Slowly, steadily, we’re settling into our new home. Oh, who am I kidding? We have two-day bursts of hyper-productivity followed by week-long stretches of sheer and blissful neglect. Isn’t that how it always goes?

Last week we finally got around to hanging some shelves in the entryway. We were in desperate need of a catch-all spot; one more rain-soaked jacket flung onto the couch and I was going to freak out! I was originally planning on putting up a narrow ledge and some pegs, like this, but then I found these awesome shelves at West Elm. Bent wood and S hooks? Yes, please.

A few questions I found helpful when tackling the entryway (and any design decision, really):

– What do you need? For us, the priority was a place to toss our keys, coins, and coats. This helped us narrow our options. For instance, a storage bench was out.

– Along a similar vein: what are your constraints? Our front door abuts a wall, which means only shallow shelves will fit. Deep drawers or a console would have kept the door from swinging all the way open!

– What would be a little unexpected? Personally, I am drawn to functional pieces that have a bit of an edge, something surprising. These shelves fit the bill. I love the contrast of the blonde wood against white walls, the unusual U shape of the ledge, and the mix of materials and textures.

– What would make you happy? The most critical factor! Each of the little knick knacks on the shelves has a story, and each of those stories puts a smile on my face every time I reach for my keys. Isn’t that how a home should always make you feel?

There’s so much work left to be done, but we’re getting there! It’s hard to remember, sometimes, that you’re making progress. I think we’ll take on the kitchen next. All of our cooking utensils are rattling around in a market tote in the living room (!) and it’d be nice to finally have a place to put them.

xo