Update: The Entryway

The quest for making small changes around the house continues. Once you change one thing, you have to change everything. Mostly because I borrow stuff from other rooms and then I need something to fill the empty spaces. Today I focused on the entryway. It definitely needed an update. I have had the same vignette for 4 years! That must be a record for me :)

Here is how the space looked prior to today:

Besides painting, this space has pretty much looked the same for a while. I have changed a few things here and there but on the whole, no changes have been made for 4 years. That is when I put the small desk there and the series of four pictures. I think it has stayed the same for so long because I really liked it. Originally, the walls were red. Then I painted them dark brown/gray. Then I painted them the color they are now. Each time after I painted the stuff on the walls just went right back up where they had been. Here is the desk from another angle:

With the addition of the gallery wall just around the corner, I decided I wanted something different for this space. Just to mix it up a bit. I think I will reuse the frames in the guest bedroom because that is getting a little update as well. So, I dug around until I came up with some stuff to replace the old stuff. Here are some of the things I tried out:

I like to bring together a bunch of different elements until I find just the right combination. Some of the items I tried out aren’t even shown but you get the idea. I also look through my Domino book (you can see it open on the floor) or magazines for inspiration on arrangements as well. Then I get to work. I stole a mirror from the guest bedroom to hang in the space (I actually really wanted a round mirror but sometimes you just gotta work with what you’ve got) and then played around with the different elements to create a new vignette. Here is the finished space:

I have owned this mirror for at least 10 years. My Mom and I found it while antiquing one time and it has stayed with me. And, amazingly, I still like it after all this time!

I took the lamp from the guest room as well as the flowers. I took the post card and the pear cup from my craft room. I especially love the vintage post card. I found it at an antique shop here in Tennessee and it is of Newport, Oregon which is really close to where I am from and I have been there many, many times. It’s kind of fun to have a little piece of my childhood there.

Do you want to know a cool trick that I learned from my sister-in-law? When I hung the mirror I used screw anchors which meant I had to drill a hole into the wall first. Usually this creates a mess but I have a secret trick:

Use a post it note or a piece of paper taped to the wall, folded up to catch the dust. It works brilliantly and I love it. If you use a post it note, make sure it is a really sticky one. One time ours wasn’t and the dirt was too heavy for it and it fell so we made a mess anyway. As you can see from the photo above, I use tape. By the way, I’m pretty proud of this shot. I was standing on a ladder, holding the drill in my right hand and the camera in my left. Since I usually take photos with my right hand, it was quite a challenge. But look, it’s even mostly in focus!

See how it catches the dust? Amazing! Thanks Jodi, for sharing that little trick!

Okay, back to the entryway. I also replaced the deer art which had been up since Christmas with this little beauty I found at Goodwill for a buck a while ago.

It now proudly hangs in the entryway. Here is a shot of the whole space:

What do you think? Good changes? I’m enjoying it. I would really love to switch out the desk sometime but currently I don’t have anything else that is that narrow and it is a small space. I will have to keep my eyes open while thrifting I guess. But that’s part of the fun :)

I hope you all have a super weekend, try to make some small changes to your house to refresh it. I know I will be!