First Impressions: Four Looks for Your Foyer

"First impressions are lasting impressions." My grandmother was full of wisdom, and that was just one of her gems. We all know this fact – whether we've cared to make our own first impressions at day one on the job, or continue to judge others for a lacking impression they made on us 10 years ago (you know you do).

Of course, what someone thinks upon first encounter is just as important when it comes to our homes. Our homes speak to who we are, don't they? So why wouldn't you want them to make a fabulous statement?

And upon entering the front door, what's the area that guests will judge first? All together now: The entryway!

In celebration of the New Year and to encourage you to start your impressions for 2010 on the right foot, I've compiled four looks for a stylin' entryway that will guarantee you'll be known for the put-together, chic person you are (or at least want people to think you are).



Bygone Era Elegance
There's something so reassuring about black-and-white movies, antique stores and classic music. It's all timeless – proof that elements of our past will have staying power long through the decades. A look inspired by such exudes an appreciation for the past and a longing to maintain that ageless elegance.

Here, a graceful Colonial sofa table provides the foundation of the look, which is accented by antique-inspired elements like a baluster lamp, porcelain umbrella stand and owl bookends. A gold sunburst mirror and traditional rug take the formality to the next level.

Clockwise from top left: Gevaudan Balustrade Table Lamp, $199, Ballard Designs; Antiqued Owl Bookends, $69 (set of 2), $69, Gump's; Louis Sunburst Mirror, $279, Ballard Designs; Porcelain & Brass Umbrella Stand, $199.90 (on sale), Horchow; Safavieh Anatolia Collection AN516 Celadon Rug, 2'3"x8', $210.38, Rugs USA; Colonial Sofa Table, $1,195, Jayson Home & Garden.





Industrial Chic
My brother is a serious industrious type, always working with his hands -- welding steel, cutting wood. You know, real man's-man type stuff. Knowing that there are countless men out there just like him (and I'm sure they're all reading this right now), I decided to prove that you can combine manly materials into a sleek, gender-neutral look. Sure, it may not be neon beer signs and pin-up of the month calendars, but is that the impression you really want to make? (Don't answer that.)

To create this look, I tracked down items created from raw, industrial-like materials: aluminum, steel, jute, rough-hewn wood and burlap. The variety of textures adds the necessary interest while the neutral hues keep the style streamlined for those non-fussy manly types.

Clockwise from top left: Steel Urn Lamp, $155, Modern Dose; Crumple Bowl, $44, Z Gallerie; MIRROR; Gus Modern Upcycle Ottoman, $425, Bobby Berk Home; Jute Boucle Rug, 2.5'x7', $69, West Elm; Octagonal Mirror, $195, Restoration Hardware; Gear Console Table, $249, CB2.




Hippy Hippy Chic
If you prefer things a bit more playful and idolize anything that came out of the '50s, '60s and '70s (welcome to my brain), then this look is for you. Achieving midcentury style can be tricky, though – too much and your home will look as if the Brady Bunch and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band went on a bad LSD trip and attacked your interior. So think minimal. Typically each midcentury-inspired item is already reaming with personality, so you don't want to go overboard pairing too many items and mixing too many colors.

I love the simplicity of this look – it's a fairly refined color palette (with the psychedelic porcelain lamp providing the color pop) but each item is so interesting the eye will never be bored (or overwhelmed). But with all this excitement (come on, you're not excited about that rainboot umbrella stand?!) something needs to be calming – so a solid, no-fuss wood console table provides the perfect simple foundation for this look.

Clockwise from top left: Pacifica Console Table, $399, Crate & Barrel; Lily Mirror, $199, Ballard Designs; Sprout Vase, $68, Jonathan Adler; Anabelle Lamp, $199 (on sale), Modern Dose; Boot Umbrella Stand, $49.95, Z Gallerie; Chains Indoor/Outdoor Rug, 3.5'x6.5', $119.99, World Market.




South Beach Eclectic
If you love style with a coastal nod, try this South Beach-inspired look on for size. A wicker drum table (with storage for umbrellas, totes, etc.) and flat-weave indoor/outdoor rug adds the necessary casual flair of any beach home, while chic touches like a gold-finished fretwork mirror and ceramic pineapple silhouette lamp reflect that Miami formality. I especially love the recycled-glass bottles that are topped with real shells – what better place for such a display than on your entry table?

Clockwise from top left: Message on a Bottle, $149 (set of 3), Wisteria; Fretwork Mirror, $250, Horchow; Audrina Lamp, $298, Modern Dose; Hapao Garden Seat, $250, Williams-Sonoma Home; Palm Beach Ticking Rug, 2.5' x8', $78, Dash & Albert; Grove Console Table, $429, High Fashion Home.

Want more fabulous foyer ideas?
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