Design Excellence Award Winners - A Sampling of 20 Years of Professional Honors

The glass entry in this new construction allows views from the front steps, through the house, to a waterfall feature in the back yard. Wood on walls, floors & ceilings (beams, doors, insets, etc.,) warms the cool, hard feel of steel/glass.

Two-Story Foyer

Curk Interiors - Decorating Den Inc

George Paxton
Inspiration for a large transitional foyer in Cincinnati with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a double front door, a dark wood front door and grey floor.

Two Doors Down

Romina Black Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional foyer in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a double front door, a glass front door and beige floor.

Orono Custom Home

Divine Custom Homes

This is an example of a large beach style foyer in Minneapolis with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a double front door, a dark wood front door and brown floor.

Costa Del Sol Dream Homes - The Hampton

Level Exposure, LLC

Designed and Built by: Cottage Home Company Photographed by: Kyle Caldabaugh of Level Exposure
Inspiration for a transitional foyer in Jacksonville with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a double front door and a white front door.

Azure

Landmark Custom Builder & Remodeling, LLC

Large traditional foyer in Orlando with beige walls, a double front door, a dark wood front door, beige floor and limestone floors.

Grandfather Homes - Overhill Rd

Grandfather Homes

Traditional foyer in Charlotte with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a double front door and a glass front door.

BLUE CYPRESS

Pegasus Builders, Inc.

This is an example of a large transitional foyer in Miami with beige walls, a double front door, a glass front door, white floor and porcelain floors.

The Ohana Model ATU - Built By: Paradise Tiny Homes

Paradise Tiny Homes LLC

This Ohana model ATU tiny home is contemporary and sleek, cladded in cedar and metal. The slanted roof and clean straight lines keep this 8x28' tiny home on wheels looking sharp in any location, even enveloped in jungle. Cedar wood siding and metal are the perfect protectant to the elements, which is great because this Ohana model in rainy Pune, Hawaii and also right on the ocean. A natural mix of wood tones with dark greens and metals keep the theme grounded with an earthiness. Theres a sliding glass door and also another glass entry door across from it, opening up the center of this otherwise long and narrow runway. The living space is fully equipped with entertainment and comfortable seating with plenty of storage built into the seating. The window nook/ bump-out is also wall-mounted ladder access to the second loft. The stairs up to the main sleeping loft double as a bookshelf and seamlessly integrate into the very custom kitchen cabinets that house appliances, pull-out pantry, closet space, and drawers (including toe-kick drawers). A granite countertop slab extends thicker than usual down the front edge and also up the wall and seamlessly cases the windowsill. The bathroom is clean and polished but not without color! A floating vanity and a floating toilet keep the floor feeling open and created a very easy space to clean! The shower had a glass partition with one side left open- a walk-in shower in a tiny home. The floor is tiled in slate and there are engineered hardwood flooring throughout.

Bright Normandy

Anne Chemineau - Decor Interieur

Photo of a large contemporary foyer in Paris with green walls, marble floors, a double front door, a black front door and white floor.

The French Country

The Highpoint House

This home was meant to feel collected. Although this home boasts modern features, the French Country style was hidden underneath and was exposed with furnishings. This home is situated in the trees and each space is influenced by the nature right outside the window. The palette for this home focuses on shades of gray, hues of soft blues, fresh white, and rich woods.

Energy Corridor | Peachwood Bend

Showhomes Houston

Walking into this gorgeous home, you get a feel of just how grand everything is, this space showcases soaring high ceilings, recessed lighting, custom paint, staircase leading to the 2nd floor, tile flooring, fireplace and large windows. This additional sitting is located in the formal entry and includes a stunning fireplace with mantel.

Beach Style Entry

Inspiration for a large beach style foyer in Dallas with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a double front door and a black front door.

Executive Rambler

Norton Homes

Exceptional custom-built 1 ½ story walkout home on a premier cul-de-sac site in the Lakeview neighborhood. Tastefully designed with exquisite craftsmanship and high attention to detail throughout. Offering main level living with a stunning master suite, incredible kitchen with an open concept and a beautiful screen porch showcasing south facing wooded views. This home is an entertainer’s delight with many spaces for hosting gatherings. 2 private acres and surrounded by nature.

Beaverton New Construction

Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

The pencil thin stacked stone cladding the entry wall extends to the outdoors. A spectacular LED modern chandelier by Avenue Lighting creates a dramatic focal point.

Sandalwood transitional

Jamestown Estate Homes

Starlight Images, Inc
Expansive transitional foyer in Houston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a double front door, a metal front door and beige floor.

Mid Century Ranch Renovation

Morse Custom Homes and Remodeling

Design ideas for a large midcentury foyer in Sacramento with grey walls, terrazzo floors, a double front door, a medium wood front door and grey floor.

Contemporary California Surf Shack | Santa Barbara CA

CJ Paone AIA | Archipelago Workshop

Originally a near tear-down, this small-by-santa-barbara-standards beach house sits next to a world-famous point break. Designed on a restrained scale with a ship-builder's mindset, it is filled with precision cabinetry, built-in furniture, and custom artisanal details that draw from both Scandinavian and French Colonial style influences. With heaps of natural light, a wide-open plan, and a close connection to the outdoor spaces, it lives much bigger than it is while maintaining a minimal impact on a precious marine ecosystem. Images | Kurt Jordan Photography

Elegant Lakeside Home

Grosenbacher Custom Homes

This is an example of a small country foyer in Austin with beige walls, a double front door and a black front door.

Modern Farmhouse with views of Prior Lake

Sustainable Nine Design + Build

This is an example of a country foyer in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a double front door and a glass front door.

Foyer Design Ideas with a Double Front Door

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 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 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.