One of the big items on my wish list when we were looking at houses to buy, was a large Entry Way. In my mind it was necessary that I had a space big enough for a bench or chair and an oversized entry table or dresser (and by necessary I mean I literally vetoed houses that had smaller or badly shaped entry ways). I wanted a space that I could have fun decorating but that also didn’t end up feeling dwarfed if I had a large piece as a focal point.
I was so excited when I found our house because the entry way was huge, almost a room of its own. I tossed around the idea for a few days on whether or not I wanted a table or a dresser in there and ended up choosing a dresser. Several different pieces took turns being tested out in this space and ultimately this dresser won out. It will be getting a much-needed paint job make over in the near future (when my baby will actually finally let me put him down) but for now I love the look and lines of it in the room. The lighting in there is terrible due to some overgrown trees on our property that are blocking all of our natural light (such a sad thing) and we are in the process of clearing them out, but in the mean time I just have to deal with less than stellar natural light in the space.
Most of the items in this space are thrift store finds. Shopping at Goodwill and Antique stores is my favorite way to find fun, interesting pieces for my spaces, and it also means that if I ever get tired of it and want something new I can simply change it out without having to stress about the amount of money I spent on one particular piece. The basket, vase, succulent/container, the wreath and chalk board all came from the Goodwill for less than $10 total.
I am a sucker for succulents so when I saw this combo at the Goodwill, I had to have it. It used to sit on my husbands dresser until I stole it and now it takes up residence in my front entry way. “Shopping” your house is also a great way to decorate your spaces.
My kids have been collecting sea shells from every beach we have gone too and depositing them in this vase. I think it’s time for a bigger vase. (I don’t know why but every time I say that I hear the line from Jaws, “I think we’re going to need a bigger boat.”)
This fantastic black picture frame I bought second hand from my friend Amy, who also happens to be the amazing photographer who took our family pictures that are in the frame. It’s obviously time we get a new family picture with Fynnock because this one is no longer our complete family.
The chalkboard was actually a very large framed painting, from what I am guessing was the 70’s but I’m not sure, at any rate it was not my style at all so I simply painted the frame white and created my own chalkboard paint and painted over the actual painting. The large oversized picture, paint and chalkboard paint all cost me less than $5. 
My sweet little man, Braddoc, would bring me the gift of a pine cone home from the playground every day when he was in Pre-school and we would just add them to this basket. My collection got very large very quickly so we narrowed it down to our “favorite” and found a new home for the other pinecones.
I absolutely love the bones and line structure of this piece and I can’t wait to see what it looks like all painted. I’m thinking of painting the body white and faux staining the drawers. I got the lamp at Target on sale and painted over the white and black lamp shade to create a more neutral farmhouse colored shade. You can read about that here.
We are big college Football fans and we love Alabama. Sports are also a big thing in our family so much so that our third son is named after Bear Bryant, one of Alabama’s most winningest coaches. Of course its only fitting that this is in our entry way.
I really love the space and I can’t wait till I can finish it up with some bead boarding, new paint and a new light fixture, hopefully sometime in the near future.
You can see our house tour and all other plans we have for the space here.
