Collection by Andrea Smith

Delightfully Modern Foyers

These hospitable foyers welcome visitors and modern design in equal measure.

A tumbled granite feature wall greets guests as they enter through the front of the house. The only enclosed area in the building lies behind the wall, separating the front entryway from the living areas.
A tumbled granite feature wall greets guests as they enter through the front of the house. The only enclosed area in the building lies behind the wall, separating the front entryway from the living areas.
A custom pivot door by Archispec opens onto a foyer with a poured-concrete floor. The oil painting at right is by Derrick Buisch.
A custom pivot door by Archispec opens onto a foyer with a poured-concrete floor. The oil painting at right is by Derrick Buisch.
Back in the entry foyer, the architects removed a fully enclosed stair to open up the interior. An operable sunlight just above the stairwell allows hot air to escape, inducing a cooling airflow below and naturally ventilating the space. The space in the image’s foreground, located directly adjacent to the kitchen, is now the formal dining area.
Back in the entry foyer, the architects removed a fully enclosed stair to open up the interior. An operable sunlight just above the stairwell allows hot air to escape, inducing a cooling airflow below and naturally ventilating the space. The space in the image’s foreground, located directly adjacent to the kitchen, is now the formal dining area.
The resident, Betty Rahman, has decorated the interior with items she has picked up on her travels around the world.
The resident, Betty Rahman, has decorated the interior with items she has picked up on her travels around the world.
While most homes have their front doors centered on a flat wall, this home in Canada by Omer Arbel is entered through two solid walnut doors at the corner of the home.
While most homes have their front doors centered on a flat wall, this home in Canada by Omer Arbel is entered through two solid walnut doors at the corner of the home.
Combining old and new, Renaldi and Boyd placed the 

latter’s family piano and a painted metal Jean Prouvé bench in 

the entryway, each a fine counterpoint to the filigree of Magnes’s screen.
Combining old and new, Renaldi and Boyd placed the latter’s family piano and a painted metal Jean Prouvé bench in the entryway, each a fine counterpoint to the filigree of Magnes’s screen.
Moving the kitchen out of the hallway and rotating the front door 90 degrees and into the tunnel created a much-needed foyer. “Before, when someone entered, they walked straight into the living room,” Russell says. “The lighting from the staircase would ruin the buzz of the party inside.” 

The new entrance opens into the narrower of the two corridors, from which individuals can access the storage-and-laundry closet, shower room, and powder room. In the kitchen, a 9.4-cubic-foot, 24-inch Liebherr fridge and freezer is tucked into the wall. “I freaked out when I saw it for the first time because it was so tiny,” Russell says. “But it hasn’t been an issue at all; it was just a mental thing. We’ve learned how oversized our old fridge was.”
Moving the kitchen out of the hallway and rotating the front door 90 degrees and into the tunnel created a much-needed foyer. “Before, when someone entered, they walked straight into the living room,” Russell says. “The lighting from the staircase would ruin the buzz of the party inside.” The new entrance opens into the narrower of the two corridors, from which individuals can access the storage-and-laundry closet, shower room, and powder room. In the kitchen, a 9.4-cubic-foot, 24-inch Liebherr fridge and freezer is tucked into the wall. “I freaked out when I saw it for the first time because it was so tiny,” Russell says. “But it hasn’t been an issue at all; it was just a mental thing. We’ve learned how oversized our old fridge was.”