I think it looks perfect and I like that when you are looking at the front view you still have some space between it and the pretty door panel.

Tuesday

It doesn't look strange but I'm wondering about the clearance when you walk in. Does it feel crowded etc.

Looks like a perfect fit. Is there an outlet behind it for a small lamp?

hmm...I'll have to walk in and out the door and see how it feels.

No, there's not an outlet, but I could still put a lamp there for decoration.

Laurie

I think an open-work iron table with a solid top would work better there than the solid wood table.

It looks awkward to me. It hides the sidelight, is too low, and would be hard to put anything of visual impact above it because of the light switch & thermostat.

If you're wanting some oomph there, how about: a dressier treatment for the sidelight (play up that architectural detail!); Perhaps a small oriental type rug; Splurge on a dressy foyer light; Some art/decorative plates on the wall. Finally, look at the thread about black interior doors. I was pleasantly surprise how beautiful & sophisticated they can look.

Ooops, sorry msrose, forgot the link to the black interior door thread for you:

Here is a link that might be useful: here it is!

I agree with your son. :)

It's actually taller than it looks in the picture (36"). I think my super tall door is making it look short. I've already been eyeing the black doors :)

Laurie

I like how it looks, but agree that it might be too crowded when you are greeting or saying goodbye to guests. My front door has no space for me to step aside to allow guests to come through the door, so I have to back up to get out of the way after opening the door. Hard to describe, but it's awkward. Visually, it looks okay because I have an open stairway in the entryway, but the bottom landing comes almost to the doorway. I can't go ahead of my guests to open the door as they leave, again because there is no place to step aside.

I like the chest, and it gives you some storage, but only you can tell about the space/clearance issue.

I agree with the suggestion of an open table - something narrow and "leggy". I would see how that might look.

tina

I have an even smaller table next to our back door. We come in through that door and I desperately needed a place for keys and mail.

I found a pretty basket to use on top of my table and it seems to work fine. I still feel like I'm going to bash into it every time I walk by it ...

Your son probably isn't used to seeing it there. I agree with everyone else that a lamp or something (naturally I thought of a basket too but that's what I'm used to seeing.)

It looks very crowded to me. That table is so close to the door and so small you couldn't really put anything in it or on it, anyway. Putting a "fake" lamp that cannot be plugged in and used is not good design, imo,

Agree with above poster who suggested lovely area rug and art on the walls to make the space seem more welcoming. Your door and sidelight combination is very nice already.

Laurie:
Have you seen the small entry on Pure Style blog? She took a completely nondescript area and made it gorgeous for a little money. I think she bought a book of Da Vinci prints and tore their edges, pasted them onto uncut matting, and used gold frames she purchased online and put together herself. You could find a great calendar or book of french country feeling prints, and create a great space to introduce guests to your home.

Thanks for the inspiration, Dee. I was trying to figure out how I could put pictures on the wall with the light switch and alarm right in the middle, but I can see how they wouldn't be as obvious if I had a wall full of pictures like that.

Laurie

Hi Laurie,

Sweet table! I can see wanting something at the front door to place keys etc. It fits nicely on the wall, but not sure either if it might be too tight and it does block some of the sidelight.

I always love to how builders always place the switches in the middle of walls (drives me crazy in my house:))
I guess makes sense for easier access, but harder to decorate around.

What about doing something on the wall behind the door as it's a blank canvas...
This isn't the best picture to explain, but a nice decorative mirror (I do like round mirrors on this size of wall) with a shelf underneath? You could have a little bowl for keys etc on it and it doesn't take up much space. (Similiar shelves are available at Pottery Barn...)

It looks OK. The reason it looks weird to me is that there is absolutely nothing in that picture...other than that table very close to the door. Perhaps it would look more at home, and less awkward, if there were some pictures/paintings and other little decorations.

I do think it is a beautiful piece and when I first glanced I thought it looked just fine there. Then reading the comments, I am less sure.
Reading the last ocmment, though above from krycek1984, I think I would have to agree. I think it would look a lot better if there were things on the wall in that area.

msrose, would you consider moving the light switches and alarm? My guess is that they could easily be moved toward one end or the other. The worse that can happen is that you'll need to have a junction and cover plate where the switches are, but likely not. You'll likely have enough wire to move them left or right, higher or lower depending on how the wires are fed. Additionally, you may be able to have an outlet tapped from the switch and then have a working lamp. I've had to do this in a couple of houses, and it was not as expensive as I feared. Add a mirror & your lamp, and it will be wonderful!

Thanks, everyone. I am starting to wonder about it feeling crowded now. I got it from Home Goods which isn't very close, so I wouldn't be able to return it until next weekend. That gives me this next week to think about it.

abundantblessings - I didn't know I could move them, but I may check into that. I would sure like to be able to put a picture in the center of that wall.

Laurie

I think the piece is charming, but I think it would make it very crowded for people going in and out.

I thing a ledge shelf would work there, but nothing more. I think a collection of things on the wall would be a better idea, and I would include some of the open shadowbox shelves, one of which I would hang around the switches and what I assume is the alarm, not a thermostat, to make them kind of disappear. A couple of other shadow boxes could hold a small dish for keys, perhaps a pretty plant, etc.. A mirror in the mix would be a real asset, too.

I like it...and don't think it looks crowded at all.

If it seems too croweded, what about one of those ladder type bookcases that lean against the wall--they are usually fairly narrow.

I was trying to figure out if there was something I could put around the switch. I even thought of a picture frame. I've seen where they put those on the wall without a picture. I didn't know if that would bring more attention to it or not. Are you talking about the same thing with the shadowbow, a deep fram with nothing in it? I never come in this door, so I don't really need a place to set my keys. Anything here is strictly for decoration.

Laurie

Yes, Laurie, the switch can be moved easily and a plug can be tapped from the existing lines, but I'd have the monitoring company move the alarm. If that's too much trouble, perhaps a hinged mirror/cabinet with the back opened to accommodate the switch & alarm could be placed over them. You may be able to find one that would work or a handy person could make one for you.

This is kind of hard to see, but it looks like they've built a simple wood frame on the wall and painted it to match, then they attached a painting (or it could be a mirror) to that frame so it stands out from the wall when closed. You could do this as a part of an art grouping, or simply make it large enough to accommodate one piece the scale you want. It doesn't look like your alarm is too thick, but this probably would work best with a grouping of different depths of frames. If you use the light switches frequently, it might be a pain, but if only once or twice a day, it would be worth it to me to flip open the picture just for the payoff of hiding those items.

Here is a link that might be useful: Behind the painting

I wouldn't do anything to try to disguise your alarm and light switch. The alarm is there for emergencies as well as to protect the house when you are gone. If you were trying to exit by this door and sound the alarm, would you want to have to stop and open a door to do so? Or would you want a visitor or babysitter or child to have to fumble with a swinging painting in order to turn off or on an alarm or light?

Just because you don't use that door regularly is no reason to cripple its function. Fire codes mandate a certain number of doors per square feet of dwelling for good reason. And, altough I would certainly move the switch and alarm on their present wall if they were in the way, I would not move them to the wall behind the door as they would be as inaccessible there as from behind a painting. Safety should never take a backseat to decor, imo.

Maybe something like this one from Pottery Barn website?

I do think that the cabinet may make the entrance feel a bit crowded .... although it is a very nice piece! :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Pottery Barn -- wall display

Didn't think of accessing alarm for any reason other than setting it when leaving, or entering. Live in alarm free house and friend circle, so don't know the ins and outs of using one. Good points, though, for those who do.

teacats - I love the Pottery Barn wall display. There's been alot of discussion on here about displays like that and I'm still trying to figure out why I love one that I see and not another. I keep hearing there needs to be a common element like the same color frame or mat, but when I look at that picture, I don't see the common element yet it's gorgeous. I really want to try something like that if I ever figure out the secret to doing it right.

Laurie

I think it makes your entryway look too crowded. Plus what some others have said: it blocks your sidelight, and that looks odd.

Another thing: everything there, with the exception of the door hardware, consists of squares and rectangles, and the table merely adds to the sense of (to me at least) too much boxiness and angular geometry. Can you find a demilune table or something with curves, like, say, an umbrella stand?

And/or, what about a large framed piece on the opposite wall? It would visually balance the sidelight, and IMO the angled sight line from sidelight to art would make the entryway look larger. Plus perhaps a colorful area rug to finish everything off.

I think it looks too cutsie/bedroom-y for your foyer.

It just doesn't look like there's room for it there, plus to admit your guests comfortably. I would prefer a mirror, perhaps a small shelf below it on the wall above where you now have the table. In the corner, how about a large vase with some tall plant display?

Did you look at the foyers thread in our Gallery? LOADS of interesting ideas there. Here's a link for you:

Here is a link that might be useful: Foyer and Hallway Eye Candy!

MsRose, I think I'd put the cute chest on the other wall something like this. Not the best virtual since I'm watching an NCIS marathon I recorded last year so paying more attention to that than the virtual, but I think you can get the idea.

i agree, too crowded with the chest.

another option might be some of those display boxes, if you need a place for keys, etc...or just a cute key/mail holder hanging on wall. a nice umbrella stand, like in justgotabme's picture is perfect. (too much with the chest tho)

justgotabme - I did wonder about putting the table there, but I was worried about the door bumping into it. I'll have to try it and see. You did something I didn't think about. I pictured a rug running the other way in front of the door, similar to the size of a welcome mat on the outside. I like how the bigger rug looks.

Laurie

Since it is such a small space, I am a fan of the ledge. It can be mounted just under the switch, to help disguise it bit and so it doesn't appear to be floating.You could use two small ledges instead of one large one hanging in an overlapped fashion.Hang a few pictures gallery style and I think it will create a welcoming space without looking too crowded or forced.

Don't know what the rooms are on either side of the foyer but what about putting it on either one of those walls right up to the corner? That way people have clearence to get in and out of the door and then the table is right there to the right or left of them. Also that way when walking towards the door you get to see the front of it rather than the side of it.

I always figure it doesn't hurt to try something. I'd even try having family members come in and out of the door with the chest where it is to see how it works. It may not be as bad as some think. Photos can distort the space. Only you can tell if it will work for you. You did mention you rarely use the door.
Maybe just moving the chest to the left away from the door and add something like an umbrella stand by the side lite for balance and see if that helps. If you like the chest and don't want to drive to return it then try that baby in every possible position until you are sure it won't work. Good luck!

I was going to suggest a ledge. Or a narrow floating shelf...