Remember when I revealed that we almost considered buying an alpaca farm? While that idea was charming—imagining mornings with alpacas—the practical choice for our family was to move to the city instead. We still have our furry, alpaca-like pups romping in the yard, and to bring a touch of farmhouse living to our urban cottage I’ll be adding vegetable and herb gardens next year.
For now, I’ve incorporated subtle farmhouse-inspired touches into the home’s decor and architecture to capture the white farmhouse feel in a practical way. When we first bought the house, I collected ideas for how I wanted the small hallway entry to feel. It was important for that space to function like a simple mudroom—a well-used passage between the front and kitchen doors—so hooks for leashes and baskets for everyday items were priorities over anything formal.
Progress has been slower than I hoped—true of most projects—but the hallway has changed a lot already. We haven’t installed the Dutch doors yet, and I expect they’ll make a big stylistic difference once in place. Still, the smaller updates we’ve made have had a meaningful impact.
It’s easy to focus only on the finished result, so I’ve been trying to pause and celebrate the small wins. You might have seen this entry hall briefly in the fall house tour; here’s a more detailed look at what we’ve accomplished and what’s next.
The hallway is shaped like a T: you enter and can continue to the dining room or turn toward the bedrooms or kitchen. One area right outside the kitchen has become one of my favorite spots. We left the built-in as-is but removed the sliding doors and replaced them with baskets, which opened the space and added charm. It was a simple change, but it made the hallway feel larger and more inviting.
We also replaced the drawer and cabinet hardware with matte black pulls and knobs, which added a crisp, modern contrast to the white paint and slate floors.
The sign hanging near the kitchen is an earlier find I brought from our previous home. I love its message, and it fits the entry’s tone perfectly.
We made the most of the wall outside the kitchen door with a farmhouse chalkboard, a zinc-style message board and a simple mail holder. In this corner the kitchen door is to the right, the basement door sits left, the built-in baskets are just behind you to the left, and my son’s room is nearby. The door visible in the photo will be replaced with an archway in the coming weeks.
Immediately to the right when you enter the front door we added a cast iron row of hooks. They’re functional and attractive—perfect for leashes, coats, and daily gear.
Standing at the front door, which will eventually become a Dutch door, you’re in this compact entry. The hooks are to the right and the doorway ahead leads into the dining room. I painted an Ikea mirror with Annie Sloan’s Paris Grey chalk paint and paired it with a chevron wood cabinet to add texture and interest.
A fresh coat of white paint (Swan White by Glidden) makes the space feel lighter against the slate floors. We added farmhouse-style flush mount lights in a white finish that complement the overall look and enhance the cozy, cottage feel.
Above is a photo of how this part of the hall looked before the updates. Below is a comparison showing the progress we’ve made.
The short corridor that leads to the master bedroom and bathroom also received a fresh coat of paint and new dark hardware for doors and drawers. While we haven’t decided yet whether to close it off from the entry—likely a choice that will depend on future plans like adding a powder room—we are very happy with how it looks now. The black accents tie into the rest of the hallway and provide a cohesive, classic contrast.
This is that small hall before—plenty of potential, which we’ve begun to realize.
Tobacco baskets on the wall
Another view shows the hallway leading to the master bedroom after the updates. Small changes—new paint, updated hardware, simple storage solutions, and purposeful accessories—have made a big, positive difference.
Here’s one last before shot from the kitchen door toward the bedrooms. I’m excited to share a full “after” once we install the Dutch doors and complete the kitchen—those additions will finish the look and make the transformation even more complete. Thanks for following along with this little renovation adventure.
SOURCES:
White Barn lights: Benjamin Union Porcelain stem mount light in white finish. (Barn Light Electric)
Black drawer pulls and black doorknobs used throughout the hall.
Proverbs sign and baskets used for open storage.
Zinc-style wire message board, farmhouse chalkboard, and metal mail holder for wall organization.
White paint color: Swan White by Glidden.
Some items were sourced from common home decor retailers and may include similar options.
