ENTRY DESIGN PROCESS

Defining the Space

Explore what your entry way is to you. We would define it as:.

  • A place to enter your home (unless you have a mudroom/side entry/garage) or most often guests. It is the first impression of your home, it sets the tone of the rest of the home. Shows who you are.

  • A place of transition from 1st to second

  • A room that requires an abundance of transitional/temporary storage : mail, coats, shoes, keys, laundry going bak upstairs.

KNOW YOUR REQUIREMENTS

We have created this list of questions that we ask that you answer and study the answers.

  • A place to enter your home (unless you have a mudroom/side entry/garage) or most often guests. It is the first impression of your home, it sets the tone of the rest of the home. Shows who you are.

  • A place of transition from 1st to second

  • A room that requires an abundance of temporary storage : mail, coats, shoes, keys, laundry going bak upstairs.

  • Is this your main access point to your home?

  • Do you have guests often? If so, kids? Dinner parties etc?

  • How do you want people to feel when they enter your home? Be specific. No answer is wrong, study this and be true to this.

  • Storage needs in this space:

    • Family Coats (seasonal or all)

    • Guests Coats

    • Shoes

    • Winter Boots

    • Umbrellas

    • Mail

    • Keys

    • Purses

    • Household items (broom, vacuum etc)

  • Where do the items go that need to go upstairs? (clean laundry, suitcases, items going back to bedrooms)

  • Where do you want items that are going out of the house? (gifts, packages, out going mail, returns, backpacks, lunches)

  • What type of Wall Decor fo you want displayed

    • Family Photos

    • Paintings

    • Mirrors

    • Photography

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  • Decided on your main Design Concept, set your Vibe

  • Selected your main materials

  • Know your budget based on your research and bids you have received.

  • Project scope & Timeline

  • Team has been hired

  • Decide on Layout

  • Select all Hard Materials (flooring, tile)

  • Millwork and Built Ins ( Paneling, bookcases, cabinetry)

  • Lighting Plan & Fixtures Selection

  • Paint & Wallpaper

  • Furniture Selections

  • Rug Selections

  • Window Treatments

  • Wall Decor (Art & Mirrors)

  • Accessories & Accents

ORDERING

  • Order Furniture, Rugs and Fabrics. See our Guides. Advice on blue taping out a space

  • Order Window treatments (when window casings are done)

  • Order Art and Accessories

TIP

  • (You need to consider where the TV is mounted, does the wall have enough blocking to support the weight. Does the TV have built in speaker or will it require speakers, are they in the ceiling or will they be mounted to the wall or on bookcases. All these details matter. Also the relationship of the TV height and a fireplace mantle matter. The more information you have and can consider in advance, the better off you are.)—move this somewhere else. Where does something like this go?

  • Builtins- Often we ask that the millworker draw out in pencil on the plaster the paneling or built ins. This way you can see how it interacts with an other elements on the wall like lighting, windows, doorways, light switches, outlets etc.

  • Floor plans- Blue tape the floor plan on the floor including:

    • Any Cabinets or built-ins

    • Area Rugs

    • Furniture

    • floor vents

  • Really study the space now that you have it all played out. Make sure nothing is interfering with each other. Here are some issues that you can run into: (EXPAND ON THIS AND MOVE INTO A NEW SECTION)

    • mounted on bookcases that could hit each other

    • Window Treatment hardware not having enough wall space to have hardware mounted into each other

    • Cabinet against the wall would block a air return

    • Foot of a console would sit on a air vent

    • relationship of the area rug legs and the furniture over it

    • light fixture being hit by a door when a cabinet is opeing

    • a bathroom vanity door or drawer not being able to open because it will hit a toilet or bathtub

    • Area rug covering a floor vent

    • bookcase door not being able to open because it will hit furniture

    • French doors not being able to open because a sofa is up against it.

    • Chandelier could hang too low and block the view of the TV

    • The legs of a dining table not allowing for chairs to tuck under the table.

  • Think through how the items will be drought into the space. For example, If you are brining in a large sofa upstairs, is it easier to bring in the items up the stairs before the railings and chandeliers are in? Is there anything that needs to get into the space before the doors and door casings are installed?