Before & After Reveals, Gilding projects And How Tos, Interior Design, My Hallway

Vestibule Makeover

How to do monochrome interiors

Vestibule, a small room or chamber which separates the outer door of a home from the interior of a building. I’m not quite sure why some homes have them. Maybe it’s so we can greet a visitor and decide whether we want them to come into our home. Maybe it’s to reduce heat loss?? Whatever the reason I’m lucky enough to have one. It may be small in stature but as with all my small rooms I want it to be big on style and so I decided to give my own vestibule a makeover.

 

Vestibule Makeover Before Shot

VESTIBULE MAKEOVER BEFORE SHOT

 

As this is the main entrance to our home, boy, does it work hard for a living. Not only does it get very dusty (we live close to a main road) but I’m also constantly cleaning fingermarks off the doors and woodwork too. In fact, I have been wiping it down so much that I’ve washed the paint off in places. So it really is time to give it a new leases of life. Mind you, I always dread when the vestibule needs a makeover, It’s so small the stepladders don’t fit in there! It has a really high ceiling. Two panelled doors (insert face plant emoji). And wait for it, 22 panes of glass. All in all you need to be a contortionist to work in there!

 

Vestibule Makeover Before Shot

VESTIBULE MAKEOVER BEFORE SHOT – FILLER APPLIED TO ARCHITRAVE PRIOR TO CHISELLING AND SANDING

 

This was an ideal opportunity to also repair our front door and the architrave around it. Normal wood filler would not be up to the job so I used car body filler to make the repairs. It’s much harder wearing and ideal for filling old wood that has had some rot in it. Always make sure to remove all the rot before using the filler and it will be as good as new for may years to come. Car body filler comes in two pack form. All you do is mix the filler with the hardener and you’re good to go. Though be quick, you only have a short space of time until it goes off and be aware that it absolutely and I mean absolutely, stinks! It’s not the easiest to work with but gives a far better repair than normal filler once sanded down.

 

Vestibule Makeover Before Shot

VESTIBULE MAKEOVER – THE TWO REPAIRS NEEDED BEFORE I COULD START PAINTING

 

Never one to be put off I headed to my fave B&Q to purchase my paint. If you are new to my blog then you might not know that I am a great advocate for Valspar paint. Would I use the more expensive brands if I had a choice? Yes, of course I would give them a go. But I am on a budget, and if you are too then Valspar is the brand for you. It goes on well, the V700 range is scrubable and you can have it mixed in the same colours as the more expensive brands if you should so wish. Personally I use their own colours, they have such a great range. And one thing I am not is a paint snob. I don’t care about the label on the tin so long as it’s good quality and has a great finish.

 

Vestibule Makeover from Raspberry Flavoured Windows

DOWNING STREET BY VALSPAR – THE PERFECT OFF BLACK

 

Anyhoo, back to the task in hand. I love (as you have probably guessed) bold interiors. I also believe our homes are an expression of our inner selves. And that I think is the reason I’m not that keen on trends. A trend feels like a person up high is dictating my style to me. And as you know I’m not one to follow the rules. Well not when it comes to interiors anyway. So as the vestibule (I’ll say it again, vestibule….. it’s such a great word isn’t it and far to grand for my tiny space) is the very first glimpse of whats to come in my home it needs ‘Wow’ factor. So it’s going dark, I want a Gothic Victorian vibe with a twist. There has to be a sprinkling of glam too. Oh, and I want to incorporate my love of horses too.

 

Vestibule Makeover from Raspberry Flavoured Windows

GOLD LEAF, DARK PAINT AND A PAIR OF RIDING BOOTS! WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT?

 

Why would I want to incorporate horses I hear you ask? Well our home was once the local veterinary practice, many, many moons ago. The outhouses at the back of the house were the consulting rooms. Bare with me here, I know I’m going off on a tangent but there is a point to this I promise. The vet that owned our house was called Mr Hearne and he was a vet during the Boar War. We have a picture of him sat on his horse. His son also became a vet and lived in the house after his father died. His speciality was caring for race horses. So it seems fitting to include a nod to the past in the entrance to our home considering horse lovers have lived here since 1910.

 

Vestibule Makeover from Raspberry Flavoured Windows

THE INSIDE DOOR WITH ALL THOSE BLOODY PANES OF GLASS!

 

So I’ve allocated myself £100 to makeover the vestibule. And whilst I say makeover it’s really only a lick of paint that’s required to transform it. The colour I have gone with is Downing Street from Valspar. I love the name as much as I love the colour. All in all it took me two days to paint what is basically two doors because the upper walls are mirrored. We added these years ago to make the vestibule feel bigger. And to lighten the hallway which leads off it.  The lower walls I panelled many years ago and gilded them. This perhaps is where my addiction with gold leafing first started. It’s aged beautifully, and has such a rich patina now. I hope you agree that the two days were well worth the effort. I mean what a transformation. It just feels so grand even though it’s so tiny.

 

Vestibule Makeover from Raspberry Flavoured Windows

YOU GOTTA HAVE A BIT O FUN DON’T YA? LOOK CAREFULLY OR YOU WILL MISS THE BIT OF QUIRK!

 

To finish it off I’ve added a Fornasetti style umbrella stand from Rocket St George. I absolutely love Fornasetti, have done for years. And whilst I would love a real one I haven’t got a spare £800 to invest in one. I don’t think I could actually bring myself to spend that much even if I did have it! I’ll be adding more antique riding whips to it when I can remember where I’ve stored them! I’ve gathered quite a collection over the years, all used by me at some point or another. It will make me smile having them on display rather than in a box somewhere.

 

Vestibule Makeover from Raspberry Flavoured Windows

DISCO BALLS! TO INFINITY AND BEYONDDD…….

 

I’ve also added my competition riding boots. It’s lovely to be greeted by them as I enter the house, they bring back such happy memories. And a few not so good too! (Ask me about the time we were competing in an evening performance, highly embarrassing!) And for the vestibules big finale? A ‘way out’ sticker and a disco ball of course! I mean no house is complete without a disco ball, right?? There have been quite a few surprised looks from delivery drivers since I finished it I can tell you.

 

Vestibule Makeover from Raspberry Flavoured Windows

WELCOME TO MY HOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TRANSFORMATION?

 

So what do you think of my vestibule makeover? Too much? Or just right? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please do leave a comment. I so smile when I get one and I always take the time to reply.  Right I’m off! Next on my list is youngest RFW’s bedroom. I’m so excited for this makeover. I’ve bought myself a new circular saw and everything! I will be sharing the journey on Instagram for this one. I’m going to create a highlight for it too, just in case you miss anything.

 

Rachel's Signature

 

 

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2 Comments

  • Reply Rachael Davies August 3, 2019 at 7:10 pm

    To one Rachael from another Rachael,your just fab love love love everything you do!
    Love following you and your posts!
    We have so much in common, I have a 14 year old autistic daughter called Francesca who lives for our 5 year old eventing horse in the making called Charles aka charlie, can’t wait to see what your up to next ?

    • Reply Rachel Edmonds August 4, 2019 at 11:58 am

      Thank you for your lovely and encouraging comment. I have 2 nieces called Francesca, it’s such a beautiful name. I hope Charlie goes all the way and it’s so wonderful that Francesca enjoys him so much. My boys sadly don’t get the horse thing. I once offered to pay them to poo pick, they were horrified and refused cold hard cash based on the smell!!

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