Architecture Bespoke Living

Grand Entrance: 10 Ways to Make Your Home’s Entryway More Inviting

Luxury Defined seeks advice from Christie’s International Real Estate experts on how to design a fabulous foyer

An entrance gives visitors their first impressions of a home. Small details like an eye-catching arrangement of fresh flowers, well-placed mirror, or comfortable seat for taking off shoes can make guests feel immediately welcome from the moment they arrive. According to Ronald Ennik of Ennik Estates, “The adage that ‘first impressions last the longest’ couldn’t be more fitting. Whether you opt for a statement classic entrance hall, contemporary or minimal, carefully considered design and décor choices such as colour palette, textures, feature details and furniture go a long way in enhancing the experience of entering your home, and set the tone for the lifestyle you want your home to convey.” While each entrance is unique and personal, everyone can use some professional advice about how to make a foyer serve its purpose well. Luxury Defined sought the advice of experts in Christie’s International Real Estate’s network of affiliates, all of whom contributed knowledge and distinct perspectives from their varied locations around the world. Here are their top 10 ideas for how an entrance can be made inviting and stylish in any setting.

1. Crossing the Threshold
It may seem obvious, but people forget how important the front door is. “A fresh coat of paint or stain proxies for overall care of the property,” says Ruth Kennedy Sudduth, Director of the Residential Brokerage Division at LandVest in New England—a region where the varied conditions of changing seasons necessitate regular paint touch-ups. Melanie Magras of Sibarth Real Estate in sunny St. Bart’s echoes this advice, noting that “a nice door that reflects the quality of the construction” makes an ideal first impression, whether it features natural wood, a bright paint color, or sleek metal and glass. Such front door choices should be made based on the architectural style of the home. At Villa EXP in Lurin, St. Barts, for example, this spectacular estate blends clean, white walls with warm, exotic hardwoods, lending itself to a front door that is both regal and welcoming.

2. Picture Window
For estates that sit on a spectacular property, be it mountainside or waterfront, a window that frames the natural beauty of a home’s setting can be a lovely introduction to both the house and the surrounding area. “One thing unique to entryways in Telluride is that they are often designed to take advantage of the incredible mountain views,” says TD Smith, Managing Broker at Telluride Real Estate Corp. in Colorado, “either via a peek-a-boo before the main show, or as the main show itself. Rather than revealing themselves as one walks into the great room, they unfold as the front door is opening.” At Sunset Ridge, a spectacular, modern estate on a private peninsula in Telluride, guests are treated to a mountain vista worthy of an Ansel Adams photograph the moment they walk in the front door.The residence's bold, yet simplistic, linear architecture naturally draws a first-time visitor to a glass, entryway door offering a first hint of the refinement of finishes and viewscape beyond.Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Properties in South Africa advises that “designing your entrance hall to frame a beautiful view creates an extraordinary impression for anyone entering the home, drawing the outside in and emphasizing the value of the location.” The jaw-dropping views that greet visitors to this Cape Town estate are a perfect example: framed by an ultra-wide retractable wall, one entire side of the main living space can be opened to the beach, letting in sunlight, ocean breezes, and vivid sunsets.
This luxury Cape Town estate showcases exceptional ocean views.
This luxury Cape Town estate showcases exceptional ocean views.
3. Porte-Cochère
In regions where it rains and snows regularly, a traditional porte-cochère is considered by many an old-fashioned amenity that is still highly useful. Originally designed to shelter horse-drawn carriages from inclement weather, porte-cochères are commonly found in European estates built from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Equally useful in the age of the automobile, this unique feature can add architectural interest to a home, especially when it is designed well. At the R-Bar-D Ranch in Ridgway, Colorado, the porte-cochère cleverly takes the form of a walkway that connects the two wings of the estate on the second floor.Resting on a sunny plateau with a perfect mix of mountain meadow, Ponderosa, and Juniper, the R-Bar-D's primary residence and guest house dramatically capture the entire Sneffels mountain range.4. Everything in its Place
While entrances should be attractive, more than that, they should serve a purpose. When guests arrive, they may have bags and coats, gifts, or even food and wine for a special meal. This can make an arrival a bit cumbersome unless there are clearly defined places for things to go. Sudduth recommends “a place for everything” and suggests hosts consider these questions: “Can you stand out of the weather outside the door?” “Hang a coat, shed boots, greet friends as you step inside?” As Sudduth adds, “For you or your guests, order and comfort matter.”

5. Tables and Chairs
Just as it’s important for there to be a place to set down gifts or handbags upon arrival in your home, there should also be a place to sit in case a change of footwear is required. This can have the added advantage of making an entryway feel more in keeping with the rest of a home, according to Frederico Judice Araujo of Judice Araujo in Rio de Janeiro. “Some chairs or a small table are both good options to make an entrance feel cozier, comfortable, and prepared for visitors,” Araujo notes. Sudduth also advocates balance, as in this gracious entryway in Woodstock, Vermont, where a grand, curving staircase creates a natural nook for furniture arranged underneath the focal point of a classic brass lighting fixture. “Symmetry is comforting,” says Sudduth. “Consider elements that balance each side of the entry.”Set on a South Woodstock hilltop meadow, on 82.5 acres, Sunnyside is one of the prettiest sites in Vermont.6. Walk Softly
Whether a home has carpeting or hardwood floors, rugs add a soft, welcoming touch to an entryway. Araujo recommends paying attention to details from the ceiling all the way to the floor. “Carpets are a great way to show off your personal style and treat guests’ feet to some softness,” he notes. This tropical estate in Rio de Janeiro has floors made of travertine, which gives the interior a modern look.

Adding a few antique carpets in high traffic areas can soften both the look and feel of these fashionable stone floors.

7. Seasonal Blooms
Flowers and branches are appropriate any time of year, from the first appearance of tulips and crocuses in the spring to cheerful holly and evergreen wreaths in December. On an estate with a garden, the foyer can provide a highly visible place for bringing the outdoors inside, depending on what is in bloom. Sudduth recommends changing it up depending on the time of year. “Celebrate the seasons; whether elegant or whimsical, seasonal wreaths and plantings are fun and welcoming.” 

8. Fine Art
The most personal touch of all for a stylish entryway is a work of art that tells guests something about the hosts’ tastes and personalities. According to Araujo, entrances are “the ideal space for hanging images” as they often provide just enough wall space for a medium-sized painting, photograph, or print. This contemporary waterfront residence in Rio de Janeiro has a vibrant interior with bold colors, windows that frame the blue water and green mountains in the distance, and warm hardwood floors, making it a dynamic and exciting home in which to display art from an array of time periods and cultures.

9. Mirrors
Mirrors, especially rounded versions, gained popularity in the era before electric light because they amplified candlelight, allowing family and friends to talk, enjoy a drink, and play cards well after sundown. They still serve numerous practical purposes from a design perspective. According to Araujo, mirrors can “create the illusion of a bigger space” in a room. While their decorative frames can add color and interest to a wall, mirrors also offer both hosts and guests the chance to do a quick style check.

10. Context is Everything
If nothing else, an entrance should echo the look and feel of a home. The entrance to this elegant Georgian-style home in Bryanston, South Africa, introduces the aesthetic of the rest of the house immediately on arrival.This four-bedroom Greg Vickers Georgian-styled home offers everything a family could desire. A sweeping wrought-iron staircase frames the space, while a pale color palette and natural light make it bright and inviting. “Match the place,” says Sudduth. “The front entry symbolizes the larger property, so its character should match the vernacular of the property and location.” Whether your home boasts a style based on grand downtown elegance or rustic chic, Sudduth emphasizes that it’s important to “stay consistent and authentic.”