Winter in the Midwest can be harsh. Chicago is known for its blustery wind, with sudden gusts that knock you over while trying to shovel the sidewalk- speaking from experience!  But we aren't here to complain about the weather. Let's kick off those snow boots, grab a hot toddy, and discuss foyers. Foyers and entryways are the first impression of your home's inner personality. It should feel welcoming and functional.  

As traffic flows in and out of your home, it's inevitable that debris and weather will creep inside. Installing flooring material that can handle the elements like mud, salt, and rain is key. Tile is a durable solution.  Porcelain tile is a manufactured product that is non-porous, stain resistant, and easy to clean. The surface is screen printed to replicate the movement of natural stone or trendy graphic patterns.  Aesthetically, porcelain can appear flat because it is missing physical texture and ability to patina.  Ceramic tiles have many similar benefits as porcelain while providing a wide variety of colorful glaze finishes and exciting mosaic patterns. 

Porcelain Floor Tile. Image Source: Luxe Interiors and Design

Entryways crave impactful statements and bold wallpaper give a boisterous greeting. Over-scaled botanicals, high contrast patterns, and quirky animals are currently some of our favorite themes.  We collaborate with our vendors to specify commercial grade printing in these locations.  This allows the paper to withstand the conditions and be wiped clean if necessary.  Painting the walls and ceiling in moody colors is a budget friendly way to set the tone of your home.

Bold Patterns by Osbourn and Little. Image Source: House Beautiful

Small details offer subtle cues to your family and guests. An upholstered bench signals "take a seat and please remove shoes here." Make sure there is an easy spot to store coats and gear. Closet space is ideal to keep the area tidy. Add pizazz by continuing the foyer wallcovering and flooring, or purchase brass hangers. Wicker baskets, wall hooks, and coat trees also provide handy storage. 

Welcome Bench with Art. Image Source: Jen Talbot Design

Entry tables anchor the room, but they should not be a dumping ground for catalogues and bills. Keeping this space clutter-free is the first step to creating a calm, uplifting environment. A few simple accessories are all that's needed to complete the space, such as a vase of fresh greenery, a tray for keys, and something visually intriguing like a sculpture or a stack of books. Finally, a well placed mirror has two jobs: it reflects light allowing the area to feel brighter and makes sure you leave home looking your very best! 

Foyer Table with Accessories. Image Source: Jen Talbot Design

Author: Sydney Piwowar

We all love our families (mostly) and its hard to tastefully show them off. Oversized canvas oil paintings hung over the fireplace aren’t style anymore... At the same time though, I do not think it is fair to cut all evidence of family in a home… it is after all what makes a house, a home. We were asked in a recent install how to do this successfully. Well, I am here to share with you all my secret: framed prints with oversized mattes. Yes, simple and understated. What makes this method unique is the color quality of the image and the placement of it. Here are the 5 steps to ensure your framed prints turn out perfect:

Curate Your Photos

Go through the old hard drive because you want to plan out your photos ahead of time. The photos don’t all have to contain the same colors or people - feel free to change it up. This is where you get to show off your family’s unique characteristics.

Print With HIGH Quality

The most common mistake that people make is framing pixelated photos. Make sure that you are printing high quality images and don’t be afraid to send them somewhere nice to print - don’t cheap out on this because you will get what you pay for. Something else to consider is if you want to print in color or black and white. For someone who wants to print in color, going to a good printer with high quality color is important.

Find Frames

Frames can be sourced from anywhere. Whether they are custom or ordered online from Ikea, you will notice a large gap in cost. The most influential decision you make will be upon the frame’s finish. This color and texture will be framing the image, literally and figuratively, in a way it is possible to influence your perception. For example, if your image has LOTS of texture and color, choosing a frame that does as well may only distract form the richness of the image. It would be better to chose a simple frame that allows all attention to be focused on the specialness of your image. The second factor to consider is if you want a more unified or eclectic gallery. For a more unified approach, I would consider finding a store that sells the same profile in several sizes as you may need for your collection. For those that want a more mix-and-matched approach, I suggest shopping resale shops, garage sales, and local boutiques for an interesting combination.

Find Matte

There are several colors and finishes to matte. I prefer a stark white matte as it gives a certain freshness. Be careful though as they come in several shades of off-white, ivory, and cream — especially if you are trying to match to previously framed images.

Hang Art

It is hard to generalize for every one when it depends on the size of the frame and the space… My best tip is to map out the wall with painters tape first though to ensure you are happy with your placement — you don’t want to see a dozen holes in the wall from where you moved hung them previously. Some key areas I think it is more peaceful to hang family photos include: hallways, stairways, bedrooms, bathrooms, and basements. Try to stay away from the large print over the living room fireplace — its tacky.

For more tips on how to frame family portraits, see my pinterest board HERE!

Author: Sydney Piwowar

Behind Built-Ins

This modern geometric pattern provides a sense of luxury and relaxation in this classic application.

Inside Kitchen Cabinets

Look how GREAT Kelly Wearstler Channels Wallpaper POPS against these crisp white cabinets.

Inside Closets

I love the fact that no matter your closet size, you can add an element of design to a space that is primarily just functional.

Stair Risers

This contrasting wallpaper mural completely changes the mood of what could have been a boring, white space. Love the sense of artistic creativity added here.

Stair Stringer

Over Doors

Doors don’t need to be boring anymore. There are so many great peel and stick wallpapers out there that you can use on flat panel doors.

Upset because you don’t have flat panel doors to do this to? Don’t worry! You can totally apply this method to trimmed panels too. See below.

Framed Wallpaper

Wallpaper is a work of art.. Framing your left over wallpaper or samples is a great way to showcase your favorite patterns without the permanence of pasting it to a wall.

Living Room Mood Board – Study I – Jen Talbot Design

Wood sculpture – Ariel Alasko

Painting – Etsy

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