Doing up our hallway....
has anyone got any ideas about brightening up a hallway? we live in a ground floor tenement flat in edinburgh, we have no windows off the hallway so things are a bit dark in there! Have just stripped the wallpaper ready to be skimmed....have beautiful original Minton tiled floor which we are having restored once the decorating is done - previous owner had peach wallpaper and an orange carpet, imagine. The day we pulled back the carpet to reveal those tiles was like winning the lottery! We have 3 pendant lights but no idea what light fittings to choose...we have 2 wall lights, again no idea what type of fitting to choose. We love the original features our home has but like to have a modern edge to our decor. Should we go all white? i've just read about the new Dulux Open Space paint - has anyone used it yet?
ps, see that old brown wallpaper on the wall? dates from when the house was built (1880's), am going to frame part of it to keep a 'rough luxe' feel.
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Hi, I am so jealous of those tiles, what a find!
It seems like a big space to go all white but then again with lovely big plain walls like that you could get some really great large prints or canvases to go on the walls to bring in a bit of colour. I did a really quick fix in my hallway and literally just painted over what was there. As I already had a dado (if that's how you spell it?) rail half way down the wall, I did the bottom quite a bright red and the top plain white but then mine's only just a small space. There's a photo on my profile page if you're interested in seeing what it came out like. Also if you do want to go with a bit of colour as well you'll need to find something to compliment those great floor tiles :-)
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Oh my you are so lucky! I would have shreiked with delight discovering those.
I have done a quick random moodboard of suggestions the lighter colour for the walls and the darker for the paintwork. You could either go modern style or eclectic vintage. I would also use daylight artists bulbs ( blue ones) for a dark hallway to replicate daylight and freshen it up. Avoid the yukky ywllow tungsten they are too gloomy.
hallway random by karma kittenIf you look around bric a brac shops and low level antique shops you could find all sorts to adorn your walls. Victorian prints, vintage china plates etc to fit in with the mood and style of the tiles. The paint I suggested would alow the tiles to shine out of their own accord.
Please do let us know how you get on. I would love to see what you do with your hallway.
KK
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Shriek with delight is an understatement! the surveyor didn't even spot them (surprisingly) so imagine what we thought when we rolled the carpet back!
Anyway, thanks for the moodboard, do like the greys and the blue daylight bulbs sound like a must buy, will do some investigating at the weekend. Will definitely post a photo up once it's done. Forgot to say we have a classic 3 column radiator in anthracite grey to put in the hall so the grey paint might just work. Will keep you posted.
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very nice! i liked your idea!
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I cant wait to see the finished result whatever you choose!
Dont forget to update us.
KK
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WOW, WOW,WOW, WOWWOWWOW! I am ridiculously jealous. I've just moved to a victorian house and have no period festures in it at all really, i would wet my knickers withexcitement if i had discovered this.
I like everyone elses ideas. PLEASE LET THE (beautiful beautiful ) FLOORING SHOUT AT PEOPLE AS THEY COME IN, DO NOT LET IT GET LOST IN A SEA OF COLOURS AND OBJECTS!
I think pale off whites are the way to go, i love your idea about framing the wallpaper, it will look stunning once its done. I'd stick a lartge mirror above the radiator in the entrance if i were you, and also get a radiator cabinet. Let us know how you get on, and stick some after pics on here as well for me to drool over :D
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We bought eco daylight bulbs for our windowless home office from the amnesty website and they're brilliant (Iiterally) I'd highly recommend them. It is always tempting to go for brilliant white walls in a hallway but it can look a bit stark. We bought some of that light reflecting paint which works (who knew!) but you have to be careful which shade as some of them can be quite flat and disappointing. We bought lots of the Dulux tester pots and put them on the wall and actually the darker cream one reflected the light the best much to our surprise. Sorry I can't remember the shade now but it gives a really bright, light but warm glow/hue which would go well with those gorgeous tiles maybe? I think those tiles should speak for themselves but a mirror would be great (and so useful as you're dashing out the door) and, controversial, I'm wondering if Marrakesh styley punched metal wall lights in bronze would go with those tiles too and reflect some interesting light patterns on the wall
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Cream walls, the beautiful floor is enough pattern, a massive, decorative, bright light / chandelier. Maybe replace door, get one of those doors that has stained glass at the top, this will pour light in. Then just put a couple of plants by the door, the hallway looks too small to add something like a desk in there.
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Hello!
it is not possible for me to give you my advise when :
I do not know the dimension of the hall
also it is necessary to have an image of the complete hall not just part of it.
ok, I know that you have 3 pendant lamps, but how high is the roof?
how it look like?
how are the door?
Key question = What is the "ambiance " that you want to create?
Is it just a modern edge with original features?</span>
and after all what is important is not what I consider that "look good" but how you want to feel like when you walk from the entrance hall to the end of it.
not everything that is trendy fix good but everything that you love will 99% adjust.
I can give you a real image of what your hall will look like, only if you give more detail about it , your desire concerning to the Deco; an of course a recent photo of it
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STOP PRESS!! This is so exciting! what a find! & I wish this was mine, I would do the following...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! EXCEPT FOR...getting creative. My word my imagination is working overtime! It is the perfect opportunity to create a space that will be a focal point and talking point. I will explain...
I would use paint effects andf Trompe L'oiel to create a modern version of a Roman villa Fresco. Keep exposed the wallpaper, just leave it as it is and then use sponge painting to create stone or marble above, you then have a basis to create little mini frescos or place canvases above. you could add landscapes, classic figures or cameo of scenes. Is is sounding to traditional.. don't be put off, this can be done in a contemporary feel. Believe me I have painted my friends home and my own with Murals in the past, and you can do anything you like. You just need someone with an artistic ability or have a go yourself. Here's some inspirations.....
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Here's a moodboard to demonstrate my idea above :0)
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hi, thanks for the ideas! It's been coming together during the last week, walls have been plastered and we have been sanding the door frames - all 10 of them...i had inspiration regarding mirrors the other day and since then have bought 5 vintage mirrors with chains for hanging which we are going to hang above the radiator, they should bring more light in. I have started painting the walls white too but all the sanding, filling, etc is taking a long time. Can see this being a good couple of weeks away before we are anywhere near finished.
We are going to put a wooden picture rail at about waist height, paint the bottom half of the wall in a grey egg shell then the remainder of the wall plus ceiling will be in white.
Pendant lights are on order too from a company called Tinsmiths in Ledbury, they are called Railroad pendants, have a vintage feel so definitely in keeping with the house.
Will post some photos soon with progress!
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I can't wait to see it when it's finished! Happy decorating!
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Firstly, if a room is dark or small you can't go against its whole nature and become like the tardis. The hallway in my Edwardian house is not really well lit so I tried pale colours and they aren't that practical, especially if you have horsehair plaster.
Personally I'd use the colours of those beautiful tiles to make a warm, welcoming and visually stunning hallway - after all, it is the first impression of your home.
You're so lucky !
