[cage pendant light // wild horses console table // favorite safavieh rug // cross from our wedding!]
the very first time we walked into this housey of ours, looking to buy a new home for our growing fam… i think we were initially a bit surprised at the setup of the entryway! this house is a split level, built into a hillside… which we love! it feels cozy and safe. 🙂 but let me just say we have no shortage of stairs going on in this place! so, our entryway is actually a landing in between the first and second stories. it’s interesting!
the walls were previously all very dark in the house, which affected the entry a lot, it felt like… so, the first thing we wanted to do was lighten them a whole, whole lot [like, all the way!] and open up the space visually. then, we had the flooring refinished [just the entry and stairs] and brand new balusters and railings put in. aaand then, the painter came back and finished up all the trim in that area. and eventually, we replaced the light fixture! yay!
i have really wanted this area in our house to feel open and light and airy… and welcoming, of course!! and at the same time i’ve wanted to cozy up the the lower staircase a bit in a way that feels homey for my loves and i as we go up and down. honestly, i really couldn’t decide the next step in going about that while still contributing to the flow of the house and the light, open entryway feeling… until!!!
…until a few of my little silhouette dreams came so so so flawlessly true thanks to a sweet and talented fellow nashvillian, meiska, of miss thistle shop silhouettes!! oh my goodness. i followed meiska on instagram for quite a while before getting in touch with her about doing some silhouettes of my babies. all of her stuff is just so beautiful!! so, i knew i needed to capture my babes’ precious profiles before they grew up too much more… and since meiska is not only local to our area but a mama, herself, it just felt so right for her to do them! and oh, when i got them in the mail… gosh, in love doesn’t even cover it!! i could seriously stare at them all day long. 🙂
it wasn’t even until i got those beauties framed that i just knew the perfect place for them would be right there in the staircase. they brought exactly the vibe i was searching for… an elegant yet homey touch of tradition warming up our stairway! and yes, i totally bought 4 of those frames [from michael’s] so we can add silhouettes in the future as needed! haha!
…i cannot even tell you how happy this sight makes me every day!!
AND!!! a little something for my friends of charmings! you can get 30% off at miss thistle shop through the end of october by entering the code CHARMED! so take a look over there!! [and seriously, every time december gets crazy, i always swear up and down that i’m going to start my christmas shopping in september the next year, so really! there’s no better time to get started than right now!!]
aaand for the most fun part… the before and after!
[first photo taken from the house’s listing; the rest taken from my iphone as we first toured the house // now! baby gate and all… which i’m sure will be there a while!]
sooo! here’s what we’ve done…
-painted the walls! they’re benjamin moore’s gentle cream in sherwin williams super paint
-painted the trim! in sherwin williams medici ivory
-refinished the entry & stair hardwoods
-replaced & painted all the balusters [can you see?! we practically doubled the amount! they were so far apart and not very strong before… we knew rocco would literally go straight through once he was mobile!]
-replaced & stained the railings
-painted the inside of the front door [trim color]
-hung a new light fixture
still on the list…
-i want to find something to go on the big hallway wall that’s at the top of the stairs! i’m hoping for something either mirrored so it doesn’t close off the space, or some sort of white architectural decor.
-repaint the outside of the front door
-that huge window up above the door could reeeeally use a good scrubbing!
it’s an endless journey, right? but oh, i still kinda just love house stuff! 🙂
looks beautiful!
thank you!!
Gah I loooove it! It just feels like you now! You have a special touch with a space that's for sure! And yes projects are just never ever done are they? Even if you think they are. They aren't. Haha!
thank you love!!! we thought initially we wanted something more move-in ready, but it definitely helps make a space yours when you pick and choose and change it all yourself! well. we didn't literally paint it ourselves but you know.
Do you/did you do baby gates? Ava is reaching a point where she is more mobile and I'm not exactly sure of the best way to handle the stairs situation… She loves crawling up them (with me right there obviously) and I am trying to just play it cool so that stairs are just stairs and not something forbidden (thus increasing the temptation to play on them) or scary.
PS – The entry is lovely. 🙂
yes!! i'm glad it doesn't jump out at you because we have one at the top of the stairs. 🙂 the top floor is our main living floor, so that's where we keep a baby gate. it helps, for sure!!! we don't do much official baby proofing, but i'm always pulling bathroom doors closed and such, too. 🙂
Such a lovely and welcoming space! I LOVE that entryway table! And your rug too! And those silhouettes are so unique and personal. They would make the perfect gift 🙂
Taffeta & Tulips
thank you so much!!! the table is one of my favs, i never want to be without it! it even survived when our last house flooded with a few feet of water! ha!
It looks so much better with lighter walls – great idea! I am loving the silhouettes too!
thank you, thank you!!!
Youre right! That paint color before WAS really dark! It looks so good now. Well done!
the whole house was very, very dark… and hey, i love dark colors! but one of the things we love here is the natural light and it's been awesome to open everything up! 🙂
So gorg! Love!
thank you sooooo much!!
For the big hallway wall have you seen this window panes turned into frames on Pinterest? We have one in our entryway wall with a pic of our ranch in Brazil, it's like you're looking out into your happy place 🙂 maybe one with your favorite spot at farm home?
yes, and i have totally thought about that!! it would have to be a pretty big window, though! and i have kiiinda also become a little too aware of the fact that i now have like, a million antiques in my house, now… haha. so i'm trying to find something maybe not in that direction for that wall area? i don't want to overdo it on the shab factor! but i do always love rustic so we shall see!