Hallway inspiration

We’re still on a bit of a go slow with the house renovation. My husband’s been suffering with a bad back these last few weeks which is painful for him and frustrating for us both.

There’s not much still to do inside, but we expect the outside to be a monster of a job. We thought we might make a big dent in the work this year but, depending on his fitness, it might work out that we end up doing most next year.

Inside, all that’s left is the hall, stairs and landing, and we’re thinking of building a porch. As in: I want one, and I’m gradually persuading him to want to build me one :)

Either way, this lull between being able to do any real renovation is giving me time to think about how I’d like our entry way to look.

Porch or no porch, it will be a fairly small, square space – probably about 1.5 metres each way. Here’s how I’m thinking it might look.

// ‘Welcome home’ framed print, £25, BHS / porthole mirrors, from £59, Graham and Green / Paola pendant light, £50, BHS / Twiggy oak coat stand, £150, Habitat / ‘Lulworth blue’ estate emulsion, £38 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball / oak bench, £129, John Lewis / Maffens basket, £18, Ikea / Mardi Gras Morrocan patterned tile vinyl, £9.74 per sq m, Carpetright* / wire floor unit, £125, Graham and Green //

I think an entry way needs to have stuff that is tough enough to withstand the traffic, which is why I went for the industrial-style wire shoe rack and metal pendant light.

But it should also be warm and welcoming, which is where the wood bench and coat stand come in.

I absolutely love the look of a patchwork floor and thought the black and white ‘welcome home’ print was a bargain that ties in well with the light, mirror and basket.

What do you think? Would you warm to a house that looked like this when you walked in?