Design Inspiration: Entry Halls

At Soucie Horner, we believe a home’s entry hall should make a bold declaration. First and foremost, it’s meant to tell you what the people within it value most, and when done right, it serves as a mission statement and a preview of the style within the rooms and spaces that follow. But if it’s not also functional, it fails to serve its purpose. Here are some of our favorite ways to balance both form and function to create unforgettable entry halls and staircases.

We highlighted the stunning views surrounding this Jackson Hole, Wyoming, mountain home with large expanses of glass. Ample natural light and pristine white walls give the entrance a gallery-like air, which allows our clients to display their beloved collection of art – which includes Eric Gushee’s sinuous metal-and-wire sculpture that tempers the home’s bold geometrical style. The entry’s other elements, such as a sleek wall-mounted console table for keys and the floating glass staircase, feel every bit as dramatic and artful.

In a Lincoln Park townhouse, a recessed niche is cozied with a cushioned, pillow-plumped bench ideal for putting on shoes, resting bags, or simply resting feet. A shapely mirror is both artful and practical as it reflects light from the front door to brighten the space. It’s flanked on either side by custom cabinetry that conceals coat closets.

When a home has heavier traffic, the philosophy shifts slightly. The entry of this high-rise condominium is like Grand Central Station for a busy family with three young children; here, the dark tone is forgiving of wear-and-tear, yet simultaneously glamorous and refined. Splashes of color lighten the vibe, giving a hint of the happy hues to come once visitors move beyond the hallway and into the living areas.

On the three-level staircase of this 1880s home, we devised another way to camouflage the potential realities of living with children – and to make a bold style statement. While a hand-embroidered runner might seem a surprising choice given the many feet running up and down these stairs each day, it’s actually proof of the power of customization. You see, SHIIR Rugs customized this runner for us to place its embroidered detailing on the stair’s outer edges, leaving it unimpacted by foot traffic. A stunning contemporary light fixture we commissioned from English artisan Bruce Munro graces the historical setting with unexpected verve while illuminating banisters and balusters rebuilt to replicate original design details.

One glance at its curvaceous staircase and paneled walls and you know the decor of this Florida home will be anything but cliché. The elegant entrance feels timeless and gracious thanks to the distinguished patterning of the marble tile floor, and the traditional inlaid wood chest of drawers. Not only does the chest anchor the otherwise ethereal entry, but it also stows necessities in style.

For clients who love collecting objects from their travels around the world, the entry hall offered an opportunity to communicate their adventurous spirit. This comes in the form of international books, pottery, found art, fabric choices and millwork treatments that communicate a globetrotter’s appreciation for color and pattern.

And last: In a North Carolina home designed to blur the distinctions between indoors and out, the entry hall acts as the first announcement of the many connections between the two. It also makes clear the importance of texture throughout the house, thanks to steel framed doors casting shadows across a stone floor topped with a luxurious, oxidized silk SHIIR rug. We can’t think of a more memorable way to say welcome!