The Welcome Inn | Living Room and Entryway

Written by Jenny Marrs on April 11, 2023. Posted in Welcome Inn.

With every project we take on – whether for a client or for ourselves – Dave and I look for ways to provide meaningful gathering spaces. We picture families around a table, guests on the couch and friends chatting in the open spaces with a drink in hand. From the moment I stepped into this old house, I could see its potential to be an inviting space, and I started to picture where people would sit, where children might play and where special events could be celebrated among friends.

BEFORE

When guests walk through the door, the first thing they see is the welcome nook. This used to be a tiny coat closet. We left it open and added a small slab of marble (leftover from a friend’s project) to be a tabletop for our guest book. I added some decorative touches to the area along with the Welcome Inn post cards we had specially made.

Another special little nook is the one under the stairs. We added shelves just like in the alcove under the stairs in our own home. I was so excited to receive a 1950s image of this same spot from a previous resident, I framed it and gave it a home right there.

I love how the living room turned out. We were able to salvage the wooden floors in this area and only had to strip and seal them. Dave added wainscoting to the walls which elevates this room and makes it more sophisticated. I can picture intimate wedding receptions, fundraisers and special birthdays being celebrated here. The French doors that replaced the original windows let in warm natural light and allow guests to walk freely onto the front porch. Dave made the coffee table and the console with vintage-looking hardware to match the historic value of the house. The green couch adds a perfect pop of color, and its luxurious upholstery balances the room to keep it formal. The rug came from a friend who owns a Turkish rug company. I got to visit her and do some shopping while we were filming Rock the Block.

AFTER