We made-over my friends entry the other day. They have lived in this home for about two years and the entry has bothered her since day one. It doesn’t let in a lot of light and the light fixture they had was dated and dark. Also the space was lacking character. Her wish list is to get a new door that has glass to let more light in. Getting a new door is not a priority right now, so she was avoiding doing anything. I am sure a lot of you can relate to that. Thinking that if it isn’t going to be “perfect” or your dream entry then why bother? I believe we can all love our homes NOW! With a little paint that goes a long way!! And also an affordable light fixture can make a world of difference. See all the changes we made, including painting the inside of her entry door in the color of the year- Metropolitan AF-690! We also switched out her broken door lock, since we were wanting to paint the door it was a perfect match. Let’s look at the before first….
Entry BEFORE-
Entry AFTER-
Before I start, I always do a design board! I will dig into all the details of this entry makeover. First up- we partnered with Yale Home to test out their new keypad smart lock that lets you lock and unlock your front door without relying on physical keys. This is an affordable key-less lock that allows you to input different pin codes for family, friends and houseguests for ultimate convenience (up to 8 different pins!). And it is connected by August module, so you can have remote access, voice system integration and Auto Unlock capability (unlocks automatically as you approach the door when your phone is on!). It will also notify you if the door the left open.
Keypad Smart Lock-
The Yale Assure SL – Connected by August Home Lock Keypad Smart Lock was very easy to install. It operates with batteries and notifies you when the batteries are low.
I love the modern sleek look! A few highlights to the Yale Assure SL – Connected by August
- Replaces your existing deadbolt with a slim, key-free deadbolt with touchscreen keypad – No keys to lose, no cylinder to pick!
- Lock, unlock, share access, customize lock settings and see who comes and goes from anywhere using the August app
- Unlocks automatically as you approach the door when you have your phone – No phone? Enter your entry code on the backlit keypad
- Lock, unlock and check lock status with voice assistants including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri
You can purchase the Yale Assure SL – Connected by August HERE (great gift idea!!)
Another look at the Entry BEFORE-
Entry Temporary Wallpaper, Chandelier, Painted Interior Door and Decor-
Lighting is so important! We found THIS affordable Sputnik Chandelier. The bars are all adjustable so you can adjust them to what fits best in your space. The chandelier has a fixed bar, so we had to get THIS piece to get the chandelier work with a slanted ceiling.
We also added THIS Temporary wallpaper. I am in LOVE with this pattern! It was also so easy to install. A very user- friendly temporary wallpaper. Also notice the pieces of trim Rachel added to define the open entry wall. An easy step, but also necessary if you have an open floor plan. We added a 2″ piece of primed MDF on the side and a 3″ piece of primed MDF. Just attached them to the wall with a nail gun and a level!
Rather than filling up the wall with a ling narrow piece of furniture that also cut into the entry door. I decided to go with THIS affordable entry piece. A much better footprint for this narrow space. And THIS little fur stool is perfect for putting shoes on our shoe removal. A plant is always a nice simple touch in an entry (the basket was thrifted).
I like to use a simple tray on entry pieces of furniture to define the accessories. A tray also keeps everything from looking busy and avoid the common thing that happens on an entry table- clutter!!! (Find the marble tray HERE).
A mirror is always great in an entry. But try to avoid a mirror if it is the first thing people see when they walk in the door, even having the mirror off center helps to avoid that cold feeling of seeing a mirror. And if you follow Feng Shui (which I don’t, but find aspects of it so insightful) a mirror is said to send energy right out of your home. But this scenario where the mirror is on the opposite wall is not the case. (We used THIS mirror).
I also did a rectangle mirror so it could lean on the entry piece of furniture, allowing you space to reach behind to turn the overhead light on and off. (Poor light-switch placement).
Painting the interior front door was a nice addition! Even though she want’s a new front door someday, painting it helped her to love what she has. We went with Benjamin Moore’s color of the year for 2019, Metropolitan AF-690, it is a gorgeous color! It’s a muted gray with a little green.
I found THIS gorgeous affordable rug that adds a little blue, green and gray to pull the entire entry together! It is also dark enough to wear really well in an entry!
Hopefully this makeover inspired you to embrace what you have and make it better than before! Don’t wait for everything to be perfect.
Click on an image below to shop-
Laura says
I have that wallpaper in my stairwell and love it! I have to say though, with all the small details, it was a nightmare to match and install
Chris Reed says
Nice makeover!
A couple of questions: What is the little white piece on the doorframe next to the keypad? Is it part of the lock? If walking up to the door with your phone on unlocks the door, what happens if you approach the door from inside with your phone on? What if you are on your phone and go to answer the door? does it automatically unlock? I tend to be cautious of technology.
[email protected] says
The little white thing is how it connects to the “august” app.
Let me check on the other things you asked!! Good question!
[email protected] says
no- it does not unlock when you are inside and walk by. If you are inside then you have to tap it to unlock it
Rachael Bloomer says
That is a stunning transformation!
J BEOUGHER says
Such a big difference for a small space!! LOVE it. Now can I be your friend and you can come help me with my house!!!!
D. Pike says
Love it all! Where are flower pots from? Thanks
[email protected] says
the succulent pots came in a set from Costco!
Amanda says
I love the succulent pots too! Are they from summer or currently in store? My mom always goes to Costco before she comes to visit me because I do t have one close to me. 😉 and she’s coming for Christmas! 👏🏻
Beth says
😍
Char says
Loved the make over. I’m so glad you didn’t paint the white piece and reuse it. It seemed too tall. With all the round items at your feet, I would have kept the round mirror which s a nice dark brown matching the new furniture piece. Just a thought.
Nicole Judge says
I love this!! Every aspect is perfect!! Thank you for the inspiration to just do what you can until you have the money to do what you ultimately want.
Hally says
This is an awesome change! Love the wallpaper (always daunting so I appreciate you making it look easy haha) and the light fixture. I’d never heard or thought that about mirrors in entryways and how to not have them be the first thing people see. Would LOVE some more entryway suggestions, as that’s a project I’m struggling with myself — I have one of those entryways where you walk right into a wall and are funneled either right or left, and I was definitely thinking mirror to bring in light and depth. Would love your non-mirror (or off-center mirror) suggestions for an entryway like that, where you basically just crash into a blank wall haha! Advice needed!
Laura Reynolds says
Well done! So warm and inviting now.
Amanda says
I love everything you do Brooke!!! Thank you for all you do!
Shelley says
Can you send me the name of the piece you used for the light fixture suspended from the vaulted ceiling? We ended u have a beam built to suspend our hanging lights from. No one seemed to know how to make it work otherwise!
[email protected] says
yes it is this- https://rstyle.me/n/ddpdtzb5qwf
Wendy says
Beautiful.
Marie Wallis says
Another beautiful makeover !! You truly are gifted. I wish I still lived in the USA so I could purchase some of the gorgeous rugs and lamps etc that you source for clients.
Jamie says
Hi Grace, I am wondering what your opinion is on using this wallpaper for an accent wall? Or if possible could you recommend any other brands that a peel/stick type wall paper and not glue!
Thanks :)!!