Design: Hackett House Studio
It is with so much relief that I am writing this post! This entryway has been on my list of spaces to update in our home for a loooooong time. But, as is wont to happen in old homes, it gave us more trouble than we anticipated. Regardless, I'm thrilled with the result and I know that the unanticipated headaches were worth it. While this is a very small space, it just goes to show that every corner of your home deserves love, and every nook and cranny is an opportunity to show off your style. This entryway was completed on a relatively small budget, so I'm excited to share the minimal but impactful changes we made to complete this space. Let's dive in!
The Before
Here is where we started. Don't you just love the 90s era faux slate tile?! And, for whatever reason, the previous homeowners painted the trim around the door a lovely creamy yellow. For reference, that color appears no where else in the house, so I have no clue how that decision was made. The 2x8 wood board with hooks for coats that is hung at a child's height wasn't working for us either, so all of this got ripped out.
And here is where the fun started... when we demoed the ugly faux slate tile, we expected to find subfloor. But sorry Charlie, it just doesn't work like that in old homes! We were surprised to find that the previous homeowners had tiled over existing linoleum tile -- yippee! And since we are adamant about doing things the right way, we knew we had to tear this floor up as well. It was a bear to get out, but once it was gone our contractor came over and leveled out the old subfloor and began laying the new tile.
The new tile was such a huge improvement. We decided to go with slate in the entryway for few reasons. First, I love that in honored what was in the house originally. Slate is a timeless material and a natural stone, which I love. It's also incredibly cost effective -- tile for this whole space was under $60! I love the natural imperfections it has and how every tile is just a slightly different tone and shape. The herringbone pattern dresses it up a bit and provides a bit of interest.
Next up was paint. Where I have white in my home, I use Simply White by Benajmin Moore. Voted color of the year a few years ago, Simply White is largely known to be one of the most versatile whites on the market. I love that it's neutral, not too stark, and feels homey and creamy. Never under estimate the power of paint! And wait until you see this entryway all cleaned up with a fresh coat of white paint...
The After
Ta-da!
Small spaces are so terribly hard to photograph, but hopefully these snaps give you a sense of how major this transformation was. The entry of your home is such an important first impression for your visitors. Too often, people overlook this incredibly paramount area of their home. And while the space might look minimal in the photos, there is actually a good bit of styling going on here that makes this little nook feel finished. With the exception of the hat on the hook, everything in this room is vintage. I'll link to similar items below!
Cost Breakdown
I find that it can be very difficult for people to understand the costs of projects like this, so I want to breakdown how much this renovation cost us:
Tile - $89.00
Tile Sealer - $16.00 (make sure to get matte finish!
Grout - $13.00 (color is Delorean Grey)
Paint - $175 (we also painted all of our hallways as a part of this project, which is why we spent so much on paint)
Painting supplies - $50 (rollers, brushes, tape, etc).
Labor - $300.00 (We did all of the demo ourselves, which saved us a ton on contractor fees for this project. We also did all of the painting ourselves!)
Styling / Decor - $263 (all sourced vintage or secondhand, similar items linked below)
Total: $906
As you can see, this was a pretty budget friendly project, but one that packs a big punch!
Shop this Look
Here are the exact tile products I used to achieve this modern cottage entryway, as well as some similar styling pieces!
Thanks for reading! Let us know what you think of this project in the comments!
Hackett House Studio is a boutique interior design firm located in Columbus, Ohio offering full-service and virtual interior design services, as well as concierge styling and interior photography. Please visit the services page of our website to learn more about us, and to inquire about working with us.
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