Front Entry Makeover

It feels a little like this post has been written multiple times. Like I have been working on this space basically since we moved into our house 3 years ago. And that's because I have! For some reason, we just have not been able to get it "right" here, but it's finally done and I am SO happy! I won't be changing anything about this front entry makeover because it's finally the most perfect version and works for our family!Let's see where we first started, shall we?This is a very early version of the entryway. I love(d) that dresser, but the drawers were so sticky and we never opened them. At this point, we had just painted the door pink (it used to be yellow) and it felt like a huge improvement, but the door was SO OLD and sticky, plus the sidelite got broken somehow during renos.A lot of things were wort of "wrong" with this space: 

• we had nowhere to hang jackets
• there was no proper rug or mat
• I hated the lighting
• the door - have I mentioned that?
• white walls and two 3-year old boys are not a great mix

So we tried to fix it up like this (which is when I shared how I made that storage unit with shelves):This was fine for a little while, but it didn't check all of the boxes...

• we had nowhere to hang jackets - this hall tree was ok, but we didn't have hooks the kids could reach
• there was no proper rug or mat - problem solved! This beauty from Casa Alma is waterproof and looks like tile inlay in the front entryway
• I hated the lighting
• the door - have I mentioned that?
• white walls and two 3-year old boys are not a great mix

So 3 more things needed to change. We started with the paint, and I chose to do some colour blocking here and in the hallway. I used Farrow & Ball Ammonite in Estate Emulsion, which is a chalky matte finish, then the bottom part in Purbeck Stone in the Modern Emulsion finish, which has a 7% sheen level, making it a little more durable.Then we changed THE most important thing: the front door. I even wrote a post with my best tips for choosing a front door, because this process taught us a lot! This door has changed everything. It actually functions properly, gives us privacy, lets light in, but not the draft that was previously blowing into the house! With this, we upgraded our door handle and lock. The Schlage Custom Century Front Entry Handle and Eller Lever with Kinsler Trim in matte black is just perfection, and we paired it with our new BFF: the Schlage Encode™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt with Century Trim, which we can just use a handy dandy app with to lock or unlock our door, create temporary codes for people (like a babysitter), and we were able to customize it with the knobs that match all of our interior knobs as well by using the Bowery Knob. Next up: lights!We replaced the somewhat boring fixtures we had for something a little more exciting and contemporary. Sazerac Stitches came to the rescue! The Zodiac-1 Flushmount (which can also be used as a sconce, btw) really makes a huge difference on the ceiling! Looking down the hallway to see this beauty is just such a pleasure! Then there's the Livaudais Sconce, which brightens up the space and is just so dang pretty I want to look at it all day long!Accessorizing this space was super important. We were very thoughtful with the types of hooks we used because they have to be able to hold heavy winter jackets, and these Rekindle hooks were just perfect! We used the Woody Hook with the Leather Loop to create the perfect combo - the loop is great for hanging scarves!We also added a bench for seating and plopped some baskets under it to store our shoes. We have a basket for mine, my husband's and one for the kids, plus one for accessories like hats and mittens. The bench, baskets, mirror, pillow and planter are all from Style in Form, care of Casa Alma - can you tell I have a thing for Casa Alma?This space functions completely differently for us now, and having a full-length mirror, storage for shoes and accessories, a spot for the kids to hang their backpacks and coats, and a mat I can wipe, sweep or vacuum? Yes, please!I think that's it - I've shown all the details of the new entry, and we've had it like this now since August (it's October as I write this), so we've had time to live with things this way and we're loving it!If you have questions about anything, feel free to leave a comment and ask away!