BHH Home Tour: Foyer and Art Studio

We had a good weekend here. Andy took the older boys to Cleveland to a baseball game, the comic book store and the aquarium. While they were gone, I took S. back to summer camp. He was at camp two weeks ago, and he just loved it. They offered us a discount voucher for session 6, and S. asked if he could go back. It makes me happy that he enjoys camp so much.  I have very fond memories of Girl Scout camp in the Wasatch mountains of Utah. I loved the camp songs, hiking, eating in the mess hall and everything that traditional summer camp provided. S. feels the same way. This camp allows for an intensive skills track during the afternoon, and he chose archery this week, just as he did during session 4. He is determined to get a bullseye this session.

Having everyone away left some quiet time for M. and I. She and I played together for a bit, and then I actually got some painting done in the Teen Bedroom. Stay tuned for that. We are closing in on the end of that project. Finally!

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Today, I am continuing the house tour. This project has been good for us. We are organizing and cleaning as we go. Unfortunately for the library upstairs, I am chasing all of the clutter there, and that room is becoming even more unsightly than it was before. I am not sure how I will handle that yet, as it seems that everything I put there, belongs there, and that simply cannot be true in a house this size.

The foyer really is a grand entrance. The staircase is a work of art. The balusters are three, unique designs. The landing is curved on one side, and all the way down the side of the staircase is embellished with a decorative, carved design.

The room to the left is the living room. On the right is the dining room. The bright light from the door and window ahead is coming from the art studio. The door to the dark hall leads to the kitchen.

At the top of the first landing is the library. Leaded glass windows allow for extra light on the staircase. Those windows are curved, and they actually open and close.

Under the staircase is what we call Harry Potter’s room. It is really a coat closet, but we all enjoy imagining Harry living under the stairs even though our family would be much kinder and give him a nice bedroom of his own. This photo also showcases the balusters and the carving on the side of the staircase as well as the ornate woodwork around the door and window.

Our friend loved the idea of Harry’s room so much that she bought us this Gryffindor emblem when she was at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando. It hangs proudly on the door.

This is the view from the other direction. The front door is enormous. It is approximately 5 feet wide by 8 feet tall! It is so heavy that M. is barely able to open it on her own. The screen door opens french door style. We typically just use one side.

Where I stood to take the photo above is the art studio. The space is really an enclosed porch. About month ago, M. asked me if she could turn it into an art studio, and I said yes. I thought it was a great idea. M. set it up, mostly by herself,  and this is how it looks to date.

I look forward to seeing some artwork on the walls. I suspect that this room is seasonal. It will likely be too cold during the winter. If the room gets too cold, we will have to find a new space for art. For now, it is perfect. I recently moved Millie’s crate in here, and in the winter, she will need a new place to sleep as well.

The To-do list for both of these rooms is pretty small. Thank goodness. I love the foyer wallpaper so much that I want the rest of our downstairs decor to coordinate with it. The paper looks brand new, and the painted wood still looks very fresh.

Foyer To-Do:

1. Get new floor rugs and stair runners. The current rugs were in the house, and we only kept them to protect the floors. I think I want this rug from Overstock.com, but I need to measure the floor first. Whatever we get, it has to stand up to Millie’s antics. The first thing she does when she comes into the house is roll all over the entryway rug.
2. Perhaps get a piece of furniture or two to add to the space. I am thinking that it would be nice to have a bench to sit on when we put on our shoes.
3. Make some minor repairs on the front door. It sustained previous water damage.
4. Replace some broken panes of glass around the front door.

Art Studio/Porch To-Do:

1. Paint all the dark green trim. Color TBD
2. Repair/replace and paint the white walls under the windows. There are some sections that have water damage.
3. Paint the porch floor
4. Replace some broken panes of glass.
5. Get an indoor/outdoor rug  and some seating. (maybe)

Thank you again, to everyone who is giving their two cents about decorating. I love all of your ideas, so feel free to keep them coming. I have no idea what kind of stair runner would be a good idea. If you have any input, please share it.