Love the circular table suggestion!

Why not do a circular table, covered with fabric. And, take one of the lamps off, too much for that use of space, or move the table that is in foyer now and put under the boat picture and put one of the lamps on it.

Too funny we all agree! Round table and big floral! LOVE IT!

id go for something grand and overscale in a high floral.I ( If youre going with silk- make sure they are dead ringers: )high, gorgeous dramatic colour choices. I was thinking reflective glass with classic gold legs, but I found this: A large dramatic mirror, or canvas would pop the space ont the flat wall It could use something reflective to make it grand. Heres and idea, not quite as much pop as you would be able to achievebut close.

i agree with the round table and big floral. the lamps are pretty but i dont like seeing wires and the floral is so much more cheerful and welcoming.

The circular table is a great idea. I have a friend with a similar staircase and they also put their holiday tree there each year. It is stunning when you walk in the house!

I also like the round table idea. But if you are looking for something really inexpensive, and working with what you have. Look at an entry on Houzz from KannCept Design. There is a large decorative jar in the crook of the curved stairs. (I'd recommend a large plant.) And a table similar to yours on the opposite wall, topped with a mirror.

Very inexpensive solution is take one lamp away, the two are too much. Spruce up your photo frames and consider a bust. Take a look at this ideabook... https://www.houzz.com/magazine/sculpture-in-the-home-style-or-bust-stsetivw-vs~1742150 Hope that helps Monika. CHarmean Neithart

If you don't want to replace the table I'd say one lamp in the center, a bowl of fresh flowers and the photos in different size but similar frames (i.e all silver) arranged in a pleasing to your eye manner. On the wall to the side of the table and up the stairs do a collection of black and white photos in all different sizes of architectural features in your area....bridges, buildings, park fountains, etc. Or do black and white nature scapes of past vacations blown up and framed in same style frames. If those ideas don't appeal to you head off to Michael's for a look at their large selection of prints at a very affordable price (they will have to be framed) or Home Goods which offers prints already framed and in a vast array of subjects and at a reasonable price. Whatever, you decide (black and whites or colored prints) just fill the walls with art work which you can collect over time. They will warm up the space and add visual interest...and a lot of conversation/comments from your friends. And to the question of art on the stair wall getting knocked down...no, I have never had anyone knock a picture off the wall as they come down the stairs. And the art goes from the ceiling to the floor in a house where children and grandchilden have run up and down with toys, backpacks, school books, skates, hockey sticks...you name it. It hasn't been an issue.

How about a tall round garden stone pedestal with a sculpture on top or a plant? or perhaps a wrought iron plant stand?

How about a plant stand?

Yes round table with floral and add another smaller round tucked under a bit like nested tables.

How about this table? http://www.crateandbarrel.com/furniture/accent-tables/esme-bruno-pedestal-table/s687522 And I love the idea of family photos covering all the walls.

If you don not wish to get a new round table,I would suggest you add two small round ottomans/stools...maybe in burnt orange leather.

You just tried to put a square peg in a round hole with that table. The round wall is the feature. Accentuate it. Two lamps make a straight line between them, ignoring the round wall as well. A round table, one lamp. A large picture may not lay comfortably on the round wall. You may need a few smaller pictures. Use the angle created from the staircase to guide your hanging placement. The story here is to go with the flow of the space, not against it. It may soon become your favorite display space. Oh, and in lieu of the lamp, I see a large, beautiful bouquet of flowers to greet you when you step into this foyer. Have fun with this. You really have a beautiful foyer. Small can feel welcoming and intimate.

Three different suggestions:

(1) I like the round table idea but if you need to use what you have I suggest getting a tall floor lamp that has an arm that would come out over the table. You can place it behind the table in the curve of the wall (kind of angled from one corner.) It does look like you need some light in that space but everything on the table is too small in scale for that area. The floor lamp would bring light and height. (the lamps you have are very pretty so I'm sure you can use them elsewhere in your house.) You could cluster the pics together on one corner to bring more weight to the table. I suggest getting at least one substantially bigger frame to add height to opposite corner of table from where lamp arm would be angled. Use a stack of books to add height as well. It looks like your taste is pretty traditional and nothing fits that style better than a good stack of books! Anker the other side with tall arrangement of flowers as suggested above.

(2) Hang an ornate, beaded (assuming your style is pretty formal judging from pic) sconce centered in the curve of the wall for light. Place a wing back style chair (or any semi-formal style chair) angles to the side and then maybe small accent table with cluster of a few pics at different heights. I think a mirrored accent table would look really good. Entry ways always look best with a mirror in my humble opinion. You can usually find them pretty cheap at Target or Kirklands. It's hard to tell from the pic if a rug would work there but if it would a round rug would work well with this arrangement.

(3) You can always go with a tree planted in an urn or a tall urn (5ft at least) and some tall stems coming out of top.

i threw something together in photoshop... need height with staircase, like idea of chair, something below photo in black to draw eye up and down,

ps.... i think cosborn is right on...

this table is $250 at target...

That Target table is perfect!

I have a similar one... looks more expensive than it is... if you drape a cloth over it no one will see your electrical cords... of course the big orange ball must stay!

Or something like this maybe!I found this photo here in houzz

One more vote for a round table with a flowering plant or a good sized vase with a floral arrangement. There are always lots of round tables listed in the antiques section of craigslist (at least in the city where I live), many quite pretty and for very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, I have no space for one in my house at the moment, and as I'm a bit of a craigslist addict, I'm always clicking on attractive ones and wishing I had room. So if you are on a budget, that is another place to browse.

Round table from Crate and Barrel was also good looking. I like black and you can always put fun textiles on stools under the table.

The opposite wall is also curved. Any ideas for coat hook, purse/backpack storage there?

How big should the round table be? 42" seems too large but what do I know.

Looks like you have space for 24-30". Make a cut out circle from paper and see if you have enough clearance for 30", bigger size is better if it doesn't obstruct traffic lane.

I have a low, glass oval coffee table (the one in the living room) that I'd like to put it here with a large plant on it and put a tufted bench in the living room as the coffee table instead. Do you think that would work?

How low is the oval table?

19"

Hmmm...a bit low. Ideally, you want it more like 30" high. Have you tried it in the space?

I have and agree it looks odd; however, I never trust my own opinion so needed to ask the experts!

I suggest:
1. Move the rectangular table to the flat wall under the picture of the ship.
2. Lose the ball under the table.
3. The lamp can be used elsewhere where they can be spaced further apart. Replace with 1 lamp.
4. Get a curved ottoman like this and place it in the curved nook with a small round table on on side of it. http://www.truevalue.com/mobileProduct/Outdoor-Living-Patio-Furniture/Patio-Furniture-Accessories/Patio-Chairs-Outdoor-Seating/South-Shore-Patio-Collection-Resin-Wicker-Curved-Ottoman/pc/12/c/180/sc/2351/30995.uts

ALTERNATIVE is to just move the table (as above) an place a large tall plant on the floor of the curved nook. The plant must be about 4 to 5 feet high an fill out the cavity of the curve.

Good luck! :)

Hi there,

I thought I would throw my point of view in with the others. I think if you want to work with what you have then you could move the table under the boat picture with one lamp to the left side of the table and then place a low bowl with some interesting shapes in it on the table such as these glass fishing balls in the colors of the shade and a small plant set on a couple of stacked books. The key is to vary the heights of things and the shapes.I would then place a chair such as this one in the curve of the stairwell. I would suggest though that the chair be in a fabric that picks up on a colour you already have in a room that leads off from this area. I could see a soft pale green blue.

The entry way is the first thing your guests see when they enter your home. It sets the tone and welcomes them. Make the entry way interesting, show a bit of your personality here and it will be a great space.

Susan Mills

I would save that oval table for another space Monika, it would be too low. This is the idea I was liking...

Oval or round table is fine. I think you only need one lamp. If you get a smaller table, like 24" in diameter you can place a chair as Susan has just suggested, which is a nice idea.

Take everything off the table. Replace with a large vase and tall branches and set the vase slightly to the left of center. Place one interesting accessory to the right of the vase. Take away the piece of art and replace it with something with color in a floating frame and on a smaller scale. Also hang it lower on the wall. Less is more.

Hey Monika, How old is your son? I know he has special needs. Do you have to worry about "tippy" things on a table? I know when my kids were little, I would use different kinds of accessories so they couldn't pull anything down on themselves.

two boys - 5 and 2 1/2. The 5-year-old has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, is partially blind and is non-verbal (he has had half his brain removed to stop seizures) and one of the things he does like to do is flip picture frames down or throw things that look like balls. I can't really keep anything breakable within reach, but he's getting better at understanding what he shouldn't touch etc. I really need the foyer to be welcoming but also be a drop-off spot for stuff. When I come in the door with him, I have to carry in his special car seat, his stuff, my purse, etc. all while holding his hand to make sure he makes it over the threshold. I was actually thinking of putting that black table along the opposite wall (also round) with a basket underneath it as a drop-off spot. I wish you could all just come over and tell me what to put where! The goofy roundness of the foyer is what's throwing me off. If it was square then I could have a table for keys, etc.

Oh my you do have your hands full! I think the glass balls would be a bad idea in your home! By all means make your entry area work for you. How bout a mirror to check yourself as you head out the door, makes me think of the time I had 3 boys under 5 and I was rushing around the grocery store with one in arms and the others by my side when the oldest noticed I had not just one black and one blue shoe on but they had different heel heights! If I had a mirror near the door I could maybe have seen that before hitting the stores. Anyway, I can relate to those days but didn't have nearly the the concerns you have. I think a wood table with places to store items such as keys and small items you can grab to entertain the kids in the car along with a chair to sit and catch your breath both on the way out and in would be a good idea. By all means style comes after function in this case.

Best wishes to you. You have my admiration, I know you have lots to deal with, so just the fact that you keep your entry so neat and clean is huge!

Susan

ok, that changes things. Let's figure out what looks good, but also functions for your daily living. I use the 90/10 rule..which is what's going on 90% of the time in a space. Let's fix the room to meet that 90%. So no tippy things for awhile. I still think that space would work with a round table. Now for the straight walls, what about a narrow bench so you can sit down and take off shoes/put on shoes. You can keep some baskets under the bench for miscellaneous things.Would it help you to have some good looking hooks, so you can hang coats and bags? You can make pretty on the other wall with art, but if this is where you come in all the time with two small children, let's just make your life easier and put everything where you need it.

The only straight wall in the room is the one underneath the boat drawing. Very small. The "drop off point" wall is another round wall (not pictured). What the heck do you do with a round wall? Can you put a straight table along it? Should I hang hooks for back packs, coats, purses?

If you could post a picture of the other round wall, that would be helpful. Yes, hang hooks. When I see the picture, I can tell you what to do below. A round or oval ottoman can serve as a bench against the round wall.

It's official: I've gone mad. Here are some pics I took while the whole family sleeps....

Monika, how about a curved bench with upholstered cushion that could also be storage. here is a rough idea, but you could have baskets inside or make them drawers instead to hold seasonal items. I think this picture can be improved upon.

Or another idea I had was that you could have custom ottomans made that form the curve but be pieces, One of the things my siblings and I loved as kids was playing with forms, we made them into trains, planes, homes etc. If the ottomans were fully upholstered forms that made the shape of the curve the kids could take them apart and play with them. I think three would do it. Now without talking to you and asking you a dozen questions first, this is just an idea thrown out there.


Susan

I think I'd like something a bit more formal, but I like the idea. Would I need to have a furniture-maker do this or could an upholsterer handle it?

Yes of course more formal, that was the best picture I could find to show you. A good upholsterer could do this and suggest easy care fabrics as well. Todays perennial fabrics are a good choice as they are beautiful and tough.

http://perennialsfabrics.com/index.php

Susan

Yes, Monika this is a good idea. You have to have it made, I know some guys in town that can help you with this. So, round table by stairs, rounded bench with hooks by door, and art on small straight wall. There's your recipe,,,now just need ingredients.

Charmean, please send me their names!

Send me your email...I'll reply in the morning. cninteriors@yahoo.com
Going to sleep now...you should do the same. We have spaces to decorate in the morning :)

instead of open shelves below the seat, it would tidy up the look of clutter as you enter, if you slide in some hemp baskets to pull out, for storage items that collect around an entrance.. like gloves., or in my house- skateboard spare wheels..you can go more formal in the fabric.