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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Making An Entry Where There Isn't One...

What do you call it?  entrance?  entry hall?  foyer?  for-your?  I call it "necessary".   I like having some kind of defined entry area into a house, but sadly, not every house has one.  That would be true in my house and, dang it, it was really bothering me.  

You know how sometimes you can just "make one up" using, let's say, a rug, a clever furniture arrangement or something like that?  Didn't happen. I couldn't come up with anything.

Then, I had a light bulb moment...

My mother's going to kill me for showing this picture but I have to show the "before".  This kinda cruddy (sorry, Mom)  all wood bookcase was in my mothers garage.  Clearly she needed it, but she was very generous and gave it to me anyway.  She always saves the day!

 I secured it to the wall and floor and wrapped it with leftover hardwood flooring.  Then I added trim to the front, top, and bottom, and also added doors with glass.  I got the column when I laid down in front of my neighbor as he was taking it out to the trash.  The bottom of the column was rotten so I cut it off.  
(I hope it didn't hurt much)  











If you've ever tried to cut off a super thick, made out of hard old wood, ROUND column with a circular saw in need of a blade change, then you know what I'm talking about when I say...WOW.  Never tried it?  Don't.  

I stacked a wooden plate and plaque from the craft store to make the new base and a little fabric trim to cover where it all (almost) came together.  I just painted the trim the same as everything else.  It looks kinda cool and completely covers the ragged edge left by the dull.....uh.....blade.







These little jewels came from Home Interiors a million
years ago and I will never stop loving them.  


Here's a look down the hall...



The phone is original to the house and still works perfectly!  When it rings you can hear it down the street!!!


And here are some pictures of the front door and porch.




I'm linking this up to Kelly's link party



*To see the parties I link to and to join in the fun, CLICK HERE!

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53 comments:

  1. GENIUS!!!!
    GOTTA share this on Facebook!

    :-)

    Layla

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  2. Love it! What a beautiful entrance and how creative!

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  3. Saw this on Twitter via Lettered Cottage. Now this is recycling at it's best.

    Great job.

    Lisa

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  4. Great job! That looks fantastic!! I'm with you on the dull blade thing.....:)

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  5. That is an amazing job! I love it! Thanks for sharing too Layla :)

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  6. Saw this on twitter form the lettered cottage. This is AMAZING. Seriously.

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  7. We were just talking about doing this yesterday!! THank you for the pictures because it gives us a wonderful visual now. It looks great.

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  8. This is a marvelous solution! and very, very clever! ::Jill

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  9. okay, you've raised the bar! talk about using what you have! very nice!!

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  10. Great idea! I've seen something similar before, but I love all the elements you pulled together. Really nice!

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  11. Looks like it was always there! Love it!
    Deanne

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  12. Brilliant! Done so tastefully!!! It's amazing what a little creativity can do! Very inspirational!

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  13. I saw this via the Facebook post by Lettered Cottage...holy moly! You're amazing! I would have never in a million years thought of that! Way to go, it looks gorgeous :)

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  14. Wow wow wow!!! You are brilliant! It turned out beautifully!

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  15. Just three words.... Fan Tas Tic!

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  16. Amazing transformation! Just goes to show when we want something bad enough we creative people find a way to make it happen. And you succeeded brilliantly!! (found you via the Lettered Cottage).

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  17. Wow, that is amazing!! It looks fantastic. So very creative.

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  18. Stumbled over here from The Lettered Cottage...LOVE IT!!! I have the same problem! Thanks so much for the idea!

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  19. This is exactly what I have been wanting to do to "seperate" my living room from the eat in kitchen. I knew it would take a regular bookshelf to do the job, but I could not figure out the rest!!!! So many questions...how did you secure it to the floor and wall? did you just buy the glass cabinets or have those made?

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  20. very clever! and if Layla likes it you know you "done good"
    Nice to meet you :)
    Natalie

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  21. Awesome Job. I would never have guessed that didn't just come with the house. Nor would I have thought the final result started with that lonely bookcase. Very clever!

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  22. That is awesome...you took that old bookshelf and turned it into a wonderful foyer! Wow..I am totally impressed!

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  23. so cute and clever!

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  24. Awesome, I need to do this too! Very creative and looks classic.
    This is my first visit, come on over and visit me soon. There's a giveaway on.

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  25. Hi Anonymous,
    I wasn't able to respond to your questions (no reply info) but please email me I will try to answer your questions....
    L.

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  26. I've thought about this but it would require totally reconfiguring our built-in bookshelves and I thinkt the hubs would have a HEART ATTACK! Will have to start thinking on this one...

    Melissa
    www.houseography.net

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  27. Holy moly! I am impressed!!! What a great transformation.

    Tamra

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  28. Amazing post! You outdid yourself. Could you move in next door to me and come over to my house. I have no entry either, ugh!


    Kara
    http://vivrelejour.blogspot.com

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  29. No stinking way,,, I must say that is probably one of the most creative things I've seen. Just brilliant. I think I'm hooked. Girl, if this is the kidn of stuff you come up with, how can I go wrong. Im your newest follower. I am also VERY new to the blogging world, so if you are kind enough, come on over and check me out. I have nothing quite like this yet, but hey we all start somewhere. !!!

    http://bellabeforeandafter.blogspot.com

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  30. gen-i-ous! that is fantastic! most men would say, "you can't do THAT with THAT!!!" ha! you showed everyone you can! i love it!

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  31. Soooo creative! Way to go, Girl!

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  32. Your entry is beautiful. I have those same butterfly pictures and they are in my family room right now. I'll never stop loving them either.
    ♥ Joy

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  33. APPLUASE ~!!! This is creative genius at its best.. Beautiful entry way display..

    Sonny

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  34. You are so clever and capable!!! Love this.

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  35. My husband and I built our first two homes, and are about to purchase our first already lived-in home. I love the column, and commiserate with the dull blade. You did a lovely job with what you had on hand. :)

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  36. Excellent solution...you are very talented to create this wonderful built-in unit!

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  37. love your foyer - I love all the hats!!

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  38. I literally love every single thing about it. I have been saving hats for a while now to hang up our back staircase - seeing yours convinces me how great it will look!

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  39. This is awesome! I wish I was this crafty!

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  40. Wow, that is awesome! Way to be creative!!!

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  41. Love it! What a difference adding the bookcase and column must have made. I'm your newest follower from Kelly's Korner :)

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  42. Oh wow! This is SO nice! I love your sense of style!
    http://hanginloosewiththetuccis.blogspot.com/

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  43. I love your front door and porch! The seating on it and little table is so inviting!

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  44. Your home is beautiful!! Where in the world did you get that lovely painting over the fireplace?

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  45. Really nice job. I love your creativity! And what a beautiful grandfather clock!

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  46. Awesome job on the column and shelf. What a sweet mother you have. ;) After seeing it all gussied up like that, I bet she wants it back AND in HER foyer!

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  47. That's amazing! I don't have a foyer either, but our living room is way too small to create a little area like that. I love it! :)

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