Interiors: How to really make an entrance
The frame of Glenn Brown’s artwork (glenn-brown.co.uk) and the shelf bracket below it echo the adjacent glazing, while the aesthetic is softened by a collection of antique books and objects
The hallway sets the mood for your entire home. World-famous interior designer Kelly Hoppen CBE shows you how to give it the wow factor
Walls and corridors are like the bone structure of a home, quietly playing a supporting role to the more extrovert rooms that wow us with their personality and style. However, these spaces shouldn’t be neglected in the design stakes. Although they are not usually somewhere to linger, they are passed through frequently and are the first areas you see when you open the front door.
White walls create a gallery-like backdrop that is ideal for showcasing art, pictures and displays. Here my own-design vases and a monochrome photograph are offset by the Calacatta marble
Hallways are good rooms for making an impact, as you may feel emboldened to experiment with more adventurous colour, dramatic texture or graphic pattern when experiencing it in small doses. Look at ways to make a bold style statement as soon as you open the door by creating a focal point to immediately catch the eye. This could be a luxurious wall finish, a theatrical ceiling light or an arresting piece of artwork.
A statement staircase is a great way to make an impact. This flowing design of dark wood and glass leads the eye up, while the low-hanging Terzani chainmail pendant light adds further texture and interest
Some chairs are almost pieces of sculpture, like this one by gallery 16 (Gallery16.com), which tones with the photograph by flip schulke (Flipschulke.com), creating a design thread throughout the space
Remember when you are choosing décor for your hallway and connecting areas, there needs to be a design thread or common theme to link these spaces together, so that nothing jars. You might choose to treat these areas as an extension of the primary living rooms, resulting in a calm, coherent feel, with one space flowing seamlessly into another. Alternatively, you could take a bolder approach and give connecting areas their own design identity. An echo of a colour or a repeated texture or material used in the room beyond is all that is needed to create a sense of unity.
Remember that every doorway frames a view. Here a sense of anticipation is created by the dramatic double doors that open on to a black wood runner set into polished stone, guiding the eye to the statement furniture beyond
A geometric marble design gives the entrance hall of my London home wow factor. pivoting lacquered shutters, a panel of specialist plaster, tall double doors and a trio of pendant lights draw the eye upwards
However, don’t get so wrapped up in the décor that you forget the practicalities. It is essential to build in sufficient storage for items such as coats, umbrellas, shopping bags and shoes. It will make your entrance area more relaxing to be in.
This is an edited extract from Kelly Hoppen’s Essential Style Solutions For Every Home, to be published by Frances Lincoln on 4 May, £14.99.T o order a copy for £13.19 until 28 April go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193. Free UK delivery on orders over £20
Picture Credits: Steve Leung, Mel Yates, Vincent Knapp