Let's talk about the entry

I've been thinking a lot about our entryway.

When you walk into our house, it's damn impressive.  The first time people walk in, most of them say "Wow."

The front door is thick and heavy oak.  The foyer has an arch in it that opens up to the whole house.  There are two small windows to the right, at about 5' off the floor.  Below that we've got a sofa table with a single drawer.

On the left is an oak framed mirror with a hook on either side.  There are two Asian looking sconces on the left wall above the mirror.

Unfortunately the table isn't enough to hold all the crap we discard when we come in the door.  The hooks hold our coats, but they bulge out and look messy.  We put rugs down but the animals skid around on them so invariably they're a crumpled mess.  I never look in the mirror.  And they say women look in the mirror more than men.  I actually looked at it the other day to see what things looked like in there, and whether it needed to be cleaned.

I'm too embarrassed to post a photo of the whole area as it is now.  There's about two feet of stuff piled up on the table with all the hats mittens gloves scarves etc etc.

The door opens on the left side, facing the mirror and coats.

The ceiling is beautiful paneled wood.

So here's my idea:

On the right wall, a tall cabinet with sliding panels with 4 hooks for coats above and cubbies for boots below.
The key is the sliding panels.  They can be slid closed so we don't have to show off our mess to people.  I picture the panels being some kind of wicker or leather.  I'd like it to be a darker wood for the old world/medieval look.  Brett could put his hats on top since no one will be able to see up there but him and guys who won't judge.

Next to that I'd put a similar medium cabinet, with sliding panels like the tall one.  The windows are about 4.5 ft from the floor.  Building the cabinet a little lower would let more light in, so I'm thinking it should be only 48" tall.

Beyond that, we could have a narrow bench about 17" or 18" tall, wide enough that two people can sit there at a time and take off shoes.  The bench would either have a hinged top to put stuff into, or have open cubbies beneath.  I like the idea of a dark red leather seat and nailhead trim.  Or we could put an actual chair there, but that would only seat one.  We'll probably have a chair there anyway regardless of the long term plan. 

On the left wall I'd like to remove the mirror and hooks.  Maybe those can go into the downstairs bathroom.

Below that I'd like about 4' of a narrow cabinet with sliding panels like on the bookshelves.  Inside would be cubbies for hats, scarves, mittens, and shoes on the bottom.  I also like the idea of a little forward retaining wall to keep things in the cubbies, but allowing you to still see what's in there.  On top it would be relatively clear.  Maybe a seasonal thingy.  And a bowl for mine and B's sunglasses and keys.  Hanging above that I would like to put a GIANT mirror so it would reflect the view out the windows on the opposite wall.  I also think I'd look in a mirror if it weren't 1 foot square.

All of this would probably have to be hand built.  But it's all mostly square and fairly simple.  I would like to use reclaimed wood to keep with the older look of medieval or old world.  Instead of wicker I could use leather affixed with nailhead trim.

The left wall is 1'6" in from the doorway, and 7' long to the stairs.  So that piece would be about:
Height: 48"
Width: 72-84"
Depth: 16-18"

The right wall is a couple feet longer and angled out.  It's 1'2" from the doorway.

Tall cabinet:
Height: 84"
Width: 24"
Depth: 12"

Medium cabinet under window:
Height: 48" (4 ft)
Width: 36-48" (the window is 3ft, the space is at least 4)
Depth: 12"

That's narrow.  But it would still be so useful.

Living room

The living room is elevated by about 3 feet and open to the rest of the house.  It is long and rectangular, about 220 sq.ft.  The north wall is brick with two huge windows and 3 wall sconces with two light bulbs each.  Right now Brett's messy desk is blocking one window.  Between the windows is a big old black particle board entertainment center with a broken door and games, game systems, and DVD's spilling out of it at all times.  The 55 gallon aquarium is on top of it.  moving to the right, in the corner is a 30 gallon aquarium on a small cherry wood table.  To the right of that is the banister that overlooks the dining room.  Then the stairs leading down toward the kitchen/dining room.  The south wall is a half wall just short of 4 feet tall with an oak cap piece.  There is a ratty pink lazyboy covered in cat fur.  Then a rickety magazine rack end table with a lamp attached.  To the right of that is the most uncomfortable and ugly couch ever.  Orange velour.  Then to the right of that is my desk, which is relatively compact, but very messy.  Then I have a pile of papers and slides that need to go back to Thom's.  Then there's an oak file cabinet that fits under a desk that's in the basement.  after that is curved stairs that lead to the entry.  Then there's a door that leads to a little porch above the garage.  Then the big wood stove.  Then a little window, and the corner that takes us back to the beginning.

When people walk into my house, the first thing they see is the arch.  If they look to the left they see the wood stove and Brett's desk in front of the window.  Then they see down the hall into the kitchen.  Everyone comments that the house looks like a castle.  I want to keep it that way, but also have a contemporary feel and efficient use of space.  

Here I will post living room photos from before we moved in (If I can find any).

And here are some things I'm considering to improve matters...  Photos are stuff I've found on CL and haven't bought yet.  Starting from the northwest corner of the room...

• Need to find a new place for our computers.  They collect junk.  One could go in the kitchen and one in the laundry room.  Or BOTH could go in the laundry room.  
• Build a better aquarium stand to hold the 75 gallon and a new flat screen TV - build in storage for the games and/or movies if possible.  Reclaimed wood with big details would be best.
• Move 30 gallon aquarium into another room.  Laundry room?
• Get huge round swivel chair, big enough for two, to put by the banister overlooking the dining room.  There's one at Spencer's but it's around $400.  It's really perfect though.  It can swivel to talk to people in any room.  And it's low and off to the corner enough that it wouldn't obstruct much of a view.
• Put Iron lamp against low south wall, overlooking big brown recliner I loved at Mor (around $500)
• Put ornate end table to the right of that

Nesting

We bought our house because we love the shell and the land its on.  I've been troubled with the inside since we moved in.  We don't have anywhere for our stuff, and the space we do have is inefficiently used.

I'm creating this blog to chronicle the upcoming transformation.  I want to organize my thoughts and have somewhere to save the things I like and ask people with a greater sense of style what they think.