My One Room Challenge is starting to really take shape! This week all the packages started arriving and design decisions are in full swing for my new entryway. Almost every order is a hit…almost. Read on to see the thought process and final decisions on what may and may not work (so far)! I can’t wait for this space to continue taking shape!
Bench
First up, this bench fits perfectly and has just enough of an antique feeling to it that it goes with the rest of our dining set nearly perfectly. It’s not competing with anything in the room and serves as the focal point of our new entryway. Assembly was a breeze and the price couldn’t be beat!
Hooks
Next up are these awesome black hooks. I was looking for something that would be beautiful even when not in use, but still very functional when needed. If we’ve got heavy winter jackets to hang on them, they need to do their job! I love how oversized they are, and the clean lines lend themselves well to our modern-farmhouse meets minimalist-cozy vibe.
The bronze hook is another element that I love — it’s so sculptural, and brings a bit of industrial warmth to the space, while still being very usable. I can’t wait to see it on the wall!
Lights
I ended up ordering two light fixtures and in news that is truly shocking to everyone, I ended up liking the less expensive of the two…seeing things in person can really make a difference! Here were the two that I was deciding between:
Online, I obsessed over the globe fixture…I loved how unique it was, and thought it would balance out the existing rectangular fixture we have above our dining room table. I also thought it would give a nod to the circular mirror we have on the other wall. The black and bronze really spoke to me, too, and I simply couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! Unfortunately, when the fixture arrived, I ended up not liking it for our space for a couple of reasons:
First, the color is way to orangey-gold in person. While I’ve heard of people using rub-n-buff or spray paint to tone down stuff like this, for this price point, I didn’t think it was worth it.
Secondly, I’m aiming to do the battery-powered puck light trick here so I don’t need to run any electrical or deal with unsightly power cords. Unfortunately, the globe lights are a fraction of an inch too small and the puck lights won’t fit inside. In fact, the overall scale of this light fixture just didn’t work in the room, and I fear that it will compete with the other goodness we’ve got going on. But not to worry…the other option is a winner!
To be honest, when I was first placing my orders, the second black fixture was a last-minute add-on and I figured it wouldn’t work — I was thinking it might end up leaning a little too far farmhouse. However, now that I see it all together with the art, I think it’s perfect. As I mentioned, I’m not running any electrical to this area, so this sconce gives off a bit more light and will be easier to access when the batteries need changing. This area doesn’t necessarily need any additional light, but I look forward to having the ability to change the mood of the room when I’d like!
General finishing touches
Most of the finishing touches will be sourced from stuff we already have on hand, including the blankets, pillows, and a coatrack that may come and go as needed if company comes over. All this will be part of the end reveal! The one finishing touch that I did order is this hanging rope basket which I feel may be a bit too big. The jury’s still out, so we’ll see how everything comes together and make a decision later.
Art
Now the final finishing touch that I’m most excited about is the art. I decided to again shop my own home for this instead of spending hundreds on art that I’m not quite sure about. I’m very picky when it comes to art, so I decided to go the DIY route to make exactly what I envision. And to be honest….I’m loving how it’s turned out so far! Stay tuned next week when I show you my full DIY art process, because the creativity has been so fun!
