We took pains to move away from the Victorian approach of overcrowding the room. Our accessorizing style was more spare, preserving the room's grandeur without making it look like a 19th century stage set.

One of the first things we did was to introduce better lighting in the form of two chandeliers. Besides brightening the hall, these served as a beautiful welcoming point for visitors and helped set the tone we wanted to achieve.

Livability was also a major consideration for us. The entry hall had to be a place where you would want to linger.

To enhance livability, we included plenty of spots to sit down and read a book, or mingle with friends when hosting a party. For example, a built-in boot bench was already in place next to the stairway and across from the fireplace. We added a custom cushion and pillows to the bench, positioned a new chair next to the fireplace, and placed a recamier (open-back sofa) in front of the adjacent window to craft a cozy conversation area.