Space of the Week: A Boring, Builder-Grade Entryway Gets Tons of Charm Thanks to Clever DIYs

When Sarah Pollio of Joinery & Design Co. moved to the Minnesota countryside for open air and adventure, her family's entryway didn't appear to match that spark. "It was a builder-grade blank canvas," she remembers. "It definitely needed some character!"

Pollio had been working for years to slowly incorporate texture and color into her white box of a home, where her husband, Dan, and their four kids were always running inside and out. "We also have a handful of pets—dogs, kittens, bunnies, and chickens—and this past summer our family worked on a garden together," she says. "We really enjoy being outside and exploring."

As Pollio balanced these activities with her home's transformation, she particularly wanted the epicenter of their comings and goings to be a place that showcased her classic style. "We are always walking through this space to head upstairs or into the den, so we wanted all of the design details to work together and pull in other elements of our home," she says. "We also sought for this area to be a warm welcome for any guests who enter."

She started designing from the top down, and Dan built white oak beams that were installed on the ceiling. Then they chose a large metal door to give the den some separation without interrupting the flow of natural light, and worked with a local welder to create a matching metal railing for the staircase. "The beams added so much dimension to the room, and the door feels like a large piece of industrial artwork," she says. "From there, we layered in furniture and decor for color, richness, and function." A Loloi rug was laid in front of the door while an arched mirror was placed on the stair landing to help bounce light around. Dan also built the slatted console table, Pollio's favorite item in the room, where accessories play off the black details in the lighting overhead.

"Creating a plan and adhering to a timeline were the most challenging aspects of this project," she says. "But it's so fun to have this space functioning and complete. We are really happy with all the features this room has to offer."

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