in those classic autumn colors is a gorgeous option for your front door, of course, or to hang on top of a mirror inside your house (just consider proportion and don't go too big with the wreath). Use a removable command hook or a thick burlap ribbon for the hanging part. How about a big planter of mums on your front stoop -  classic and beautiful. 

We're all about simple and inexpensive. You don't need to break the bank to get in the spirit. Hence, all the finds below are under $20 (the wreath is on super sale...quick!).

Dried wheat / Acorn garland / Wreath

We hope you're enjoying the cooling weather and found some inspiration here to really get you in the spirit. Happy fall everyone!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that, at no cost to you, if you click a link and make a purchase we may earn a commission.