ENTRY WAY REMODEL-WEEK 1

This is new for me, I have never done progress posts, only shared reveal posts so I thought it would be fun to for you to follow along with me as I am updating our very small entryway!  I am challenging myself to get this done before Christmas. Working full-time only leaves me evenings and weeks, it’s going to be close!

Our entryway is sad!  It’s very small and feels crowded even with two people standing in it.  When a friend is dropping something off they stand outside the door because if they were standing inside you have that awkward feeling of someone being too close and in your personal space.

Before

Here is a look before last year around this time, unfortunately, these are the only pictures I have.

This is the wall you see when you open the front door

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View from the stairs. This is the only place we 25″ ceilings, I would be in hog heaven if we had high ceilings everywhere! Above this door and close to the ceiling is a window that opens.  Why someone would install a window that opens that high is beyond me.

And the ugly carpeted stairs. The banister and rails used to be Orange Oak

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Mini-update

Over the summer we installed wood stairs, new door, trim, and a shiplap wall, along with painting BM Revere Pewter.  Getting the stairs to match the floors was a COMPLETE NIGHTMARE!! I will go into it another time, but let’s just say it involved stripping the original stain, starting all over and even receiving a refund from the manufacturer of the stain to replace the stairs.

If you didn’t have a chance to see last weeks post, I have a tutorial on how I updated the window trim in our home to craftsman style. Here the same room with new black window trim

and a view to the right of the door. That hallway where you see the picture frames leads into the kitchen/family room with a closet on one side and laundry room on the other.

Even with all of these updates I still wasn’t feeling it.  Have any of you heard of Enneagram Types or taken the Enneagram Test? We did this for work and it really opens your eyes to the type of personality you have along with the different types of your co-workers.  It enables you to not only learn more about yourself but how to better interact with our co-workers/friends/family members based on their types. If your interested in taking the test to see what type you are there are tons of free tests on the internet.

Well……I’m a type 1.  I honestly was not happy about this at first, but the more I look into it I know this is true. The definition of type 1 is THE REFORMER-The Rational, Idealistic Type: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionistic. I’m always doubting my abilities with Decor/DIY and am constantly asking myself Can this be better?  Did I do all that I could do within my means?

A few weeks ago I installed Board and Batten in our family room and I LOVE the look of it and knew I wanted it in my home, specifically the stairs.

Inspiration and putting a plan into action

I started searching Pinterest and here are a few of my favorites.

Of course, these are all “model” type homes.  However, it has given me an idea of how I could install Board and Batten on my stairway walls.  I felt the “box” style trim on the stairs would be too formal for our home. Even in these pictures, it looks more formal to me. The boards are much wider and I knew that would still make the entryway look even smaller and crowded. The three that are circled is the style I am planning to do.  It has it has more of a relaxed feel using 1.5″ boards.

Stay tuned for next weeks post and I will share what I have accomplished this week!