Farmhouse Style Foyer Makeover Update + Lighting Options

We’re making slow, but steady progress on the farmhouse style makeover for our foyer.  I’m not trying to hurry though.  You might remember me talking about taking things one step at a time instead of rushing the process when I started my dining room transformation.  I used the same approach for the makeover of our home office and I’ve certainly been happy with the end result!

When I last left you, we had completed the board and batten wall on the doorway that opens to the office and we had added trim above the window and all of the doors.

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As of a few days ago, all of the trim above the window and doors and the board and batten wall had been caulked and painted.  What a difference it makes in brightening up this dark’ish space!

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Next up on my to-do list, is to choose lighting for the foyer.  I haven’t shown you the current lighting because looking straight up to the ceiling makes for a kind of awkward photo, but I want to show you what I’m dealing with in here.  I used a wide angle lens for this shot, which makes things look a bit wonky, but I wanted you to be able to see the whole area, from ceiling to floor.

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Here’s a better look at the fixture.  This shot was taken standing at the top of the stairway.  

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The current chandelier is too small for the space. Plus, it only has six arms/lights, so it doesn’t throw off nearly enough light to suit me.  I crave brightly lit rooms, not rooms that have dim lighting.  In fact, that’s what prompted me to add a light fixture in our office.  The office already had four recessed lights, but it was still was too dimly lit and it drove me bonkers.  Our decorating decision making process certainly came into play when making that choice, because Pookie thought it was just fine the way it was.

But back to the foyer – I think that adding a chandelier with more arms/lights still won’t sufficiently light the area on a gloomy day or when it’s dark outside, so I also plan to add a flush mount light at the very top of our stairs (which is a blank slate right now) and I’ve decided to add sconces to the board and batten wall, instead of on either side of the mirror above the chest, which I was thinking about.  Oh – and we also have to replace the missing smoke detector – see that brown’ish spot on the ceiling?

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I don’t want all of the fixtures to match or be from the same collection, but I do want them all to work well together and also give me the farmhouse vibe that I’m going for.  Here are few options that I’m considering. Once I’ve made my choices, I’ll be sure to come back and give you an update!  You can find a link directly to each light fixture below the image, in case you’re interested in any of them.

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Some links are affiliate links that are no additional cost to you!  See my full disclosure HERE.

GROUP 1: INDUSTRIAL ATOM BRONZE CEILING LIGHT || HERITAGE 12 LIGHT CHANDELIER || BLACK SEASIDE WALL SCONCE  

GROUP 2: 4 LIGHT CEILING LIGHT || HARTSVILLE 9 LIGHT TWO TIER CHANDELIER || HAMPTON BAY ZINC WALL LANTERN 

GROUP 3: NEVE 3 LIGHT SEMI FLUSH MOUNT || BROOKFIELD 9 LIGHT CHANDELIER || BLACK AND WOOD CANDLE WALL SCONCE

After making a couple of revisions, here’s what my to-do list is looking like as of today:

• Caulk and paint the board and batten wall white, to match the trim.
• Replace the chandelier, add sconces to either side of the doorway into the office and add a matching flush mount in the hallway at the top of the stairs.
• Replace the area rug.  The current one just isn’t working well with two dogs.
• Add hooks to the board and batten wall to the left of the office opening.
• What am I going to do on the board and batten wall to the right of the office opening???
• Build (maybe) two benches – one for each side of the office opening.
• Do something on the big honkin’ wall going up the steps.  Gallery wall???
• Made a decision about whether or not to add sconces to either side of the mirror above the gray chest.
• Add an outlet inside of the coat closet.  That’s where our modem and router are located.  See that extension cord running around the wall beside the gray chest?
• Add some sort of drapery or shade to the window at the bottom of the steps.
• Replace the smoke detector in the upstairs hallway.
• Add accessories!

So, not a lot of pretty for today’s update, but you have to have the ugly to get to the pretty – right?