Inspiration photo from Studio McGee – Midway House
When we first walked through our new house, my head filled with questions. What could this house become? What does this house want to be? What do I want it to be? If you buy or build a home that already matches your style, or you plan to keep it exactly as it is, those questions are easier to answer. This house, though, invited a different process — imagining how its existing character could evolve into our home.
Being open to possibilities instead of only seeing what already exists is both the fun and the challenge of designing a home. Luckily, this 1950s house has solid bones and a lot of potential. It didn’t take long before I could envision ways to enhance its original features while layering in our personal, eclectic style. The house provides a perfect shell for mixing modern, farmhouse, tropical, British Colonial, coastal, and midcentury influences — yes, a little of everything — and I’m excited to see how those elements come together.
The house is in good shape, so there’s no need for a complete gut remodel. We’ll keep the original footprint and most of the layout intact, focusing instead on updating finishes and adding personality. My goal is to preserve and celebrate the home’s original structure while allowing it to evolve with thoughtful updates and design choices.
Because the entry sets the tone for the rest of the house, that’s where we decided to begin. The entry will introduce the overall style and give a hint of what’s to follow in other rooms. The exterior will also be refined to create a cohesive feel between outside and in, but first I want to share what I’m working with in the entry and how I imagine it transforming.
My new entry. A blank slate!
Here are the pros and cons I identified for the entry, along with ideas for improvements:
Pros and cons
- I’m glad this home has a designated entry. Many houses we viewed opened right into the living room, so even though this space is more like a hallway, having a separate entry is a big plus.
- The hall needs a fresh coat of paint. The current color feels dated and heavy, so a brighter, cleaner palette will help the space feel welcoming.
- The entry is somewhat dark, long, and narrow. With brighter paint, updated lighting, and possibly some wood detailing or paneling, it can feel charming rather than cramped.
- The slate floors are a feature I love and plan to keep. They give the entry character and durability.
- The front door works for now, but we’ll likely update it down the road to better reflect our style.
- Interior door hardware isn’t original and will be replaced to better suit the aesthetic we’re aiming for.
- There may be a change to the way the master bedroom connects to the front hall; I’ll share more on that later as plans develop.
- Lighting will be updated. With standard ceiling height, flush mounts are a practical and attractive choice.
- Although the hall is narrow, there’s space at the far end for a slim bookcase or shallow console to provide function without crowding the path.
- Additional updates are likely for the adjoining hallway; I’ll discuss those possibilities in future updates.
The inspiration photos shown here and at the top of this post aren’t exact matches for my entry’s dimensions, but they contain details I can imagine incorporating: paneled walls, bright paint, clean trim, built-in storage, and simple, welcoming accessories. I don’t plan to abandon the style I loved in my previous house — rather, I want this new home and our style to meet somewhere in the middle and evolve together.
Photo Source: Justin Bishop Interior Design
Photo Source: Studio McGee – Midway House
Photo Source: Millennium
Photo Source: Jenna Sue Design
Photo Source: Emily A. Clark
Photo Source: Traditional Home
Original source unknown
Photo Source: Studio McGee (Lynwood Remodel)
I’m excited to work through each room and share the elements we plan to keep and the design decisions we’re considering. If you haven’t seen our video tour, it gives a helpful overview of the whole house and how the spaces relate. Thank you for following along as this house becomes our home.