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Mrs.K
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 11:15pm | IP Logged
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We have a rather large foyer in our new house and I don't know what to put in it. We don't really want to spend the money on the 'standard' foyer decor of a large fancy chest and ornate mirror over it (that's what they had in here before we came along, lol).
I can picture a large tiered fountain surrounded by lush flowers and plants but my family thinks that's a little nutty for some reason.  Beyond that wild idea I can't come up with anything. I am quite 'decorating challenged' so I don't know what to do with this big empty space. Does anyone have any kind of seating? Do you use it? Other ideas?
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: June 09 2007 at 12:17am | IP Logged
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I suppose I've never had a house with a formal "foyer."
But if it's basically something like a glorified entryway... I'd put a lovely wooden coatrack in it and a seated bench for slipping on shoes.
In our "foyer" we have an old spinet piano that we got for free in the classifieds and had fixed and tuned for a good price!
So my advice is... check your ads!
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Carole N.
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| Posted: June 09 2007 at 9:41am | IP Logged
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How fancy is your foyer? I mean, we have a spot by our front door that has our prayer table next to it--not a real foyer as such--and the paino and instruments across from it.
But by the side door (the one that everyone uses) we have a shoe rack, hooks for jackets, etc. It is our "lauch pad" simular to a mud room, but is actually off the kitchen. Frequently, one cannot walk through without tripping over boots and shoes!
If I had a true foyer, I would want someplace place to neatly store the shoes and jackets. And something to sit on ... a nice bench ... and a mirror of some sort.
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Cheryl
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| Posted: June 09 2007 at 11:54am | IP Logged
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Mrs. K,
We have a very large foyer that currently has in it only a thin Shaker sofa table with a framed print above it.
We want our foyer (actually our whole house) to be informal. There is a large closet for storing coats, etc. so we wouldn't items to hold those things. Our designer friend has suggested: a more substantial table with a mirror above it for the left side, and a bench on the right. On the bench wall could be a row of framed b & w pictures of our family in a variety of combinations. (meaning - a photo of dad and one daughter, a photo of three siblings together, etc.)
So those, along with a huge runner carpet, are my plans. They are low priority right now though. We want to do the living room first. 
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Essy
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| Posted: June 09 2007 at 1:45pm | IP Logged
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My house is up for sale and someone gave me the advice of just putting a simple table and mirror in the foyer...for a place to place keys and so forth when we walk in and the mirror for a quick glance of your hair on the way out...lol. I thought it was a great idea. Haven't done it yet though...so now, I took everything out of mine and it is completly empty.
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florasita
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| Posted: June 09 2007 at 2:37pm | IP Logged
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if it is an entrance foyer I absolutely have to say for those of us who are having trouble bending etc.  a nice seat or little sofa is wonderful for sitting on while putting on shoes . It even helps for putting on the shoes of little ones. We've a tiny entrance and I've got a radiator snd the stairs .I have to sit on the stairs and ask ds6 to sit there to so I can tie his shoes . I'd love a nice comfy bench or seat .
We always have a mirror at the inside door .My mum insists as all ladies like to check thier lipstick when they leave the house
I've never been a lipstick gal but respectful of my elders so we've got a nice antique mirror
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Rachel May
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| Posted: June 09 2007 at 2:44pm | IP Logged
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I've seen a recommendation that you should have a plant or pictures of natural settings in your foyer as a transition from outside to in. I bought an ikea mirror with flowers on the frame ($15) and a big plant ($20) which will be a good buy if it survives 20 weeks. I have no illusions about keeping the plant alive long term.
Behind the door are shoe cubbies, and we have an old wooden toybox that I've shoved the winter coats etc into. It's a good height for sitting.
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stefoodie
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| Posted: June 09 2007 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
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I had to respond after seeing your "nutty idea" of a fountain -- because you're not the only one!
I've had this dream of having a fountain in the foyer for the longest time except that we've never had a foyer that would look good in, nor the money to buy a house that would have such a foyer .
My ideal foyer actually would be very open, with only a few accoutrements -- a painting, a nice chandelier, but not too formal or ornate, a crucifix, a holy water font near the door, a table for flowers, with drawers for keys and little things... if I were to go really fancy I'd like a coat rack and umbrella stand in there too.
Right now all we have are the painting and the crucifix. Not much room for more except maybe a little table that we'll also use for a mini-altar.
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Tina P.
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| Posted: June 10 2007 at 6:12pm | IP Logged
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Crazy as it seems, we're water-happy-in-the-foyer people, too. We have a small coat closet on either side of our front entry with a living room off of one side and a family room off the other, a stairway going up and one going down in the middle. So we have no wall space on which to hang a mirror.
The downside to what we have is that one time when my husband cleaned the tank, he spilled quite a bit of water and the hardwood floor warped a bit. 
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Tina P.
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| Posted: June 10 2007 at 6:14pm | IP Logged
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BTW, if you'd like to see a more panoramic view, I can take another picture of the whole foyer from the doorway. Just LMK.
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: June 10 2007 at 6:26pm | IP Logged
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This is in my foyer. It was my mother's and she always had it in her kitchen. It's my favorite piece of furniture and with my stoneware in it, it says "home"' to me so I like to see first thing when I walk in the door  .
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: June 10 2007 at 7:22pm | IP Logged
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My foyer has a bench for shoe removal, with storage underneath for out of season hats, gloves, etc. I have a large corner on the wall across from the front door, and I have had a large antique curio cabinet there, and also a bookcase.
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missionfamily
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| Posted: June 10 2007 at 8:04pm | IP Logged
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We have a large foyer in our 100 year old home with a very high ceiling and a chandelier. Because of this we decided to keep it sort of formal but practical so we have a lovely antique settee and matching side chairs along with a small coffee table. Above it hangs an antique mirror. There isa small stand that contains an old oil lamp and an anitque Bible. On a coat rack near the front door I have hanging the dresses that my grandmother smocked for us as little girls and that everyone in my family has worn for various occasions as well as some vintage ladies hats. On the other wall is an antique trun which houses photos and scrapbook supplies. There are framed portraits of each of my boys on the walls as well. While I really want to paint it, it is not a priority on the project list right now, and it is one of my favorite areas of my home. We rarely use the front door, but when I know we are expecting company, I love to leave it open and have the porch and foyer work as two added spaces to sit and visit with a cup of tea!
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Lorri
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| Posted: June 11 2007 at 8:43am | IP Logged
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This feels like a blog carnival topic- the Loveliness of Entryways
Mine is tiny and has a beautiful, carved, teak bench that stores hats, gloves, light sabers, swim goggles and dance shoes - all the things you might need before you dash outside.
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Mrs.K
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| Posted: June 11 2007 at 11:47pm | IP Logged
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Wow! Thanks for all the ideas to ponder, ladies. Our foyer is where the front door is. We have a mud room going to the garage so we don't really need any storage things in the foyer. There are also two closets. That's one of the strange things - it's a lot of open space but not a lot of wall space - ther are windows, closets, and French doors to the music room on the walls. Cheryl - do you have a certain type of 'bench' in mind? I think it would be nice to have a place to sit.
I thought of having a table with a statue. For those with a 'mini altaar' in the entryway - is it also your prayer area? We pray together in the living/family room so it seems like that's where a statue should be. OTOH, I was thinking of maybe putting our picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe to have Our Lady's presence right there in the entry. We have a crucifix outside next to the door.
Colleen, you sound so creative with your decorating!Elizabeth, your foyer piece is lovely. But that's the thing - we don't have any treasured heirlooms or extra anything so we would need to buy. I did mention to dh that a fountain is less expensive than furniture.
Rachel, I like that idea of 'transitioning', so maybe I'll start with some big plants. One of these days I'll have to actually go to a furniture store with my dh.
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Cheryl
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| Posted: June 12 2007 at 6:00am | IP Logged
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Mrs.K wrote:
| Cheryl - do you have a certain type of 'bench' in mind? |
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I'm not sure yet, but maybe something like
this
or this.
We'll probably go to a furniture store that we like around here. I don't think they have a website. We'll want to sit on them too.
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Cheryl
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: What's in your foyer?
