Dear Laurel,
I love that post about the entrance to one’s home! However, I have just one little problem.
Our new home has no foyer entry whatsoever!
You open the front door, and now you are in the living room. My husband and I just purchased this home and loved it otherwise. It’s a darling cape built in the 1930s. Oodles of charm, but at only 950 sq feet, it is pretty tiny. The living room is downright little!
And, furniture placement is quite awkward.
I mean, who builds a house where there’s no foyer entry, and you walk straight into the living room?
Is there a solution to create that lovely sense of entrance short of building out the front entrance? Maybe one day, but right now, we don’t have the funds for that project. I just hate not having a proper entry into our home.
Sincerely,
Nadia Rien-Hall
*********
Dear Nada,
In answer to your question: Who builds a house with no foyer entry? A lot of builders do this.
Why? The only answer I can think of is because they can. Unless some substantial structural issues require load-bearing beams, it’s far cheaper to put up a house without walls than a house with walls. That might be why; not sure.
But before we go any further…
Nadia is a fictitious character this week but based on a real-life problem of no entry foyer.
And I need to say that especially this week since we’ve had a lot of very real and very nice people share their homes recently. You can see these posts, here, here, and here.
Over the years, I’ve seen some variation of this situation of not having a real entrance into the home, not infrequently. Most of the time, these were interior design consultations, not full-fledged clients.
One thing to consider when buying a new home is this:
Just because something isn’t there doesn’t mean that it needs to stay that way.
We will get into some variables and viable solutions, but one of the most obvious ways to deal with no foyer entry is to create one.
But, let’s begin with some relatively inexpensive solutions to create the illusion of a foyer area when there is none.
I have often used a sofa or sectional to create a divide between the front door and the rest of the living space. If there’s room, a sofa table, beautifully styled, is very nice too.
Via Serena & Lily. Please check this out for a lot more great ideas for entry tables.
- Create a welcoming feeling with tables or chests. Artfully styled
- attractive baskets and boxes can be used to store necessary items
- a small cabinet or bookcase can make a good room divider. But it should be no more than 36″ high and heavy enough that it’s not going to tip over. The exception would be if it’s bolted down to the floor, somehow. I don’t know how to do that; I’m just saying. Safety first!
However, If there’s enough space and funds, I would consider putting up a wall or partition to create an actual foyer entry.
The rest of the post focuses on structural changes one can make when there is no entrance foyer.
Let’s look at that floor plan again.
It’s missing a wall on two sides. However, I am presuming that the measurements of the room include what is necessary for the hall. And there are two halls in this case. Yes, that is one itty-bitty living room.
Therefore, if the space isn’t very large, it’s way better to keep things open.
One solution that I don’t have an image of for this post would have some columns act as dividers. I would probably do about four– two of them perpendicular to the fireplace, one in the corner, and then one perpendicular to the front of the house.
Option Number two is the very popular “pony wall,” sometimes called a “knee wall” or a half-wall.
Via Victoria Home Modern Mag – photo – Jody Beck – Lovely pony wall
Pony walls can have columns or not. But I love columns and usually prefer them to be square. However, it depends on the house. The columns below taper very slightly, which is fine for this craftsman-style, but I’ve seen some that look more like pyramids. That wouldn’t be my preference.
I don’t think that it’s ever wrong to do a square non-tapering column. Sometimes I see some that IMO, is too thick. Well, how wide is too thick? Well, I think it depends on the size of the room and ceiling height.
A six-inch square would be the minimum on each side, and I probably wouldn’t do more than one foot for most homes. But, for a small living room, one foot would probably be overwhelming. This is when your builder needs to draw an elevation so that you can see the proportions.
Here’s another pony wall. I’m not totally in love with the design as a whole, but I think that the columns and half-walls are in good proportion. And, it gives just enough separation of the spaces. Plus, the architectural interest is a crucial component.
This pony wall creates a vestibule before coming into either a hall or a room.
***
There are also a couple of lovely pony walls with columns in this post.
Another huge problem with having no foyer entry, especially in parts of the country that are freezing in the winter.
If the door is opening a lot, then it’s going to be very drafty, so sometimes it’s good to have a way to block some of that arctic blast.
And that would be with an enclosure or at least a full-height partition.
Most likely, an old vestibule was taken down, and a more updated one was added, still in keeping with the Victorian architecture. This is a great solution for those “polar vortices” ;] and to claim a space to store wet boots.
Fabulous curtain divider above and below by William McLure
However, I especially love the partitions that are really like interior windows and doors.
These seem to be very popular in Europe, but they haven’t caught on here in the US yet. At least not in a big way.
So, let’s take a look at the many beautiful options I found. Not all of these are by a front door or even a living room, but they certainly could be.
This is from the show Fixer Upper and is probably the most classic example.
One of my favorite glass partition walls – photo Anders Bergstedt – The post in the link is lovely too.
Fantastic Frank – wonderful partition
That’s reminding me of this amazing partition in a kitchen in one of my favorite posts.
Above and below two more photos of this spectacular space via El Mueble.
Gorgeous from the home of the amazing Jean Stoffer.
Sorry, the original source is unknown. This one requires a high ceiling. These, of course, also work in loft spaces, and I also love them when they have drapes.
I love what Alexandra did to create a vestibule that has the versatility to be more open or closed.
And, the Gracie wallpaper makes the space, I think.
Please check out Alexandra’s website. She’s a young, super-talented interior designer. And her site is gorgeous! She also has a beautiful Instagram account. So, please be sure to follow her on insta.
And while you’re there for a sec, if you’re not following me, please do so. I don’t care that much, but other people do. Haha.
Next up is the awkward front door in the middle of the living room.
In my internet research travels, I came across this charming home of Corbin Page of the Blue Door living blog with a not-so-charming front door, as I said, smack dab in the middle of things. The link above will take you to her post to see more of the room and her floor plan and ideas.
Corbin also has a beautiful Instagram account, so please be sure to follow her as well.
In Corbin’s case, it’s not a solution necessary for the furniture arrangement, but it comes close to working with what she’s done.
What if we had only a small wall in front of the door. There would need to be a steel header and steel beams on the sides as well. The bottom part could be like the image above, or it could be taller. And of course, it could be painted white. And depending on what works best, it could be a little wider.
My last idea is these wonderful iron windows and doors that make beautiful partitions.
The partition in front of the door could be something like this. Or plainer and probably with the wood muntins.
These partitions are more contemporary but could also work in a variety of situations. But, since they take up very little space would be ideal if the room is very tight. I think that they are beautiful!
We saw this in this post about fabulous, classic kitchens that aren’t white.
There’s also another wonderful iron and glass partition in this post.
Well, I hope that gave y’all some good ideas for making a foyer entry even when there is none.
please pin to a pinterest board for reference
You might also enjoy this post about what to do when your floor plan is too open.
xo,
*** PS: Please be sure to check out this week’s HOT SALES! ***
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20 Responses
Great ideas, Laurel. Thank you!
I have a foyer with a step down to the living room. I have hardwood floors on the main level, except for carpet in the living room. The carpet is to help guests discern the step down (which many never notice). Would love to put hardwood in the living room, but I am concerned about safety, that guests will not see the step. A pony wall may work. Laurel, do you have a blog post concerning steps or varying floor heights? Thank you!
I love windows inside a house. Wish I had some.
This article had me reflecting on the house I grew up in. Our version of a foyer was an entranced flanked by two chest-high bookcases. They were about 8 feet long, built in and facing each other. I sat there for hours as a kid flipping through the encyclopedia set my parents paid a fortune for, way back when. Essentially, our foyer was our library. My grandma had large fish tanks on the top shelves. I got paid twenty five cents to feed the guppies and angel fish. Such great memories. I bet I have more emotional attachment to my childhood foyer than most people. Hah! Something I’ve never before recognized. Thanks, Laurel!
Toni,
I also had to laugh at this article! When I was looking at the floor plans the builder had to choose from there was only one out of 8 that at least had a wall between the kitchen and living room that is what we chose. He says that what everyone wants, I told him HGTV tells people what they want!
If you look at pioneer homes it was all one room including the beds, because of the fireplace to cook and heat.
It’s also like the two sinks in the master bath, HGTV tells you that’s what you want. I chose one sink because it gives me more counter space and less cleaning, sure it looks nice but…I never knew people had such conflicts when brushing their teeth, I guess scheduling the bathroom is old fashioned!!
I guess all the fixer uppers and the new trends makes everyone lots of money, which is fine but I just wonder in a few years time HGTV tells people they should want walls and just like that everyone will follow suit!
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Imagine that!
Hilarious article I came across today! https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/an-open-letter-to-the-architect-who-invented-open-concept-floor-plans?utm_source=GetTheElevatordotcom
Our front door is on the side of our house and opens into the dining area, with a short pony wall about 4′ from the door. I would love to incorporate the ideas you posted but our ceiling is 20′ high. I’m thinking it would look weird if I added those great posts and windows partway up or all the way to the ceiling? What do you think?
I don’t understand what these builders are thinking. The entrance is bizarre.
Why did we buy it? For the view from the living room and the deck.
I think the foyer/vestibule issue is somewhat geographic. Having lived in NE Ohio my entire life, every home I (and family members) have lived in always had a front hall, foyer, vestibule at the front entrance. Most often there was waterproof flooring to resist wet, snowy boots and a coat closet for those heavy winter coats. As I build my wishlist of ideal floorplans for a retirement home, im drawn to a lot of bungalows and cottages built in southern climates. All seem to have front entries directly into the living room, with no coat closet or sheltering vestibule to be found. They simply don’t need to account for the weather we get up north. Those front hallways have a purpose, namely not letting all the heat out the front door when someone arrives!
I have been looking for a glass window to hang above the peninsula between the kitchen and the living room for months, after reading this blog again I was even more eager to find what I needed.
I had some time to kill yesterday and decided I would go to a local antique store which I had been to a few weeks before and there it was the perfect size and already had hangers on it, made my day! It will be a sound barrier but also lets light in, a win win.
In my house there is a foyer but still open to the living room, I solved the problem by putting a room divider at the end of the foyer which now blocks your view into the living room when someone enters the front door. Maybe someone else could use the idea as well.
The Jean Stoffer entry is amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Oh my goodness, just when I thought I could not love you any more…this post shows up.
Wonderful ideas, and ever so timely.
Now, to convince the husband it’s a necessary thing. (Perhaps an idea for another post😉)
Wish me luck!
(Another) Laurel
What about having half the covered front porch made into the vestibule/foyer? Helping with the cold, place for boots, small chair or table or closet. Then the living room small as it is, remains as a living room without intrusive columns or pony wall using up valuable floor space.
I’m not a fan of the window partition thing. I don’t know why, but it stirs a bad feeling inside me! Maybe it feels institutional or industrial to me… I don’t know. However that vestibule with the sliding doors by Alexandra Rae is so beautiful. I think it would have been helpful to actually see “make do” examples on how to approach this dilemma (like furniture arranging), rather than all the partitions which require a contractor. We own a tiny neo-cape/colonial built in 1942 and are lucky to actually have a tiny entry with a closet. Most people would knock it all out immediately to “open it up”, but not us!
Great Post!! I had to laugh when I saw “next up, the awkward front door in the middle of the living room”, that’s me! 😂. Not only that, but I ended up using a piece of furniture and a hanging Iron thingie to create a transition to the dining room, which has a beyond awkward shape. I just bought this small, 100+ year old house with a lovely covered porch and the strangest floor plan! Luckily I’m creative, because I don’t have any (extra) money 😂 – no knocking down walls unless I do it my self (which I’ve been known to do…)! So instead, I’ve been devouring everything you have to say ever since I found your blog, and you’ve helped me a great deal! The pictures you share alone are priceless! Still a ton to do, so I’ll keep devouring haha. Thank you for sharing you incredible talent with all of us ❤ Kristina
The homes you feature are always so lovely. I am a lover of wallpaper too and appreciate seeing in the homes you feature. Every glance provides an escape for me into a world of beauty.
I feel like the part about the living room being tiny was lost here. I can’t imagine how small my living room would feel with a partition, and no there is definitely not room for a sofa AND sofa table! I’m hoping to find a corner sectional that will fit the space and create a “hall way”, but the usual suspect furniture options are decidedly too large.
Hi Laurel,
Perfectly timed post for me. My husband and I just closed on a beautiful home with 19ft high ceiling, great flow EXCEPT you enter through the front door snd you’re now in the greatroom with an open kitchen to boot. We hired a contractor to create a foyer before we even move in. We have a wall to the left so it’s a matter of adding a pony wall to the right side and a hanging fixture to define the space. Never thought of a glass partition! Great ideas here! Thank you
Thank you for this post! When house-hunting, I have turned down many great houses because of the lack of a foyer. Next time I will consider adding a partition. Now, Laurel, what do you do when the builder made an open plan with no coat closet or other storage?
I’ve lived in a 1949 cape for years without a foyer, and it has never bothered me. Weather permitting, I have the front door open all day (storm door outside) and appreciate the extra light that illumines the living room. Having the backs of two side chairs facing the door helps to define the sitting area.
I just moved out of a house that had this challenge. And we have freezing cold winters, so anytime anybody came into my living room the entire house was cold for at least an hour. Though I no longer have that problem in my new house, this is still one of my favorite posts!
Absolutely love everything about that vestibule by Alexandra Rae!