A Welcoming Entry:
Designing a Sense of Arrival
An entry that was already beautiful became something more inviting—opening the view, creating connections between rooms, and introducing the different moods of the home through architecture, color, and light.
The Vision & Transformation
Built in 1938, the home had beautiful architectural character, including a graceful curved staircase and distinctive ironwork. But like many older homes, its original layout didn't always support the way families live today. The entry, while beautiful, created an abrupt arrival. Walking through the front door, your eye met a wall rather than being drawn into the home.
Our goal was to honor what made the house special while thoughtfully adapting it for modern family life. Removing the wall and introducing a generous arched opening transformed the experience of arriving home, creating connections between rooms and allowing the surrounding spaces to reveal themselves.
We wanted the rooms to feel connected without necessarily matching. From the dark, enveloping study to the softly colored dining room and light-filled living room, each has its own character. Repeated architectural details, thoughtful lighting, and a considered palette bring them together, creating a cohesive experience as you move through the home.
Before | The original entry, with a more traditional arrangement of furnishings and enclosed views
After | A clearer sightline and a more open connection to the surrounding rooms
Before | The original staircase and entry details
After | The staircase remains, with enhanced paneling and a more cohesive architectural backdrop
Design Details
The original entry was beautiful, but the wall directly ahead interrupted the view and limited the connection to the surrounding rooms. Removing that wall and introducing a generous arched opening transformed the experience of arriving home.
What had been an enclosed den became a dining room connected to the foyer, with views extending into the adjoining spaces. The new opening creates a sense of welcome while allowing the rooms beyond to reveal themselves.
01 | Open the View
During | Creating the generous arched opening that connects the foyer and dining room
After | A new architectural connection that frames the dining room
Before | An enclosed den that interrupted the flow between rooms
After | A dining room that opens the view and creates a more natural connection throughout the home
The Thinking Behind It: An entry should do more than provide a place to arrive—it can introduce the home and invite you to explore. By opening the view, the surrounding rooms become part of the arrival experience, creating a sense of connection, depth, and discovery.
02 | Let the Architecture Lead
The original curved staircase, with its beautiful ironwork and dark wood treads, was one of the home's most distinctive features. Rather than change it, we wanted to give it a stronger architectural setting—one that honored its character while making the entry feel more intentional and connected.
Before | The original curved staircase and ironwork
Design detail | Necessary doors are integrated into the surrounding paneling, allowing the architecture to take center stage
We introduced new wall paneling to bring depth and continuity to the surrounding spaces, allowing the staircase to become a natural focal point. The contrast of the dark wood, decorative ironwork, and black-and-white flooring adds richness, while the repeated architectural details create a sense of cohesion.
We also considered the practical elements that can interrupt a space. By integrating necessary doors into the wall paneling, they become less noticeable, allowing the architecture—not the functional details—to take center stage.
After | Added architectural detailing gives the staircase a stronger sense of presence
The Thinking Behind It: Beautiful original features don't always need to be changed. Sometimes, the most meaningful improvement comes from what you design around them. Strengthening the surrounding architecture and thoughtfully incorporating practical necessities can make an existing feature feel even more special.
A Sense of Welcome
The best transformations don't erase what made a home special. They build upon it.
By honoring the home's original character while opening views and creating connections, the entry now offers something more than a beautiful first impression. It creates a sense of welcome, inviting you into the spaces—and the life—beyond.