It’s final reveal time and it feels so good!
Living in a raised ranch or split level as some of you call it, the entry always seems to be a problem when it comes to decorating or storage.
We mostly use our side door to come in the home so storage wasn’t a concern for us, as long as we had a place for guests to hang their coats.
Before we moved in this is what the entry looked like…
The railing was really unsafe especially with little ones. Plus it was really cold and just not my style.
One of the first things we did was remove the iron railing, and create a built in bookcase at the top of the stairs instead. (It’s still my most popular post!)
So instead of the railing we extended the wall up and this is what it looked like after we did that…
Well after 2 years I still didn’t love the entry. I wanted it brighter, I wanted the stairs darker, I wanted the tile removed and I wanted it to feel finished.
So that’s exactly what we did. You might remember that we recently added faux shiplap to that wall. I think it gives it a finished and brighter look.
While we did the shiplap I thought it was the perfect time to remove the tile and replace it with one of my favorite floors, Allure Traffic Master.
Finally last week my Mom and Dad came to help out with some projects that I couldn’t complete while pregnant. Staining the steps was on the top of the list. My Mom gave them a quick sanding and re-stained using a darker stain that we had leftover from our dining room table.
I LOVE my entry now. It’s calming, welcoming and bright. What do you think?
Now I just have to work on my chalkboard writing skills!
Shop The Post
(Affiliate links added for your convenience. See full disclosure here.)
Driftwood Coat Rack – Homegirl Interiors Etsy Shop
Jute Rug – Homegoods (see similar here)
Paint Color – Sherwin Williams, Perfect Greige
Allure Traffic Master Flooring – Home Depot
Minwax Stain in Kona
I LOVE it!!!
What is the black box cut out in the wall?
We heat our home with the wood stove that’s downstairs and this little “window” lets the heat come up the stairs. It literally blows through this pass through it’s crazy!
I love this!!! I have a very similar entry way in my raised ranch and would love to do this. It looks so clean, fresh and welcoming!!
Beautiful! I have a split foyer and I wish mine looked like this!
I hope you know I’m wanting to copy everything you’ve done! I just love what you do! So beautiful . And I have a raised ranch also.
However I can’t figure out what the square whole to your family room is for.
Thanks Brenda! IF you go to my post about my railing into a bookcase I mention that our wood stove is in our family room. It’s what we heat our home with. The hot air was getting stuck in that corner so this little pass thru helps the heat rise to to the top floor. I grew up in a raised ranch and we did the same thing in that house.
Ok I get it. I guess it was hard for me to imagine since mine doesn’t have a wood stove. What have you done about your bathroom? I’m at a loss for redoing mine.
So, the hole is like a window into the family room? Since in the picture it is dark, I was just curious. I love the changes you made!
It’s a window but we did it for heating purposes. Since our house is heated by the wood stove in the family room we made the hole because most of the air gets trapped in that corner. This helps the heat get up the stairs.
Just curious what you did for safety with pass through, we have the same set up and 2 kids 2 and under.
We did have spindles in it but then we created a cross with boards. I thought it looked more like a window plus it looked more farmhouse.
Hi!
We have a similar entryway with the railing and sloped ceiling. But no railing to seperate the 2 flights of stairs!
Do you have any photos that show that angle?
Thank you!
Wow…I just saw this post from Country Living magazine on my FB page and it was like looking at my entryway! The only difference is that instead of a metal railing I have a wood spindle one so not as much of an eyesore. Where you added the spindle railing there is a half wall there. I loved what you did with it. I was afraid the entryway would look too dark but it isn’t. The shiplap put it over the top for me! I haven’t scoured your FB page yet but I am hoping you have more of your house. It’s hard to find much on raised ranches. i’d love to see what it looks like going from living room to kitchen. I too was not a fan of this style of house (I grew up in a cape). We bought it because it was a good price in a great neighborhood and great town. Looking forward to following you! Thanks!
This is almost exactly my situation. And like the previous person mentioned it’s so hard to find good design ideas in raised ranches. Thank you! I’m following and hope you show your LR/DR, kitchen and downstairs set up. I love farmhouse style – I’m trying to take one bite of the elephant at a time!
Oh and I LOVE shiplap. We put feaux shiplap behind the custom built ins w a stained pallet wall!
Wow, we’re busy trying to find a railing like you tossed lol. We have the same entry only double doors that are thick! No way to see who’s there before you open the door. I’m trying to get my husband to install a peephole. Love the planking ?
Exact duplicate of our front entry. We have lived here 1 1/2 years and I have never liked the wrought iron railing. Have been looking at it a lot the last few weeks thinking I wanted to do exactly what you did! Just not so sure my husband will go along with it!
I like that the treads do not quite match the entry floor. More contrast would be even better. We made the mistake of having them to close in color. Much to easy to miss that last step going down. The remedy was an always-on night light in a nearby outlet.
My house has almost the exact same layout and I am set on copying your idea. Can you tell me what kind of wood you used?
On one of your later pictures it looks like on the landing you added the vinyl plank flooring that you have elsewhere in your home. Did you just lay it and hem do a transition strip at the stair top where it meets the edge ?
We have the similar entryway! Same exact! I hate the railings so I’m looking for ideas. And I found your post! I want to do the same shiplap walls on my entryway too! I’m not a DIY-er and definitely want to become one! And the first DIY project I want to do is that entryway. How long did it take you?
And I didn’t see a link to the exact plank you used? Pls advice! We’re moving in August 1, and I’d like to make this happen. Thank you so much!
Out new house has the same entry! I love it!
I have the same front door as yours. Mine is thermacTru fiberglass door. Is yours? I have finished it 3 times in 10 years with a ThermacTru stain kit. It is so much work to strip it and stain and poly urethane it. I have been thinking of just painting it. Is your door painted grey on the outside and painted white on the inside?
Yes mine is Fiberglass and it’s painted the blue/grey on the outside and white on the inside.
Hi,
Where did you get the wood railing from?
Home Depot
What do you do with shoes? That’s my biggest pet peeve about a raised ranch and a tiny entryway: no where to put shoes.
Are you going to highlight how you did that middle railing? That is what we are struggling with and yours is gorgeous!