Make an entrance
The entrance sets the mood for the rest of your home and, as in all relationships, first impressions can make a big difference.
The team at EHDO Architecture says we have been inspired over the years by the way Japanese architecture treats the threshold entry in to the house as an important part of the spatial sequence.
Neil Cownie, of Neil Cownie Architect, says the entrance should reflect you and your lifestyle.
“For me, each house is client and site specific. Therefore, the entry to each house is specific to that house. In some small compact houses there may not even be an entrance within the house itself. The entry may simply be the front gate. In more generous houses the entry could add a sense of drama through its volume,” he explains.
MORE HABITAT
YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS ANSWERED
When creating an entrance, Mr Cownie suggests bringing the finishes from the exterior of the home into the entry to link the two together.
“Play with the volume of the entry space. Either confine the entry with a lower ceiling before stepping forward to living spaces with dramatic higher ceilings or alternatively do the reverse with a dramatic high ceiling in the entry,” he says.
“Create a sight-line vista from the entry to a distant focal point either inside the house or through a window to the exterior of the house. This could take the form of an artwork, sculpture or feature tree.
“Provide built-in cupboards for coats and a place for keys and last-minute things that you need as you leave the house.”
Mr Cownie says the entrance can also sometimes be a discreet location to have powder room access.
DESIGNER TIPS
Interior designer Sarah Knox, of Eskay Design, offers these entrance design tips:
1. Open Space
If possible it is important to try to give your entry a wide open space; this will create a more inviting feel and will make you want to walk further into the home. A cramped space is not only bad design but also creates negative feng shui.
2. Personality
Give your entrance a bit of your personality. This could include items such as a floor rug, art, photos and even wall hangings. Give people a glimpse of your personality in your home as soon as they walk in. This creates a focal point in your home and also makes your entrance more interesting and creative.
3. Storage
Having a place to store items — such as keys and mail — is always handy. Combine this with a stylish buffet and console and not only will you have practical storage but you will also have a beautiful piece in your entry. Other ideas are a bench seat — this can be open underneath, or have drawers for storing items such as shoes.
4. Hooks
We love the use of wall hooks, or even small shelves — just as you are leaving or entering the home, there is a spot for that last-minute hat, scarf or umbrella.
5. Lighting
Good lighting in the entry is imperative. It doesn’t have to be a fancy chandelier (unless that’s your style) just as long as the entry is bright and welcoming. If there is a large void above, then be a bit adventurous with your lighting and inject a bit of your personality.
SECURITY
Keeping the entrance of your home secure is important.
With the current NBN rollout across Australia, many home owners are having issues with their outdated alarm systems, according to Surveillance Systems Australia owner Jon Foster.
“The alarm industry has not kept up technology-wise in the last 10 years and with rollout of the NBN obviously phone lines are just dying off at a rapid rate,” he explains.
Home owners with alarm systems set to dial out to their mobile phones through their landlines were faced with costly GSM or SIM card dial-outs when they had NBN installed and no longer had operating landlines.
“What we do is we come in with a WiCom module; it plugs into any alarm system and it means instead of working via the landline, it works via your internet router in your home and it works via an app on your phone so any alarm system, any phone and it’s very cost-effective.”
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