Real Simple helps four women revive problem spaces — a foyer, master bedroom, a bedroom, and a home office
Paul Whicheloe
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The Fixes
1. Define the space. The walls were painted with Benjamin Moore Regal
AquaVelvet in Million Dollar Red. Now the foyer exudes a warm
welcome, reflecting K.C.'s exuberant personality. The contrasting
white trim and furniture give the hallway the crisp,
pulled-together look she craved. (Paint, $30 to $35 a gallon at
hardware stores.)
2. Make it function. A narrow farmhouse-style bench encourages K.C.'s
kids to sit down and take off their shoes instead of kicking them
off. And they can now stash their footwear and backpacks in four
wicker baskets in the new console, which replaced an impractical
chest. (Plow & Hearth Country Bench in antique white, $150,
www.plowhearth.com. Pottery Barn console, now available only in matte-black steel and mahogany-stained hardwood, $399, www.potterybarn.com; baskets, $69 for
two, www.potterybarn.com.)
3. Create flow. A striped woven cotton rug draws guests into the
house. Use double-sided carpet tape to keep the rug from curling at
the sides and becoming a hazard. (Rouge Stripe rug, $77, Potluck
Studios, www.potluckstudios.com for stores. Duck professional cloth carpet tape, about $4,
www.lowes.com.)
4. Stay in scale. A too-small mirror was exchanged for a
well-proportioned one, which not only makes the hallway seem larger
but also reflects the sunlight that pours in through the now
curtainless window. (Stanley mirror, 24 by 36 inches, $80, Bed Bath
& Beyond, www.bedbathandbeyond.com for store locations.)
5. Add grace notes. The hallway had overhead lighting, but a
table lamp casts a more inviting light. A gracious
custom is to leave a light on in the front hall so family members
don't return to a dark house.
