Front entry walk and custom entry courtyard gate leads to a courtyard bridge and the main two-story entry foyer beyond. Privacy courtyard walls are located on each side of the entry gate. They are clad with Texas Lueders stone and stucco, and capped with standing seam metal roofs. Custom-made ceramic sconce lights and recessed step lights illuminate the way in the evening. Elsewhere, the exterior integrates an Engawa breezeway around the perimeter of the home, connecting it to the surrounding landscaping and other exterior living areas. The Engawa is shaded, along with the exterior wall’s windows and doors, with a continuous wall mounted awning. The deep Kirizuma styled roof gables are supported by steel end-capped wood beams cantilevered from the inside to beyond the roof’s overhangs. Simple materials were used at the roofs to include tiles at the main roof; metal panels at the walkways, awnings and cabana; and stained and painted wood at the soffits and overhangs. Elsewhere, Texas Lueders stone and stucco were used at the exterior walls, courtyard walls and columns.

Vintage Eclectic

Construction by Meyer

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary front door in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a double front door, a dark wood front door, brown floor and exposed beam.

Lions Bay Post and Beam

Simply Home Decorating

The new owners of this 1974 Post and Beam home originally contacted us for help furnishing their main floor living spaces. But it wasn’t long before these delightfully open minded clients agreed to a much larger project, including a full kitchen renovation. They were looking to personalize their “forever home,” a place where they looked forward to spending time together entertaining friends and family. In a bold move, we proposed teal cabinetry that tied in beautifully with their ocean and mountain views and suggested covering the original cedar plank ceilings with white shiplap to allow for improved lighting in the ceilings. We also added a full height panelled wall creating a proper front entrance and closing off part of the kitchen while still keeping the space open for entertaining. Finally, we curated a selection of custom designed wood and upholstered furniture for their open concept living spaces and moody home theatre room beyond. This project is a Top 5 Finalist for Western Living Magazine's 2021 Home of the Year.

Entry + Storage Ideas

Architect Hewson

Under Stair Storage and tiled entrance to the house
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary foyer in Melbourne with white walls, ceramic floors, a single front door, a brown front door, brown floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Contemporary Entry

Mid-sized contemporary foyer in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a double front door, a blue front door and exposed beam.

Augusta Walk I

Ryan Miller Builders

Photo of a large contemporary front door in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a double front door, a metal front door and exposed beam.

Toorak Residence

MR.MITCHELL

Photo of a contemporary foyer in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

Accessible Split-Level Sanctuary

12/12 Architects & Planners

Photo of a large contemporary mudroom in Chicago with white walls, ceramic floors, a double front door, a white front door, grey floor, exposed beam and wallpaper.

Décoration d'une entrée

"Sur mesure" - Décoratrice d'intérieur

Décoration d'une entrée avec élégance et sobriété.
Design ideas for a small contemporary foyer in Other with porcelain floors, a single front door, a light wood front door, beige floor, exposed beam, wallpaper and multi-coloured walls.

Olympic Valley Team

Aspen Leaf Interiors

Design ideas for a large contemporary foyer in Other with brown floor, multi-coloured walls, vinyl floors, exposed beam and wallpaper.

Tarragindi Entertainer

neil design

This traditional home has had an exciting renovation, from front to back. The upgraded entry door has been enlarged and rehanded, and boasts a custom sliding security leaf that matches the timber cricket bat style door. The glimpses through the house provide a preview of the grand entertaining and living spaces that have been added to the rear.

Lake of the Pines Residence

Natalie Bachli Interior Design

Mid-sized contemporary front door in Sacramento with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a single front door, a black front door, brown floor and exposed beam.

HAMPSHIRE HOUSE LARGE FAMILY HOME

Sally Conran Studio Ltd.

For the light filled, double height entrance Sally chose a huge, striking, heavily foxed mirror hung over a contemporary console table in crisp black marble to compliment the neutral palette of natural oak, stone flooring and architectural white walls

Mansarda MC

Mauro C

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary foyer with multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors and exposed beam.

WRIGHT COTTAGE

Holsman Architecture + Design, LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary foyer in Other with grey walls, ceramic floors, a single front door, a medium wood front door, grey floor and exposed beam.

Masonic Studio

Studio InSitu Architects

The best features of this loft were formerly obscured by its worst. While the apartment has a rich history—it’s located in a former bike factory, it lacked a cohesive floor plan that allowed any substantive living space. A retired teacher rented out the loft for 10 years before an unexpected fire in a lower apartment necessitated a full building overhaul. He jumped at the chance to renovate the apartment and asked InSitu to design a remodel to improve how it functioned and elevate the interior. We created a plan that reorganizes the kitchen and dining spaces, integrates abundant storage, and weaves in an understated material palette that better highlights the space’s cool industrial character.

Columbus Square

Kennedy Cole Interior Design

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary foyer in Orange County with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a single front door, a dark wood front door, brown floor and exposed beam.

1910 Bobcat Trail - Entry

Thoroughbred Custom Homes

Entering through the front door, guests are greeted with a beautiful climate controlled wine cellar, stunning white oak wood beams, a modern linear fireplace and a view of the gorgeous one acre lot through the large 16'W x 10'H sliding glass doors.

Men's apartment

Olga Raiskaya

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary entryway in Moscow with beige walls, a single front door, a brown front door, porcelain floors, beige floor and exposed beam.

Top 25 All Time Grand Designs Winning Project

Thomas Studio

Lean-to space on the side of a barn conversion. With a step down and plenty of daylight linking the kitchen with a more informal play space and entrance to external spaces.

Contemporary Entryway Design Ideas with Exposed Beam

Make coming home a pleasure by making sure your entryway – also known as a foyer or vestibule – is the perfect transition from the public world to the private world. Your choice of front door, the organisation and general flow of the entryway should be practical and reflect the style of your home. Your entryway, foyer or vestibule is the first impression guests will have of your contemporary home. Does it reflect you and your household? Here are a few ways to make your entryway better - and if all else fails, there's always hiring an interior designer to help.

How can you make your front door stand out?

Front doors can make or break a home’s appeal. An outdated or ill-fitting front door will imply what lies beyond is just as overdue for a makeover. No one wants a front door that stands out for all the wrong reasons, so choose one that suits the style of your home. Aluminium doors, for example, are more suited to contemporary-style homes, whereas ornate timber doors suit period homes. That doesn’t mean you can’t inject some of your own personality, though. While the architectural style should remain the same, you can shake things up with paint colours and quirky door handles. If you’re planning a new home, play around with the size and shape of your entrance door, too, and if you want to include a screen door, look for one that architecturally complements the existing front door.

How can you create an organised entryway or foyer?

An organised contemporary foyer requires smart storage solutions – otherwise it’s at risk of becoming a dumping zone. Think about what you do when you first walk into your home. Most people will put their keys down, store a bag or coat, then take their shoes off. If this sounds like you, and your entryway is relatively sizeable, consider including some built-in joinery or a slimline console or hall table. Otherwise, hooks for keys, a coat stand and shoe rack will suffice. If you have a large family, allocate one drawer or shelf to each member of the clan. And finally, don’t overcrowd this area with belongings that can’t be stored in a bedroom. When guests arrive, you want to be able to offer them somewhere to put down their belongings.

Could a dirt room save your floors and entry?

Having a mudroom isn’t commonplace in Australia and New Zealand, but it is becoming increasingly popular as a means to keep mess at bay. In coastal areas, it is sometimes referred to as a sand room, while in rural areas, it can be known as a dirt room. A mudroom is usually a secondary entrance or located at the back entrance, and is ideal for storing shoes, school backpacks, sports equipment and pet essentials. You don’t have to dedicate an entire room to a mudroom. A narrow hall or partial wall will do the trick just fine – just add built-ins, some cubbies for individual family members and a bench. If you have a laundry that has direct access to the outdoors, it’s an ideal opportunity to convert it into a multi-purpose space. Combining a laundry and mudroom is a logical and effective use of space. If there’s no room inside, take a look outside. If you have a verandah, cordon off an area for the likes of dirty soccer boots and surfboards.