Hello 22bancroft,

Lets see what I can come up with to help you. Would you like me to create a space plan design for you? If so I would need some basic dimensions to work in your desires.

It is a spacious foyer with tons of potential! I like the design concept you're going for here. I'd love to assist you.

Karen Haggard, CID

The corner behind the dog is screaming for a wing chair. Like a gentleman's den.

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Agree -- you can't be constrained to the walls -- just put a chair with its back to the house and a comfy table and lamp nearby. You could even do a pair with a table between them. As long as there's not a big draft from the front door, that could be great. It might help if you moved your entry table to the next wall to the right, so that you clearly have an entry hall/path on that side of the room, with the library clustered in the zone with the bookcase and bar.

I have just been given a wing chair (has to be recovered) but would give me what it may look like.

This weak visualization might or might not help. :)

How are you planning to use this space? If you have guests, you will want to have at least two chairs so you can fix drinks and sit down with them. I can see a very elegant setup, but you have some practical concerns (where to put coats, etc.)

Scruffy coat rack in corner, to right of door is in use however there is a regular coat closet easily available. However not easily enough to suit husband, hence the corner coat rack.

Room for a table but feel it would minimize the space as well as be something everyone entering would have to walk around.

(did you see where I moved the entry table? it skipped over the coat rack to the next wall...)

acm: Like the visualization, would provide a division between the library and the walk way from front door into living room. The living room is two story room and foyer area is regular 8 or 9 foot ceilings.

I did see it skipped over to other wall. How about using it between two chairs and finding a more narrow table to go under painting.

Two chairs (matching or not?) table facing the bar? Where the small table is on the outside wall, move it between chairs and in table's place put attorney bookcase with glass doors. Then behind the chairs on the wall with the painting put a narrow entry table. How does that work?

WOW! I clicked on the title and wondered, "what kind of problem is a large foyer?" First thought was... it was open to your living room! Then I read on, that is a freakishly (I say with kindness and amazement!) large foyer for that size of door. I think that your posting is going to be a joy to see evolve. Good luck.

My chair suggestion was one chair facing the room. It gives the illusion of a library or bar but stays out of the way of the foyer. So you get the cozy, warm look of a library and make the entry more inviting.

I think two chairs facing the library shelves would feel like they are blocking people from coming in.

If your husband insists on hanging his coats near the door, I suggest wallpaper for its camouflaging effect:

Design by Tom Scheerer

I like the idea of a bench under the painting and to the left of the door. Will go back to one wing chair and table facing toward the door. Built in bookshelves are a work in process. We haven't moved permanently up there yet and so are using some junk bookcases to see how we like the feel of a library/bar area first.

So if the attorney bookcase (the large fantastic piece) goes on the wall with the door...do you open the shutters? I don't know how your front walk is but it would seem that a left swinging door would be more helpful for the use of the closet, and when someone comes to your door they would have a view of your foyer instead of the coat rack and kitchen. On the wall directly beside the door, a bold mirror over the existing table would be nice. I always have a mirror by my front door so I can do a quick check before I walk out or answer the door. Have you thought about maybe taking the large piece and putting it in the in the corner at and angle, and putting a pair of leather chairs or mix matched on each side. Repurpose the bookshelf into 2 so they are shorter with a coat of paint and put them on the wall by the kitchen. I assume that the thing on that wall is a room heater? If it will still serve your purposes can it go over to wear the bookshelf is now? As for the other bookshelf/cabinet, maybe find a different place in the house for it? I have a feeling that I might not be relaying my image, I will sketch something up at lunch and upload it.

I completely agree with greenfish.... When we were looking at houses, the foyer was a huge factor.

Good point on changing the door direction. Heater is not in use so movable.

please, if you do any rearrangements.... post some pics!....I am very interested in seeing the evolution. I just know that once you get your foyer in order your entire house will give you that warm welcoming feeling that everyone who visits feels.... Another thought would be a large round rug to ground the furniture in that room....

unless your husband wears all of those coats and is carrying all of those tote bags *at the same moment*, hang all but one in the coat closet. its really a needless mess in a nice space. it would be like having 9 cereal boxes sitting on the kitchen counter all day every day in a gawjus kitchen with adequate cabinets.

Totally agree with nnigrt about the coats and will work on a solution! What I'm getting from most everyone is to leave it mainly as a foyer. The use of benches will allow for easy movement of people coming in the door and getting out of coats. Leave the makeshift bar (too heavy to move anyway) and maybe put books elsewhere. I have a wing back chair that I will put with the small table from in the space this weekend to see how that looks. Maybe will take a picture and upload to see if we are getting closer to having the space defined. Many thanks for all the comments and photos of what you are suggesting.