They say that “the eyes are the window to your soul” ……. Well your hall is the window to your home! It is the first view that a guest sees when they enter your home and sets the tone for the kind of décor that you like. Muted and pale or vibrant and glossy …. These are the looks that immediately set the scene for the rest of your home.
Mandy Chody, Partner of M&Y Interiors says “We always enjoy making a hall and staircase interesting and practical as this area has to withstand dirty feet and mucky hands which are part of family life. We also encourage our clients to have vinyl wallpaper which is perfect for sticky fingers and luggage scuffs which can be easily washed off together with a durable material for staircase handrails which can hide the marks of an everyday life in a busy household.”
A “wow” light fitting from the first floor down through the stairs is always a show stopper and one of the favourites is a fibre optic light which only needs one bulb so extremely energy efficient but looks amazing.
M&Y always recommend if possible to a console table in the hall area which is convenient for keys etc. especially with drawers. Most people like two lamps on the console table as these can be put on timer and are very welcoming for clients coming into an empty property especially if its dark or they are alone. We also recommend a mirror for those last minute checks before leaving their home.
Staircases can be made in many different materials to suit the individual properties ranging from modern properties who might use stone, glass, Perspex with leather handrails to more traditional properties that could embrace wood, wrought iron or stone.
We have been involved before in a wood floating staircase which looks wonderful and is a definite asset to any hall especially if the staircase needs to be unobtrusive in the hall area.
Some lucky clients have a huge hall and staircase area and the trick is to make it cosy and inviting without filling up the space. We use occasional chairs or upholstered benches as well as rugs and sometimes for a very large hall we place a round table in the middle which is ideal to display fresh flowers. We also recommend wall lights for additional interest.
To make a smaller area look larger, we often mirror one wall to make the hall look twice the size … this can be in bronze or antique mirror and made in squares for added interest. This adds to the wow factor of the area.
A sturdy coat cupboard is of major importance when you enter to take guests coats, hats etc. We often build this in to make it as unobtrusive as possible and it soon becomes one of the most useful cupboards in the home.
Artwork that catches the eye is very important to consider as it can fill blank walls and add colour especially if the floor and walls have been chosen as neutral. M&Y also recommend this to finish off the hall area and create that special ambience. This needs good lighting as a winning combination to make sure the art is shown off to its best advantage. In fact, lighting to a hall is of paramount importance.
Mandy Chody, Partner at M&Y Interiors says, “We are experts in creating warm, welcoming hallways and staircases for our clients. We always enjoy this design process as it is often our starting point to creating a beautiful home for our client.”