Monday, January 28, 2013

needing a feeling

To some it's just a foyer.  To me, it is where my beans sit on Christmas morning.  The stairs they will walk down in their fancy wear for a dance.  It's the entrance to our home that greets our loved ones.  I want people to feel comfortable and cozy when they step inside from our cold Chicago winters.

And with that, it needed a feeling.

 The Family Stone

 It's a Wonderful Life


{Arcadian Home}



Via-Pinterest-original source unknown

Wallpaper will be in my future one day! It is so darn lovely but budget + sticky fingers = not yet!


{source}


{Country Living}


{Spinnaker Development}

Our home is not big on square footage or rooms for that matter, so I wanted this area to live as its own room. Couple that with all of our stairs and we have a challenge!  I hope that through my process, anyone living in a corky or challenging space will see that your space is what you make it.  Ya don't need an enormous house to get that feeling!

Here we go...

Our stairs before.  We refinished our stairs by sanding and staining them.



The new banister goes in.

I totally scored and got this flush mount crystal light fixture from Lowe's.  It was only 80 bucks and adds just enough shine for this small space.

Pictures begin to go up.





I have an obsession for art and all things old.  The gallery will continue to change as new paintings are created and cool finds are found.  Some gallery inspiration here

I Still felt like there needed to be more definition and contrast for all of my art and photos.  Our walls go from BM Clay Beige to our old living room color BM Dark Storm Cloud Blue.


Finally...











A little more lived in!




Linking up with these fabulous ladies......


UndertheTableandDreaming

{Primp}











28 comments:

  1. Lived in, and PERFECT!!! Hard wood floors...SIGH! Diggin' the Stormy Blue (as I'm humming the Allman Bros. Stormy Monday) on the walls. BEAUTIFUL! Happy Monday - here's to a wonderful week...Tanya

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  2. Very, very nice! And the new light fixture looks like a beautiful sunburst when lit! I can't wait to tackle my entry stairwall redo...after the bathroom is finished, that is! thanks for sharing! Looks great!

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  3. How fun! A great place for the "beans".


    I envy you the stairs, but then again I don't. We had stairs in our last home, but it was before Pinterest so I didn't have tons of inspiration to make them wonderful. I am glad we don't have stairs so that I don't have to climb up and down stairs anymore.

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    1. Ha! I don't blame you! I'm going up and down all day!!!

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  4. You have done a great job, love the colour on the walls, the floorboards and that gorgeous rug. I wonder if your children will run down a few stairs and jump the rest?! xo

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  5. Wow! That is a serious transformation! I dream of someday having a staircase. And entry. Sigh.

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  6. OMG I didn't even recognize your living room!!! IT IS BEAUTIFUL! You have done amazing work on your home!

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  7. I love the new blue. That is a great color and it is much more personalized. It really does help your art and photos pop. Love it, girly! And where did you find all of those blogs to link up to? I think I'll never be that organized with my blog.

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  8. What an amazing transformation and what a great deal on the light fixture...great job!!

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  9. Nicole, you have achieved both comfortable & cozy, I would love to step inside your foyer - gorgeous!!

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  10. It's beautiful, Nicole! Your hard work and plans have paid off as you have definitely achieved a foyer of beauty, hospitality and comfort for loved ones! Thanks for sharing it at A Humble Creation this week!

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  11. Oh I think you got it! It turned out lovely and inviting. The floors are beautiful and the blue is perfect.
    Nancy

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  12. Looks just stunning, very inviting ... gorgeous shade of blue too.
    x
    Melissah

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  13. Your home is--gorgeous--!!!! I love the way you phrased everything with such sentiment... Now I'm wishing we had stairs and a foyer!

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  14. Wow, what a beautiful home you have, Nicole! I love the Storm Cloud Blue shade that you selected, and your banister is lovely.

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  15. The blue really makes the whole thing come together. I love your wall clock by the way Nicole!

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  16. Oh very pretty I like that blue. My husband is doing the same thing to the stairs going up to the second floor. He's putting the white risers in just now.

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  17. Your entryway and stairway looks beautiful! I LOVE the blue walls.
    Mary Alice

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  18. What an exquisite entrance and what a gorgeous home, I especially love the sneak peek into different rooms. Thank you for sharing your renovation with us. It was a delight to scroll through. Perfect picture on the wall of the young girl with the baby.
    Bella xx

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  19. wow--it looks great! I love the wall color, and the floors, and how you refinished the stairs--nice! Subscribing :)

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  20. Great transformation. Isn't it amazing what a little work will do to make an area look new and fresh again? I have an old house and just replacing all the trim work freshens up each room.
    Cindy

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    1. I couldn't agree more!! I bet the new trim is just lovely!

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  21. Love the shelf with the large pictures! :)

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  22. Wow! That looks amazing. You have a real gift for decor! I love how the deep blue brings out the depth in your wood, rug and art. Great job, Nicole!
    ~Julie

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Your comments brighten my day! Thanks for stopping by!