Not every entryway is clearly denned square or rectangular
room. Some are not true home entries at all but part of an open-plan
layout. These may be most common in small condominiums - where space is at a premium
- or in very contemporary homes with an open design. There are, however, many ways to
create the feeling of an home entry area in a studio apartment or a small
condo.
The creative use of flooring can help. If your main room has
either wall-to-wall carpeting or hardwood floors, replace a
portion with a different surface material. For instance, cut out
a rectangular area of your carpeting—one that's large enough to
accommodate the sweep of your front door and a few extra feet to
spare—and replace it with hardwood, ceramic tile, quarry tile,
flagstone, or marble. This will divide the space visually.
You may have to call in a professional to put down the floor in your entry,
because it must be applied so that it doesn't interfere with the
opening of the door. And since the area is small, it will pay to
buy the best material you can find.
Erecting a half-height wall with a countertop of oak or other
attractive wood can also help define an entry. You could also
use a low bookcase. To add visual interest, place a vase with
flowers or a decorative table lamp on the bookcase.
Wall decor as well as wall
color of an entry have a huge impact on overall impression of a home. A neutral color scheme is important.
Developers often leave
behind a legacy of bad taste when they complete a home, but because the walls or wallpaper are
new, home owners learn to live with it. But becoming
desensitized to potentially offensive colors or designs can be
costly. Strong colors can create territorial anxiety and will
hurt not only your unit but others as well. ( see
color - mood associations
and molding)
If the carpet or other floor covering in a home entry is worn or dated, have it
replaced. Gold or deep red shag carpeting, for example, is dated and may
suggest that other parts of the building are old.
The entry floor should say as much as possible about the quality of
the property in general. If it looks tired, it should be
refinished, upgraded, or replaced. Refinishing a wooden floor or
coating a tile floor with Val-Oil will create a newer look and
also introduce new smells. But a damaged or poorly maintained
parquet floor, for example, can lead to questions about the
maintenance of other parts of the property.
If replacement is in order, the home owner should invest in the best possible
quality
Home lighting fixtures
are very important. The ceiling-mounted light fixture in the entry to the home
can provide an exciting focal point. It is always impressive when walking into a
home and see a very attractive
hanging crystal chandelier in the entry. It suggests that the developer or the
home owners are doing something right and may be indicative of
the quality of the rest of the property.
Whether you live in a 10 000 sq. feet home or 1300 sq. feet apartment, it always
pays to put in an eye-catching light fixture. A wrought-iron or crystal
chandelier may cost several thousand
dollars, but its impact will have significant benefits.
Home entrance lighting plays
important role in setting the stage and
creating a first impression of your home.
Lanterns,
chandeliers and
sconces are
the most popular lighting fixtures for a home entry.
A home entry with a grouping of attractive furniture can add luxury
and dignity to an entry. Making the entry look more like a suite
than a utilitarian service area will help improve the ambience
of the entire property. Beautiful mirrors
will create a more spacious and luxurious look. The style of
benches,
occasional chairs and
tables should be consistent with the design
and other furniture of the
home. Home entry built-ins are very popular feature in today's open-plan contemporary interiors.
When making decisions regarding your home entry trust yourself and don't let others impose their personal tastes on the
selection of furniture.
Plants and flowers can add color and fragrance to an entry area
and suggest that the home owners are interested in its upkeep.
Flowering plants will make even more of an impression.
Even if you have to supply the fresh flowers while your home
is on the market, it is well worth the small investment. When
choosing plants, consider spathiphyllum, a Chinese evergreen, or
a dracaena since they are durable and do not require much light.
When buying flowers, hyacinths, tuberoses, or gardenias are
appropriate.
If you live in a condominium apartment, you really have two entries, one to your
building and one to your home. To maximize the value of your unit, pay close
attention to both of these areas. The condo association,
management, or trustees who fail to recognize the importance of
an attractive common entry or lobby are doing a major disservice
to all of the building's owners. An impressive lobby will
improve the value of all units, while a shabby one will do just
the opposite.
The same rules that apply to your own entry apply to the common
area, with one significant difference. While you have to absorb
100 percent of the cost of your unit's improvements, you're
responsible only for a fraction of the cost of common-entry
improvements. For this reason, you may be able to afford to
spend more on this part of the building, thereby greatly
increasing its perceived value.
The lobby should look clean and smell fresh and suggest a
well-managed property and a caring group of owners. Carpets
should be shampooed regularly, pet odors eliminated, and
hard-surfaced floors waxed. Old newspapers, magazines, and mail
should be tidied up.
No detail is too small, because the entry is an integral part of
the first impression of your property. The following is a
checklist for improvements to the lobby or entryway in a
condominium or cooperative building.
Whether your property is a condo or a detached single-family
home, the entry will make a lasting first impression that will remain with the
buyer throughout the rest of the tour. Because the entry is small and because
the buyer will be looking at it so closely, make sure every detail is looked
after. By perceiving quality and care in this room, the buyer will approach the
rest of the home with a positive attitude. Many of the techniques that work for
the entry can also be applied to the living room. Consumer surveys indicate that
this room is among the two most important rooms in the home. The look and feeling of
your grand home entry plays a critical role in setting right tone for the rest of your home
