Apartment Update: A Fashionable Foyer

Entryway… Foyer… Who am I kidding? I live in a studio.

When you walk into my apartment, you’re immediately in the kitchen. (This picture might help jog your memory.) There was a big blank wall to the left so I figured I would try to make an entry way of sorts. My kitchen is pretty large by New York standards so off to the left, I put a large dresser. This a) houses a whole lot of clothes, b) can act as a buffet table when I have guests over, and c) is a bit like a console table that you’d have in your entry way. In NYC apartments, it’s all about making the most of the space you have! Killing a few birds with one stone is absolutely essential.

I don’t want to share actual pictures with you just yet. I’m a tease, I know. So instead, I made this little rendering with the exact pieces that I’ve purchased so far. I had the lucite chair in my last apartment as my desk chair, but it fits just perfectly to the left of the dresser. Great place to toss my bag when I walk in the door! I bought the dresser before this one was out.. I kind of like the nailhead one better, but what can ya do?

White Dresser (also love this one!) | Navy Blue Lamps | Linen Lamp Shades | Gold & Mirrored Tray (it’s in the middle of the lamps) | Lucite Chair (the best price I’ve found!) | Leopard Rug

As you can see, the space is still missing a few things. Here’s where you come in… I’m on the hunt for the perfect round-ish mirror to place between the two lamps. Have you seen anything great out there? If the mirror has an accent color, I’d prefer it to be a bronze-y, antique gold. Here are a few options I’ve got my eye on… I don’t know that I’m totally sold on any of them yet though. What are your thoughts?

One Kings Lane Modern Sunburst Mirror

West Elm Faceted Mirror

One Kings Lane Sunburst Mirror

Sunburst Mirror

I know the wall and space will look more complete once a mirror is in place, but I can’t help but want to throw a little paint on the walls. The team at Ace Hardware recently had me into their store to check out their Clark+Kensington line of paint. They sold me on that brand because it’s a paint + primer in one. No different than when I’m getting a manicure, there’s nothing worse than waiting for one coat to dry in order to paint another. Anything to cut down on drying time! Plus, when you’re living in a little shoebox like me, having a disrupted apartment due to painting isn’t exactly ideal.

I took home a bunch of paint swatches and pulled some of the colors to put in the rendering above. Kind of cool to see it played out without having to actually paint a white wall. Which color is your favorite?

Biscaya

Blue Bayou

Central Park

Exploration

Gooseberry

Greyhound

Hibiscus

Hickory Bay

Lampshade

Life is Good

Mocha Icing

Nut Cup

Old Plank Trail

Pristine Satin

Sapphire

Smoked Paprika

Spanish Eyes

Spanish Heritage

What do you think? Leave it white or give it a little splash of color? However, it may just end up staying white if my landlord doesn’t let me paint. Let’s just not think about that right now. (See all of the colors here!)

PS: When I was doing some research, I saw that Clark+Kensington did a little collaboration with OPI. Kind of cool, no?

Introducing the New Paint Studio at Ace. Featuring brilliant colors from Clark+Kensington, ranked #1 by a leading consumer magazine in interior semi-gloss. So stop by your neighborhood Ace today to get top color expertise and to find your perfect color with mixable, pint-sized color samples for $4.99 at the hottest boutique, the new Paint Studio at Ace, where helpful is beautiful. | Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Ace Hardware via Mode Media. As always, all opinions are my own! Thanks for supporting the brands and collaborations that make Bows & Sequins possible!

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30 Comments

  1. 7.15.14
    Tonya said:

    I love greyhound, nut cup, or spanish eyes for the wall color. I also like the faceted mirror because you already have a flat mirror in the tray and I think a little dimension will make it pop.

  2. 7.15.14
    Tonya said:

    Also, can’t wait to see photos of the finished product!

  3. 7.15.14
    jenessa said:

    Love what you’re doing with your new place. You have great “bones” to work with. For wall color I personally like the Biscaya or Gooseberry…they both compliment the lamps. As far as mirrors, I really like the Sunburst one from One Kings Lane. Have fun!!

  4. 7.15.14
    Meagan said:

    Love the colors nutcup and greyhound! Such great neutrals!
    -Meg
    http://www.smalltownsisters.blogspot.com

  5. 7.15.14
    Lauren S said:

    definitely one of the dark blues!

  6. 7.15.14

    I love the third mirror! And call me boring, but I say keep the wall as light as possible since you could easily tire of a color/it could make things look smaller. Just a thought! Love those lamps and have been eyeing them myself…quite the steal. Can’t wait to see the final product!

  7. 7.15.14
    Taylor said:

    Gooseberry and Life is Good are both great choices for an accent wall! Also, I think the first mirror would look great with your lamps! You’re apartment may be small, but SO chic! Good luck with everything!

    Xo, Taylor
    http://www.littleblondebook.com

  8. 7.15.14
    michelle said:

    sapphire is so pretty! it may be too much with the navy lamps though. i wish i knew about that color when i did my rast hack! it is the perfect color and so much better than the color i used.

  9. 7.15.14
    Elizabeth said:

    Fave wall color is “greyhound” and I love the “OKL modern sunburst mirror”. Can’t wait to see the finished look you come up with!

  10. 7.15.14
    Ellen said:

    West elm faceted mirror!

  11. 7.15.14
    SarahK said:

    I like the two blues, but have you considered removable wallpaper?? Check out
    chasingpaper.com, I recently saw them featured on an episode of Bethenny and the designs are modern and gorgeous! Also, check out Homegoods for a mirror if you have one close by-awesome mirror selection!

  12. 7.15.14

    Pristine Satin paint!

  13. 7.16.14
    Ella said:

    I like the second mirror and the Sapphire paint really reminds me of your style!
    I am SO excited to see the finished product.
    http://www.youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26

  14. 7.16.14
    Bets said:

    I love the sapphire! So chic with the leopard rug. Love all the mirrors; anyone would look great!

  15. 7.16.14

    A splash of colour! Love the bits you’ve featured, the mirrors are fab! Can’t wait to see photos of what you decide to go with!
    Katie x
    http://www.missenchanting.co.uk

  16. 7.16.14
    Missy said:

    I like the gooseberry or hibiscus…more color to make the area pop!

  17. 7.16.14

    Love this post! I like the light grey and white shades!

    The Style Storm
    <3, Christina

  18. 7.16.14
    DK said:

    I like Exploration for the paint color and either of the sunburst lamps. You have great taste!

  19. 7.16.14
    Ally said:

    I love playing around with different paint color options to really make an understated room pop!

    http://www.confessionsoftheglitterati.com/

  20. 7.16.14
    Sarah said:

    I like the Central Park wall color. It’s light yet interesting. I also really like the One Kings Lane Sunburst Mirror. Can’t wait to see the end results!

  21. 7.16.14
    Deanna said:

    IF your landlord gives you permission to paint, my favs are: Exploration, Biscaya, & Hickory Bay/Life is Good is a tie, haha! It looks like you have brick in your apartment so if you are torn between those last two I would probably go with Life is Good because I think the brick would bring out that grayish/blue that Hickory Bay has but not be as dark. I think it’d be a pretty contrast.

    Anywho– since you missed out on the nail head dresser, there’s nail head “rope” you can buy at JoAnn called Every Fifth Hole [I think it’s like $24 per rope], if you’re still wanting those cute details. I’ve used it on a shelf before and it’s awesome. So easy with big results! You should check it out.

    As for the mirrors– I like option 1 and 3 best. The bigger the mirror, the better for walking out the door! Plus, it’ll make your space look larger!

    Just my two cents 😉 Can’t wait to see the end result!

    xx
    Because I’m Obsessed

  22. 7.16.14

    I love gooseberry!

    Haley
    haleyvalerie.com

  23. 7.17.14
    Elizabeth said:

    I can’t wait to see the finished product! An aside, which is none of my business, but as a reader, I’d love to see a few more personal posts mixed in with all of the sponsored posts. I know a girl’s gotta make that money, honey, and more power to you! But I feel I’m on Capewell & Co., Vineyard & Vines, etc. overload.

    • 7.17.14
      Jessica Sturdy said:

      Thanks for the feedback. Quick note: Neither Capwell + Co nor Vineyard Vines have ever paid me for a post. Capwell + Co is pretty much like my baby… I’m the Brand & Business Development Manager. I’ve been with the brand since it was just a year old and am quite proud of how much it’s grown. Can’t help but wear the jewelry! Most of it I just borrow from work because it goes with my outfit perfectly. And for Vineyard Vines, I truly just love the brand. The only posts that I get paid for are clearly marked as a ‘Sponsored Post’ at the bottom of the post… Just a little FYI. 🙂

      • 7.18.14
        Elizabeth said:

        That’s good to know! And I didn’t know how to offer {completely} unsolicited feedback without sounding like a heinous b!tch. So I hope you didn’t take it that way, and know you’ll continue to be a daily read of mine.

  24. 7.17.14

    Jessica,

    Eeeee! Love this. I can’t wait to see photos. I personally LOVE the navy color–and I adore that chair, btw. (Can you convince Mitch that we need one?! Hehe)

    xoxo!!

    Kelly
    kellyinthecity.com

  25. 7.18.14

    I used to have a dresser with a round gold mirror in the ‘entryway’ of my old studio too! Ha. Great minds/small apartments think alike? I love the greyhound color though and can’t wait to see the big reveal!

  26. 6.5.16
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