friday redesign: bachelor pad

My brother recently bought a house and has been gradually renovating it room by room. His newest venture is the entry way which is an addition built by the previous owner like 40 years ago on what was originally the font porch. It is a big space that opens to the kitchen and the living room and happens to be the first thing you see when you open the front door.

My advice: bring in some color and some humor! Right now it is a dark and dull space with no personality. I like the horizontal real wood paneling. It is a great base for a contemporary, masculine style.

Start with the floor- a large, graphic, black and white cow hide will add warmth and a visual pop as opposed to the small neutral one there now. I would rearrange your chairs to sit in the corner and place a comfy, rattan pouf in front that would be both functional and stylish. (I should probably avoid using the word "pouf" when trying to convince my older brother of anything- lets just call it an ottoman instead. ) I also love this modern, arc floor lamp and the twig coat rack that plays up the "woodsy" feel of the space. Finally, find, or, better yet make, an over sized art piece, like this pixilated Abe, to hang on the blank wall and get some colorful throw pillows for the chairs.

All in all, this project would be at least $600 and I didn't even address the windows. But, if you change out the rug and pillows for some from Target or find a cool coat rack from a thrift store and spray paint it an unexpected color, you could easily shave off a couple hundred and still make an awesome first impression, especially for any bachelorettes that may stop by!