It’s been a while since our last Room by Room Recap. I hope you’re ready for photo overload!! Today, I’m giving you a recap of the transformation of our foyer and stairs.
This room is so large that it has traditionally been used as a living room rather than a foyer. But with a formal living room and a den downstairs, we didn’t see the point in that, so we decided we’d just have a grand entry instead. So we took it from dated with green trim, multi-colored walls, and gold carpeting on the stairs to clean and crisp. Check it out!
What we’ve finished
- Repair plaster walls and ceiling
- Remove carpet from stairs
- Repair and secure stair railing
- Prep, prime, and paint walls, trim, and ceiling
- Stain stair railing with varnish
- Repair minor termite damage in the floor
- Install new light fixture in the foyer
- Clean and lubricate pocket door tracks
- Install alarm system
- Paint fireplace inlays
- Install new fireplace trim + stain
- Hang privacy sheers on the front door and windows
What’s left
- Oil and/or refinish the floors
- Stain the stairs
- Install a stair runner
Install a Nest thermostat (we already have one installed upstairs)Decorate
We painted the walls in Kitten White and the trim in a high gloss white. We had minor termite damage (no active termites – yay!!) in the floor, so we went ahead and filled that in to prevent further cracking. We will eventually get around to oiling and refinishing the floors.
Since you can see all the way through our house and out our back kitchen window when you look through the front door, we definitely needed some privacy added to the front door and windows. We decided to hang sheers on the outside windows, and my mom made us the perfect taut sheer to cover our door. They still let plenty of light in, but provide enough privacy that we no longer feel uncomfortable.
This room is in serious need of some decorating. Right now, it’s kind of serving as a catch-all for furniture and accents that we aren’t sure where to put yet. You may have noticed the blue painter’s tape in the corner around the brass etagere…we are planning to move the piano into that space and the etagere into the formal living room. The black dresser is just waiting to be moved upstairs, and we are in serious need of a rug. But those things will have to wait for now.
You can read more about our plans for the foyer here, and see my inspiration here.
The figures…this room is 13′ x 21′ 6″ with 11′ ceilings. There are 4 windows, 1 fireplace, 1 exterior door, 5 interior doors, and 1 closet.
Be sure to check out these other Room by Room Recaps:
PS- all of the items on the brass etagere are for sale here. I’m still trying to decide if I want to sell the etagere or not…it’s pretty fabulous! ;)
Amazing what some fresh paint will do!! Looking good :)
Girl – you amaze me!! Love the crisp white on the trim (especially on the pocket door, swoon!) Good work!! P.S. Kitten White is officially the best name for a paint color ever :D
Ha! Isn’t it?! I think my dream job would be to be the person who comes up with names for paint…and nail polish! ;)
I love how bright and clean the room looks now, but I’m not sure about the placement for the piano. Where you put a piano can have a big effect on how well it holds a tune and keeps in good shape over the years. However, it can be difficult to find the perfect space. The general rule is to avoid outside walls, doors, windows, direct sunlight, or fireplaces; all these things can mean that the humidity along that wall is highly variable, and that can wreak havoc on pianos. A better location might actually be where you have the sideboard and chairs currently, against the stairway wall. It’s a really nice vignette, but the chairs can move to either side of the fireplace and the sideboard (which is a lovely piece) could go in another room or where the etagere is.
Good tips, Jennifer! Luckily (or maybe unluckily) for us, neither of us play the piano, so it is more of a sentimental piece for us. I wouldn’t want to put it where the chest is now because it would cover up the staircase, which is my favorite part of the foyer. But you make some excellent points…definitely lots to think about! :)
Wow, what a transformation! How long did it take you to do all this? The staircase alone (especially the railing) looks like it took a lot of detail work – it turned out great. Very cool!
Thanks, Laura! This room has been basically finished for a few months…all in all it probably took us 4-5 months to complete.
Sarah looks great- good work!
OH My! This is spectacular! I would love to fix up a home like this…what a dreamy place. Such a great idea to just turn the living room into a grand foyer/hallway! This looks perfect!
Deb
@Seeking Lavender Lane
Thanks for stopping by, Deb! :)
Looks amazing! I cannot imagine having a foyer that large. Super jealous!!
~Mary Keller
Thanks so much for linking up to Wonderful Wednesday blog hop. I love this old house remodel. Great job!
I am featuring it on my Facebook in just a few minutes.
https://www.facebook.com/recipesforourdailybread
Blessings,
Diane Roark
Thanks so much, Diane!! :)
Great captures of the work in progress. It really is an amazing transformation! I absolutely love the fireplace!
Wow, what a change! Love how spacious and airy it looks.
What an amazing transformation. The space looks light an airy now. I have never seen a fireplace in a foyer. That is interesting. I love that light fixture. Great job.
Wow, you’re really making progress – what a difference a nice clean crisp color can make to a room. Looking forward to following your progress along the way. I’d love to restore an old house – loads of work but they have so much character.
It’s a ton of work, Marie, but absolutely worth it! Thanks for visiting! :)
GORGEOUS!!! I love the transformation. The wall color and trim color are so crisp and clean. I love all the light that the room and your entire house gets. I have the same thing going on in my on house and it makes it so bright and sunny to live in.
The only thing that I would have done differently in your foyer is hang a grand chandelier. With ceilings so high and being the entrance it calls for it. My ceilings are about the same height as yours and I found that lower hanging light fixtures works better in proportion to the ceilings being so high.
Great job Sarah!
Thanks for stopping by, Xenia! We went back and forth on the light fixture, but ultimately decided on this one because we know that we want to have a huge Christmas tree each year in the middle of this space. We love the way this one doesn’t overpower the chandelier in the dining room. :)
Amazing! Doesn’t even look like the same house! Enjoy, it’s beautiful.
Whoa. That is some major hard work and dedication. But your foyer looks awesome! Following along so I can see the rest of the reno. ;)
~ Ashley
Thanks, Ashley! :)
Wow! What a great transformation. I have to check out your other rooms now.
Sarah, I am in awe of what you and your sweetie did! And you’re still married!!! We tried that one house and agree that it is not healthy for our marriage (married 33 years next month). It really is beautiful and I featured it on my fb page. Thanks for linking up at Wonderful Wed Blog Hop. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Thanks, Carrie! We’ve heard that if you can make it through a renovation together, you can make it through anything…I believe it! ;)
Wow that’s a lot of work and a huge difference in the room. It is gorgeous even without decoration. Thank you for sharing it at What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a great weekend! ~Deborah
OMG – you’re living in my absolute dream home !
THose features – a fireplace in the foyer – the pocket doors – those incredible stairs and that molding – absolutely gorgeous ! What a fabulous job you did!
Coming by from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia ( we were featured – I’m the kitchen :)
LOVE your makeover more than I can say!
XOXO
Thanks so much for your kind words, Suzan! I’m so glad you enjoyed the transformation! :)
Sarah, that’s AMAZING! I felt a little nervous looking at the photos of the renovation…and when I got to the finished space…WOW! I heard angels sing! Holy Cannoli! It’s gorgeous and serene and full of charm. Thanks so much for sharing at Twirl and Take a Bow! I’m pinning!
Thank you, Robin! :)
Just love your color changes. The black and white just make that staircase pop. How beautiful is that?? Congrats on redoing your beautiful home. What an adventure!
Thanks, Elizabeth! It has definitely been an adventure, and I don’t think it will ever end!
I love your house! Pinned. We love having you be a part of our party. I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. http://loulougirls.blogspot.com/
Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
What an amazing and jaw dropping transformation! It’s beautiful! The side by side photos make the renovation much more breath taking! Thanks for sharing at #BloggersBragsPinterestParty !
Wow! Your hallway is looking amazing. I am quite envious, it is bigger than our lounge ;-)
I sort of miss the bright green. :) I kid. I kid. Thanks so much for sharing on Merry Monday! -Treana @ http://houseofbennetts.com
Ha! We did keep a green bathtub in the house just in case we get nostalgic. ;)
Really beautiful, great job!
#magicmoments
xXx
Thanks so much for linking up at Teach Me Tuesday last week!! I very much appreciate you!! I hope to see you again this week. Starts tonight at 8pm CST – http://3glol.net/2014/07/14/teach-tuesday-3glol-12/
Have a great week!
This is just beautiful. We are restoring an old historic home right now and this stairway reminds me of ours. We haven’t touched ours yet! Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing on Kammy’s Korner. It will be part of the features at tonight’s Trash 2 Treasure Party. :)
Oh it looks so beautiful! Thanks for sharing on Hump Day Happenings : )
You’ve done a fantastic job! It has been several years since we did such a transformation – we have plaster walls and I dubbed our home ‘the dust bowl’ when we were working on them. LOVE the transformation so far and that you’ve created this lovely grand entrance! I will be featuring your post in this week’s Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
Thanks so much, Kathy! Our house is 100% plaster too, so I definitely understand living in the dust bowl!! :)
In the back of my head I kept hearing Nicole Curtis (Rehab Addict) saying “Oh my Gaawd. Why in the ### would anyone cover that up?” – for everything from the fireplace to the carpeted stairs to that “ugh” green color on the stairs and door trim.
The transformation is gorgeous.
Ha!! That’s hilarious–I find myself saying that alllll the time! Love her show!! Thanks for stopping by, Audrey! :)
Our first house was a complete restoration and remodel of a 1910 Sears kit house. I KNOW how much work goes into a transformation like yours! Fabulous job! Love the grand entry concept! The light fixture is perfect because it complements the dining room fixture without competing. The stairs are absolutely stunning and the tall baseboards are gorgeous. Love it!
Thanks so much, Charlene! As I’m sure you know, it’s a lot of work, but totally worth it!
What beautiful woodwork. You’re so lucky. Hello from Turn It Up Tuesday – sending you Like love!
Oh my goodness! It is gorgeous!! Your home will look so beautiful when you are done!
Thank you for linking up this post in the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party! Come again soon!
I <3 your refinish and all the vintage details:)
I love the old homes. THey just don’t make them that amazing anymore! I wish I could have done a renovation home…you have done a fabulous job…I am sure you will enjoy it! folowed you from anything goes linky!
Thanks so much for your sweet words, Cheri! :)
Great job! We are selling our prairie style home in Dallas (built in 1910) and buying another historic home in Fayetteville Arkansas (built in 1876). You are doing a great job with yours. I am glad I found your blog. I will be a regular visitor!!
Thanks so much, Talya! Your Dallas home is lovely…I can’t wait to see the new one!