Large Foyer with Banquette

Large Foyer: BEFORE

My clients had recently purchased their home when they reached out about the large foyer; they had already upgraded the stairway by removing carpet and replacing a dated iron railing with a beautiful custom balustrade. The challenge was the size of the entry way — it was too large to just be a mud area, but not large enough to be a living room. The space was open on one end to the family dining room, so they hoped to incorporate spillover seating for large family gatherings or entertaining. The space also needed to have a landing area for keys, etc, and ideally could also be used for occasional work-from-home days.

Large Foyer with Banquette: AFTER

We created a solution that was considered a “10-year plan” in case a future renovation reclaimed the space for another use. With a limited budget for this reason, we prioritized the biggest-ticket item: building a custom built-in banquette that would function as both extra dining space and a work-from-home nook. To save money in other ways, the couple sourced most of the remaining furniture second-hand, and used other budget solutions like a battery LED conversion of a wall sconce so no electrician was necessary. A washable rug in a vintage style adds texture and softness to the traditional space, while being suitable for an entryway.

(banquette by Ironwood Cabinetry)