Thursday, March 9, 2023

How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway

Our front door entryway is one of my favorite spaces in our home. I think because the front doors are the original doors for the schoolhouse and there is glass in the doors that lets in all kinds of lovely sunlight and because I love how I painted and stenciled the wall in the entry awhile back (see that makeover HERE). As I have shared in my last few posts, I am working towards using less seasonal and holiday decor in my home as I move towards a more year-round kind of style. This entryway is a space I have been changing the look for the seasons and while I will completely change it for Christmas, I think I have settled on a look that will work the rest of the year. It is quirky and funky and full of thrift store, vintage items that make me smile. Sometimes I am scared to share my home because it has some weird and I am  worried when I say I love something I have created. But, I do and our living spaces should make us happy and be places that we love and want to spend time in.

How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
When I painted this wall, I knew I would like the green and that feeling continues. It feels fresh and full of life and really does go with a lot of different colors and styles. The gold retro star that I stenciled is a fantastically fun addition that works well with my quirky vibe. Almost EVERYTHING in this entry is from a thrift store. Keep reading to see what is thrifted and how I used it and how YOU can gather up objects you love to create a cohesive, inviting space.
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
If you haven't read about or seen my entryway space before, I made the shelf that stretches from wall to wall out of pallets. (affiliate link) The complete instructions are in my second book Wood Pallet Wonders that you can purchase HERE. It might be considered rustic, but it has a smooth finish and the wood is warm and adds texture. I have lots of other browns in the entryway to warm it up and to create a cohesive look--brown leather camera and binocular cases, the brown basket tray the mirror is attached to and the basket in front of the mirror, the brown wood bench (still a favorite thrift store find). Repeat colors and shapes and textures to bring together unrelated objects. Our eyes tend to move from object to object that have a similar color or texture. 
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
I especially like this camera lens case from 1910. I put different items in the cases from time to time and I do have some vintage books in one. The Joan Walsh Anglund book is about spring and so I might replace it in a few months.
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
Okay, let's talk about the head in the room.
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
This is my friend Hermes Mercury and he is a thrift store find, thanks to another thrifter. Someone who I see frequently and talk to at Goodwill had this in his cart. He knew that it was cool and these planters are definitely trending. But, my thrifting friend didn't want him so he asked me if I did and I said yes please. Hermes puts the quirk in quirky. My dog barked at him ferociously for the first three days. And, like I said, this is definitely a trendy item, but I do love him. He is strong, handsome, and keeps his mouth shut. 
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
Because this entryway gets COLD in the winter, I can't have any real plants in here yet. We have a door between the entryway and main living area that we shut at night during the winter, but then open during the day. I decided to give Hermes a mossy brain. I put a small wood bowl upside down in the planter space and covered it with moss. It is not glued on at all, just sitting there. A real plant will replace the moss brain in May. Behind Hermes sits a golden yellow, velvet pillow from the thrift store.
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
A faux spider plant sits in a vintage, brass, champagne bucket that sits on a rattan and bamboo stool. All these items are from the thrift store. I will replace the fake spider plant with my monstera when it gets warmer. 
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
I placed the hanging, macrame, gold growler I made HERE up in the corner on the shelf and added some curly willow branches and some faux flower stems from a large thrifted bouquet. 
Friends, if we have to use fake flowers in plants, please, please choose good, high quality fake flowers and plants. I find smaller flower types look more realistic and greenery that has a rubbery texture looks better. Avoid big, fake, silk flowers like roses and tulips. If you can't look at it and wonder if it is real or fake, don't use it.
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
I know chalkboards and chalkboard art is so very 2015. This is the one place that I still have a chalkboard that I use decoratively. I did a simple vase of flowers and this will stay up until fall. It is not perfect or a masterpiece, but I do like it. I made this chalkboard from a chunk of an old, hollow core door that I framed out. The black on the chalkboard is repeated on the black frame on this vintage watercolor painting.
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
The painting is unsigned and it came in a thin gold frame and was matted. It was wrinkly from some minor water damage. Based on the paper and it's aging and yellowing, I would guess this painting is around 40-50 years old. I did cut it down and put it in a frame I had on hand that I painted black. Remember, most spaces need a touch of black for grounding and contrast. I placed a stem of the same fake flowers that are in the gold growler on the shelf. I've actually turned it around since I took these pictures so that the flowers are in front of the brown portable bar case. turning it around helped to add a little more weight on the right side of the shelf and uncluttered the painting. The wood bead garland I made from a thrift store foot massager. It adds visual movement and a casual style with how it is draped.
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
The white flowers and the color black are repeated in this vintage oil painting that I bought for $1 at the thrift store. It has such great texture. Notice how it is tucked behind the basket. Layer objects on shelves and mantels to create depth and to give a space a curated look. 
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
On the left of the chalkboard hangs this mirrored candle sconce. It also hangs on a small angled wall space next tot he door that leads into our great room. I got this at a local thrift store and added the gold to it with Antique Gold Rub-n-Buff (BUY HERE). Some of the mirror or reflecting painting was missing so I used the Rub-n-Buff on it too on the backside. I do light this candle when we are expecting guests in the evening. I also used the Rub-n-Buff on the metal suitcase that went to camp with me as a child that sits under the wood bench. 
How to Create a Quirky & Welcoming Entryway
The hanging gold light in the entryway is one more thrift store find. So there it is, my funky and inviting entryway. What makes it inviting--warm colors, glowing light, vintage accessories that are weathered and that tell a story, a place for guests to sit to remove shoes, coat hooks for bags and coats, a cozy pillow, and plants that speak life into the space. The unusual assortment of objects give the space a playful and casual look that says we don't take ourselves too seriously. Other than replacing the plants with real ones and removing the book about spring, this space is ready to stay as is for at least the next six months. the colors and decor items will work through the seasons. 

Takeaways for you the reader I hope are this: repeat colors and elements and textures, use vintage finds to add personality, vary heights of displays to keep the eye moving, add color (!!!) to create warmth and mood, thrift to find unique and affordable items, only use good fakes when you can't use real plants, and finally, have fun and don't take yourself too seriously.

1 comment:

  1. Becky, your entryway is so inviting and yes, Hermes makes a friendly quirky statement! Because of your influence I checked the frames and art while I was thrifting and found a beautiful smallish watercolor from a famous local artist. Squee! I am looking forward to garage sale season to decorate my front porch.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate your kind words!