Entry Update with Project Design

Good Morning!  Today I'm participating in a fun design series called Project Design which is organized by the talented Cindy from Rough Luxe Lifestyle and Mary Ann from Classic Casual Home.  The idea is to work on a small project in your home and this time it's all about 'simple ways to spruce up your entry.'  I've included links to all the other participants further down in this post and with this group, there is sure to be lots of inspiration. 

I recently spruced up our front door for Spring as well, so I included a few pictures of the front porch to get started.

I replanted several of my pot plants and moved a couple to the front.  The foxtail ferns do so well in our climate.  I have them in the front and back landscaping and a couple in pots.  They got a little nipped with one hard freeze we had, but came right back.  And they tolerate the summers well too.  Not sure the name of the purple flowering plant, but loved the color and shape of the flowers. 

My boxwood wreath is back with a new gingham ribbon.  And I still love my doormat that I purchased around the holidays.

Do you notice someone perched on the window in the picture above?  She is always very close by my side and listens so well.  When I opened the door to take a few pictures she calmly watched me (and all the birds and our crazy abundance of squirrels), so I had to include her. 

And now on to our entry!  We don't have a huge entry/foyer, but it's just enough to have a couple of landing spots to put keys, bags, etc. if we enter the front door.  So the picture above is take standing just inside the front door.  Straight back leads to our family room and then this space opens to our study on the right and our dinning room on the left.

So here are five décor elements I think are great to spruce up your entry...

One - mirror or art work.  A mirror not only to open up the space, but I use ours all the time to do one last check of my appearance before I head out the front door.  This one is from Homegoods.  I originally had the framed lily print on our mantel (and on our piano at one time), but I think it finally found it's permanent home in the entry.  I fits perfectly on the smaller wall in this space and the frame coordinates so well with the mirror.  So many sources for art.  This one is from Minted, but Homegoods is another great place to find art.  I also recently purchased a botanical print set from Esty to download and then I plan to frame them so that's a good route too.

Two - table or bench.  A great drop spot for items.  I added a cute little bowl from Marshall's on our console table to contain keys.  And the bench often holds my purse or is a spot where we sit to put on shoes.

Three - pillows and throws.  I usually keep some sort of pillow on this entry bench.  It gets switched out a lot depending on the season.  Loving this cute navy and white pineapple pillow!  And the striped navy throw is just a decorative piece in our entry.

Four - a basket or rug.  I love baskets to both hide/contain stuff and how they add texture to a space.  I have two in our entry.  One on the shelf of the console table which is simply for decoration and then the other basket next to the bench which actually holds a throw.  I also have a jute rug by the front door (which you can see in the picture with Sadie), to both collect dirt from the outdoors and add texture again as well.

Five - flowers.  I love fresh flowers!  And so many of the grocery stores have them and they are usually reasonably priced, so I often pick some up on my trip there.  The tulips are from Trader Joe's which always has a great selection and the prices are the best!

So that's a wrap on our entry.  If you've been around my blog awhile, you already know my décor style is very simple.  So, I feel like this space has just enough to be functional and to not look bare when you come in the front door, but it's not too overwhelming for me either. 

Below are links to all the other participants, who are sure to have beautiful ideas!

cassie Bustamante

claire brody designs

classic casual home

Dixie Delights

Maison de Cinq

Northern California Style

Our French Oasis

Rough Luxe Lifestyle

This is Happiness

Paint Colors - All walls and ceilings Palomino Gray by PPG, all trim White Chip by PPG

Front Porch - Welcome Doormat, Boxwood Wreath

Entry - Pendant Light (similar), Navy Striped Rug (in Entry - Sadie's Spot), Nailhead Bench - Tuesday Morning, Console Table - husband's family, Basket on Console Table Shelf, Basket next to Bench (similar), Pineapple Pillow, Navy Striped Throw, Lily Print and Frame, Gold Mirror - Homegoods,

Family Room -  Navy Border Rug, Sectional with White Twill Slipcover, Gray Throw, Bamboo Cordless Roman Shades

*more of my home décor sources can be found here