Making an entrance

The hallway is a room of its own and should be treated as such with a bold design that will wow

- ARABELLA YOUENS

ART IN FOCUS

When there is room to store the usual hallway detritus somewhere out of sight of the entrance, take the opportunity to place a favourite piece of furniture, art or sculpture as a way of setting the stage for the rest of the decorative scheme in a house. A strong, one-off unique piece of art is a great way to draw focus into a space that would otherwise be awkward or too small, says interior designer Natalia Miyar who used a russet red paint on the walls to set off the vintage console and statement mirror by New York-based studio Chen Chen & Kai Williams. 'Often, you need a standout piece to bring life to the walls, and this will give you the opportunity to transform your hallway into a key feature of your house.

PARISIAN ELEGANCE

Mirrors have long been used in hallways to extend the feeling of space but when paired with tall, glazed doors, high ceilings and elegant architecture the result is light and chic. 'Given this property is an apartment means the hallway doesn't lead to stairs, so we wanted to avoid it feeling like a long narrow space,' says Jo Le Gleud, co-founder of Maddux Creative who put together this scheme. 'We broke it up by adding mirrored panels to the doors, which helped carry light and show the original architectural detailing.' She then brought in warm gold lamps, wall lights from Charles Burnand, a terrazzo console by Rooms Studio and an antique rug sourced through Robert Stephenson. 

FLOOR FOCUS