I’m not quite finished with this makeover yet but I’m happy for you to take a peek at the nearly finished article.

This is the second incarnation of the entryway. The first involved a paint job with Farrow & Ball’s Bone when we moved in to replace the bright yellow you see in the ‘before’ pic. If you’re not familiar with ‘Bone’ it’s a quintessential period home kind of colour – a tasteful sludgy green hue. I loved it but as we used it in a narrow, high traffic area the wall was soon covered in scrapes and marks.

My front door leads in to what would have originally been an external passage leading to the doorways of two tiny cottages; one on the left and one of the right. Since the house was converted from two dwellings into one several years ago, they now form the entrance to our dining room and living room. Over the last month or so we’ve been beavering away and a few changes have taken place.

Outside

  • Updated the front door with a few light coats of Farrow & Ball Railings. I went for the Exterior Eggshell finish as I prefer a matt finish to a gloss one. It was painted on a boiling hot day so the finish has slightly stippled but overall I’m really happy with how it turned out.
  • Upgraded the original brass urn knocker to a foxy equivalent and added a spy hole door viewer too. Best £2.50 spent ever.
  • Installed an outside light (as seen in my August interiors post). Perfect timing as the nights draw in.
  • Chosen slate for the door numbers after I realised the fanlight was a bit small for what I had planned. I was also concerned it would look a bit busy with the new light too. They should be installed next weekend.

    Inside

  • Three(!) coats of Dulux Endurance Timeless applied to the walls. Yep, I chose to go with my favourite neutral paint once again.
  • Reassembled the gallery wall with Marks and Spencer’s simple photo frames, adding a few square framed Instagram prints to the other wall.
  • Put back the mirror. I bought this a few years ago from Argos and worry it’s a bit naff but it’s perfect for the hallway. The space is far too narrow for a table and this version means I get a mirror, shelf and hooks all in one. James sprayed the silver hooks black so they complemented the space a bit more. He also painted the sides to cover the screw holes.
  • Changed the shades for a newer and brighter version. These very traditional light fittings wouldn’t be my first choice but I get the impression they’re custom made. They’re very sturdy and in keeping with the general house style so I’m happy to keep them. I hunted online for quite a while to find some inexpensive candle shades and settled on a pair from Dunelm.
  • Added a jute runner to make the space seem less like a passage and more like a room.

    • My next task is to find a relatively stylish draught excluder. Please let me know if such a thing exists?! I may have to attempt a DIY and cover the old one.

    On another note, we were very pleased to find out we’ve been nominated for an Amara Interior Blog Award. If you’d like to see Rock My Style pick up the Best Fashion Inspired Award then we’d love it if you could vote for us. Thanks so much.