The first time I walked across the threshhold into the foyer of this house, I knew I had to have it. I was sold at that very moment. I didn't care how much it cost. I knew this was my dream house. The foyer is that magnificent.
The real estate agent referred to this front room as "the library." It was an odd name, because there are but two bookcases. I decided it was the "stair hall." My in-laws own a house on Portland Place in St. Louis's Central West End, and the large room at the center of the house is the stair hall. But during the house tour, our front room was designated the foyer, a description that seems to better define the room.
This is a view of the room looking toward the vestibule. The entire room is quarter-sawn oak. There are picture rails. The wallpaper, put up by the previous owners, is a poor imitation of an Arts and Crafts wallpaper border and will be changed in the future. The art on the wall is a signed and numbered print from Zimbabwe. It is a postcolonial depiction of Victoria Falls. The picture is framed with mahogany taken from old railway cars. The vase is Rosenthal, decorated with ginko leaves. The antique table features a keyhole design. There are Arts and Crafts era linens on the tables.
This is the view as I first saw it. The room had been empty, and as you can see, we have furnished it rather sparingly. The batiks on the wall are from Kenya. The small stool is an octagonal table much like those Stickley used to make. We do not know how old it is.
This final picture shows the window seat. The casement windows are leaded glass. The hand-painted pillows are from Zimbabwe, and there is a Pakistani rug on the floor. Our rugs come from
Shahin Oriental Rugs in Appleton. (Go to that website and drooool!)
I also have pictures of the hardware but I will save them for a later time when I talk specifically about hardware.