10 Fantastic Foyers That Roll Out the Welcome With Moxie

Come in and enjoy these designer takes on elegant entryways, from modern farmhouse homes to classy condos.

By: Lori Johnston

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Photo By: Savage Interior Design

Photo By: Patricia McLean

Photo By: Madcap Cottage

Photo By: David Christensen

Photo By: Matt Odom

Photo By: Lorraine Enwright

Photo By: Madcap Cottage

Photo By: David Christensen

Photo By: Cruickshank Remodeling

Grand and Gorgeous

"As you know, entryways make that first impression," says Jonathan Savage of Savage Interior Design. That's why he gives them the wow factor. "I design entryways to make them reflect the homeowners that live there. Sometimes I display a fun collection of theirs or just a statement piece of art." This grand entryway is classic and timeless. Savage painted the walls a medium-dark charcoal, which allowed for the off-white moldings and ceiling tracery to become a focal point.

Fancy, From Top to Bottom

"I believe the foyer should capture the imagination of guests entering the home. It should spark their imaginations as to what is to come next," says designer Patricia McLean. Exaggerated dental crown molding and the overdoor woodwork and surround are hallmarks of this luxury Atlanta condo entryway with a marble floor. "The marble lent a formal tone and the color of the inserts I choose was unexpected," she says. The antique coromandel screen lent an English vibe while the gilt bamboo bench with ikat fabric brought forward the feel of England's royal Brighton Pavilion. A niche with a curved opening housed an English painted console. "The hallway was allowed to stay wide, grand and noble," she says.

Precious Patterns

Handpainted details inspired by great English country estates brought this once-dark space to life in the foyer at the Madcap Cottage interior design team's North Carolina home. A "tented" pink and teal ceiling, painted floors and a handpainted pagoda chandelier purchased at a consignment shop invite guests to linger. Designers Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke, author of "Prints Charming: Create Absolutely Beautiful Interiors with Prints & Patterns," say: "A foyer shouldn't just be a pass-through space, after all. Create a storyline, then bring that adventure to life."

Modern Jolt

In the white modern grand foyer of the Southeastern Designer Showhouse in Atlanta, Melanie Turner Interiors used a custom settee with Schumacher fabric and scalloped details, along with a twig table, custom screen with geometric design and a contemporary painting by Sally King Benedict. An inviting collection of fashion and design books are stacked next to a brass floor lamp.

Formality With a Twist

A round foyer in a Tudor revival cottage dating back to 1928 features an original Dutch door, a stone floor and a faux-painted dome ceiling. "It is festive, a welcoming entry where friends might gather to view the owner’s splendid rose gardens," says designer Judy Hodgens. "This rotunda adapts gracefully to the adjoining living room space and wraps all who enter in a warm embrace."

Round Revival

On the other side of the round foyer, the bronze arms of a sculpture reach with "delightful acceptance" to all who enter, Hodgens says. "The multi-functional gathering space invites you to linger with a friend and enjoy the mix of art from glamorous modern to traditional," she says.

Neat Nook

A modern farmhouse foyer by designer Lorraine Enwright features a white shiplap wall, a barrel-vaulted ceiling, and a chair and table grouping. "An eclectic table and chair grouping is situated in an entry niche to nod to the warmth of an inglenook arrival from days past," she says.

Print-tastic

For a suburban home in New York, Madcap Cottage used a bold chocolate-hued striped wallpaper to create impact in a foyer that once had no drama. The formerly white-on-white walls now boast major impact. A mirrored console, lacquered hall chair and zebra-print rug finish off the look. Designers Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke, author of "Prints Charming: Create Absolutely Beautiful Interiors with Prints & Patterns," say: "The mirror and lacquer finishes trick the eye and make the foyer feel that much larger. Use tricks of the trade to make small footprints feel fabulous."

Antiques Abound

An Italian serpentine walnut three-drawer commode, a Tuscan carved giltwood mirror and an 18th century English chinoiserie tall case clock are in the foyer designed by Jacquelynne P. Lanham Designs for the Southeastern Designer Showhouse in Atlanta. Two 19th century regency-style chairs with an ebony finish are underneath framed original landscape oils by Tyler Colgan.

Traditional Styling

Curtains are used in the wallpapered entryway as "portieres," a traditional treatment in a doorway without a door. The doorway is the separation between the formal front rooms of the house and the informal portion, with the family room and the kitchen. Brad Cruickshank of Cruickshank Remodeling says the look was fitting with the 1921 home.