"DECORATING YOUR ENTRANCE FOYER" by Donna Jolean

"DECORATING YOUR ENTRANCE FOYER" by Donna Jolean

The foyer is the room that greets you as soon as you step through the front door. This is the first space and sometimes the only space guests see of your home, yet often foyers or entryways are neglected. This strikes me as odd. Somehow, I always think of the foyer as one of the most important rooms in the home. The foyer is usually where first impressions are made.

Some say their foyer is so small, why bother with it at all? I have had others explain that their foyer is so grand that it feels cold and uninviting, no matter what they do to it. Whatever the size of your foyer, you should make the most of it! There is no reason in the world, why your foyer shouldnt be stylish. The tiniest of foyers can be made to feel grand. Likewise, the grandest of foyers can have a sophisticated coziness.

Follow your heart! You can be as adventurous with pattern and color as you desire in this room. You can get away with it in the foyer, because remember you are only in this room for brief periods of time. Youll want the room to have impact and make a statement. Of course, keeping in mind the spaces your entry foyer may be linked to. This after all, is the space where your guest will get a preview of the rooms to come. The goal is to create a continuous flow, room to room, each space complimenting the other.

Where do I start? What about the walls? What kind of furniture should I use in the entry foyer? How should I accessorize my foyer?

Wall color should never be chosen strictly according to the latest trends or home fashions. Instead, choose colors that suit the character of your home.

You should select a color that makes you feel comfortable and happy.

Choose a color that will give you a lift when you come through the door after a long day.

Textured, glazed or marbleizing walls are an excellent choice. Its virtually impossible to see dirty marks or fingerprints.

Give your walls a kind of strie effect of three or four different shades by glazing any darker color with a lighter one.

Pastel or softer colors look better in flat paint.

Chocolate brown or very dark colors, I think look better with a little shine to them. The satin or semi finish will keep them from looking dreary by reflecting light around the room.

Painting is the most cost effective way to give your room lots of impact.

You may want to select a striking wallpaper pattern in keeping with the color scheme of the rest of the home. Stripes are great for adding volume and height.

If you choose wallpaper with lots of pattern, you will have very little need for pictures or artwork

When choosing wallpaper, dont assume that a small foyer should be papered with an equally small printed design. Some of the prettiest foyers Ive been in, were small ones, where the paper chosen was large scale and very bold. The effect was wonderful!

The entry is the perfect spot for tromp loeil. Possibly a mural of a Grecian urn or a large topiary.

If your foyer lacks architectural interest, secure an oversized decorative wall shelf or bracket on the wall directly facing you as you walk through the door. I like to place them on the wall at least five feet high or higher depending on ceiling height. This is a great place to display an elegant antique vase or urn. In a less formal setting you may want to display a simple pot of trailing ivy to add softness. This is also a great idea because it keeps your floor space free of clutter.

In a small foyer maximize the light and make a tight area feel less cramped with a floor to ceiling mirror.

Your foyer may be a tiny space with only a coat closet and no place to hang a mirror. So why not mirror the closet door! This will make your space appear larger. Depending on how your closet door is positioned, it may double a gorgeous view of the outdoors.

Sometimes foyers can be devoid of natural light. You guessed it! Add a mirror! Its like having a window where there isnt one. Thus, catching every trace of light, bringing the space to life!

In any foyer there is nothing more beautiful than using a fine gilt framed mirror.

Change out your old lighting fixture and replace it with a new chandelier. This will improve the rooms light and add charm.

Give attention to hardware in the room. The switch plate cover for instance should be attractive. This gives a sense of quality. Especially in the foyer. If you cant afford to replace your switch plate cover thats okay, just make sure that it blends in. If the walls are painted, paint it to match. If they are papered, well you get the idea.

If you are using a pricey rug in your entry. Do what I do. Protect it with a small washable throw rug. Covering the spot most traveled on a daily basis. Then for special occasions stow the throw rug in the closet. Meanwhile, the better rug will stay clean.

No space for a rug? Paint an interesting design on the floor. There are a wide variety of stencils that you can use if you do not consider yourself an artist. Be sure to use a sealer topcoat to ensure your painted design holds up to heavy traffic and will clean up easily.

A plant stand made of wood; wicker or iron with a luscious green fern is a gracious look.

Why not use the foyer as a tiny art gallery? Designate an entry hall area or wall where you can hang paintings or pictures that are special to you.

Hang a group of fine prints all framed the same. The prints will stand out more, if the color of the frames contrast with the wall color.

A small chair may be all you need in your foyer, providing a place for a visitor to rest. It also serves as a temporary place for packages or anything you need to put down as you come through the door.

A narrow console table may be just the ticket.

A towering case clock is always great in a foyer.

Garden Statuary isnt just for the garden. Bring it indoors! Be greeted by a life size statue. Depending on your budget you could select from concrete, resin, marble or bronze.

Use an oversized urn with a sprawling palm tree.

A 19th century Victorian Hall Tree in the right home would be beautiful and functional. An antique store would be the best place to look for a piece like this or better yet an auction or estate sale.

Use a pair of corbels topped with marble or a pair of iron supports topped with glass for a shelf to hold a vase of flowers, keys and mail.

Hang a tapestry on an iron rod and place a garden bench beneath. The tapestry will add softness and texture. The bench will not only be esthetically pleasing but functional as well, serving as a place for removing shoes or simply a resting place.

If you have the ample room in your foyer, using a chest or commode is an excellent choice. The top of the chest gives you plenty of area to display your favorite lamp or a pair of candlestick lamps. You may also want to accessorize with a small collection of boxes or any other collection. I love the idea of all the extra storage space you gain when using a chest.

I would also suggest a pair of occasional chairs to flank the chest of drawers.

I love to group, silver candlesticks on foyer a table.

A large crystal compote placed on any foyer furniture piece looks fascinating. In the Spring, fill it with fresh flowersSummertime it can be filled with loads of seashellsFall, potpourri with your favorite scentChristmas, fill it with beautiful sparkling ornaments and in between seasons it will look dazzling all by itself.

I have more ideas Ill share with you later! So have fun decorating your foyer!

Donna Jolean 2005 January
For more ideas and articles, please check Donna's site at http://www.classicdazzle.com

About the Author
Donna is an independent interior designer and has written numerous articles on her work. Visit her website for more articles and information. http://classicdazzle.com/decorating

VINYL REPLACEMENT WINDOW TERMINOLOGY by John Rocco

VINYL REPLACEMENT WINDOW TERMINOLOGY by John Rocco

With so many homeowners in the market for more energy efficient windows and doors for their home, i thought i would use this week's article to cover the more common terms used to describe a window's ability to insulate your home from the elements. There is an organization called The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). Their purpose is to test each window manufacturer's product to independently verify the ratings for each test administered. So, let's discuss each test and what it means.

First, there is the U-Factor. This number represents the rate that heat escapes through the window. Therefore, the lower the U-Factor, the better the window. Most vinyl replacement windows with standard, dual pane glass, have a U-Factor around .5. When you add LowE glass in place of the standard clear glass, the U-Factor comes down below .4. By replacing the air between the panes of glass with Argon or Krypton gas, the U-Factor can be reduced to around .3. The Government's energy star program requires a window to have a U-Factor below a certain number in order to be energy star rated. You need to find out what that rating is in your particular area of the country. You can start by going to The energy star website. In areas of the country where rebates are given for installing energy star rated products in your home, you will only receive the rebate by proving that your windows have a U-Factor less than the maximum allowed. That proof comes from the manufacturer's NFRC label affixed to each window.

Another test is called Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). The SHGC measures a window's rate of heat penetration from outside. The lower the number, the better resistance there is to heat getting into the house from outside. There are also air and water infiltration tests. The air test actually tests how much air is able to pass through the window from outside to inside. Therefore, you want a low number. Typically, a .30 is the maximum allowable rate of air infiltration. Water infiltration tests the amount of water and pressure the window is able to resist. Therefore, the higher rating is better for this test. Frankly, i wish they would just rate all tests on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being best. Then, you wouldn't get confused trying to remember which tests should have high numbers and which ones should have low numbers. You can get more information on window testing by going to the NFRC Website.
About the Author
John Rocco has been installing
replacement windows since 1978.
To learn more, visit How To Install Windows