Finishing Entry

11 years ago

I need to finish my entry hall. I have so many ideas, I can't seem to make any decisions so hoping you guys can help me. The console and rug are new and will stay.

First, I want to add crown molding. My living room has a fairly large crown (maybe 8") with dental molding. I'm thinking I would try to do something similar. My husband likes the idea of adding picture frame wainscoting, but I'm thinking we shouldn't. Also, I'm wondering if I should leave the arches alone or trim them. I'm leaning toward leaving them alone. I'm wondering if trimming them would be too much for the small space. WDYT? If I trim the arches, I have to move the switches because they would be in the way of the trim.

I want to change the lighting. There are two fixtures, one in front entry and one in hall. I bought a light for the front area at least a year and half ago, but haven't put it up. It's the bronze carriage house light, left in picture. It would be mounted without a chain. I have a much larger version in the stairwell that will stay. I'm wondering if I should buy a second small one and use the same fixture in both places or maybe put the carriage house one in the hall and something like the right one in the front area. Or put the carriage house one in the front and find something else for the hall?

I'm all over the place on the walls. Right now they are Manchester Tan and I've always thought they needed to be a color with a little more depth. The adjacent living room is Gray Mirage and the Dining Room is Bella Blue, both at bottom of picture. I'm thinking about wallpaper, but not quite sure. I like a lot of the damask patterns, maybe in beige, gold, or even blue? Or I could just paint. Monroe Bisque or Powell Buff would be safe, but maybe boring? Or, I like the darker colors like storm cloud gray, desert twilight, or sparrow. Are those too dark? There's very little natural light in the hall. It's pretty dark, but I like those colors.

Of course I also need something above and on the console and a stair runner but I'll worry about that later.

Opinions?

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Comments (6)

palimpsest
11 years ago
Before you consider adding trim there are some things you need to consider, in addition to moving light switches, which isn't always as easy as it sounds, just because it's only a couple inches.

1) If you add crown moulding, do you have good areas to start and stop that make sense? How and where will you terminate it where the ceiling line stops next to the stairs? How will you terminate it where the ceiling stops above the archway at the bottom of the stairs?

2) If you trim out the archways, you will need to remove the baseboard around and on the jamb of the archways and treat it the same way that the square cased opening are detailed, for consistency.

3) If you trim out the archways, you will need to find flexible trim that matches or coordinates well with the casings around the square openings or you will have to find someone to make trim that follows the segmented arches, and not all drywall segmented arches in modern builds are really symmetrical.

All of the things I mentioned can be done, but they should be thought out ahead of time, and it's really not a small project.
ohgoodness
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks pal, this is the kind of stuff I need help thinking through. I've thought about #2, but not #3. Seems overly complicated. One of the reasons I'm against the wainscoting is because then I think I have to trim the arches. I think the arch between the front entry and the hall would look funny without trim if both sides had the wainscoting. Now I'm thinking I should leave well enough alone with the arches.

I was thinking I could terminate the crown like in this picture that I found on Houzz. Is that a good idea? Should I even add crown here? I want it to make sense and enhance the entry. I don't want to do something that is way out of place. Also, I do really love this wallpaper, but not sure I would if it didn't have the wainscoting which is why I'm questioning the wallpaper idea too.

Circles over here...

This post was edited by kew2006 on Mon, Jan 26, 15 at 17:27
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ohgoodness
Original Author
11 years ago
Trying pic again...

Here is a link that might be useful: Houzz Link
dollymibella
11 years ago
Whatever you do leave the arches!
emmarene9
11 years ago
I would remove the larger fixture in the stairwell and put it in you entrance. Move the smaller one to the hall. Get another in small size for stairwell.

I love wallpaper so I encourage you to get some.
ohgoodness
Original Author
11 years ago
My ceilings are 8' and my husband is 6'4" so I can't go to the large size which is 18" tall in the entry or hall. The stairwell is open to the second floor ceiling so the tall fixture works there with a chain. The small fixture is 12" tall. I can use the same fixture in both places or buy something different for either spot. Thoughts?