The entryway to a house is the first impression you and your guests get when you first step into your home.

This spaces always look amazing in pictures, but the reality is that to keep it looking like a perfect, organized and beautiful space is not that easy. Things tend to accumulate in my entrance. Mail, kids jackets and shoes, my handbag or a couple of them if I am having a crazy day and I'm switching gears. Sometimes water bottles, half eaten snacks and soccer cleats also make it into the scene. If you are a parent, you know what I am talking about.

In the picture below you see my entryway. It looks organized, the table has no junk mail on it, and you can see there are some empty hooks close to the door, which usually are covered with kids jackets. But I am an interior designer, I create magic, so I made all that life reality disappear.

I try to keep it as organized as possible. And I always make a point of having fresh flowers. It makes me happy to walk in at the end of a long day and see fresh flowers on that table.

Let’s talk about the interior design of this entryway. This home is a Victorian in San Francisco, and my goal was to keep the space light and bright while making a strong first impression through the flooring. I considered installing hardwood floors with a runner, which would have allowed for flexibility and evolving design choices—something I naturally gravitate toward as an interior designer. At the time, however, I was drawn to cement tile. Inspired by the tiles I had seen throughout South America and Morocco, I chose a patterned cement tile floor instead. Ten years later, it remains one of my favorite design decisions and continues to be the first detail guests notice when they walk in.

With such a bold statement on the floor, I chose to keep the walls and detailed moldings crisp white to maintain balance and light. The artwork and table were sourced in Argentina, adding a personal, collected layer to the entryway design. The large mirror leaning against the wall began as a solid wood door found in a local salvage yard. I stripped the paint and waxed it myself, transforming it into a custom mirror. The total cost was just $50 per mirror, with a matching piece placed on the opposite side of the table—proof that thoughtful interior design doesn’t always require a large budget.

In this San Francisco interior design project, I introduced color and texture through a Moroccan rug and a statement lantern that adds warmth and character to the space. The antique mirror was sourced from a local antique store, though similar styles can be found at Restoration Hardware. I kept the walls and detailed molding painted in the same white tone to create cohesion and allow the layered elements to stand out. If you’re familiar with my work, you know I have a long-standing love for white interiors—and the fresh flowers were the perfect finishing touch.

I’m not sure who designed the space pictured above, but it’s a beautiful example of modern interior design. Crisp white walls create a clean backdrop, allowing the black statement door and colorful furniture to stand out. The hardwood floor pattern adds warmth and visual interest. Personally, I might have opted for a long runner to soften the space—but that’s just my designer instinct coming through.

Your entryway doesn't need to be big to make a statement and look beautiful and put together, as you can see in the picture above. I love the materials and proportions of everything in this space. The console was designed by Nelson.

As an interior designer I always try to make spaces look beautiful, but you also have to be practical and keep in mind how you use your entry. If the first thing you do when you walk in your house is put your bag down, and take off your shoes, then try and incorporate a chair or bench where you can do that. If you live in a shoe free house, find options like baskets, or under a bench to put the shows awya. I have a basket close to my front table where I dump all my junk mail before I put the pile of useful mail down.

Do you like checking yourself in the mirror before going out? Add a wall mirror close to the exit, so you can get that last look. Your space has to work for you besides being beautiful.

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